OTL: Episode #455- Why Chicago won’t go bankrupt, Urban Sketchers Chicago, Fighting residential parking permits

Mike Stephen talks with:   Roosevelt Institute fellow and ReFund America Project director Saqib Bhatti about his In these Times piece “Why Chicago Won’t Go Bankrupt—And Detroit Didn’t Have To;”   Urban Sketchers Chicago co-administrator Wes Douglas for a preview of his organization’s seminar next weekend; and   The Expired Meter blogger The Parking Ticket Geek about “How To Avoid & Beat Residential Permit Parking Tickets.”   This week’s local music is provided by Armitage.   Outside the Loop host Mike Stephen shows off one of his many City of Chicago parking tickets. [circa September 2013]   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #454- The Wabash Lights project, Renters rights in Chicago, Singer-songwriter Dina Bach plays live

Mike Stephen talks with:   Jack Newell and Seth Unger, creators of The Wabash Lights, a new public interactive art project;   Mark Swartz, legal director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing, about Chicago renters rights; and   Dina Bach, an amazing local singer-songwriter who stopped by the studio to play live for the hour!   Meanwhile, we re-file a report from the 2006 Chicago Pride Parade. #LoveWins   Mike Stephen poses with musician Dina Bach after she provided the soundtrack for OTL #454.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #453- A son in Logan Square reissues his dad’s 60s rock album, Mick Dumke on the latest in Chicago politics

Mike Stephen talks with:   Maplewood Records founder Ian Capilouto about reissuing The Glass Family’s 1968 album Electric Band (featuring his dad David Capilouto!) along with other musical rarities; and   Chicago Reader senior writer Mick Dumke about the latest on local (State’s Attorney Alvarez vs. Cook County Board President Preckwinkle) and state (Governor Rauner’s redacted calendar) politics.   Plus the OTL crew discusses Knight Rider, David Hasselhoff, and our efforts to track down the Chicago Knights!   This week’s local music is provided by Ian’s new band Holiday Party.   Mike Stephen with his dad and his son. That’s three Mike Stephens in one picture!   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #452- A visit to Rebecca Zemans Jewelry Studio, Previewing the Chicago Scots’ Highland Games, and the Secret History of Chicago’s 90s rockers Green

Mike Stephen talks with:   Rebecca Zemans, owner/designer at Rebecca Zemans: Sculptural Designs in Jewelry studio, in Ravenswood;   Gus Noble, president of Chicago Scots, about the 29th Annual Scottish Festival & Highland Games in Itasca; and   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about alt-poppy almost-buzz band Green for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music.   This week’s local music is provided by Antony + the Tramps.   Outside the Loop host Mike Stephen III and his son Mike Stephen IV are suited up in their Blackhawks gear ready for Game 5!   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.