Mike Stephen travels to The Matchbox in West Town to kick off the 2020 OTL Winter Tavern Tour.

Mike Stephen kicks off the Winter Tavern Tour at The Matchbox in West Town, learns about a program that turns young writers into published novelists called Open Books Publishing Academy, and discusses the efforts to recruit more bilingual teachers in the state.  And this week we enjoy local music from Way to Go Radio. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

Mike Stephen drops by The Levee in Hermosa as part of the OTL Winter Tavern Tour, discusses the future of The Old Town School of Folk Music with CEO Jim Newcomb, and learns about the struggle of life outside the Cook County Jail with author and sociologist Nicole Gonzalez Van Cleve.  The local music this week is powered by Jan James. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

Mike Stephen stops by Richmond’s Sports Bar in Humboldt Park to learn about that establishment’s history, checks in with 33rd ward aldermanic candidate Katie Sieracki, and learns the Secret History of local Bluesman Willie “Big Eyes” Smith.  This week’s local music is brought to you by Obeko. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

Mike Stephen stops by Cody’s bar in Lakeview to kick off the Winter Tavern Tour with @ChicagoBars, learns about Little Village’s fight for environmental justice, and discusses the statistics that show Chicago’s declining population with local demographer Rob Paral.  The local music this week is powered by Minor Moon. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.