OTL: Episode #238- Chicago Detours, An Unreleased Material Issue Track, Parking Ticket Geek Update

TO HEAR THE SHOW, PRESS THE “PLAY” BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST… (podcasting from the studios in the OTL Bunker, somewhere in Chicago) (broadcasting on the “Chicago detour” radio station WLUW-FM (88.7) Chicago) Mike Stephen learns about a different kind of city history tour with Chicago Detours, plays an unreleased acoustic version of a Material Issue song, and gets a local transportation update with the Parking Ticket Geek. Amanda Scotese— Founder of Chicago Detours We learn about this new local multimedia tour experience that share the history and culture of Chicago. Amanda Scotese (left) gives a local tour. Ted Ansani of Material Issue— From the Mike Stephen (In the Evenin’) audio archives comes an acoustic recording of “Kim the Waitress” circa 10 years ago.  Material RE-Issue performs at The Abbey coming up on April 29th. Ted Ansani The Parking Ticket Geek— Blogger at The Expired Meter The Geek gives us some tips on how to make the gas in your tank last longer, reminds us about Cubs night game parking enforcement, and explains that the parking meter violation grace period is over. OTL #238 local music provided by Michael Lux and the Bad Sons…

OTL: Episode #237- The Roundtable Show: Making Chicago a Creative Hub

TO HEAR THE SHOW, PRESS THE “PLAY” BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST… (podcasting from the Creativity and Business class at IIT) (broadcasting on the “roundtable” radio station WLUW-FM (88.7) Chicago) Mike Stephen hosts another in a series of occasional discussions, taking place in the community and covering different local topics/themes.  The topic of this roundtable is how to make Chicago a creative hub. Mike welcomes: Nik Rokop— Director of the IIT Knapp Entrepreneurship Center Erika Pfleger—  Asst. Director of the Institute for Justice Clinic on Entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago Law School John Bosher— Producer, Beverly Ridge Pictures L to R: John Bosher, Erika Pfleger, and Nik Rokop The Roundtable is portable!  If you have an idea where we should record the next one or what we should talk about, let the OTL Staff know! ALSO, e-mail Creativity and Business instructor Tom Tresser what you think Chicago needs to be a creativity hub.  His class will compile the submissions and give them to Mayor-Elect Rahm Emanuel! OTL #237 local music provided by Jackson Bailey…

OTL: Episode #236- Rethinking the “L”, Goose Island Buyout Details, Chicago Journalism with Geoff Dougherty

TO HEAR THE SHOW, PRESS THE “PLAY” BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST… (podcasting from the studios in the OTL Bunker, somewhere in Chicago) (broadcasting on the “keep it local” radio station WLUW-FM (88.7) Chicago) Mike Stephen talks to the Reader’s Ed Zotti about rethinking the L, gets the details on the Goose Island Beer buyout, and discusses Chicago journalism with journalist Geoff Dougherty. Ed Zotti— Author of “How to Fix the El” in the Chicago Reader The CTA is planning the Red and Purple Line Modernization Project.  Ed thinks that in the wake of this, it’s a good time to rethink how the El runs in Chicago. Photo By Michael Boyd Josh Noel— The Beer Writer for the Chicago Tribune Goose Island Beer Co. has been sold to Anheuser-Busch.  What will this mean for our beloved local brew?  Josh joins us to answer that question and many more.  Check out his Trib article HERE. Geoff Dougherty— Founder of the Chicago Current He’s bounced around different local media outlets over the past 10 years.  Geoff joins us to talk about his latest project and some of his views on Chicago journalism. OTL #236 local music provided by Soft Speaker…

OTL: Episode #235- Organic School Project, Lakeview Area Master Plan, Local Improv with Tibia Ballerina

TO HEAR THE SHOW, PRESS THE “PLAY” BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST… (podcasting from the studios in the OTL Bunker, somewhere in Chicago) (broadcasting on the “organic” radio station WLUW-FM (88.7) Chicago) Mike Stephen learns about the Organic School Project, gets the lowdown on the Lakeview Area Master Plan, and talks to the director of a new local Improv show featuring real stories from Chicagoans. Greg Christian— Founder and Executive Director of the Organic School Project The OSP works to educate children how to grow food and why eating right is important in their lives.  We get the story on the organization this week. Harvest Time at Lowell Elementary in Chicago Heather Way— Executive Director of the Lakeview Chamber of Commerce The residents and businesses of Lakeview provided their input to create a new master plan for that neighborhood’s future.  What is that future?  Tune in to find out! Adam Higgins— Director of Tibia Ballerina at the Chemically Imbalanced Theater We get the lowdown on this new local Improv show featuring Chicagoans’ real stories as Improv inspiration. OTL #235 local music provided by The Ultrasounds…