OTL: Episode #313- Pawn shops v. the people, Uber gets sued, 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 “pawn star” radio station WLUW-FM (88.7) Chicago) Mike Stephen talks about pawn shops in Chicago middle-class neighborhoods with the Chicago Reader’s Mick Dumke and checks in with the Parking Ticket Geek on local transportation issues.   Mick Dumke– Senior writer at the Chicago Reader Pawn shops are in every Chicago neighborhood.  Mick writes about how some local residents are pushing back against new pawn shops in their community.   Photo courtesy of Andrea Bauer and the Chicago Reader Uber gets sued – Uber is a smartphone app that allows you to order an on-demand private driver that can take you around the city.  Recently this service was sued in a US District Court in Chicago.  Check out the full conversation about Uber on OTL #299.     The Parking Ticket Geek– Official OTL parking correspondent and blogger at TheExpiredMeter.com From an increase in sticker violations to explaining why gas prices are still high, the Geek gives us an update on all things related to Chicago parking.     OTL #313 local music provided by Mazes…  

OTL: Episode #293- Parking Ticket Geek on the meter lease deal, Save the Portage update, Chicago Craft Beer Week

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 “ugh, I have to pay my meter again” radio station WLUW-FM (88.7) Chicago) Mike Stephen gets an update on the parking meter lease deal, talks about a petition to save the Portage Theater, and previews the Chicago Craft Beer Week.   The Parking Ticket Geek— Official OTL parking correspondent and blogger at TheExpiredMeter.com The Geek gives us an update on the parking meter lease deal.  Check out his blog post on the subject HERE.   Save the Portage Theater – We get an update on the efforts to save the Portage Theater.  We hear a clip from OTL #288.  Check out the new petition to save the theater HERE. The Portage Theater in Portage Park.   Jonathan Surratt– Board member of Chicago Craft Beer Week Into craft beer?  This week is for you!  We get a preview of this great time in Chicago.   OTL #293 local music provided by The Hudson Branch…  

OTL: Episode #285- Story Week Fest preview, Parking Ticket Geek returns, LTHForum’s Great Neighborhood Restaurant Nominations

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 “story fest” radio station WLUW-FM (88.7) Chicago) Mike Stephen previews the 16th annual Story Week Festival of Writers, talks to the Parking Ticket Geek about local transportation issues, and discusses LTHForum.com’s Great Neighborhood Restaurant nominations.   Megan Stielstra– Local author and faculty member of the fiction writing department at Columbia College The 16th annual Story Week Festival of Writers is coming up March 18-23.  We get a preview of this popular local literary event.  Megan is also the literary director of 2nd Story, a local storytelling series. The Parking Ticket Geek— Official OTL parking correspondent and blogger at TheExpiredMeter.com The Geek discusses local red light and speed camera topics and answers a common ticket question.     Steve Zaransky– Co-Owner of LTHForum.com The 2012 Great Neighborhood Restaurant and Resources nominations are now open.  We talk about this award program that has gained popularity over the years.   OTL #285 local music provided by Color Card..  

OTL: Episode #280- Twitter data and CTA riders, Chicago speeding cameras, The Chicago Stand-Up Project

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 “stand-up project” radio station WLUW-FM (88.7) Chicago) Mike Stephen learns about research of Twitter data to determine the feelings of CTA riders, checks in with the Parking Ticket Geek about the Chicago Speeding Camera Bill, and talks to the creator of the The Chicago Stand-Up Project TV show.   Satish Ukkusuri– Professor of Civil Engineering at Purdue University What can the CTA learn from riders’ Tweets?  Satish and his team studied Twitter data to find out what CTA customers are saying about their public transportation experiences.  We hear the results. What are CTA riders saying on Twitter?     The Parking Ticket Geek– Blogger at TheExpiredMeter.com and official OTL Parking Correspondent The Geek filed at Freedom of Information Act request with Gov. Quinn’s office to find out what citizens are saying about the proposed Chicago Speed Camera Bill.  We get the latest. A Chicago red light camera.   Pat McGann— Local comedian and creator of The Chicago Stand-Up Project on WTTW-11 This show, airing every Friday in February at 8:30 p.m., chronicles the journey of some well-known Chicagoans who give stand-up comedy their best shot.     OTL #280 local music provided by Robbie Hamilton and The Soft Ones…