Do you remember the proposed Crosstown Expressway? (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen remembers the proposed Crosstown Expressway from the 1970s with local writer Mary Wisniewski, learns about housing assistance in the wake of the pandemic with Anthony Simpkins, president & CEO of Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago, and discovers the Secret History of Chicago tenor sax man Ari Brown. And in the OTL Wrap Party, Mike and Producer Collin discuss discuss highway transportation and their favorite El lines. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Posted 5 years ago Tagged

OTL host Mike Stephen.

Mike Stephen discusses the significance of Juneteenth with Black Remembrance Project co-founder LaCreshia Birts, learns about one City Council committee’s inaction from Tracy Siska of the Chicago Justice Project, and discovers the Secret History of the local Reggae group Skanking Lizard. And in the OTL Wrap Party, Mike and Producer Collin recap the show, reflect on Juneteenth, and get ready for Father’s Day. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Posted 5 years ago Tagged

Bars and restaurants are coming back! (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen gets an update about the local hospitality industry’s rebound with the scribe behind the Chicago Bars Twitter feed, learns the story of biking to a Waffle House in Indiana from Chicago Reader columnist and Streetsblog Chicago editor John Greenfield, and discovers the Secret History of local rocker Ron Haydock. And in the OTL Wrap Party, Mike and Producer Collin recap the show and discuss how more of us should be sitting at the bar. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Posted 5 years ago Tagged

Takeout 25 Oak Park is helping to save local restaurants. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen learns about the expansion of Takeout 25 Oak Park from its creator and Oak Park trustee Ravi Parakkat, talks to Shawn Maxwell about his new jazz album, and discovers the Secret History of local soul singer Jackie Ross. And in the OTL Wrap Party, Mike and Producer Collin recap the show and Mike shares his story of taking harmonica lessons from the great Howard Levy. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Posted 5 years ago Tagged