OTL: Episode #502- Draining Chicago, Turning Asian carp into pet food, The Secret History of The Bare Facts

Mike Stephen talks with:   Richard Lanyon, former executive director of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, about the history of Chicago’s sewer system as detailed in the second book in his four-book series Draining Chicago: The Early City and the North Area;   BareItAll Petfoods co-founders Logan Honeycutt and Michael Cody about saving the environment by turning invasive Asian carp into dog treats; and   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about 1960s Indiana-based horn rockers The Bare Facts for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music.   Meanwhile, we how the CTA is renting parking spaces under the Brown Line.   This week’s local music is provided music provided by Walcot.   Future OTL producer Andy Hermann and host Mike Stephen cruise the Chicago River post-flow reversal and pre-Asian carp threat. [circa September 2005]   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #500- Wisconsin Supper Clubs: Another Round, The Secret History of Evening’s Breezes, Bloody Mary Fest preview

Mike Stephen talks with:   writer and foodie Ron Faiola about a unique aspect of Midwest culture as detailed in his Wisconsin Supper Clubs: Another Round book;   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about obscure garage rockers Evening’s Breezes for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music; and   Culture_Content guru Brian Ferber about the Bloody Mary Fest at the Logan Square Auditorium and why the Bloody Mary is a perfect way to bring people together.   Meanwhile, we play a clip of celebrity chef Alton Brown conducting an Italian Beef blind taste test… and we celebrate the 500th episode of Outside the Loop RADIO!   This week’s local music is provided music provided by Birds of Chicago.   OTL host Mike Stephen and producer Andy Hermann celebrate 500 episodes with Bloody Marys at the Little Goat Diner.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.   OTL host Mike Stephen chats with Bloody Mary Fest founder/creator Brian Ferber (with an assist from Culture_Content right-hand man Allen Richards).

OTL: Episode #496- Secret History of Detroit Junior, Where Can I Protest?, The Owls Seem What They Are Not perform live

Mike Stephen talks with:   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about R&B-influenced pianist Detroit Junior for this week’s “Post-Winter Blues” edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music;   Scrappers Film Group journalism producer Yana Kunichoff about Where Can I Protest?, the fourth episode of the “Rights Lab” web series that’s screening at Comfort Station; and   experimental rock band The Owls Seem What They Are Not (featuring OTL #463 musical guest Reade Wildman), who hung out live for the hour! Check out their new record Whirl Around The Whirr Rider Riding A Whale Down A Waterfall.   Meanwhile, we discuss the questionable legality of a political sign at a busy Chicago intersection.   Local band The Owls Seem What They Are Not (Webb Dieter, Nolan Marchi, Reade Widman, Jackie Tangg) now share a special bond with Mike Stephen after rocking the soundtrack for OTL #496.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.   Webb Dieter, Jackie Tangg, Nolan Marchi (pictured in window reflection), and Reade Widman of The Owls Seem What They Are Not jam a tune from their new Whirl Around The Whirr Rider Riding A Whale Down a Waterfall record on an early Chicago Saturday morning.

OTL: Episode #494- WikiProject Women Scientists, The Secret History of Andrew Brown, Towing and vehicle emissions testing in Chicagoland

Mike Stephen talks with:   WikiProject Women Scientists founder Emily Temple-Wood about her mission to make sure the world knows the contributions of female scientists;   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about soulful multi-instrumentalist Andrew Brown for this week’s “Post-Winter Blues” edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music; and   The Expired Meter blogger The Parking Ticket Geek about the latest on towing and emissions testing issues in Chicago.   Meanwhile, we flashback to OTL #362 and play an excerpt from an interview with filmmaker Will Robson-Scott about his 2013 pre-Spike Lee short Chi Raq.   This week’s local music is provided music provided by Will Mackie-Jenkins.   OTL host Mike Stephen in an undated file photo   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.