OTL: Episode #466- Cabrini-Green rowhouses have a future, Breaking down Chicago’s segregated barriers, The Secret History of 60s local horn rockers The Mob

Mike Stephen talks with:   LAF (Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago) supervisory attorney Elizabeth Rosenthal about the recent Cabrini-Green rowhouse settlement;   My Block, My Hood, My City founder Jahmal Cole about working with underserved youth to break down barriers and explore the character of the city; and   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about horn rock pioneers The Mob for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music.   This week’s local music is provided by Graham Byrne.   OTL host Mike Stephen critiques his on-air performance during the 630am newsbreak.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #464- The Parking Ticket Geek on local traffic issues, The Secret History of Chicago’s Brevity, Retiring baby boomers’ impact on Chicago architecture

Mike Stephen talks with:   The Expired Meter blogger The Parking Ticket Geek about new traffic patterns in Chicago and a recent red light camera lawsuit;   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about ambitious early-’70s proto power poppers Brevity for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music; and   Chicago Architecture Foundation Senior Director of Program Strategy Michael Wood about how retiring baby boomers are impacting Chicago architecture and infrastructure as detailed in the upcoming Design Dialogues: Tick Tick Boom talk.   Meanwhile, we discover that Chicago is the friendliest US city for tourists… at least according to Twitter.   This week’s local music is provided by The Tarts.   OTL host Mike Stephen III explains the new Chicago traffic patterns to Mike Stephen IV. Don’t drive angry!   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #462- Getting to the bottom of the Ventra story, Scarlet Architect’s Secret History of Chicago Music, A LEGO artist builds Chicago

Mike Stephen talks with:   Culture Bore freelance journalist Jason Prechtel about his FOIA lawsuit against the CTA to find out how and why we have the Ventra fare system;   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about early-’80s all-synth techno-pop band Scarlet Architect for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music; and   IIT College of Architecture student Rocco Buttliere about his to-scale LEGO model of downtown Chicago.   Meanwhile, we have some fun with Chicago Architecture Info’s “A Field Guide To Chicago NIMBYs.”   This week’s local music is provided by Local Motive.   OTL host Mike Stephen realizes a life-long dream by visiting Rocco Buttliere’s to-scale LEGO model of downtown Chicago.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #460- A Chicago teacher returns from the Arctic, The Secret History of VCSR’s Music, Visiting the Sugar Beet Co-Op

Mike Stephen talks with:   Urban Prep Academy math and science teacher Alex Kmicikewycz about visiting the Arctic Circle after being named a 2015 Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellow;   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about 1980s synth collective VCSR for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music; and   Sugar Beet Co-Op general manager Chris Roland about the new local and sustainable cooperative grocery store in Oak Park.   Meanwhile, we spin a tune from an actual tortilla record.   This week’s local music is provided by Adam Fitz.   Dressed-for-success OTL host Mike Stephen visits the brand new Sugar Beet Co-Op in Oak Park.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.