Stay ConnectedChicago’s daily news podcast, fresh every weekday morning. Host Jacoby Cochran brings you timely conversations with news and culture makers; activists and artists; bus drivers and students; those who love and hate this place. City Cast Chicago is a smart and delightful new way to connect with the city we share. Learn more and subscribe to our newsletter at chicago.citycast.fm.
Named Best Podcast by Chicago Reader 2022
Mexico and Poland faced off Tuesday as part of the World Cup. Both countries have large populations in the Chicago area, prompting speculation on social media that it could be the “Battle of Archer Ave.” So how did it play out? City Cast headed to a bar in Pilsen and one in Niles to watch the game with fans.
Some News: In honor of Indigenous Peoples Heritage Month, The Chicago Public Library put together reading lists for adults, teens, and kids.
Remember to nominate City Cast Chicago as Best Podcast and Hey Chicago as Best Newsletter in the Reader's 2022 Best of Chicago under the City Life category!
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In addition to mayor and alders, Chicago voters in February’s municipal election will elect civilian police district councils. Those are representatives of the public tasked with providing some sort of oversight of police. Each district elects 3 members, which means a total of 66 councilors the city. Chicago Reader editor Jim Daley breaks down what the councils will do. Plus, Isaac Troncoso from the Chicago Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, explains how the commission will work with the councils.
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The City Cast Chicago team is ringing in the holiday week with another round of Re: VIEWS where we break down films that really star Chicago. Today, re-watching “Planes Trains and Automobiles,” by the late, great Chicago filmmaker John Hughes. Chicago is always a consistent presence in Hughes’ films.
What’s your favorite movie starring or featuring Chicago? Send us your pick and we might Re: VIEW it next. Email us: chicago@citycast.fm
More about city's vacant lot program and our episode about it.
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Host Jacoby Cochran is back behind the mic for the latest edition of our weekly news rewind. Today, we’ve got some great friends of the show in the building: WTTW’s politics reporter Amanda Vinicky, and Axios Chicago’s Justin Kaufmann. They discuss everything from property taxes and weed dispensaries, to GOP leadership changes and constitutional amendments. Plus, the trio offers some advice for people new to Chicago.
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Humboldt Park is the center of Chicago’s Puerto Rican community. But that pride extends to other neighborhoods, like Hermosa, a little northwest of Humboldt. City Cast Chicago lead producer Carrie Shepherd takes a tour of both neighborhoods with Joshua Smyser-DeLeon, host Paseo Podcast, which highlights stories by, from and about the Puerto Rican community.
Good News:
Hike Your Way Through Fall: Our Top Picks
Hermosa:
-Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center
-Rica Arepa
-Salty Sweet Chicago
-Hermosa Park
-Walt Disney’s Home
-The Bungalow Belt
Humboldt Park:
-Borinquen
-Esmeralda's Tiki Bar
-Nellie's
-Paseo Boricua Mural Tour
-National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture
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Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246
Animal shelters have struggled to find enough homes for all the dogs and cats that people got during the pandemic but then had to give up. But what about other pets, like birds, lizards, and snakes? That’s where Jessica Katz comes in. She runs the Chicagoland Exotic Animal Rescue out of her apartment in Andersonville. Producer Simone Alicea got to meet some of the animals Katz is helping find homes for.
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City Cast Chicago is bringing you a preview of another podcast, "Some of My Best Friends Are," from Pushkin Industries. Harvard professor Khalil Gibran Muhammad and journalist Ben Austen are friends, one Black and one white, who grew up together on the South Side of Chicago. On the podcast, Khalil and Ben, along with their guests, have critical conversations that are at once personal, political, and playful, about the absurdities and intricacies of race in America.
In this preview, Khalil and Ben revisit the origins of their friendship during a live conversation at the 2022 Chicago Humanities Festival. Ben shares memories of his first job delivering bagels around Chicago, and Khalil speaks to when he first realized he had a Chicago accent. Above all, they connect with a hometown audience and discuss the hard work of studying and admiring a city that can be tough to love at times.
To get their new house in Rogers Park, Joe Bergantino and Ricky Gonzalez wrote the owner a letter promising to retain the house’s funky spirit. It’s known as the “Candyland House” because of its pink, yellow, teal, and white striped exterior and interior. Bergantino and Gonzalez have been renovating the house and documenting it on their Homos with Hammers Instagram. City Cast Chicago’s Carrie Shepherd took a tour this summer with the couple, and nearly a year after they bought it, Bergantino and Gonzalez give us an update on how things are going.
Parts of this episode were originally published Aug. 3, 2022.
Nominate City Cast Chicago for Best Podcast and Hey Chicago for Best Newsletter in the Reader’s Best of Chicago in the City Life category.
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Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246
The story of public housing in Chicago is often a one-sided narrative about deteriorating buildings, crime-ridden corridors, drug trafficking and public aid. But for the last 15 years, former Chicago Housing Authority residents and advocates have sought to shed light on the full stories of these once-vibrant communities by creating the National Public Housing Museum. Leaders recently broke ground, and the museum is slated to open next year at one of the former Jane Addams homes in Little Italy. We talk with Crystal Palmer, a former CHA resident and leader on the museum’s board, and Lisa Lee, the museum’s executive director, about what to expect.
Nominate City Cast Chicago for Best Podcast and Hey Chicago for Best Newsletter in the Reader’s Best of Chicago 2022!
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Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm
Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246
After months of speculation, U.S. Congressman Jesus "Chuy" Garcia is officially running for mayor of Chicago. Garcia notably announced his campaign on the 40th anniversary of Harold Washington, the city’s first Black mayor, launching his historic campaign for Chicago’s highest office. Joining host Jacoby Cochran are Block Club Chicago's Jamie Nesbitt Golden and WCIU TV host Brandon Pope. The trio also break down CPS’ ongoing food shortage, the agenda for CTA president Dorval Carter’s testimony before alders, and a play helping revitalize Pilsen’s APO Cultural Center. Plus, everyone’s going to see the newest entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever!" Are you going? And if so, are you dressing up like Jamie and Brandon? If you’ve got photos tag @CityCastChicago !
Nominations are open for the Reader's 2022 Best of Chicago. Nominate City Cast Chicago as Best Podcast and Hey Chicago as Best Newsletter under the "City Life" category!
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Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246
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