Curious City

Latest Episodes:

The Legacy Of Margaret Burroughs Oct 03, 2024

Show notes

Margaret Burroughs is well known as the founder of the DuSable Museum. Perhaps lesser known is her decades long work teaching art to incarcerated men. In collaboration with the Burroughs Legacy Project at the Invisible Institute, we hear reflections from Burroughs' former students.

Cardinal Club Was Polish Rock 'N' Roll Heaven In Chicago Sep 26, 2024

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Polish immigrants came to Chicago to make a living, and for a time, they got to hang out every weekend with some of Poland’s biggest stars at a small club in the city.

What Was Schwinn's Legacy In Chicago? Sep 19, 2024

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It's easy to spot a vintage Schwinn bike zooming around the city. The family business was rooted in Chicago.

Not Their First "Roadeo" Sep 12, 2024

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CTA workers compete against each other to see who is the best bus driver, train operator, mechanic and janitorial staff. The annual competition dates back to the early 1980s.

The Case Of The Chicago Mothman Sep 05, 2024

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There have been reports of a strange winged creature around the Chicago area. We try to find out what the heck is going on.

How Does Sound Travel In The City? Aug 29, 2024

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Listening to an outdoor concert is a typical Chicago summer activity. But hearing that concert a few neighborhoods away? We look at how sound travels in the city.

Chicago Once Had An “Ugly Law” Aug 22, 2024

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Many cities around the country once had a so-called ugly law that targeted poor and disabled people. Chicago’s law stayed on the books until the 1970s.

"Radium Girls" Had A Tragic Glow Aug 15, 2024

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In the 1920s, young women working at a radium dial company in Ottawa, Illinois were being poisoned. Surviving "radium girls" would go on to participate in studies at Argonne National Laboratory.

How Did Malört Become Chicago's Drink? Aug 08, 2024

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The bitter liquor has been around for about a century, but Malört's rise to Chicago icon status is a more recent story.

What Lessons Were Learned From The '68 DNC In Chicago? Aug 01, 2024

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As Chicago prepares to host the Democratic National Convention, we look back at a volatile year: 1968.