Curious City

Latest Episodes:

What We Do — And Don’t — Know About Chicago’s Lead Water Problem Sep 19, 2020

Show notes

The Mayor announced a plan to replace the city’s extensive network of lead service lines. So what does that mean for Chicago residents and the water they drink?

What A Murder In My Family Reveals About Chicago’s Chinese Gangs Sep 13, 2020

Show notes

The inaugural citywide Curious City Scavenger Hunt: Chicago Eats Edition is coming to an end, so we’re capping off the past month of unlocking clues by revisiting a family mystery. In this episode from 2018, reporter Monica Eng digs into her family’s past to answer a listener’s question about the history of Chinese gangs in Chicago — and make sure to stick around for an update at the end of the story.

Why Did So Many Chicago Bars Disappear? Sep 06, 2020

Show notes

While our recent episodes have been taking you to different neighborhoods throughout the city, this week we’re visiting a Chicago neighborhood institution: the tavern. Recently, there have been a lot of debates surrounding whether to keep bars open during the COVID-19 pandemic and how to do so safely. And some of Chicago’s bars have struggled to stay in business. But even before the pandemic, bars have been disappearing.

Displaced: When The Eisenhower Expressway Moved In, Who Was Forced Out? Aug 30, 2020

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The Ike was the city’s first superhighway. In this special presentation, people affected open up about how it scattered ethnic neighborhoods and changed many lives forever.

Chicago’s Historic Japanese Neighborhood — And Why It Disappeared Aug 23, 2020

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While the Curious City Scavenger Hunt: Chicago Eats Edition continues to take you all across the city, we’re pulling stories from our archive that dive into the history of Chicago’s neighborhoods. This week, a story from 2017 takes us to Lake View, which once had a thriving Japanese community — but it fell victim to a push for assimilation. As one Japanese-American puts it: “You had to basically be unseen.”

The Chicago-Invented Delicacies That Help Define The City’s Food Scene Aug 16, 2020

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With the “Curious City Scavenger Hunt: Chicago Eats Edition” now underway, we’re revisiting a story about foods created right here in Chicago.

Was There A Burial Mound In Chicago Shaped Like A Lizard? Aug 09, 2020

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A listener noticed an odd detail on an old map. Curious City investigated whether it was the site of an ancient burial mound.

Sculpting History: Who Decides What Historical Markers Go Up In Chicago? Aug 02, 2020

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As statues are removed in cities across the United States, we revisit a story about what it takes to get one put up in the first place.

The Story Behind “Go Cubs Go” And The Man Who Wrote It Jul 25, 2020

Show notes

Folk singer Steve Goodman grew up going to Cubs games, and this diehard fan had a lifelong goal—to write a hit song about baseball.

How Often Should I Wash My Mask? And More Of Your Questions About Face Masks Jul 19, 2020

Show notes

From office use to wearing them outdoors, we clear up some of your lingering confusions about face masks.

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