Curious City

Latest Episodes:

A Tavern On (Almost) Every Corner: Why Did So Many Chicago Bars Disappear? Apr 07, 2019

Show notes

Demographic shifts, changes in attitudes towards public drinking and the politics of the Daley family led to the shuttering of many Chicago bars.

BAM! A Pothole Damaged Your Car! Now What? Mar 31, 2019

Show notes

It takes a lot of information and a lot of patience, but here’s what you need to know to get reimbursed from the city.

These Four Design Ideas Turned ‘The Hancock Center’ Into An Iconic Skyscraper Mar 24, 2019

Show notes

Bruce Graham and Fazlur Khan changed the way architects and engineers thought about the structure of the modern skyscraper.

Your Guide To Chicago Music History’s Greatest Hits: Part II Mar 17, 2019

Show notes

Part I of our CliffsNotes guide to Chicago music history included jazz, folk, Latin, and gospel. Here, we present four more genres.

Your Guide To Chicago Music History’s Greatest Hits Mar 10, 2019

Show notes

A former CPS student wishes kids learned more about Chicago’s rich music history. So here’s a CliffsNotes music guide. Happy listening!

How Do You Find Out If Your Neighborhood Is Contaminated With Lead Pollution? Mar 03, 2019

Show notes

Northwest Indiana resident Beth Braun wants to know whether lead emissions from the nearby steel mill are landing in her backyard.

What Are Chicago’s Oldest Laws? Feb 24, 2019

Show notes

Did you know you can’t perform in a window or dye a baby chick? We feature nine of Chicago’s most obscure laws.

From Mickey Mouse To Oprah: What Chicagoans Write In On Election Day Feb 17, 2019

Show notes

Election judges don’t usually count votes for cartoon mice or celebrities, but there was one exception. We took a peek.

To Chicago, With Love: What Do Transplants Love About The City? Feb 10, 2019

Show notes

One Chicagoan wants to know what people who moved to Chicago love about the city. From fireflies to marathons, here’s what they have to say.

Chicago’s Dill Pickle Club: Where Anarchists Mixed With Doctors And Poets Feb 03, 2019

Show notes

The Dill Pickle wasn’t just any old 1920s nightclub. It opened its doors to queer Chicagoans and other marginalized groups.