Curious City

Latest Episodes:

Curious City: The Nazis' Neighborhood Apr 23, 2017

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Was there ever a Nazi neighborhood in Chicago? In this special Curious City mini-documentary and online presentation (complete with archival photos and video), we tell the story of how an infamous neo-Nazi group settled in the Marquette Park neighborhood and used it as a home base to gain attention and promote its political agenda. The story of the group’s rise and fall on Chicago’s Southwest Side raises questions about the extent of free speech and how mainstream racism in any neighborhood can encourage hate groups.

How A Rat Balloon From Suburban Chicago Became A Union Mascot Apr 19, 2017

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Scabby the Rat is now common on picket lines around the world, but the balloon started in Chicago’s historically blue-collar suburbs.

Safer, Faster, Smarter? The Road Ahead For Illinois' High-Tech Highway Apr 09, 2017

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Officials say the Jane Addams Tollway will soon be faster, safer and smarter. But will it deliver?

First Responder: Why Do Fire Trucks Often Arrive Before Ambulances For Medical Emergencies? Apr 02, 2017

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Medical calls outnumber fire calls 20 to one in Chicago. So why does the city own so many more fire trucks than ambulances?

The Meteorologist’s Climate Change Dilemma Mar 26, 2017

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Tom Skilling explains why most TV meteorologists don't talk about climate change, but should.

Are there fallout shelters left in Chicago? Mar 19, 2017

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There are plenty, but let's just say they're not ready for a nuclear apocalypse.

Searching for Chicago’s Most Family-Packed Neighborhoods Mar 12, 2017

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A prospective Chicago parent wants to know where he could be within door-knocking distance of other families with kids. So we mapped them.

Deconstructing The Chicago-Style Hot Dog Mar 05, 2017

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Chicago-style hot dogs are a beloved culinary masterpiece: A snappy all-beef wiener, steamed poppy seed bun, yellow mustard, chopped onions, neon-green relish, two slices of tomato, a dill pickle spear, two sport peppers and a final whoosh of celery salt.

But how did that unique mix of ingredients come to be? In a special Curious City presentation, Chicago’s premier hot dog expert breaks down the history of each ingredient. It’s a tale of immigration to Chicago’s Maxwell street neighborhood a century ago. Click here for the full story.

Monica Eng is a WBEZ food and health reporter. Follow her at @monicaeng

Out In The Cold: Where Do Chicago’s Homeless Go In The Winter? Feb 26, 2017

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Coffee shops, hospital waiting rooms and train cars are a few of the places Chicago’s homeless go to escape the cold.

Chickens and Goats and Pigs, Oh My! Chicago’s Backyard Livestock Laws Feb 19, 2017

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After her neighbor adopted five goats, Jeanne Cuff wondered about Chicago's livestock laws.