Outside the Loop RADIO

Mike Stephen talks with freelance reporter Lee V. Gaines about Cook County attempting to define "fine art" while going after small venues for supposed back amusement taxes, chats with Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project executive director Dave Benjamin about how his organization is working to prevent drownings in Lake Michigan through education, and stops by a landmark building in Chicago to chat with Studio Gang model shop co-workers Schuyler Smith and Lydia Meyer about the wheat they're growing in their rooftop garden and where it ends up in the community. Meanwhile, via a listener tip, we run through some of the Chicago Transit Authority sounds featured on the Chicago "L".org website. This week's local music is provided by The FeverTones.

Mike Stephen chats with Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about reggae and ska harmonica innovator Charley Organaire for this week's edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music, and welcomes Chicago Sun-Times staff reporter Mick Dumke to the studio to talk about his special report on Chicago's murder victims in first half of 2016 and addressing the crime problem at a community level. Meanwhile, we discuss how Cook County is going after small venues for back amusement taxes. This week's local music is provided by Yellōjaket.

Mike Stephen chats with Cubicle Ninjas CEO Josh Farkas about transporting yourself to exotic locations without leaving your home via the brand new Guided Meditation VR app, talks with Center for Tax and Budget Accountability executive director Ralph Martire about funding Chicago Public Schools via taxes on services, and checks in with local musician Bassel Almadani about his smooth funky tunes and his experiences as a Syrian-American artist. Meanwhile, we discuss what it's like running into a genuine "Chi-lebrity." This week's local music is provided by the aforementioned Bassel & The Supernaturals.

Mike Stephen talks with Turning the Page Chicago managing director Kylia Kummer about engaging families with public schools to ensure a high-quality public education, chats with Keller Science Action Center at the The Field Museum social science coordinator Alexis Winter about "A Monarch's View of the City" and the conservation efforts to save this important pollinator, and checks in with Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about 1960s all-girl garage band The Sunshine Sequence for this week's edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music. Meanwhile, we discuss the fact that O'Hare International Airport is really stepping up its food game. This week's local music is provided by Jaime Rojo.

Mike Stephen stops by Fort Knox Studios on the northwest side of Chicago to talk with Amor Montes de Oca about the arts business incubator 2112 and with Dan Mahoney about the massive studio that is changing the face of the local entertainment industry. He then chats with Chicago Free For All tour guide Lynn Neils about finding cool free stuff to do around the city... often at places where you wouldn't expect it. And finally, he checks in with Homegrown Arts and Music Festival organizer Aaron Williams about the 4th annual independent day-long celebration of music, art, and community in Lisle. Meanwhile, we share some red light camera ticket advice received from The Expired Meter blogger The Parking Ticket Geek. This week's local music is provided by Jackson Mud.

Mike Stephen talks with Streetsblog Chicago editor John Greenfield about the Divvy bike sharing system investing in Chicago's west and south sides via their Divvy for Everyone outreach effort, chats with Batavia-born multimedia writer Kevin Jakubowski about creating the live-action Legendary Dudas kids television show for Nickelodeon, and checks in with Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about free jazz pioneer saxman Joe Daley for this week's edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music. Meanwhile, we update OTL #503 with the news that the Chicago City Council ruled to protect our urban coyotes. This week's local music is provided by The Socialists.

Mike Stephen chats with local photographer Larry Broutman about Chicago Monumental, his new coffee table book tribute to the city's monuments; talks with Illinois Policy Institute writer Austin Berg about the political twists and turns in Chicago's property-tax hike; and checks in with Forest Preserve District of Cook County general superintendent Arnold Randall about nature, cycling, wildlife, and the North Branch Trail System extension. Meanwhile, we spread the word that Chicago street festivals are technically free! This week's local music is provided by The Black Oil Brothers.

Mike Stephen talks with Illinois Retail Merchants Association vice president Tanya Triche about how changes in Chicago's tobacco-selling laws impact local businesses, chats with Historic Chicago Bungalow Association deputy director Gillian Wiescher about protecting and preserving an important part of the city's architecture and character, and checks in with Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about influential gospel funk musician Pastor T.L. Barrett for this week's edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music. Meanwhile, we aspire to build a better future by simply listening to each other. This week's local music is provided by the ions.

Mike Stephen visits with BookClub Chicago co-owners Amanda Love and Kyra Termini at their Wicker Park studio to learn about loving literature and the art of making books, chats with Urban Sketchers Chicago co-administrator Wes Douglas to get a preview of the Chicago Sketch Seminar 2016 next weekend, and checks in with DNAinfo Chicago reporter Patty Wetli about which fireworks are legal in the city of Chicago. Meanwhile, we discuss the recent police stings in Chicago to catch drivers who don't yield to pedestrians. This week's local music is provided by CrashDive.