(podcasting from the studios in the OTL Bunker, somewhere in Chicago)

(broadcasting on the “city life supplement” radio station WLUW-FM (88.7) Chicago)

David Schalliol– Creator of the To Be Demolished series and Managing Editor of GapersBlock.com

Every year there are hundreds of Chicago buildings are threatened with demolition.  David tells us about his efforts to document 100 of these buildings online over the next year.

Photo courtesy of David Schalliol.

Trakan- Local musician and good-guy Bears fan

His new album, Powder Kegs Beneath Dagger Trees, is finished and he’s having a record release party on February 20th at Webster Wine Bar.  We hear how WLUW influenced his life in an excerpt from an interview recorded in 2009 on OTL #147.

Trakan rocking out.

Matt Lyle– Head writer and host of The City Life Supplement podcast

This live show that’s also distributed as a podcast is described as a metropolitan “A Prairie Home Companion” and it’s all about life in Chicago.  You can attend the next performance at Transistor Chicago on February 25th.

OTL #281 local music provided by Trakan…

(podcasting from the studios in the OTL Bunker, somewhere in Chicago)

(broadcasting on the “stand-up project” radio station WLUW-FM (88.7) Chicago)

Satish Ukkusuri– Professor of Civil Engineering at Purdue University

What can the CTA learn from riders’ Tweets?  Satish and his team studied Twitter data to find out what CTA customers are saying about their public transportation experiences.  We hear the results.

What are CTA riders saying on Twitter?

The Parking Ticket Geek- Blogger at TheExpiredMeter.com and official OTL Parking Correspondent

The Geek filed at Freedom of Information Act request with Gov. Quinn’s office to find out what citizens are saying about the proposed Chicago Speed Camera Bill.  We get the latest.

A Chicago red light camera.

Pat McGann– Local comedian and creator of The Chicago Stand-Up Project on WTTW-11

This show, airing every Friday in February at 8:30 p.m., chronicles the journey of some well-known Chicagoans who give stand-up comedy their best shot.

OTL #280 local music provided by Robbie Hamilton and The Soft Ones…

(podcasting from the studios in the OTL Bunker, somewhere in Chicago)

(broadcasting on the “rock/duck ‘n roll” radio station WLUW-FM (88.7) Chicago)

Doug James– Chicago-based actor who portrays “The Gray-Haired Man” in BOSS

We catch up with Doug as he talks about his role as a “cleaner” in BOSS, a show starring Kelsey Grammer as the Mayor of Chicago.

Doug James.  Photo courtesy of imdb.com.

Brian Hieggelke- Editor and publisher of NewCity

NewCity is out with its “Best of Chicago 2011″ list.  Brian joins us to talk about how they put it all together.  OTL made the list last year!

Amy Le– Co-owner of The Duck ‘Roll Food Truck

We climb aboard one of the newest food trucks in Chicago and talk to Amy about what it’s like to operate a food truck in the city.

Amy Le next to her food truck.  Photo courtesy of ducknrolltruck.com.

OTL #273 local music provided by Juniper Mays…

Happy Thanksgiving!

(podcasting from the studios in the OTL Bunker, somewhere in Chicago)

(broadcasting on the “cheap beer” radio station WLUW-FM (88.7) Chicago)

Jay Sukow, John Berka, and Todd Wojcik– Writers of Trubadeaux (also, they’re in the film!)

On OTL #216 we went on the set of Trubadeaux: A Restaurant Movie.  A year later that movie is complete.  We hear about the production process and why the guys chose to produce every aspect of the film in Chicago.

Todd Wojcik and John Berka on the set.

Tom Carter- Mike’s bro-in-law

Need a way to spice up the family holiday party this year?  Try a cheap beer taste test!  Tom attended this event and he gives us a recap.

The cheap beer taste test.

Amisha Patel– Executive Director of The Grassroots Collaborative

The Responsible Budget Ordinance was introduced in the Chicago City Council last month.  We learn about this legislation and how it has impacted the discourse of the city’s financial future.

OTL #270 local music provided by the Henhouse Prowlers…

(podcasting from the studios in the OTL Bunker, somewhere in Chicago)

(broadcasting on the “pizza rules” radio station WLUW-FM (88.7) Chicago)

Proco “Joe” Moreno– Alderman, 1st Ward

Ald. Moreno joins us to discuss a variety of topics such as his views on the proposed 2012 city budget, his proposal to ban plastic bags in certain Chicago stores, and his views on decriminalizing marijuana.

Ald. Joe Moreno

Tia Ayers- Creator and Producer of the Pizza Film Festival

If you like pizza and film, then check out this unique film fest happening on November 29th at the Hungry Brain in Roscoe Village.  We get the lowdown from Tia.

Wayne Lorentz– Editor of the Chicago Architecture Blog

Since 2003 this site has been documenting urban life and development in Chicago.  We discuss the site and local architecture with Wayne this week.

OTL #268 local music provided by Narrow Sparrow…

(podcasting from the studios in the OTL Bunker, somewhere in Chicago)

(broadcasting on the “hoptacular” radio station WLUW-FM (88.7) Chicago)

Mark Lawrence– Co-Founder of SpotHero.com

This site allows you to reserve a parking space in Chicago before you even leave your house!  We get the details from Mark this week.  (NOTE: this segment originally aired on OTL #257, but since a guest bailed on Mike at the last minute we’re re-airing this interview.)

T.J. Annerino- Organizer of the Beer Hoptacular

We get a preview of this must-attend event for every local beer lover that’s taking place on November 5th at the Aragon Ballroom.

Brenda Webb– Director of Reeling: The Chicago Lesbian and Gay International Film Festival

It’s one of the most successful and long-running events around and it turns 30 this year.  We get the lowdown on another exciting year of this film fest.

OTL #266 local music provided by Suns…

(podcasting from the studios in the OTL Bunker, somewhere in Chicago)

(broadcasting on the “grand bizarre” radio station WLUW-FM (88.7) Chicago)

Anne Shaw– Resident of Chicago Police District #13

In Mayor Emanuel’s proposed budget, three Chicago police stations are on the chopping block.  We visit the Wood St. station in the 13th District (Wicker Park/East Village) to hear from Anne, a concerned citizen.  She started on online petition to save the station here.

The Wood St. Station (Photo courtesy of the EVA website)

Steven Vance- Co-Founder of GridChicago.com

We hear about local sustainable transportation issues such as a proposed local bicycle sharing program and the state of the CTA Transit Tracker.

Justin Markin– Owner of the Grand Bizzare Art Gallery

This new art gallery is described as an “anti-gallery” by its owner.  We visit the space at 1418 W. Division that is also his home.

The Grand Bizzare Art Gallery at 1418 W. Division

OTL #265 local music provided by The Artist Formally Known As Vince…

(podcasting from the studios in the OTL Bunker, somewhere in Chicago)

(broadcasting on the “you can bike in the winter” radio station WLUW-FM (88.7) Chicago)

Julie Hochstadter– Last year’s co-chair of Bike Winter, Director and Owner of The Chainlink

Even though our weather is cooling down you don’t have to put away that bicycle of yours!  Julie talks to us about biking in Chicago winters and much more.

Erik Nybo- Official OTL Running Correspondent and participant in the last week’s Iron Man in Madison, WI

It’s the granddaddy of all races and Erik ran it last weekend.  We find out how he did and get a recap of his experience.

Iron Man Nybo

Whitney Zeldow– Founder of HoneyMoonLetters.com

We find out how this Chinatown resident and “non-artist” ended up promoting art online.

OTL #260 local music provided by The Damn Choir…

(podcasting from the studios in the OTL Bunker, somewhere in Chicago)

(broadcasting on the “no-sleep” radio station WLUW-FM (88.7) Chicago)

Mike Stephen visits a film fest producer who’s staying up for 72 hours watching movies in a local coffee shop, plays a clip from a previous show where he learns about the Bar Aid Project, and talks to the anonymous founder of VerySmallBeer.com.

Jason Elewski — Producer of the Windie City Shootout

The WC Shootout is a contest where participants will write, shoot, and edit a short film in 72 hours.  We talk to Jason as he stays awake for 72 hours watching movies in the front of Avocado Eatery on Milwaukee Ave.  Why?  If the participants of the Windie City Shootout are going to lose sleep, why shouldn’t Jason?

Jason tries to stay awake for three days straight.

OTL Rewind- 

We hear a clip from OTL #246 featuring a conversation with Erika Allen, board member of the Chicago Food Policy Advisory Council, about efforts of this organization to improve access to nutritionally sound and affordable food and discuss Chicago’s food policy.

Anonymous– Founder of VerySmallBeer.com

This site features beer reviews and beer culture discussion.  We learn why the founder chooses to remain anonymous and what else he’s talking about on his site.

OTL #254 local music provided by The Dogs…

(podcasting from the studios in the OTL Bunker, somewhere in Chicago)

(broadcasting on the “ohlno” radio station WLUW-FM (88.7) Chicago)

Mike Stephen talks to artist and author Anne Elizabeth Moore about her new project at the MCA, learns about ohlno.com, and visits a local Jazz vocalist jam session.

Anne Elizabeth Moore– Artist, Critic, and Author

Anne joins us live from Georgia in the former USSR to tell us about her work there and her upcoming performance project at the MCA called Garment Work, where she will deconstruct a pair of denim jeans.

A pair of deconstructed blue jeans.

Bob Vonderau- Founder of OhLNo.com

We learn about this site where you can read and post stories about experiences on Chicago’s “L.”

Robert Rodi– Chicago author and host of the Robert Rodi and Friends Jam

Every 3rd Tuesday of the month you can catch this singer’s jam at Lizard’s Liquid Lounge.

Robert Rodi and Friends Jam Session

OTL #253 local music provided by The Lawrence Peters Outfit…