Curious City

Chicago's Biodiversity, From Eastern Red Bats To Prickly Pear Cacti

01 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We start in the Chicago loop, then head south to the Powderhorn Prairie and Marsh to discover the area's rich flora and fauna.

Watch out, big grocery chains – co-ops are coming

24 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Unlike other cities and towns in the Midwest, food co-ops never really caught on in Chicago. But with grocery chain mega mergers and the sky-high pric...

How Devon Avenue Became Chicago’s Little India

17 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Devon Avenue has long been known as Little India, but the diverse West Ridge strip has become home for many and is still evolving today.

Lions and tigers and Chicagoans! How we all stay warm through Chicago winters

10 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We've been experiencing some warm days in and around Chicago. But winter is coming. This week, we've got a couple of classic Curious City stories abou...

We answer your questions about voting for judges

03 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It’s election season. And Injustice Watch’s Maya Dukmasova joins us to answer your last-minute questions about that lengthy part of the ballot lot...

The Haunting of Rainbow Road in Barrington, Illinois

27 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A house on Rainbow Road in Barrington, Illinois is shrouded in mystery. Former residents say they’ll never return. Some locals say memories of the p...

Chicago’s Golden Age of Pro Wrestling

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

From carnival shows to the early days of television. In this week’s episode: How pro wrestling grew up in America and had a flashy, sporty heyday i...

Faith-based organizations often work together to support Chicago’s immigrants

13 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

For decades, Chicago has received a steady stream of refugees who have made the city home after escaping war and political conflict. They have come fr...

Coming out later in life

05 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Former WBEZ host Tony Sarabia produced an audio documentary titled “Unlocking The Closet'' back in 2000. Tony, who came out later in life, wanted to...

Dunning Asylum A 'Tomb For The Living'

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

For a long time, Chicagoans were scared of Dunning. The very name “Dunning” gave them chills. People were afraid they would end up in that place. ...

How So Many Chicago Bars Got Old Style Signs

22 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You’ve likely seen these signs hanging outside bars in Chicago. Pale yellow, almost white with the red-white-and-blue Old Style logo in thebig top ...

Illinois is abuzz with bees, but their future is uncertain

15 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A listener noticed her garden didn’t seem to have as many bees as usual buzzing about this summer. She wondered if the population in Illinois was on...

Chicago teens went to dance and find connection at Medusa’s

08 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Medusa’s was “like a community center for weirdos and freaks and everybody else in between,” say some Chicagoans who went there as teens in the ...

Chicago’s Buckingham Fountain and Why the City’s Got So Many Alleys

01 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Growing up, one listener heard tales about how an engineer was hidden inside Chicago’s Buckingham Fountain in order to make sure the water spouts ou...

The Underground Railroad in Chicago and Illinois

25 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Abolitionists in Chicago and Illinois helped freedom seekers reach Canada, and freedom.

What happened to Chicago's Japanese community?

18 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Lakeview once had a thriving Japanese community, but it fell victim to a push for assimilation. As one Japanese-American puts it: “You had to basica...

Birdwatching Off The Beaten Path In Chicago

11 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tips and tricks for spotting and enjoying birds in Chicago, from far flung marshes, to one birder’s window.

How to Start a Community Garden in Chicago

04 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Find out how the folks behind El Paseo Community Garden in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood changed a contaminated site into a space for neighbors to gro...

Chicago in 1910, and the City’s Long Rivalry with New York

28 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A tourist to Chicago in 1910 might have gone to see hogs being butchered, sought illicit pleasure in Chicago’s vice district, or simply enjoyed the ...

Florence Price and the Chicago Black Renaissance

21 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As a classical composer and a Black woman, Florence Price blended African and European music into a new style of symphonic music.

Four Dances Invented in Chicago and One Traditional Dance Chicagoans Keep Alive

14 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We track down the band members, musicians and dancers who popularized dances in Chicago, and meet the people who keep La Danza Azteca alive in Pilsen.

How the “Red Summer” of 1919 led to a more segregated Chicago

07 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Curious City takes a deep dive into how Chicago’s powerful white institutions – from the police and the politicians to the banks and the realtors ...

Traveling Parties: A Queer Chicago Culture of Partying as Resistance

30 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The history of traveling queer parties in Chicago is rooted in exclusion and racism. This week, we spoke with Pat McCombs and Vera Washington — long...

Are there guardian angels at the Chicago Public Library?

23 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Thinking about the next book you want to read? Librarians are way ahead of you. Find out how new books make their way in the Chicago Public Library sy...

Nicky's And The Big Baby: A South Side Burger Mystery

16 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Dozens of unconnected fast food joins serve up the same popular Chicago cheeseburger under the same name.

The Hard Work of Collecting Scrap Metal for a Living

09 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Chicago's scrap metal industry relies on small scale collectors, called scrappers, who scout for metal castoffs to sell and recycle.

The Story Behind “Go Cubs Go” And The Man Who Wrote It

02 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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

Putting on a Chicago race requires fees, permits and patience

26 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Each year tens of thousands of people take part in 5ks, 10ks, half-marathons and all kinds of walking and running events in Chicago. But how does one...

Signs of Spring: From Screechy Recorders To Sprouting Weeds

19 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Two sure signs of spring in the Chicago area are end-of-year band concerts at schools, and plants beginning to grow. This week we revisit a couple of ...

How often do judges get voted out of office?

12 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Editor's note: This episode has been updated with new statements from Judge Matthew Coghlan. Every election, after breezing through their choices for ...

The Story Of Chicago’s Polish Constitution Day Parade

05 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

For more than a century, Chicago’s Polish community has celebrated Polish unity and identity at the annual Polish Constitution Day Parade. This yea...

What Happened To The Crows?

28 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A listener thought she’d noticed a change in Chicago’s crow population. And she was right. Twenty two years ago, the crow population of Illinois ...

The Fight For Disability Rights In Chicago

21 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes, when Mike Ervin sees other wheelchair users about to board the bus or enter a train station in Chicago, he wants to catch up to them and sa...

Are Chicagoans True Midwesterners?

14 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Geographically, Chicago is smack in the middle of the Midwest. But not everyone seems to think that’s enough to make us “real” Midwesterners. Is...

What's It Like To Be In A Youth Orchestra?

07 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This season 800 students will be a part of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra’s programs. They’ll come from across the state of Illinois but als...

Chicago Teens Open Up About Race Stereotypes And Dating

31 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Students from different racial and ethnic backgrounds may go to the same high school, but this doesn’t guarantee they won’t cling to stereotypes a...

What Happens When A Pothole Damages Your Car

24 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Chicago’s streets are covered in asphalt and the city pays out a lot of money to drivers whose cars have been damaged by the poor condition of our r...

A Quest To Find Chicago’s ‘Lizard Mound’

17 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A Curious City fan asked us about an odd detail on an old Chicago map. Was it really a Native American burial mound? Producer Jesse Dukes went on a qu...

The History Behind Chicago's Free Theater

10 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Free Theater was an ensemble group that put on non-traditional, avant-garde theatrical productions in Chicago from 1968 to 1974. Like its name sug...

Do real people win WBEZ pledge drive giveaways?

03 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

One Curious City listener was skeptical about whether real people actually win WBEZ’s pledge drive giveaways. They do. But there’s a little more t...

Chicago's Old Morton Salt Warehouse Becomes A Music Venue

24 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Chicago has budgeted about 18 million dollars for salt for the winter 2022. And the city gets all that salt from one vendor: Morton Salt. Now, the co...

An Aldi closes and a Chicago neighborhood is reeling from the impact

17 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Last year the Garfield Park Aldi closed after 30 years, leaving thousands of West Siders without a nearby grocery store where they can buy affordable,...

The Origins of Chicago’s Rivalry With New York

10 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Chicago’s got a new ad campaign the city hopes will showcase Chicago’s influence around the globe. It reminded us of a question we answered about ...

People Who Quit Their Jobs During COVID Share Their Stories

03 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

By now you’ve probably pretty familiar with that term the “Great Resignation.” We asked our listeners why they quit their jobs and how they’re...

What Is Life Like In Chicago-Area Trailer Parks?

27 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Chicagoans call lots of places home. We live in two-flats, three-flats, bungalows and skyscrapers. And hundreds of households live in Chicago’s only...

Are There Any Nuclear Fallout Shelters Left in Chicago?

20 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

During the Cold War, many Americans were convinced that the end was near, building concrete bunkers to protect themselves from a nuclear attack. Whate...

How Do Chicagoans Cope With Winter Stress? Especially Now?

13 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Curious City’s new reporter Adriana Cardona-Maguigad braves the freezing temperatures to find out how Chicagoans are getting through the stress of w...

A Day At Marriage and Civil Union Court

06 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Reporter Araceli Gómez-Aldana spent the day in Marriage and Civil Union Court in downtown Chicago where she met all kinds of couples who were there t...

Chicago Rat Tales: Live at the Hideout

30 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we head to the Hideout in Chicago for an evening of storytelling around rats. Jesse Dukes, Curious City’s lead rat reporter shares s...

A Bygone Chicago Nightclub And Christmas Tree Vendors

23 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this week’s episode we’re revisiting a couple of holiday stories. Reporter Monica Eng answers a question about a shuttered Chicago jazz bar tha...

Without Native Americans, Would We Have Chicago As We Know It?

16 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Native Americans farmed, developed trade routes and took advantage of Chicago’s geography before anyone else settled in the region. Yet Chicago hist...

Why Aren't There Any Federal Indian Reservations In Illinois?

09 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Chicago region was home to a number of Native American nations, and Illinois’ native history is rich and varied. But unlike neighboring states l...

Do Speed Humps Work?

02 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Every driver in Chicago has probably encountered a speed hump (yep, they are officially known as humps, not bumps) at some point while traversing the ...

What's Up With All Those Billboard Ads For Lawyers?

25 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Lawyer selfies line the interstate between Illinois and Indiana. Curious City took a road trip and counted almost a hundred in one stretch of I-90/94....

Chicago Movie Locations

18 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Chicago has served as the backdrop for blockbuster films like “The Blues Brothers,” “The Dark Knight,” and “The Break-Up.” But just when d...

The Making Of Polish Chicago

11 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We all know Chicago has a strong Polish community. But how did it get that way? And just how Polish is this city, really? Reporter Jesse Dukes finds t...

A Split Pea Dilemma And The Chicago-Style Hot Dog

04 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A listener noticed that diner after diner seemed to serve split pea soup every Wednesday. So is he really onto something? Reporter Linda Lutton invest...

The Halloween Episode: Munger Road

28 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this week’s episode Curious City investigates the origins of the Munger Road haunting. Like any good ghost story, there are several versions of t...

Chicago Is Where Black Cinema Took Root

21 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Chicago was like Hollywood before Hollywood became the movie capital we know today. And Black directors were an important part of that early industry....

The Pilsen Episode

14 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood was first settled by Irish and German immigrants who were soon supplanted by a large influx of Czech immigrants. They ...

Three Buildings That Survived The Great Chicago Fire

07 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Great Chicago Fire, which lasted from October 8th to October 10th, 1871, destroyed most of Chicago from what is today Roosevelt Road up to Fullert...

Lucy Parsons, The 'Goddess Of Anarchy'

30 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Called "more dangerous than a thousand rioters" by the Chicago Police Department, Lucy Parsons was a radical socialist, a labor organizer, and a power...

What’s The History Of Religious Exemptions To Vaccines?

23 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

While resistance to vaccine mandates goes back 200 years but state laws allowing for religious exemptions were rare until the 1960s. And faith leaders...

Why Are The Cicadas So Loud And Chicago’s Livestock

16 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The cicadas seem really loud this year around one listener’s home. But are they louder than usual? Are there more of them? Producer Jason Marck find...

The White Sox Logo And How The Chicago Bears Got Their Nickname

09 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When a 22-year-old executive came up with the iconic White Sox logo, he probably never imagined it becoming a hip-hop fashion sensation. Nearly 27 ye...

How Do Chicago’s Most Tenacious Weeds Grow?

02 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Tenacious weeds like buckthorn, milkweed and goldenrod grow everywhere in Chicago from railroad tracks to sidewalk cracks. Reporter Natalie Dalea find...

A Chicago Historian Tackles Your Questions About The City

26 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Historian Dominic Pacyga shares his encyclopedic knowledge of Chicago history and answers questions about everything from breweries to slaughterhouses...

Chicago’s Fishing Industry And Some Stargazing Spots

19 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Chicago once had a booming commercial fishing industry. Lawrence’s Fish and Shrimp is one of the last vestiges of that industry--serving up all kind...

Chicago’s Steak And Lemonade Combo And Those Structures On The Lake

12 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The beef sandwich and slushy drink combo are sold together all across the South and West sides of Chicago. Reporter Monica Eng tracks down the guy who...

The Union Workers Who Created Those Infamous Rat Balloons

05 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Scabby the Rat is now common on picket lines around the world, but the balloon started right here in the Chicago area. This week on the show, we dig i...

Paletas and Paleteros: The Art of the Cart

29 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Paletero Victor Cruz says selling popsicles takes “patience.” Curious City learns the tricks of the trade.

Where Did Chicagoans Go To Drink During Prohibition?

22 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Curious City, we’re visiting the spots where Chicagoans would enjoy their beer and spirits during Prohibition.

Chicago’s Tornado-Proof Delusion

15 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In 1967 a tornado hit the Chicago suburb of Oak Lawn. It’s been a defining moment in the village’s history. Thirty three people were killed that d...

How Clean Is The Water At Chicago’s Beaches?

08 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s that time of the year where we can all finally hit the beach. But our listeners have a lot of questions about Chicago’s beaches. Like, how cl...

What’s The Deal With ‘Midwest Nice?’

01 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The common stereotype for Midwesterners is that we’re polite, friendly...and passive-aggressive. But is there any truth to that? Reporter Andrew Mer...

What’s Happening With Chicago’s Toxic Lead Service Lines?

24 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Illinois passed a new law last month that sets a deadline for the state to replace all of its toxic lead service lines -- those pipes that deliver dri...

A Gardener Pushes For Legislation To Help Extend The Growing Season

17 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Last year we met Elmhurst gardener Nicole Virgil, who was fighting for the right to put up a hoop house in her garden. A hoop house is an inexpensive ...

“Living In Gotham City.” How Some Musicians Survived A Shuttered Industry

10 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As Illinois reopens, Chicago area artists Lori Lippitz of the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band, Lynne Jordan of Lynne Jordan and the Shivers, Juan Dies of ...

What’s The History Of Chicago-Style Giardiniera?

03 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Curious City’s Monica Eng investigates the origins of Chicago’s favorite spicy condiment: giardiniera. This humble jar of veggies packed in oil h...

Why Chicago Suburb Names Lie About Their Elevation

27 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In the notoriously flat Chicago region, what gives with names like Chicago Heights, Mount Prospect and Park Ridge?

Safe At Work: The Life Of Alice Hamilton

20 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Scientist Alice Hamilton’s investigations into toxins in Chicago’s factories led to some of the first workplace safety laws in the country. She wa...

WBEZ’s Beginnings With The Board Of Education

13 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

WBEZ, where Curious City gets produced, actually began as a radio station that broadcast educational programs for kids. In this week’s episode Monic...

Can Anyone Propose Legislation To City Council?

06 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Little-known fact: in Chicago, you don’t need to be an elected official to propose legislation to City Council. But does this process really work? H...

Who Tolls The Bells In Chicago?

29 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you hear church bells ring in the Chicago-area, it’s likely they’re automated. Some bell systems are pneumatic or electronic. Others pipe digit...

Art, Protest And The Trial Of The Chicago 8

22 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In 1969, Chicago was home to one of history’s most high-profile trials. Known as the Trial of the Chicago 8 — and sometimes the Trial of the Chica...

Chicago's Hillbilly Heaven

14 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Why tens of thousands of Southern migrants made the Uptown neighborhood home, only to leave a short time later. And WBEZ's Natalie Moore tells us abou...

How Bagels Got To Chicago And Where To Eat Them

08 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Curious City reporter Monica Eng and editor Alexandra Salomon try to help one listener who claims NY has better bagels find some good ones in Chicago....

Three Historic Chicago Hoaxes And Pranks

01 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Chicago historian Paul Durica shares famous ruses, hoaxes and stunts pulled by (and on) local media.

The Environmental Impacts Of The Chicago River Reversal

25 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We dug into the Curious City archives and pulled out one of our favorites, a story about the Chicago River. Chicago’s bold maneuver to reverse the C...

COVID-19, One Year Later

18 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve reached the one-year anniversary of Chicago’s stay-at-home order. From schools going virtual to plastic shields lining the grocery store che...

A History Of Chicago Music Venues With Musician Andrew Bird

11 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Curious City podcast we revisit a live show reporter Monica Eng hosted in early 2020 with Do312Chicago and singer-songwriter Andrew B...

Who Was Billy Sunday?

04 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Curious City podcast we dig back into the archives to share one of our favorite stories about the song made famous by Frank Sinatra, ...

Why The Sweet Steak Is The “Most Chicago” Sandwich

25 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Though little known on the North Side of Chicago, the sweet steak has been attracting long lines of fans to South Side eateries for 50 years now. The ...

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

18 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

One Curious Citizen wanted to know what people who moved to Chicago love about the city. From fireflies to the way people walk, we hear what transplan...

What’s Up With All Those Billboard Ads For Lawyers?

11 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Curious City took a road trip and counted almost a hundred billboard ads for lawyers along I-90/94 on the border between Illinois and Indiana. Audio ...

From Plastic Bags To Hot Potatoes: Hacks For Staying Warm This Winter

04 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Chicago winters can be long and brutal. Curious City’s Monica Eng spoke with postal workers and other Chicagoans who spend a lot of time outdoors ab...

Why You Should Skip Delivery Apps And Other Ways To Support Local Businesses

28 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A listener wanted to know some practical things he could do to support struggling businesses. Monica Eng shares tips from industry experts on how to s...

Why Are There So Many Thai Restaurants In Chicago?

21 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we hear why Chicago has so many Thai restaurants and a renowned Thai chef offers up some tips for how to get the full experience of Thai cui...

Did All Chicagoans Support The Civil War?

14 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this week’s episode we revisit a question we first answered in 2018. What was Chicago’s response to the Civil War? Chicagoans support for the w...

Why The 1992 Loop Flood Is The Most Chicago Story Ever

07 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On April 13, 1992, Chicago was struck by a man-made natural disaster. The Great Chicago Flood of 1992 occurred completely underground and, fortunately...