Has The Stay-At-Home Order Improved Chicago’s Air Quality?
With less traffic on the roads and some businesses shut, one Curious Citizen wonders if the air we’re breathing is any cleaner.
May 10, 2020•8 min
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Episodes
Our Daughter Is A Nurse On The Front Lines Of The Coronavirus Pandemic
Life Interrupted is a new weekly series from Curious City about daily life in Chicago during the pandemic. In today's episode, as their daughter treats COVID-19 patients in intensive care, Suzie and Bob Pschirrer wonder if military families feel the same mix of pride and fear.
May 06, 2020•5 min
Who Created The Cook County Forest Preserves?
Around the turn of the century, the great American wilderness was disappearing. That’s when an architect named Dwight Perkins devised an ambitious plan to save Chicagoland’s natural treasures — by creating the state’s first forest preserves. . Over the next 15 years, Perkins would weather legal battles and partisan squabbling in pursuit of his vision.
May 03, 2020•12 min
I Started Sewing Clothes For My Barbies — Now I’m Sewing Face Masks
Life Interrupted is a new weekly series from Curious City about daily life in Chicago during the pandemic. In today's episode, Lucy Keating first learned to sew on her grandmother’s Singer sewing machine. Today, she’s reviving her skills to make masks for COVID-19.
Apr 29, 2020•5 min
Looking For Quarantine Recipes? Try This Chicago-Invented Dish
Two Albany Park chefs turned a Chinese-Korean chicken dish into a signature Chicago food. Listen to the history, then go to wbez.org/curiouscity for recipes to make at home.
Apr 26, 2020•4 min
Your Stories Of Love And Dating During COVID-19
Whether you’re single or in a decades-long relationship, it’s likely coronavirus has had an impact on your love life. With Illinois’ “stay-at-home” order and new social distancing rules in place, the pandemic has fundamentally changed how we’re supposed to interact with one another, and that can include our romantic partners. Now, some couples are unexpectedly navigating long distance because of quarantine; other single folk are trying out virtual dates now that bars and restaurants are closed. ...
Apr 19, 2020•15 min
This Synagogue's Story Mirrors The History Of Jewish Migration Across Chicago
As many Chicagoans celebrate Passover, we’re sharing a story about the history of Chicago’s Jewish community through one congregation.
Apr 11, 2020•15 min
Pets And COVID-19: What You Need To Know
Chicagoans have become familiar with how COVID-19 is spread from person to person and what types of safety measures they should be taking during this time. But WBEZ has gotten several questions from pet owners who are wondering about the risks to their furry friends, things like-- are cats and dogs susceptible to the virus and who will care for my pet if I get hospitalized with COVID-19? Scientists recently confirmed the first cases of COVID-19 in domestic pets- two cats and two dogs. But scienc...
Apr 05, 2020•18 min
How To Safely Enjoy The Outdoors During COVID-19
Governor Pritzker’s “stay-at-home” order has left lots of Chicagoans wondering how they can safely enjoy the outdoors during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the city’s lakefront, adjacent parks, the 606 and Riverwalk have been closed because people were congregating in large groups, many natural areas in the region remain open. So people can still go outside to walk, run or bike ride, as long as they remain six feet away from other individuals. If these rules are followed, experts say spending tim...
Mar 28, 2020•9 min
How To Eat Safely During The Coronavirus Crisis: Tips, Resources, FAQs
WBEZ is answering lots of your other frequently asked questions about the COVID-19 outbreak in Illinois here . Life in Chicago has changed dramatically this past week, from schools and restaurants closing to evolving policies around social distancing and public events. As Chicagoans — and most people across the country — hunker down at home over the next few weeks, Curious City is answering questions about how to safely deal with food, cooking and eating during coronavirus. Please keep in mind t...
Mar 19, 2020•4 min
Chicago’s Got 1 Thai Restaurant For About Every 33 Thai People: How Come?
Fourteen-year-old Evan Robinson is a Chicago foodie — you might have even seen him on Master Chef Junior . Over the years, when he’s gone to see his orthodontist on 55th Street in Hyde Park, he’s noticed a tasty mystery. “We always see all these different Thai restaurants,” he says, referring to Snail Thai Cuisine, Siam Thai Cuisine and Thai 55 Restaurant.. “I think that’s crazy that there are three [within] one block right here.” Evan’s dad, Christopher, has lived in a lot of Chicago neighborho...
Mar 15, 2020•5 min
'South Side Stories': The Legend Of Harold’s
This curated episode from WBEZ and Comedy Central’s South Side Stories explores why every Harold’s chicken tastes different.
Mar 08, 2020•23 min
Chicago’s ‘Dibs’ Tradition Can Get Dirty, And Even Dangerous
Police records show that dibs disputes have led to everything from broken mirrors to life-threatening acts of retaliation.
Mar 01, 2020•8 min
Who Wrote The Song About The Cow That Started The Great Chicago Fire?
It’s sung everywhere from summer camps to soccer games. We dig into the song’s contested origins, and how it became such a hit.
Feb 23, 2020•10 min
From Chop Suey Houses To Saloons: What Was Chicago’s Foodie Scene Like In The Early 20th Century?
From raw celery to “milk toast,” we explore the biggest food fads of the era — and the restaurants that served them.
Feb 16, 2020•14 min
Red Line To Your Heart: What Makes Chicago's Dating Scene Distinct?
We explore a phenomenon called “cuffing” and the (short) lengths Chicagoans will go for love.
Feb 09, 2020•8 min
Little Eddie's Field Trip: The Union Stock Yards Through the Eyes of an Eighth Grader
Back in the 1940s, Chicago school kids took local field trips that would be unthinkable today.
Feb 02, 2020•4 min
Are Chicagoans True Midwesterners?
Chicago is geographically in the Midwest. But many people believe that being “Midwestern” is something else entirely.
Jan 26, 2020•9 min
Chicago Winter Warmth Tips: From Extra Gloves To Hot Potatoes
From mail carriers to photographers, we asked people who spend a lot of time in the cold how they stay warm.
Jan 19, 2020•9 min
What’s The Deal With ‘Midwest Nice?’
The common stereotype for Midwesterners is that we’re polite, friendly...and passive-aggressive. But is there any truth to that?
Jan 12, 2020•8 min
What Happens To The Lincoln Park Zoo Animals In The Winter?
Do the animals go somewhere warm, like Florida? Does the zoo give them coats? We took a behind-the-scene tour of the zoo to find out.
Jan 04, 2020•4 min
Signs Of The Times: How Chicago Bars Got So Many Old Style Signs
We uncover the history and bask in the glow of a ubiquitous Chicago bar sign.
Dec 29, 2019•9 min
Why Is Gambling Banned On The CTA?
Commuters are regularly hit with the announcement “Gambling is prohibited on CTA trains.” We find the reason behind the rule and look for those who inspired it.
Dec 22, 2019•13 min
To Dibs Or Not To Dibs? The Essential Chicago Question
We answer your most pressing questions about Chicago’s controversial winter tradition.
Dec 15, 2019•9 min
How Do You Solve A Problem Like Lead Pipes? Lessons From Cities Getting It Done
Rust Belt cities tackling their lead problems offer advice for Chicago on funding, public education and getting political buy-in.
Dec 08, 2019•13 min
Christmas Tree Lots: Who Are The Folks Who Keep The Season Bright?
"It’s fast, it’s furious and it’s over in about three and a half weeks."
Dec 01, 2019•8 min
City On Fire: Chicago Race Riot 1919
Chicago’s "Red Summer" of 1919 comes alive in this radio drama from WBEZ's Natalie Moore. It’s history with a twist.
Nov 24, 2019•28 min
Chicago Police Hope To Build Trust With Experiment In Community Policing
With trust in police at a historic low, the Chicago Police Department’s latest community policing initiative puts relationship building at its center.
Nov 17, 2019•10 min
Little Fingers And Screechy Sounds: Why Do So Many Kids Learn To Play The Recorder?
The recorder often inflicts squeaky torture on parents. Music teacher Valerie DePriest explains why it became a staple in music education.
Nov 10, 2019•9 min
Ida B. Wells’ Lasting Impact On Chicago Politics And Power
She’s best known for her anti-lynching work in the South, but Wells spent nearly four decades advancing black equality in Chicago.
Nov 03, 2019•12 min
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