It’s a great week for food in Chicago with Restaurant Week 2024 starting Friday. Hundreds of restaurants across the city will feature special tasting menus, giving Chicagoans the chance to try new spots and dishes. It’s also a great time to try foods that were created here in Chicago that you may have not tried yet. Last year, host Jacoby Cochran sat down with Monica Eng and David Hammond, authors of "Made in Chicago: Stories Behind 30 Great Hometown Bites" to talk about favorite Chicago foods, ...
Jan 17, 2024•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Chicago Magazine put out a list of 13 predictions for this year. They include the Cubs playoff fate, Madigan’s corruption case outcome, and even who will win the 2024 presidential election. Producer Michelle Navarro and host Jacoby Cochran read the list and share which they agree with, which they aren’t feeling, and make their own 2024 predictions. Plus, tickets for Chicago Theatre Week 2024 are on sale. We preview a few shows we’re excited to see! Good News: Tomorrow Never Knows Fest Want some ...
Jan 16, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Back in October, the city projected it would spend more than $360 million in 2023 to care for the thousands of asylum-seekers living in Chicago. Now the administration says it only spent $138 million. Why were these figures so different and what does this mean for the Johnson administration’s plan to house migrants in 2024? WTTW’s Heather Cherone is here with receipts to help us make sense of the city’s spending plan. Plus, we discuss what’s next for convicted former Alder Ed. Burke, a planned s...
Jan 12, 2024•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Martin Luther King Jr. Day is celebrated across the country, but his legacy is particularly special to Chicago. In January of 1966, King moved to North Lawndale to work with the Chicago Freedom Movement to raise awareness of dangerous living conditions, housing segregation and discrimination faced by Black Chicagoans. Historian and author Tammy Gibson tells executive producer Simone Alicea about Martin Luther King Jr.’s time in Chicago and the Chicago Freedom Movement’s legacy today. Vote City C...
Jan 11, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Whether for health or environmental reasons, many Chicagoans may be looking to eat less meat and more plant-based foods in 2024. And even though the city is known for hot dogs and Italian beef, Chicago has also been a hub for vegan and vegetarian restaurants for decades. Soul Veg City in Chatham has been serving up vegan soul food for more than 40 years. Owners Lori Seay and Arel Brown talk with executive producer Simone Alicea about their favorite spots in the city and how to start small. Some ...
Jan 10, 2024•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s corruption trial has been delayed about six months because of a U.S. Supreme Court case out of Northwest Indiana.The case centers on former Portage Mayor James Snyder, who was convicted of bribery in 2021. The judge in Madigan’s case wants to avoid retrial and wait on a decision, which is expected this summer. Executive producer Simone Alicea and producer Michelle Navarro talk about the case’s implications on corruption trials in Chicago and Illinois,...
Jan 09, 2024•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast More than 14,000 migrants are staying at shelters across the city. A recent investigation by Borderless Magazine found that migrants staying at the city's largest shelter described inhumane and unsanitary conditions, leaving them vulnerable to illness. Borderless editorial director Mauricio Peña talks about the living conditions of the Pilsen shelter site and tells producer Michelle Navarro how the city is responding and what’s next for migrants facing new deadlines to leave city shelters. This ...
Jan 08, 2024•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Between a resolution suggesting Chicago could move away from school choice and reports indicating police officers could be removed from schools next fall, the school board seems to be gearing up for big moves in 2024. Chalkbeat Chicago’s Becky Vevea and Block Club Chicago’s Maxwell Evans discuss that along with a bike path coming to the far South Side, schools with “Exemplary” designations, and how postal problems could affect internet service in South Shore. Plus, a couple of good news stories ...
Jan 05, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s National Trivia Day, so what better way to celebrate than with a little Chicago history quiz. What underwear were first sold in Chicago? When did the city reverse the direction of the river? What were some of Chicago’s biggest snowstorms? Executive producer Simone Alicea hosts as producer Michelle Navarro and newsletter editor Sidney Madden face off on questions about January events in Chicago history. Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago news...
Jan 04, 2024•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast There are already so many foods to eat in Chicago, but with the new year comes new spots to try. Host Jacoby Cochran talks with Eater Chicago editor Ashok Selvam to learn more about anticipated openings, the end of the tipped minimum wage, and other industry predictions for 2024. Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicago You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246 Interested in advertising with City ...
Jan 03, 2024•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast The new year is here, and we have a guide for enjoying Chicago in January to start it off right. Host Jacoby Cochran and executive producer Simone Alicea are here to talk about winter tips, new year's resolutions, Martin Luther King Jr. Day events throughout the city and Chicago Restaurant Week. Check out MLK Day events at Hyde Park Art Center, the Chicago History museum, and the Museum of Industry and Science plus days of service at Dan Ryan Wood, in Bronzeville, and in North Lawndale Want some...
Jan 02, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s been a long week and long year of tough news stories. But now it’s the Friday before New Year’s, and it’s time to party. That makes it a great time to revisit our guide to Chicago’s nightlife with WBEZ audience engagement manager Taylor Faye Nazon from February. They’ve got the best picks for dancing all night, sipping elaborate cocktails, and grabbing late-night eats. Vote City Cast Chicago as Best Podcast and Hey Chicago as Best Newsletter in the Chicago Reader’s Best of 2023. Want some m...
Dec 29, 2023•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast This year marked a decade since the nation’s largest mass school closure. In 2013, 50 Chicago schools were closed for good, sending shockwaves through the city’s Black and brown neighborhoods. As we look back on big stories from 2023, we’re revisiting this conversation from June with Eve Ewing, author of “Ghosts in the Schoolyard: Racism and School Closings on Chicago’s South Side.” Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @cityca...
Dec 28, 2023•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Far South Siders have been pushing for decades to extend the city’s busiest train line. Promises have failed to materialize, but a $2 billion federal grant awarded this year, key City Council approvals, and the announcement of construction finalists make the Red Line extension closer than ever. That makes this one of the most significant stories of 2023. Earlier this summer, host Jacoby Cochran talked with CTA’s TaNesheha Marshall and Andrea Reed with the Greater Roseland Chamber of Commerce abo...
Dec 27, 2023•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast All eyes have been on Mayor Brandon Johnson since he was elected in April, becoming the first Black man to lead Chicago in 40 years. As we look back on the biggest stories of 2023, we’re revisiting the conversation host Jacoby Cochran had with Johnson as a candidate. Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicago You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find mo...
Dec 26, 2023•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast Former 14th Ward Ald. Ed Burke was found guilty Thursday of racketeering, bribery, and attempted extortion. Host Jacoby Cochran, executive producer Simone Alicea, and producer Michelle Navarro break down the city’s latest corruption trial. They also discuss conditions at the city’s largest migrant shelter in Pilsen, after a 5-year-old child who was living there died this week. Plus, the team shares some of our favorite good news stories from 2023. Did you hear? You can now become a member of Cit...
Dec 22, 2023•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast With the holidays right around the corner and family and friends coming in to visit, we want to ensure that we are the perfect hosts and guides to showcase everything the city has to offer. Host Jacoby Cochran talks to Mike McMains, owner of his own tour company Tours With Mike to learn how to craft the perfect itinerary for your out-of-town visitors from must-see architecture to rooftop views. Good News: Check out The Not That Late Show, a monthly variety show at the Newport Theater in Lakeview...
Dec 21, 2023•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Whether it was a new hot spot, an iconic tasting menu, or a neighborhood gem, host Jacoby Cochran ate a lot of good food in Chicago this year. He talks with The Infatuation Chicago’s Adrian Kane and John Ringor about 2023’s best new restaurants, favorite dishes, and what to look forward to next year. You have just three days to become a founding member of City Cast Chicago to support your favorite podcast. Will you join today? Good News: Links Hall is home to the 33rd Annual Winter Solstice Conc...
Dec 20, 2023•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast There is a lot of pressure this time of year to find the perfect gift for all of your loved ones — from parents, to friends, to romantic partners, to the kids in your life. And on top of that, Chicago has so many local shops to choose from. Host Jacoby Cochran, executive producer Simone Alicea, producer Michelle Navarro, and newsletter editor Sidney Madden shared their favorite shops around the city and tips for finding the perfect gift no matter who you’re shopping for. Nomadic Ant Midwest Nice...
Dec 19, 2023•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast From housing new arrivals to electing a new mayor to some extreme weather events, it was a big year in Chicago news. Executive producer Simone Alicea and host Jacoby Cochran recap what happened and what we expect in 2024. Plus, we discuss some of our favorite episodes of the year. Good News: What Makes Chicago Roller Skaters The Best and Benny the Bull Shows Us Why He’s the GOAT Did you hear? You can now become a member of City Cast Chicago — Join now to support your favorite Chicago podcast and...
Dec 18, 2023•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Earlier this week, Chicago public school leaders announced intentions to deprioritize the city’s system of school choice and refocus on investments in neighborhood schools. According to Chalkbeat Chicago, “this marks the first time the board has formally stated it wants to move away from selective admissions and enrollment policies.” We are joined by professor and author Arionne Nettles and Axios reporter Carrie Shepherd to discuss the Chicago Board of Education's resolution. Plus, we discuss Ci...
Dec 15, 2023•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast From global tours to local albums to buzz-worthy TV and fashion, 2023 has been a great year for pop culture in Chicago. City Cast marketing director Caroline Patton and marketing coordinator Jermaine Thomas talk with host Jacoby Cochran about some favorite moments of the year. Did you hear? You can now become a member of City Cast Chicago — Join now to support your favorite Chicago podcast and ensure we can keep bringing you the conversations that matter! Vote City Cast Chicago as Best Podcast a...
Dec 14, 2023•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast From big brands like Nabisco, Kraft, and Kellogg to local ones like Garrett Popcorn and Jays Chips, Chicago is home to a lot of popular snacks. Host Jacoby Cochran and producer Michelle Navarro talk about snacks the city has to offer, what their favorites were growing up, and if the new Vitner’s “original recipe” Hot Crunchy Kurls really taste like the original. Did you hear? You can now become a member of City Cast Chicago — Join now to support your favorite Chicago podcast and ensure we can ke...
Dec 13, 2023•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Bears’ search for a new home is making headlines once again just before the end of the year as reports surface that the team is looking into whether they could build a new stadium in the south parking lot of Soldier Field. Executive producer Simone Alicea and host Jacoby Cochran are running through the Bears’ current options on the table and discuss potential pushback to a new lakefront stadium. Plus, we’ve got unique memberships to give for the holidays and our Christkindlmarket mug final f...
Dec 12, 2023•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Every year on the evening of Dec. 11, hundreds of thousands of Catholics and other pilgrims walk to Des Plaines to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 12. People from all over travel by car, horseback or foot to visit the shrine, which holds the only authorized replica of the painting from the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. Host Jacoby Cochran talks to Father Esequiel Sanchez to learn more about the significance of the shrine and to Cynthia Alanis, whose famil...
Dec 11, 2023•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, Gov. JB Pritzker paused and then officially shut down construction of a tent camp for new arrivals in Brighton Park citing environmental concerns. City Hall must now propose a new location to house thousands of migrants. Both offices blamed the other with the Johnson administration blaming unclear state environmental standards and Pritzker’s office arguing city officials failed to engage the state’s environmental protection agency. South Side Weekly’s Chima "Naira" Ikoro and the Tribu...
Dec 08, 2023•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Mayor’s Youth Commission is a group of Chicagoans ages 14 to 19 who work to advise the mayor and city leaders. It was founded in 2019 by former Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Host Jacoby Cochran talks to Benjamin Kagan, who is the chair of the commission's public health group, and Precious Adedokun of the community safety group to learn what it’s like to be a teenager advising public officials and city actors. Vote in the first round of our Christkindlmarket mug bracket by noon today. Good News: 4 Wr...
Dec 07, 2023•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mindy Segal is one of Chicago’s most recognizable chefs, the owner of Mindy’s Bakery in Wicker Park, and the namesake behind Mindy’s World’s Best Tasting Edibles. Host Jacoby Cochran talks to Mindy to learn more about how she combined her love for pastries and cannabis to create her edibles and to hear Mindy’s recommendations for home bakers. Some good news: Debauchery Ball Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicago...
Dec 06, 2023•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Gov. JB Pritzker temporarily paused construction Monday on a migrant base camp in Brighton Park following an environmental assessment that showed mercury and other contaminants in the area. While the city says the site will be safe with remediation, state officials and neighbors have questions. Host Jacoby Cochran and executive producer Simone Alicea break down the latest, along with their picks in our Christkindlmarket mug bracket and how well they did on a constitution quiz for Illinois eighth...
Dec 05, 2023•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s official, we are in the home stretch of 2023. But before we make our New Year's resolutions, we’ve got a guide for enjoying Chicago in December. Executive producer Simone Alicea, producer Michelle Navarro, and host Jacoby Cochran are here to talk about what to look out for this month. We’ve got outdoor activities, CTA heat lamp etiquette, gift suggestions, and upcoming holiday closures for key Chicago services. Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chi...
Dec 04, 2023•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
