2014 Year Review

It's time for ye olde Year End Review, a special look back at the highs and lows in Chicago over the past year. And congratulations to Deborah F. for winning the Soup and Bread cookbook giveaway! 

We're excited to be back in 2015 and to get started on our 4th year of bringing you the people who make Chicago go. Have a wonderful holiday season and happy a new year!

63 - Business Partners, the Chamber for Uptown

Sarah Brune, Associate Director for Business Partners, the Chamber for Uptown. In this episode, Sarah tells us all about what a chamber of commerce does, shares what's happening in Uptown (spoiler alert: there is no rat king), invites Chicagoans to make use of their turn signals and shares a place to go in the city where you'll feel a million miles away.

Want to share a Chicago secret? Want to lodge a complaint on Listen Up Chicago? Write to us at yourchicagopodcast@gmail.com or call 773-234-5573.

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62 - Soup and Bread

Meet Martha Bayne, founder of Soup and Bread a free weekly community meal and hunger relief fundraiser. In this episode, Martha talks about what it takes to bring together cooks and locals for food and fundraising each week, gives Rahm a good talking to and encourages us all to get out of our shells and hang out in Humboldt Park.

We're giving away a signed copy of Martha's book Soup and Bread Cookbook: Building Community One Pot at a Time

 

It's easy to win. Just e-mail us and put the name of your favorite soup in the subject line (recipe not required but we won't stop you!).

Soup and Bread meets every Wednesday from 5:30-8 at the Hideout. You can find Soup and Bread online and also Martha Bayne online.

We're online too! Write to us at yourchicagopodcast@gmail.com or call 773-234-5573.

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61 - Your Music 2

Meet some of the local bands in Chicago in another Your Music episode!

This week we bring you

Tens
The Limbos
The Mizzerables (featured on ep. 60)

Full disclosure: Stefania knows someone in each of these bands because she's just that popular.

Are you a band that would like to be featured on our show? E-mail us at yourchicagopodcast@gmail.com

60 - The Mizzerables

Meet Joe Mizzi, founder and lead singer of The Mizzerables. In this episode Joe talks about starting a band in Chicago, the painful cost of parking and people watching at after work bars.

You can find Joe on Twitter and on his own podcast, the Whoacast (where you can also hear Stefania!)

Want to share a Chicago secret? Want to lodge a complaint on Listen Up Chicago? Write to us at yourchicagopodcast@gmail.com or call 773-234-5573.

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59 - Cloud Gate Productions

Meet Fred Pelzer, producing partner for Cloud Gate productions and show runner for the web series Losers. In this episode, Fred talks about the momentous task of taking on a web series in the city, points us to another great Chicago based webseries (Young Couples) and helps us solve the Chicago Public School crisis. Here's a hint:

Good news! Arden found her camera. Just...not in time for this recording. Or the next one.

You can find Cloud Gate here. Losers here. And Fred here.

And you can find us lots of places too.

Want to share a Chicago secret? Want to lodge a complaint on Listen Up Chicago? Write to us at yourchicagopodcast@gmail.com or call 773-234-5573.

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58 - Outside the Loop Radio

Meet Mike Stephen, host of Outside the Loop Radio, Chicago's almost above-ground audio magazine. In this episode, Mike talks about his 8 years creating a space for dialogue in Chicago, traffic lights, tacos and Aldermen. It always comes back to Aldermen.

There should be a picture here but Arden's camera has gone missing.

If you have seen it or would like to donate a new one, you know where to find us. 

Catch Mike online and, starting October 4, tune in from 6 to 7 am on that little radio station known as WGN. Congrats Mike!

Check out one of Mike's side hustles: Mike Loves Tacos. And follow him on Twitter. There's lots to do!

And that's not all! You can also find us on Mike's show! You probably listened to his show live so you heard us, but in case you didn't - it's also on outsidetheloopradio.com.

Want to share a Chicago secret? Want to lodge a complaint on Listen Up Chicago? Write to us at yourchicagopodcast@gmail.com or call 773-234-5573.

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57- Encyclopizzeria

Meet Erin Nederbo, co-founder of Encyclopizzeria, a website dedicated to dishing out the info on Chicago's pizza culture. In this episode, Erin talks about getting to know the people who make Chicago pizza go, spreads the news that we are more than just deep dish and shares the best place to play Bingo in the city (and win some rent money!).

We had some technical difficulties in the beginning so if the sound jumps a little occasionally, it doesn't mean you need to find the Anti-Skip Protection on your mp3 player. Apologies.

Want to share a Chicago secret? Want to lodge a complaint on Listen Up Chicago? Write to us at yourchicagopodcast@gmail.com or call 773-234-5573.

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56 - Your List: Chicago Movies

Talking movies and weather? It's the Chicago way. Yes, this week is a Your List episode devoted to the movies of, in and around Chicago. In this episode, we run through some classic Chicago flicks that have made us laugh, cry and throw things at the screen because they're not really shot in Chicago at all. Spoiler Alert: None of them having John Cusack holding a boom box over his head (despite Arden's best efforts to stick that in there).


So what are your favorite movies? What did we miss? Write to us at yourchicagopodcast@gmail.com or call 773-234-5573.


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55 - Cheeky Chicago

Meet Erica Levin, Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Cheeky Chicago, the online lifestyle magazine for the women of Chicago. In this episode, Erica tells us how she ended up creating and running an online magazine full time, vents about the pay-by-phone parking system that the city has managed to mishandle (are we really surprised?) and reminds us to get outside of your city comfort zone (perhaps your true love is waiting on public transit!)

Cheeky is everywhere! The webs, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. Oh, and if you don't have yours already - you should sign up for a Cheeky card! We love ours!

You can find Erica too! Twitter and Instagram 

And us! We're online too! Want to share a Chicago secret? Want to lodge a complaint on Listen Up Chicago? Write to us at yourchicagopodcast@gmail.com or call 773-234-5573.

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54 - Your Lists: Chicago Eats

In the wake of Hot Doug's announcement that they will not be with us for much longer, we take a moment to grieve this city's loss and dedicate a very special Your Lists episode to remembering all the other delicious eateries than we can turn to for support during this difficult time. From pizza to dive bars, Stefania and Arden give you some of their favorite places to stuff your feelings with delicious food and drink.

What are some of your favorite places to munch in the city? Write to us at yourchicagopodcast@gmail.com or call 773-234-5573

53 - Janessa James Interiors

Meet Janessa Handschiegel, owner of Janessa James Interiors. In this episode, Janessa talks about the ins and outs of interior design in Chicago, calls out the Ugg wearing amongst us and shares her personal adventures in preparing wild game from Czimers.

You can find Janessa and all her beautiful designs on Facebook.

Want to share a Chicago secret? Want to lodge a complaint on Listen Up Chicago? Write to us at yourchicagopodcast@gmail.com or call 773-234-5573.

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52 - Kiss Kiss Cabaret

Meet Natanya Rubin company manager for Kiss Kiss Cabaret and the associate producer for the Belmont Burlesque Revue. In this episode, Natanya reveals the glittery, feather laden, tease that is burlesque, shares her experience as a burlesque dancer and how the Chicago scene has grown over the years, directs us to check out the magical Architectural Artifacts and suggests we start filling potholes with used Trader Joe's bags...

Want to share a Chicago secret? Want to lodge a complaint on Listen Up Chicago? Write to us at yourchicagopodcast@gmail.com or call 773-234-5573.

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51 - She's Crafty

Meet Amy Sumpter, member of the She's Crafty Chicago's all female Beastie Boy's tribute band. In this episode, Amy talks about what it takes to create a successful tribute band, how to bring Chicago out of the deficit by taking care of the poop and the pee (you really just have to listen) and reveals the hidden dining gem that is Sabatinos where they serve you soup AND salad.

Find Amy on the interwebs and Facebook and then go find She's Crafty on the interwebs and on Facebook too.

Want to share a Chicago secret? Want to lodge a complaint on Listen Up Chicago? Write to us at yourchicagopodcast@gmail.com or call 773-234-5573.

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50 - Geek To Me

Meet Elliott Serrano, the evil mastermind behind the Red Eye's Geek to Me blog. In this episode, Elliott helps us celebrate our 50th episode (!!!) by sharing orgasmicly delicious donuts from Glazed and Infused and talking geek. We learn about Chicago's vibrant geek culture, find out about some of the best events to get your geek on in Chicago, complain about walking and texting and confess the moment when each of us cried during the Doctor Who anniversary special.

Find Elliott all over the interwebs! Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

And of course, a special thank you to all of our wonderful listeners. We've enjoyed the last 50 episodes and can't wait to bring you 50 more!

Want to share a Chicago secret? Want to lodge a complaint on Listen Up Chicago? Write to us at yourchicagopodcast@gmail.com or call 773-234-5573.

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49 - Don Hall

Meet Don Hall, Director of Live Events at WBEZ, Board Member of Chicago Slam Works, host of The Moth, the angry white guy behind the popular Angry White Guy blog and co-host of the General Admission podcast. Got all that? In our bluest episode yet, Don tells us - among many things - about the many hats he wears, calls out the city of Chicago for our unabashed marginalization of the South and West sides and invites us to check out Experimental Station

Don says this is his "I'm with two sexy ladies" face. Thanks Don :)

If you like Don's vest, check out Ishi Vest.

And the campaign to bring Tom Skilling onto the show continues. Don says he can put us in touch...will this be the moment when our dreams come true?

Want to share a Chicago secret? Want to lodge a complaint on Listen Up Chicago? Write to us at yourchicagopodcast@gmail.com or call 773-234-5573.

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48 - Steampunk Chicago

Meet Joseph Vourteque, a founding member of Steampunk Chicago and also a founder of Rouge as well as a DJ and music producer (and also possibly Batman?). In this episode, Joseph talks about the world of Steampunk and his work supporting Chicago's own flavor of Steampunk culture, lambastes the infamous Wicker Park Annex, Chicago drivers in the snow and the tradition of dibs and gives an entire list of great spots to check out around the city including, but not limited to, a shipwreck you can swim out to (?!?).

Be sure to come check out Rouge every 3rd Wednesday of the month at Fizz. It's all free and you should come just as you are (wear what you like but, please, wear something).

Want to share a Chicago secret? Want to lodge a complaint on Listen Up Chicago? Write to us at yourchicagopodcast@gmail.com or call 773-234-5573.

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47 - Chicago Red Eye

Meet Jessica Galliart, Social Media Manager for the Red Eye. In this episode, Jessica talks about juggling Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Google+, even Jelly for the Red Eye, shares the amazingly simple yet shockingly unknown Lollapalooza el trick and explains purse etiquette on the CTA.

Find Jessica @jessicagalliart, @redeyechicago and @mistakesweremade_

Want to share a Chicago secret? Want to lodge a complaint on Listen Up Chicago? Write to us at yourchicagopodcast@gmail.com or call 773-234-5573.

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46 - Jason Chin

Meet Jason Chin, author, director, writer, performer, teacher, coach, blogger, king of the twitters, bon vivant and veteran of the improv wars. In this episode, Jason shares stories and insights from his place at the forefront of the Chicago comedy scene for the last two decades, gave us the depressing stats for the privatization of Chicago's meter and public transit system, points out that cabbies should probably be required to know where they're going in order to drive a cab and shares the secret menu item at Salt and Pepper Diner.

You can find Jason on Twitter and Wordpress

If you want to hear Arden geek out about Doctor Who on the Queue the Day podcast, you can go here

We've also got our New Years resolution in full swing! In 2014, we're going to give the venerable Tom Skilling a shout out at the end of every show until he agrees to come on and chat with us. Shouldn't be too hard...right?

Want to share a Chicago secret? Want to lodge a complaint on Listen Up Chicago? Write to us at yourchicagopodcast@gmail.com or call 773-234-5573.


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