Curious City

WBEZ Chicago
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Ask questions, vote and discover answers about Chicago, the region and its people. From WBEZ.

  1. hace 2 d

    Is This Your Card? A Brief History Of Chicago-style Magic

    Chicago-style magic is close up, funny and usually performed at a bar or restaurant. We learn about its history and talk to several magicians who are part of the tradition. This episode was originally published in 2024.

    22 min

  2. 17 jun

    Where did the term 'Chicagoland' come from?

    There’s no New York-land or Boston-land, so why does the Chicago metropolitan area have its own unique name? It turns out this has been a question on the minds of many Curious City listeners. To learn more, we looked at the origins of this term, how its meaning has changed over time and the media mogul — or Colonel — behind it all. This episode originally aired in 2023.

    16 min

  3. 10 jun

    How did Hollywood Beach become Chicago’s ‘gay beach’?

    The stretch of beach that starts where DuSable Lake Shore Drive ends wasn’t always as vibrant or as ‘gay’ as it is today. Its transition was spearheaded by Jerry Marcoccia, who was searching for a sense of belonging in the 1990s. "You can't talk about this beach being gay without including me,” he said.

    20 min

  4. 3 jun

    Why does Chicago use Comic Sans on some elevator inspection certificates?

    Comic Sans often signals levity or sarcasm. The font is occasionally used for a key phrase in some official city elevator inspection certificates. That’s caused concern for some Chicagoans, including at least two Curious City listeners.

    16 min

  5. 27 may

    Does Chicago have a Filipino neighborhood?

    A concentrated Filipino community area is not as easy to spot as neighborhoods like Chinatown or Little Village. In this episode, we’ll look at the long history Filipinos have had in Chicago stretching back to the early 1900s. We’ll also look at how Filipino restaurants have made a mark across the city in recent years, from Jefferson Park to Pilsen. Originally published in February 2025.

    22 min

  6. 20 may

    Why are there helicopters flying over my neighborhood every night?

    Curious City listeners wondered if helicopters they heard buzzing around their Chicago neighborhoods at night were part of the federal government’s immigration enforcement. There is some truth to that, but it turns out odd helicopter flights have been a curiosity long before Midway Blitz.

    19 min

  7. 13 may

    Why does Chicago have a monument named for fascist leader Italo Balbo?

    There’s an ancient Roman column in Chicago hidden in plain sight near Soldier Field. It was a gift given by Italian Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini during the 1933-1934 Chicago World’s Fair, commemorating a daring transatlantic flight to the fair by Italian Air Marshal Italo Balbo. In a time when controversial monuments get removed, why does this one still stand?

    31 min

  8. 6 may

    Standing on history: Who built Chicago’s WPA sidewalks?

    Have you ever noticed a branded stamp in the sidewalk? Keen-eyed Chicagoans have found some that date back to Depression-era infrastructure projects by the Works Progress Administration. Who were the workers behind the WPA and why did they brand Chicago sidewalks? We explore the labor history under our feet.

    17 min
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Información

Ask questions, vote and discover answers about Chicago, the region and its people. From WBEZ.

Ficha técnica

  • Creado por
    WBEZ Chicago
  • Años en activo
    2012 - 2026
  • Episodios
    654
  • Clasificación
    Apto
  • Derechos de autor
    © Copyright 2015 Chicago Public Media
  • Sitio web del podcast
    Curious City

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