Chicago Rat Tales: Live at the Hideout
Curious City took a trip to the “most rat-infested alley” in Chicago and heard from listeners about their traumatic rat encounters.
Listen — 30:03
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The Gold Star Sardine Bar nightclub was once a hub for Chicago glamour
The jazz club was built by a grocery store tycoon’s dreams of music and movie stars.
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Listen — 22:08Cleveland and Seattle have centuries-old indoor markets. Why doesn’t Chicago?
Chicago had multiple indoor markets in the 1800s, but they’ve all since disappeared. Here’s what we know about them.
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Without Native Americans, Would We Have Chicago As We Know It?
Names like DuSable, Marquette, and Joliet are cited in the history books. But it was Native Americans who first set the foundation for Chicago to develop into a major Midwestern metropolis.
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Listen — 17:49Why do spiders like high-rise buildings and how do they get up there?
Tall buildings are better habitats for spiders than you might think. Here’s why these arachnids make these buildings home.
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Listen — 4:21Why aren’t there any federal Indian reservations in Illinois?
This timeline explains how Native Americans were forced out of Illinois and why — for now — they have no federally recognized land here.
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Listen — 25:49Those speed humps can be annoying, but do they make streets safer?
Chicago has relied on speed humps — yes, humps — for decades. While they’ve proven effective they’re not the only way to slow speeding drivers.
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Listen — 18:30What’s up with all those billboard ads for lawyers?
From commuter traffic to copycat behavior, here are six reasons why lawyers advertise on billboards along the Illinois-Indiana highways.
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Listen — 18:51Think you know Chicago movie location trivia? Take this quiz to find out.
From chase scenes to breakups, Chicago has been the background for all kinds of movies and TV shows.
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Listen — 26:09Some Chicago restaurants have served split pea soup on the same day for 40 years
At diner after diner, one listener noticed split pea soup was served on Wednesdays. It turns out he was onto something.
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Listen — 15:24
