City Cast Chicago

One of Chicago’s most slept-on contributions is poetry. From groundbreaking publications and institutions to acclaimed poets, Chicago is arguably the poetry capital of America. And yet there’s never been a Chicago poet laureate…until now. The city selected avery r. young as Chicago’s first-ever poet laureate this spring. Young was raised in the Austin neighborhood and has built a career as a writer, educator, activist, and visual artist. Host Jacoby Cochran sat down with the new poet laureate to learn about Chicago’s poetry scene. Plus, we get some tips for crafting our own poems! Some news:The Network is reopening its fund to help people who have experienced gender-based violence.Suggested admission is going up at the Museum of Contemporary Art starting July 1.Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicagoYou can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

NASCAR’s first-ever street race is two weeks away, and closures near the Grant Park course are picking up. DuSable Lake Shore Drive lane closures will increase in the coming weeks, and Chicagoans still have plenty of questions about the economic benefits of the event and access to the lakefront. Host Jacoby Cochran asks the host of WBEZ’s Nerdette Greta Johnsen and WBEZ reporter Araceli Gomez-Aldana, "Is it worth it?" The group also discusses Illinois’ ban on book bans, counseling programs in CPS, and summer books they’re excited to read!Juneteenth Weekend Events:Juneteenth Family Festival in Morgan Park (Saturday)Juneteenth Jubilee and Resource Fair in Uptown (Saturday)Juneteenth Village Fest in North Lawndale (Sunday)Juneteenth Love and Liberation Fest in Auburn-Gresham (Monday)

We are continuing our Summer Entertainment Guide, where every week this month we give you recommendations for how to live your best summertime Chi life. This week, it’s time to pack your water bottle, sunscreen, and glitter because we’re talking all things music festivals. No matter what kind of music you love, there is definitely a festival for it here in Chicago. Joining host Jacoby Cochran are two of City Cast’s biggest music lovers, marketing director, Caroline Patton and marketing coordinator, Jermaine Thomas. We are talking favorite lineups and tips to make the days as comfortable as possible! Some upcoming fests:Grant Park Music Festival (Grant Park) 6/14-8/19Taste of Randolph (West Loop); 6/16-6/18Chicago Pride Festival (Northalsted): 6/17-6/18Hyde Park Summer Fest: 6/17-6/18Summer Smash (Bridgeview): 6/23-6/25Chosen Few (Jackson Park): 7/8Windy City Smokeout (United Center): 7/13-7/16Pitchfork (Union Park): 7/21-7/23Silverroom Block Party (Oakwood Beach): 7/29-7/30Lollapalooza (Grant Park): 8/3-8/6Ruido (Little Village): 8/19-8/20Cultivate (Fulton Market): 8/25-8/27Northcoast (Bridgeview): 9/1-9/3 Arc (Union Park): 9/1-9/3 Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicagoYou can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246

This week, neighbors gathered in Douglass Park to protest Riot Fest ahead of today’s Park District meeting considering permit approvals for the September music festival. We asked you what you thought about Riot Fest in our newsletter Hey Chicago. Lead Producer Simone Alicea and Host Jacoby Cochran catch you up on the conflict and read through some of your responses. Plus, we’re revisiting Chicago’s 75-year parking meter deal and discussing why Chicago and Illinois were ranked high for naked bike riding and romance.For a clothed bike ride, check out the 4th Annual Juneteenth Black JoyRide happening this Monday.Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicagoYou can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Better weather means more Chicagoans outside and more bikes on city streets. Unfortunately, infrastructure to keep cyclists safe is inconsistent across neighborhoods. We’re revisiting our conversation from December with Kyle Lucas and Michael Podgers from Better Streets Chicago to learn what city and state officials can do to keep cyclists safe and get some tips for the road. Plus, Kyle gives us an update on some ongoing bike projects.The city’s Learn to Bike programs for kids and adults are underway. And check out host Jacoby Cochran’s guide to bike trails.Some good news: The Garfield Park Conservatory is hosting 1865 Fest this weekend.Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicagoYou can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

One of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s first announcements when he took office was to create a task force to solve Chicago’s so-called “pension crisis.” You’ve probably seen pensions come up in headlines a lot. It’s why the city says it’s building a new casino, and it comes up every time we talk about the city budget. But be honest with us, do you have any idea what’s going on with Chicago’s pensions? Well, host Jacoby Cochran definitely needed an explainer so we brought in Amanda Kass, a DePaul University professor who studies this. Kass breaks down exactly what Chicago’s pension obligations are and why the “crisis” narrative may be doing more harm than good. Some news:Movies in the parks begin this weekSee Jacoby host Grown Folks Stories on ThursdayWant some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicagoYou can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Ten years ago, Chicago closed 50 schools in largely Black and brown neighborhoods. But what happened to those buildings after the doors were boarded up? A new WBEZ and Sun-Times report tracked the fate of each school and found more than half remain vacant. Host Jacoby Cochran is joined by freelance journalists Natalie Frazier and Maia McDonald to talk about that along with the cottonwood seeds blanketing neighborhoods, the importance of animal rescues, and a legendary roller skating reunion! Hyde Park Summer Fest returns June 17th and 18thWant some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicagoYou can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Every week this month, we’re bringing you our summer entertainment guide where we give you recommendations to make the most of summertime Chi. We’re kicking it off with a guide to Pride events with Block Club Chicago’s Jake Wittich. He tells host Jacoby Cochran about the best events for families, some lesser-known spots, and etiquette for Pride newcomers. June 9th-11th: Andersonville MidsommarfestJune 10th: Pride Skate PartyJune 15th Queer Elder History PanelJune 17th: Queer Fam Pride JamJune 25th: Pride ParadeJune 30th-July 2nd: Pride South SideWe’re doing a survey to learn more about our listeners, so we can make City Cast Chicago an even better, more useful podcast for you. We’d be grateful if you took the survey at citycast.fm/survey—it’s only 5 minutes long. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card.Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicagoYou can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

The city is currently looking for volunteers to help map heat disparities in Chicago —neighborhoods where the temps are higher and potentially more dangerous. But that map won’t come out for months, so the Chicago Tribune decided to make its own. Reporter Sarah Macaraeg found that between neighborhood design and longstanding inequities, Chicago’s most vulnerable communities face even more danger in future heat waves. Macaraeg joins host Jacoby Cochran to talk about why it’s important to map the heat in Chicago and potential solutions.We’re doing a survey to learn more about our listeners, so we can make City Cast Chicago an even better, more useful podcast for you. We’d be grateful if you took the survey at citycast.fm/survey — it’s only 5 minutes long. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card.Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicagoYou can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

An administrative judge ruled late last week that the city should have granted a permit to a metal scrapping facility looking to operate on the Southeast Side. Host Jacoby Cochran and lead producer Simone Alicea talk about how we got to this point. Plus, we get your advice for people moving to Chicago, and Simone and Jacoby talk parks vs. beaches.Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicagoYou can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE