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Curious City

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

Ranked #1

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The Story Of Dunning, A 'Tomb For The Living'

The Story Of Dunning, A 'Tomb For The Living'

In both life and death, the people who ended up at the notorious asylum and poor farm were some of Chicago’s least fortu... Read more

30 Apr 2013

10mins

Ranked #2

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Why Chicago Lightning Bugs Light Up One Neighborhood But Not the Next

Why Chicago Lightning Bugs Light Up One Neighborhood But Not the Next

A listener’s nostalgia for catching lightning bugs as a kid lead her to wonder: Are there any left these days? Our exper... Read more

16 Jul 2017

4mins

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Ranked #3

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What Happened To Chicago’s Japanese Neighborhood?

What Happened To Chicago’s Japanese Neighborhood?

Lake View once had a thriving Japanese community, but it fell victim to a push for assimilation. As one Japanese-America... Read more

13 Aug 2017

12mins

Ranked #4

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Which Natural Disasters Are Most Likely To Hit Chicago?

Which Natural Disasters Are Most Likely To Hit Chicago?

The good news is Chicago probably won’t be hit by hurricanes and earthquakes. But the area is becoming more vulnerable t... Read more

15 Oct 2017

12mins

Most Popular Podcasts

Ranked #5

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Why Chicago's Chinatown Is Practically Invisible On Apartment Rental Sites

Why Chicago's Chinatown Is Practically Invisible On Apartment Rental Sites

The listings are there — just in Chinese. Is this a form of discrimination, or a way to preserve a neighborhood's charac... Read more

29 Oct 2017

7mins

Ranked #6

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City Of Big Agriculture: Here Are The Crops Chicago Was Once Famous For

City Of Big Agriculture: Here Are The Crops Chicago Was Once Famous For

The city deserves cred as an industrial giant, but it was also the first city of flowers, a pickle powerhouse and the he... Read more

20 Aug 2017

8mins

Ranked #7

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Push Carts, Popsicles, And Patience: How To Be A Paletero In Chicago

Push Carts, Popsicles, And Patience: How To Be A Paletero In Chicago

Being a paleta vendor may seem like a sweet life, but we learned that selling Mexican popsicles is anything but a walk o... Read more

27 Aug 2017

8mins

Ranked #8

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What’s The Deal With ‘Midwest Nice?’

What’s The Deal With ‘Midwest Nice?’

The common stereotype for Midwesterners is that we’re polite, friendly...and passive-aggressive. But is there any truth ... Read more

12 Jan 2020

8mins

Ranked #9

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Curious City: The Nazis' Neighborhood

Curious City: The Nazis' Neighborhood

Was there ever a Nazi neighborhood in Chicago? In this special Curious City mini-documentary and online presentation (co... Read more

23 Apr 2017

22mins

Ranked #10

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Boystown: How Chicago Got Its Gay Neighborhood

Boystown: How Chicago Got Its Gay Neighborhood

Political activism and businesses helped shape the city's gay neighborhood, but there's a debate about its future.

7 May 2017

12mins

Ranked #11

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The Rise of Casimir Pulaski Day

The Rise of Casimir Pulaski Day

How Chicago’s Polish community won a Revolutionary War hero a holiday ... in a state he never stepped in.

25 Feb 2015

12mins

Ranked #12

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Curious City: The Mystery Collection

Curious City: The Mystery Collection

Answers to listeners' questions about the mysterious side of Chicago that lies beyond the soaring skyscrapers and the sh... Read more

18 Dec 2015

Ranked #13

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Weird And Wonderful Things You Might Not Know About Chicago

Weird And Wonderful Things You Might Not Know About Chicago

What associations do you make with Chicago? Da Bears? Shady politics? Wacky weather? If you feel that list is getting st... Read more

23 Dec 2014

52mins

Ranked #14

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Building Skyscrapers on Chicago's Swampy Soil

Building Skyscrapers on Chicago's Swampy Soil

Engineers once compared Chicago’s soggy soil to jelly cake. How did they build a forest of skyscrapers on it?

28 May 2017

8mins

Ranked #15

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Doors Closing! Life As A CTA Rail Operator

Doors Closing! Life As A CTA Rail Operator

Long hours, fatigue, and boredom can be hazards of the job. But former rail operators say there’s a lot to love about dr... Read more

24 Jun 2018

13mins

Ranked #16

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Deconstructing The Chicago-Style Hot Dog

Deconstructing The Chicago-Style Hot Dog

Chicago-style hot dogs are a beloved culinary masterpiece: A snappy all-beef wiener, steamed poppy seed bun, yellow must... Read more

5 Mar 2017

8mins

Ranked #17

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Why The 1992 Loop Flood Is The Most Chicago Story Ever

Why The 1992 Loop Flood Is The Most Chicago Story Ever

How clout, corruption, and construction without permits led to half the Loop being evacuated.

21 Aug 2016

13mins

Ranked #18

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To Chicago, With Love: What Do Transplants Love About The City?

To Chicago, With Love: What Do Transplants Love About The City?

One Chicagoan wants to know what people who moved to Chicago love about the city. From fireflies to marathons, here’s wh... Read more

10 Feb 2019

10mins

Ranked #19

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To Dibs Or Not To Dibs? The Essential Chicago Question

To Dibs Or Not To Dibs? The Essential Chicago Question

We answer your most pressing questions about Chicago’s controversial winter tradition.

15 Dec 2019

9mins

Ranked #20

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Curious City: The Mystery Collection

Curious City: The Mystery Collection

Answers to listeners' questions about the mysterious side of Chicago that lies beyond the soaring skyscrapers and the sh... Read more

31 Dec 2017

52mins

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