Curious City

Chicago is geographically in the Midwest. But many people believe that being “Midwestern” is something else entirely.

From mail carriers to photographers, we asked people who spend a lot of time in the cold how they stay warm.

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

Do the animals go somewhere warm, like Florida? Does the zoo give them coats? We took a behind-the-scene tour of the zoo to find out.

We uncover the history and bask in the glow of a ubiquitous Chicago bar sign.

Commuters are regularly hit with the announcement “Gambling is prohibited on CTA trains.” We find the reason behind the rule and look for those who inspired it.

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

Rust Belt cities tackling their lead problems offer advice for Chicago on funding, public education and getting political buy-in.

"It’s fast, it’s furious and it’s over in about three and a half weeks."

Chicago’s "Red Summer" of 1919 comes alive in this radio drama from WBEZ's Natalie Moore. It’s history with a twist.

With trust in police at a historic low, the Chicago Police Department’s latest community policing initiative puts relationship building at its center.

The recorder often inflicts squeaky torture on parents. Music teacher Valerie DePriest explains why it became a staple in music education.

She’s best known for her anti-lynching work in the South, but Wells spent nearly four decades advancing black equality in Chicago.

Following several recent reports of a strange winged creature around the Chicago area, we try to find out what the heck is going on.

Once you recover from the initial shock, experts recommend piecing together evidence, spreading the word, and hitting the street stat.

The effects of the groundbreaking engineering feat are still being felt today — as far as the Gulf of Mexico.

A half day from ... what? Why this suburban myth is not even half true, and why the same mistake was made again 600 miles away.

Over three decades, Aadam Jacobs obsessively documented Chicago’s indie rock scene. His collection includes the early work of Liz Phair, Smashing Pumpkins, Jeff Tweedy, New Order, Naked Raygun, Flaming Lips, Yo La Tengo and much more. Today, the future of his roughly 10,000 live recordings is unclear. We took a peek into Jacob's archive.

Population estimates vary drastically. And numbers matter, since they dictate funding for crucial resources like shelter beds, food and social services.

Erratic water levels, disappearing beaches — climate change is already affecting Lake Michigan’s shoreline. Here’s what else we can expect.

Chicago’s Full Moon Jam is now a popular city-sanctioned attraction. But it began back in 2004 as a birthday party among friends.

Don your dancing shoes as we track down the Chicago band members, musicians, and dancers who helped create five iconic moves.  

A child psychiatrist, a public defender and a police officer weigh in on how to prepare kids for interacting with the police.

To explore the mysteries of Chicago’s rodents, Curious City took a rat safari, interviewed experts and turned your stories into a zine.

Some were called Communist, while others have been called out for lack of diversity.