Chic-A-Go-Go is many things: underground music showcase, children's public access TV show, and…read moreprobably most importantly, CARAZY (sober) DANCE PARTY! First, you've got to come up with some sort of costume. Banana, Russian soccer player, evergreen forest--whatever you want, it doesn't have to make sense. Bonus points for bright colors! Then, you head over to the studio and dance alongside children, college students, older folks and other friendly types, all while local bands lip-sync to their songs in front of you. Oh, and there's a talking rat named RATSO that tells jokes. Best part: it's FREE! And they usually set out free snacks. Sometimes there are special celebrity guests. THE Paul Frank was featured one time. I enjoy going with my friends for something different to do. And believe me, it is VERY different. Sometimes it smells a little in the studio, like the smell of not having regular shower access, but it's part of the charm. And FUN! Tapings are normally Saturday or Sunday afternoons, but they vary. Email ratso@roctober.com for up-to-date info.

Who doesn't love talking rats? I mean, really. Chic-A-Go-Go is a Chicago institution and one I am…read morevery pleased to have experienced. Viable Public Access television is going the way of the dinosaur but, somehow, C-A-G-G has managed to tape over 700 episodes and entertain kids young and old throughout the Midwest. I didn't quite know what to expect. It seemed way too simple to just show up to a building, pay nothing, smile for the camera, and dance to music. But, that's exactly what you do. You show up at the appointed tape time (it's TV; time rules all), you should be dressed in some sort of catchy costume (it's TV; stand out), get ready to take direction (it's TV; follow the rules), and show the world what you've got (it's TV; some rapper has to be looking for a rump-shaker). For my taping, there were monsters, robots, kittens, princesses, wizards, and the little kids dressed up in costume as well. The director said "Action" and the very first refrain I heard was "I whip mah herre back an' forth!" Dammit! Another Smith has infiltrated something that was good and pure. On cue, all the little ones started bobbing and moving to their braided-leaders commands. Startled, I began to think ill of my plan until the evil sounds of the littlelest Smith were drowned out by Motown... and then The Jackson 5... and then LIVE, IN-STUDIO DOO-WOP! What? What is going on here? Nothing makes sense. This is awesome. Miss Mia's job is to interview the musical guests and keep the action moving. She does an excellent job at both. And as pleasant as she is to watch in action, my true attention was trained on Ratso -- the puppet rat MC who calls the shots. Perhaps my rapt attention to a talking rat over an attractive, music-loving female speaks volumes to my current lack of a dating life. I had a fantastic time etching my way into a piece of Chicago broadcast history and I think most everyone would feel the same.

Chicago Indymedia has long been one my favorite media assets in this city. Part of a truly global…read morenetwork of Independent Media Centers that is rooted in 1999 Seattle, this unabashedly left-wing site is organized around collectives focusing on a public access TV show, photo-journalism, the website, radio, and a now defunct related newspaper. It's content is made by you, as long as it adheres the values and mission of the website, and many groups use it to post their events, activities, and report-backs.

I spent most of my undergraduate career at NU working on the Daily. I was a general assignment…read morereporter, a cops reporter, business reporter, city editor, and a columnist for the Wednesday feature insert. At the time -- the early '90s -- it was the only daily in the city of 85,000... and hella better than its mersh weekly counterpart, the Evanston Review. Even though I don't subscribe any more -- hook me up, people! -- the Daily remains the newspaper to read in Evanston... in addition to the Chicago Tribune. Its coverage of campus issues, ongoing town-gown tensions, and local news is unparalleled. And because most of the people working on the Daily are going to journalism school at Medill, you know that the student reportage and editing is top notch. The Daily may be one of the best college dailies in the country. If you live in Evanston -- or visit -- be sure to pick up a copy from one of the many coin boxes... or free on campus. (It may be free off campus, as well, but I don't know for sure.)

Every time I turn you guys on there it is: AC/DC - You have 28 records that you play all the time…read more'over and over and over and over' some songs 5 times a day and more! Why! Is it for financial reasons - why in the hell would you not play more of a selection? Do you need to borrow some of my albums? You have 50 years of F'ing music out there. I like your DJs and many things about your station; but you play too many commercials, and then, torture us with the same crap - too much Tom Petty, Pat Benatar. And then 'Rhapsody' - hell I used to like that song; now I hate it - and you have ruined Zeplin for me, for life: I used to love them - and so, on and on . But, you are the only Classic Rock station in my area. PS: Why have Alice Cooper play the same crap that we here all day - I thought he was a Classic Rock specialist

The Drive! 97.1 on the FM Dial Some people don't like to…read moredrive, and would rather let someone else take the wheel. I guess that's what the Drive is for. Their disc jockeys jockey up a bunch of classic rock. It makes me feel old what they consider "Classic" rock. Their DJs are pretty funny, but vapid. I generally change the channel when they come on. I'll stick around if they play some Stairway again, or some Skynyrd. Is it just me, or does there seem to be a lot of commercials on this station? I was hoping for more country and western music, instead of Tom Petty again. They do play a lot of his stuff. WDRV used to broadcast from the Hancock building, but now they're in Prudential Plaza, with their antenna on top of the Aon Center. The station is owned by Hubbard Media, and can be tuned in on a smart speaker.

I hate to be so judgmental when it comes to musical tastes and art in general, but this is a review…read morewebsite based on peoples opinions, right? Right. So, basically, the simplest way I can sum up what this style of music does to me is to explain a real scenario that happened to me recently. Driving home from a long and even more agitating day of work than usual, I decide to try to relax myself through some mind-numbing music. I figure all of the BS going through my head can be squashed best by the musical stylings of John Tesh and Kenny G and the like. After all, it is smooth jazz- meant to relax the mind and the body. That is what it is designed for. That, or inspiring musicians to create their own version of adult film soundtracks. To my surprise, and only after about 10 minutes of listening, it did nothing but agitate me more. My anxiety levels grew rapidly. My heart rate began to rise. Sweat beaded on my brow. My jaw clenched tighter and tighter. I tried my best to shake it off, but I kept getting more and more wound up. My knuckles were whitening due to the death grip I had on the steering wheel. "This music is just too... weak... too... slow... too... soft... too... " I couldn't get my mind around it, and that only brought me more stress. I couldn't even properly drive at this point- my neck being too stiff to turn and check my rear view mirrors; my body petrified. Forget adult film soundtrack, this was the soundtrack to my own personal hell on an early Monday evening. I broke free from the grasp of the cooing saxophone solo that was bleeding my ears dry and changed the channel to XRT, and what was most likely either Coldplay, The Police, or U2 (because they have a quota of those three bands taking up no less than 60% of their play list at all times), and this monotonous, predictable and honestly very boring airplay they dish out is probably more of what I needed to allow my brain to decompress. So why the two stars? Like I said- I don't want to even pretend to be an authority on music. If it gives you pleasure to listen to smooth jazz- more power to you! But unless I plan on getting all amped up to rob a liquor store or something, I won't be having my radio dial turn to 87.7 FM.

I'm happy to find out that the sounds of Smooth Jazz continues to be heard here in Chicago on the'…read moreL" 87.7 Smooth Jazz. Yes, of course the old station WNUA will be miss by me and other smooth jazz fans. But, glad to find out that I can still listen to some very nice smooth jazz music on my way to work and back. It's great to hear the voices of Brian Culbertson and Dave Koz once again. But, I really do miss the Ramsey Lewis commercial free morning show with Karen Williams.

This has to be the best youth outreach non-profit organization in the Chicago area. I was…read moreintroduced to this place as a tween and it was so great I stuck around into my early 20's. The owner, Denise, is fantastic. She worked really hard to create an environment where urban teens can come, feel safe, and put their creativity to work in media form. Where else can you find a place that will let teens get their hands on professional video and editing equiptment???& have it aired??? It's definitely the place to be if you are a teen! check out the website http://www.ctvnetwork.org/

BY FAR one of the best things that happened to me! I…read moreinterned here while in high school and now I am a teaching artist. This not for profit has changed my life and provided skills that make me who I am today! up to date Equipment, diverse staff and students, and students work is aired and broadcasted! Paid well then and pays great now.

And here it is, the successor to the Daily Worker, the Daily World, The Peoples Daily World, The…read morePeoples World, and now the People's Weekly World. Very few newspapers have such a deeply rooted history in the workers struggles as this one, and its history is the history of the struggles of the working class. With a small paid staff and many volunteers, the People's Weekly World puts out a constant source of material that will keep you informed on the history of the United States as seen by common people.

I was not sure what to expect from attending a taping of the Rosie Show. I had been in Oprah's…read moreaudience many times and was not sure things would be the same. Well, some things were the same and some things have changed. A lot of the staff from the Oprah Show stayed on as employees of Harpo. They were as professional and delightful as ever. The line to get in was not nearly as bad. There was a metal detector and a purse search, but Rosie allows cell phones! No need to check them - yea! We got cupcakes from Sprinkles and bottled water while waiting and filling out our forms. The show was lively, we took home fancy Snuggies and snacks in a Rosie lunch bag. No, Rosie ain't Oprah, but, Rosie is upbeat and fun, definitely down to earth. Attending a taping is totally worth it!