Painting and staining isn’t light on skill, and you must have years of experience to be considered for a company. Her latest gig makes this woman think about how much fun she has.  Audio and photo by Erik Roldan.

Songwriting is a personal, revealing and sometimes difficult process.  In addition to staying true to your message, it has to be aurally appealing.  The Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood offers classes and lessons.  Audio and photo by Erik Roldan.

Turning 30 is a milestone for many of us. Either looking forward or looking back to it, such an occasion is a great time for family, friends and BBQ.  Audio and photo by Erik Roldan.

A woman washes her dog, Griffin. You can hear the sound of her telling Griffin to get up on the table and then of the dog being washed, dried and shaking off.  Audio by Katie Mingle and her students from Uplift Community School.  Photo from Soggy Paws.

Breakfast is cooked on Thursday morning April 10th. Bacon is sizzling, French toast is flipped, and food is plated at this popular brunch locale in Evanston. Audio and photo by Marcelino Benito Jr. 

This guy explains what happens when you want ketchup on your hot dog in Chicago.  Photo by Ian Britton and audio by Bria Dolnick.

WhirlyBall is part lacrosse, part basketball and a little bit of hockey played with bumper cars!  People use hand held scoops to propel whiffle balls at their team hoop. Photo and audio by Eric Roldan.

With a plot of land rich in Maple trees, the North Park Village Nature Center celebrates the coming of springtime with its annual maple syrup festival. The sapping and boiling process is a way to teach children about the connection between nature and consumption.  Photo and audio by Eric Roldan.

Chicago is home to the only remaining coin-operated pinball machine manufacturer in the world. Stern Pinball puts out three or four new models a year, and you can play their games in Spanish, French, Italian, or German.  Audio and photo by Bria Dolnick.

Members own the apiary-- or bee yard-- of this hundred-hive bee farm in North Lawndale. Since 2004, urban beekeepers at the Chicago Honey Coop have tended bees and harvested honey on this former vacant lot. Audio and photo by Bria Dolnick.

Students in the Peterson School Ukulele Ensemble stay after school to practice a Bach Minuet and Spanish Fandango. Many of these sixth and seventh graders started playing two and a half years ago. They have become a Peterson School institution, and perform regularly at school events. Audio and photo by Bria Dolnick.

Badminton being played by Second City Club players at the Broadway Armory - an all-indoor park in the heart of Edgewater, Chicago. You can hear the shuttle being hit and shoes screeching on the wooden floor. Players of all levels are welcome and an annual competitive league keeps things interesting. Recorded on Feb 25, 2008 at 8:00PM by Larry Doplito - who is also the announcer at the end.

Tibetan singing bowls are a type of bell, specifically classified as a standing bell. These bells sit with the bottom surface resting instead of hanging inverted or attached to a handle. The sides and rim of singing bowls vibrate to produce sound. Learn about your chakras and how tone relates to your body.  Audio and photo by Jennifer Brandel.

Announcements, train noises, footsteps, doors closing... these are the sounds of Union Station on January 22nd. Audio and photo by Fera Sabetian.

People get creeped out by the optical illusion of the glass wall at the Madagascar hissing cockroach exhibit at the Lincoln Park Zoo. They are believed to be the only insect that can hiss by blowing air out of pores found on their abdomen. Audio by Tammy Terwelp and photo by Kenneth Hong.

Mechanics work the bugs out of a few bikes at Kozys Cyclery on Halstead. Audio and photo by Fyodor Sakhnvoski.

As he enjoys a glass of wine, Johnny swirls, slurps and sniffs to unlock the full flavors.  Audio and photo by Sarah Lu.

Andy Sturdevant is a collector of vintage campaign buttons. He explains his collection at the Marquette Inn II diner over steak and eggs. Photo and Audio by Jennifer Brandel

Lill Street Art Center was formed in 1975 and has been offering the Chicago community arts classes, studio space, a residency program and a gallery. In recent years, the center has begun using the outdoor green space lining Montrose Avenue for agricultural art projects. Photo and Audio by Jennifer Brandel

PAWS—which stands for Pets Are Worth Saving—is the largest no-kill humane organization in Chicago. PAWS helps find loving homes for homeless cats and dogs. Photo and Audio by Jennifer Brandel.

Making a film takes vision, it takes skill and artistry, it takes a whole crew, it takes takes. On the North side, director, cast, and crew work together to get a crucial scene just right. Audio and photo by Sarah Lu.

A Polish staple, the pierogi, is loved by many Chicagoans. Chefs demonstrate the techniques of flawless pierogi making during a workshop at the Polish Museum of America. Audio and Photo by Sarah Lu.

Two hours before show time, concertgoers line up outside of the Riviera Theater in Uptown. These loyal fans brave the elements to get in the door first and stake out the best spot to watch the show. Audio and photo by Sarah Lu.

He rakes, he runs, he jumps! This boy loves fall because he is able to jump in the leaves. Audio and photo by Sarah Lu.

The Ton Up Club of Chicago hosts this yearly gathering of scooter riders (Mods) and motorcycle enthusiasts (Rockers) on the North side of Chicago. It is now a friendly rivalry, but in 1960 England, riots and fights broke out amongst the two groups. Audio and photo by Tammy Terwelp.

The Chicago Fire Department Engine 13 responds to an emergency call. Audio by Fyodor Sakhnovski, photo by Sarah Lu.

Under distinctive figurines of two flirting hot dogs, carhops have served up Superdawgs at this North side drive-in restaurant for over 50 years. True Chicagoans never put ketchup on their dogs. Audio and photo by Sarah Lu.

A girl leads a horse inside Morton Grove’s Glen Grove Equestrian Center. Audio and photo by Jessica Rudis.

This soundmark brings the musical traditions of the Malinke people from Guinea to Chicago youth, who develop musical skills along with a better understanding of West African culture as they play djembe and dundun drums. Audio and photo by Sarah Lu.

At night in this Uptown studio, tattooists ink customers willing to bear a little pain to have a piece of permanent art on their bodies. Audio and photo by Sarah Lu.

The Brown Elephant resale stores serve up donated items from almost any category you can think of! Proceeds support the Howard Brown health center, which serves the GLBT community in Chicago. Audio and photo by Sarah Lu.

Chloe, a three year-old yellow lab loves to play fetch in the ponds at Moraine Hills State Park. The park is located near the Fox River and roughly half of the park is composed of lakes and wetlands. Photo and audio by Tammy Terwelp.

Three year-olds paint, sing, and get creative with the encouragement of engaging teachers. Audio and photo by Sarah Lu.

Visible from I-94, the lighted sign and distinctive architecture lure in shoppers. Inside you’ll find a plethora of cheeses from Wisconsin and around the world. Audio and photo by Sarah Lu.

Since the 1950s, Southsiders have enjoyed smacking a small ball around in these three-walled outdoor courts in Rainbow Park. Audio and photo by Sarah Lu.

Named after former mayor Harold Washington, this facility has served as the Chicago Public Library system’s central library since 1991. Beneath the owl-ornamented roof lie ten floors of resources, plus the Pritzker Auditorium. Audio and photo by Fyodor Sakhnovski.

Commuters can purchase a new transit card or add value to an existing one at these machines in Chicago El stations. Audio by Alicia Frantz. Photo by Sarah Lu.

The Field Museum has housed Sue-- the world’s largest, most complete, and best preserved T.Rex fossil ever discovered—since 1997. The dinosaur is named after Sue Hendrickson, who discovered the dinosaur’s bones jutting out of a cliff in South Dakota in 1990. Audio by Breeze Richardson. Photo courtesy of Creative Commons.

The Chicago Cubs have made Wrigley Field their home ballpark since 1916. Inside the stadium, a vendor distributes programs—a ballpark staple with team rosters, articles, and ads—to the crowd on game day. Audio by Paul Flahive. Photo courtesy of Creative Commons.

Chicago Antique Market was launched in 2004 offering unique items from fun collectibles and costume jewelry to furniture and books. The market is held monthly and located in the historic Randolph Street Market District of Chicago, IL. Audio and photo by Fyodor Sakhnovski.

A street performer entertains the crowds at the Wilson Red Line stop. Audio and photo by Fyodor Sakhnovski.

Jason shaves his head in his Chicago apartment. Audio and photo by Jessica Rudis.

Founded in 1961, Lambs Farm is a non-profit organization serving adults with developmental disabilities. Lambs Farm has grown from a small pet shop in Chicago to a 72-acre campus. Located in Libertyville, Il. Audio and photo by Jessica Rudis.