This summer, “Eight Forty-Eight” producer Gianofer Fields is taking her show on the road, and bringing you along for the ride. The series, “Out of My Way,” travels throughout the region, pointing out the small things along the way that often make the ride more fun than the destination. Gianofer inspires you to toss the map out the window and enjoy the journey, wherever it may lead you.
You can hear about Gianofer's travels every Wednesday on “Eight Forty-Eight. ”If you miss the original broadcast, check them out below.
November 15—The Polish Museum of America
Jan Lorys—Director, Polish Museum of America
“Eight Forty-Eight’s” Gianofer Fields continues her series exploring the region with a visit to the Polish Museum of America and learns that everything American is actually Polish.
Gianofer Fields
November 1—Trixi Conks Out
Thair Zayas—Mechanic Extraordinaire; Miracle Worker; Lady Magnet
Gianofer Fields returns after taking a few weeks off from the series, ready to hit the road, but her beloved car, Trixi, has other ideas.
Gianofer
takes a trip out of her way...to the mechanic.
Photo credit: Gianofer Fields.
Trixi's heart and soul exposed.
October 4 —Chipmunk Fricassee
Do you want to know how to eat Chipmunk? Gianofer Fields meets a woman who knows the perfect recipe to introduce the delicacy.
CHIPMUNK FRICASSEE
2 pounds diced chipmunk (the legs are most of the meat, but the breast is good if you have the patience)
Minced garlic
Chopped onion
Hot peppers
Guinness stout
Butter
Hot pepper flakes
Chicken or possum stock
Peeled and quartered potatoes
This actually tastes like chicken (but...of course, it's not). It's best made with Rocky Mountain chippers (East Coast chippies are too small) and perhaps served with a nice Sauvignon Blanc. Marinate the chipmunk meat in the garlic, onion, hot peppers and Guinness. Saute in a skillet with butter, pepper flakes and salt. Cook quickly until browned. De-glaze the skillet with the stock and put it all into a large saucepan or stockpot along with the marinade and the potatoes. Cover and bake at 275 degrees for 2 hours. Remove from the oven and, in a separate pan, reduce whatever marinade is left and whisk in six ounces of additional butter. Combine reduced marinade with chipmunk meat and serve.
September 27—Low Rider Makes History
Chicago's Amistad Car Club makes its way into the new Chicago History Museum. Gianofer Fields takes checks it out with Pedro Cisneros, president and founder the club's Chicago Chapter.
September 20—The Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture
Gianofer returns to her summer series that takes listeners off the beaten path and into new terrain.
Today, she travels to the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture on Chicago's South Side. She receives a personal tour from Reza Miliauskas, who works at the Museum's gift shop.
August 9 —RVing and Miniature Golf for Idiots
A bit of ZEN in all the chaos
Brent Peterson after a crushing defeat at Par-King Golf
Gianofer takes Brent Peterson with her to Par-King Skill Golf, hailed as “the world's most unusual miniature golf.”
Brent Peterson is author of the Complete Idiot's Guide to RVing, Second Edition (Penguin 2006). During their journey, Gianofer realizes that RVing is not for idiots, but may be able to teach Peterson some new tricks during a friendly, miniature golf game.
August 2—Vintage Baseball
The Oregon Ganymedes and Midway Marauders
The Oregon Ganymedes watch the game.
The Sox are trying to end a slump and the Cubs stink, so why not travel back to
1858 for a good baseball game?
This week, Gianofer travels to Rockford, Illinois, to watch a vintage-style baseball game and talk with Mark Herman, Curator of Education for the Midway Village and Museum Center, who's also captain of the Oregon Ganymedes.
Put Gianofer in Coach!
The newly repaired Polyp.
The monochromatic mechanical whirling dervish—aka—The Tilt a Whirl.
July 26—KiddieLand
Step right up, hang on tight and take a whirl...a Tilt-a-Whirl.
Gianofer travels to Melrose Park and gets a personal tour through Kiddieland with president Ron Rynes.
She's a little apprehensive for the ride, and questioning her last round of candy and snow cones.
July 19—Playing Bridge
They may look like a tame bunch, but bridge is not for the faint of heart.
On her way to a Tai Chi class, Gianofer veers off course and learns a few new “tricks.”
The Lawson Bridge Club meets at Ann Sather restaurant on Chicago's north side.
July 12—John Wilkes Booth
In this installment of the summer series Gianofer not only leaves town, she travels back in time. Seth Magosky and Wendy Heiken lead Gianofer through Abe Lincoln's final days.
July 5—Route 66
Gianofer travels “The Mother Road” with Eight Forty-Eight contributor and writer Tim Steil. Steil is an unofficial historian of the iconic roadway as the author of Route 66 (MBI Publishing, 2000).
June 28—Yellow Submarine
Gianofer hits the road and stops when she spots a yellow submarine—in a front yard. Owner Marion Sosnowski of Crete, Illinois, tells Gianofer how, and why, he acquired the vessel.
Although Mr. Sosnowski’s submarine has never seen the water, it is a nice addition to his vintage car collection.
June 21—
Cartopia
Gianofer continues her summer travel series with a visit to Berwyn’s Cermak Plaza, the site of the Cartopia Art Car Show.
Her first guide through the crafty vehicles is Tom MacDonald, an art teacher from Oak Park, and the architect behind the “contraption” seen at left.
Gianofer kicks off her summer series, Out of My Way, in Shipshewana, Indiana.
Following the lead of Joseph H. Yoder, director of the Menno Hof Museum, Gianofer goes deep into the dungeons to capture the Amish and Mennonites habitating the small Indiana town.
She does not leave in time, however, to avoid the tornado that sweeps through the town.
Now Playing:
There are many ways to support Chicago Public Radio.
