The Adventures of Arabella: Public Radio Talent Quest episode
For the past month, I have known about the Quest. Yesterday was the final day to vocally tilt at the windmill that is the Public Radio Talent Quest, the brightest hope for public radio to include new voices in an elimination contest from user submissions.
I left work last night with the best of intentions. I have been dreaming about reclaiming the mic I have been separated from since college radio ever since, when I played Sunny Day Real Estate for two ardent fans and my friend John who ran around the track in a kilt during my enviable time slot of two in the morning. I share the dream of all twentysomethings who loathe commercial radio: I want to meet Ira Glass.
A funny thing happened on the way home from the metro, though; Skittles the (neighbor’s) cat refused to move off the mat and insisted I pet him as he twitchily rolled around the front porch. (The sugar shakes are what happens when you let your kids name the pet and then feed him what they named him.) Then my dad called, telling me that he was in Bethesda for work and did I want to have dinner?
I did.
2 Amys is the sort of place you sidestep the line trailing out the door, shrug at the wait list, and amble back to the bar to order a small plate—salt cod crostini, perhaps, or sardines.
I glanced at the chalkboard as we walked to the back and knew what I was ordering first: the fried soft-shell crab panini filled with onion rings and mayonnaise.
Dad ordered the pepperoni pizza, and I decided that I couldn’t not order the pizza special: morels, garlic, sausage, and ramps. Until I learn to forage my own, I have vowed to always order ramps on menus.
We were still doing fine on time, though I should say I wasn’t watching the clock. We finished the Vesuvius wine, and Dad decided he couldn’t not order the frozen chocolate truffle gelato, which he liked better than my marsala custard. Next time, I’m returning to the Pipe Dreams goat cheese.
It was at this point that the woman at the table next to us turned and asked what food blog I was with, and I smiled. This is a food-blogging town.
It turned out that Dad’s hotel wasn’t where we thought it was, so we took a service road into nothingness that eventually led us to the other outpost and then I drove back to Alexandria in what was the eleventh hour.
At 11:53, after completing the Talent Quest profile questions and adding an image, I tried to upload my monster file. With no editing time to condense it to the two-minute limit and five minutes left, the Public Radio Talent Quest site choked.
And so, dear readers, I will not be on public radio any time soon, but I think it wonderful that everyone was uploading and rating and commenting right up to the end—that so many of us were participating that the site could not handle the traffic. This can only mean good things for the future of public radio and user-submitted content.
I decided to include my entry here in its uncut, blemished glory:
Yes, it’s a big file. I know. Bethesda, remember?
This means, of course, (sigh, gathering reins) that my quest and impossible dream continue…isn’t Ira Glass on Facebook?
Hat tip to Cameron, who helped me set up the mic, encouraged me in the effort, and took the above two pictures.
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Posted Tuesday, May 15th, 2007, 8:18 am * Filed in Food, Photography. * . Follow responses through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
May 15th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
I adore 2 Amys – have you tried their roasted olives?
May 15th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Ooh, not yet, but I am slowly working my way through the menu. We’ll have to go the next time you’re over this way—
May 15th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
1. ramps: this is the way i feel about chanterelles…
2. lovely pictures!
May 16th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
Oh my god. I spent several minutes, I now realize, staring longingly at that panini. You must take me to this place. You should have replied, with a totally straight face, “for Kristen Taylor, obvi.”
May 16th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
jessica, thank you. I hear one can forage ramps and chanterelles in West Virginia; we may have to follow up on that.
Ben, come visit! We will go to 2Amys on a food-related tour of the District (I haven’t even told you about the amazing bakery at the end of my street…)
May 18th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
This is fantastic. You have a great radio voice, favorite.