Arts

Susan Tannewitz-Karnes grew up eating Mrs. Lawrence every Christmas. The tea cake was so beloved that Tannewitz-Karnes and her siblings would argue over who received more than their fair share.

After The Presents, A Buttery Tea Cake Tradition

12:13pm December 29, 2014

by Melissa Gray

For one family in Overland Park, Kan., it's not Christmas without Mrs. Lawrence. The tea cake, rich with butter and spices, is named for the neighbor who would hand deliver it every holiday season.

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In Britain, A Christmas Tradition Of Slapstick And Silliness

12:13pm December 29, 2014

by Ari Shapiro

For centuries, British families have celebrated the Christmas season by attending "pantomimes," silly musical comedies of stories such as Aladdin and Cinderella. The tradition is alive and well today.

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How To Compose Music For A Movie About Music

11:17am December 29, 2014

NPR's Robert Siegel talks to film composer Justin Hurwitz, 29, about his first major movie score, for the movie Whiplash. Hurwitz talks about using music to heighten tension.

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Books
Arts

From Her Dad To Her 'Jamish' Roots, A Poet Pieces Her Story Together

9:32am December 29, 2014

by NPR Staff

Salena Godden grew up in 1970s England with a Jamaican mom and an absent Irish dad. In her memoir, Springfield Road, she looks back on her struggle to find her personal identity.

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Journey to some unusual places all without leaving your home.

Arts

Playlist: Journey To Far Off Places

9:14am December 29, 2014

by NPR/TED Staff

Travel to unusual places with these TED Radio Hour stories.

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TED speakers share their stories about intense curiosity.

Science
Arts

Playlist: Stories That Will Spark Your Imagination

9:08am December 29, 2014

by NPR/TED Staff

These TED Radio Hour stories will make you curious and maybe even ignite some creative ideas of your own.

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Arts

GSO Symphony presents the Leading Men of Broadway

8:30am December 29, 2014

by David Ford

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Unlike her sister, Vanessa Bell, seen here circa 1910, didn't keep a journal. "Her voice is largely unheard and I was really interested in that," Priya Parmar says.

Books
Arts

Novel Gives Voice To Virginia Woolf's Overshadowed Sister

9:34pm December 28, 2014

by NPR Staff

In Vanessa and Her Sister, Priya Parmar imagines what Vanessa Bell wrote in her journal when she and Woolf were helping to form the Bloomsbury Group, a gathering of London artists and intellectuals.

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Arts

Screenwriter: 'The Interview' Is A Case Of Accidental Irony

9:26pm December 28, 2014

Sony's movie The Interview was meant to be just a silly comedy, but now it's a symbol of free speech. NPR's Linda Wertheimer talks to its screenwriter, Dan Sterling.

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Arts

'Selma' Tells The Civil Rights Story Through Black Eyes

11:07am December 28, 2014

Director Ava DuVernay's film stands out for its focus on black characters. This story originally aired Dec. 27 on All Things Considered. Warning: This audio contains language some may find offensive.

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