Arts & Life

Books
Arts

Does The Magic Last? Revisiting A Fantasy Classic As An Adult

7:00am December 30, 2017

by Jason Heller

David Eddings' beloved Belgariad (and several sequels), co-written with his wife Leigh, follows farm boy Garion and his magical destiny. It wrapped up 20 years ago; are its powers still intact?

Arts

My Daily, Digital Memorials

3:18am December 30, 2017

by Linda Wertheimer

NPR's Linda Wertheimer shares her secret, private way of remembering loved ones who've passed away.

Radio Silence, a cocktail developed by Damon Boelte of the Grand Army Bar in Brooklyn to honor Robert Siegel.

Arts

The Ultimate Cocktail To Send Off An NPR Host: 'Radio Silence'

8:02pm December 29, 2017

by Melissa Gray

For the past few years, bar reviewer Emma Allen has introduced us to great drinks. This year, she surprises retiring host Robert Siegel with a cocktail designed just for him.

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Deadline Approaches For $10 Million Reward On Leads To Gardner Museum Paintings

4:49pm December 29, 2017

NPR's Robert Siegel speaks with Stephen Kurkjian, former investigative reporter for The Boston Globe, and author of the book Master Thieves, about the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist in 1990. The museum still hopes to get the artwork back and set a deadline on New Year's Eve for a $10 million reward on leads for the 13 missing paintings, that include works by Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Degas.

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Author Sue Grafton, author of 25 mysteries featuring detective Kinsey Millhone, died Thursday at age 77. Grafton is seen here with a copy of her book R is for Ricochet in 2005.

Books
Arts

Sue Grafton, Best-Selling Author Of Kinsey Millhone Alphabet Mysteries, Dies At 77

4:36pm December 29, 2017

by Laurel Wamsley

Grafton wrote 25 page turners following the spunky female detective. "The alphabet now ends at Y," her daughter wrote on Facebook.

From left: mmoshaya; Ricis Official; WorkpointOfficial

Move Over, 'Despacito.' These Videos Also Ruled YouTube In 2017

3:03pm December 29, 2017

by Linda Poon

To see how the world wastes time ... er, explores cultural phenomena ... check out some of the top videos by country from YouTube Rewind's rankings for 2017.

A graphic representing some of Fresh Air's most popular stories of 2017.

The 10 Most Popular 'Fresh Air' Interviews Of 2017

1:41pm December 29, 2017

In 2017, Fresh Air marked 30 years as a nationally syndicated, daily radio program by doing what it does best: more in-depth interviews.

Books
Arts

Novelist John Le Carré Reflects On His Own 'Legacy' Of Spying

3:00pm December 28, 2017

The 85-year-old novelist worked for MI5 and MI6 early in his career. "I felt I had to suppress my humanity," he says of those years. Originally broadcast Sept. 5, 2017.

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"You can't solve the puzzle if I don't turn the letter," says Wheel of Fortune co-host Vanna White, 60.

Arts

Want To Buy A Vowel? Vanna White Looks Back On 35 Years At The 'Wheel'

1:49pm December 28, 2017

by David Greene

Vanna White has spent the last 35 years turning letters on the game show Wheel of Fortune. She says her job can seem silly, but she loves it: "You can't solve the puzzle if I don't turn the letter!"

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The smaller the bubble in that glass of champagne, the higher the pitch — and the price.

Size (And Sound) Matters When It Comes To Bubbles In Your Sparkling Wine

12:50pm December 28, 2017

by April Fulton

Scientists at the University of Texas listened to the bubbles in a champagne and a sparkling wine and found that the more expensive product had smaller, busier bubbles.