March Archives

  • The Blood & Straw

    Kris Holechek Peters
    March 30, 2012 9:23 AM
    Recipes , cherry liqueur , cognac , cynar , orange juice

    This week in 1814, the physician who lent his name to one of France's best-known inventions died. Learn about Dr. Guillotin and his "enlightened" death machine, and then drink this custom cocktail 'til your head falls off: Read more...

  • Episode 142: The Duplass Brothers, Val Kilmer-Twain, and the Oysteress

    March 30, 2012 9:00 AM
    Episodes
    Mark and Jay Duplass

    This week: Filmmaking brothers Mark and Jay Duplass, who nap in trailers... Val Kilmer resurrects Mark Twain... Grandmaster of flash (fiction), Etgar Keret... Oysters take over the mainland... Poker stud Chris Moneymaker on turning friends into debtors... Guillotin's "enlightened" machine... Plus, the sounds of Howlin Rain, a pizza panic-button, and a seeing-eye joke. Read more...

  • Episode 141: Rick Moody, Shower Muses, and Snail Eggs

    March 23, 2012 4:54 PM
    Episodes
    Rick Moody

    This week: Author Rick Moody dives into his gene pool... Jonah Lehrer showers us with inspiration... Escargot Eggs... Comedian Moshe Kasher's train-wreck mem'ries... And etiquette tips from world-class concierge Michael Fazio. Plus, a little night music from jazz star Esperanza Spalding, a super joke from Of Montreal, and vibrating tattoos. Read more...

  • The Smoke and Honey

    Kris Holechek Peters
    March 23, 2012 9:14 AM
    Recipes , lemon juice , scotch

    This week back in 1954, Willie Mosconi performed one of the most brilliant feats in sports, ever, draining 526 consecutive billiard balls. Learn about the child prodigy-turned-15-time-World-Champion - then rack up a set of these custom cocktails. Read more...

  • Nozawa dreams of Jiro

    Rico Gagliano
    March 15, 2012 7:50 PM
    Food , History , People

    David Gelb, maker of a new documentary about the greatest sushi chef on Earth, names his favorite NYC sushi spots and talks about L.A. sushi legend Nozawa's retirement plans. Read more...

  • Episode 140: Ewan McGregor, Pretzel Dumplings, and Happy Endings

    March 15, 2012 4:14 PM
    Episodes
    Ewan McGregor

    This week: Actor Ewan McGregor, in three dimensions... "Happy Endings" star Casey Wilson's (semi) happy endings... Youth Lagoon's dinner party soundtrack... A 'psychic' reading from Heidi Julavits... The best sushi chef in the world... Pretzel dumplings... How "Uranus" got its name... And next-gen Posts teach us about table fairies. Plus: drinkable pancakes, Irish jokes, a w-h-i-z-k-i-d, and much more. Read more...

  • The Astronaughties Deep Space Freeze

    Kris Holechek Peters
    March 15, 2012 1:02 PM
    Recipes , lemon juice , rum

    On March 13th, 1781, famed astonromer Sir William Herschel was using a homemade telescope in his backyard... when he spotted what he thought was a comet. Read more...

  • Episode 139: Jon Hamm, Irish Latkes, and Bottled Etiquette

    March 9, 2012 3:22 PM
    Episodes
    Jon Hamm

    This week: Actor Jon Hamm takes us way beyond the Mad Men universe... Comic Michael Ian Black says you're not doing it right... atheist author Alain de Botton teaches religion... writer Amelia Gray sees ghosts... Jon Glaser's high concepts... the sobering history of "Axis Sally"... and Rico tastes a bit o' the boxty. Plus, a new tune from Beach House, and a joke in the key of "corny." Read more...

  • The Liquid Propaganda

    Kris Holechek Peters
    March 9, 2012 8:57 AM
    Recipes , campari , cherry liqueur , gin , lemon juice

    This week back in 1949, an American judge sentenced Mildred Gillars - better known as "Axis Sally" - to prison. Learn about the All-American gal who became the seductive voice of German propaganda during WWII... then take a swig of bitter drink with a deceptively sweet surface. Read more...

  • The Lobster/Bee Connection

    Kris Holechek Peters
    March 5, 2012 9:46 AM
    Food

    While listening to last week's show, something rattled in my brain when Rico and mead-maker guest William Bostwick compared boiling honey bees... to boiling lobsters. From the depths of my vast catalog of interesting-but-typically-useless food knowledge, I remembered a lobster/bee connection. Read more...

  • web extra: Stephin Merritt's bubblegum picks

    Rico Gagliano
    March 2, 2012 7:25 PM
    Artists , History , Music

    The Magnetic Fields' frontman knew "Don't Stop Believin'" was a masterpiece before Tony Soprano did. Click to hear a couple more of his unheralded favorites: Read more...

  • Episode 138: Stephin Merritt, Vengeance Eating, and Alka-hol

    March 2, 2012 3:34 PM
    Episodes
    Stephin Merritt

    This week: Stephin Merritt's attraction to love... Actress Amy Brenneman adjudicates listener etiquette... A vengeful lunch with Joel Stein... an Alkaholic drink... Neil deGrasse Tyson defends space... Bill Plympton's favorite animation... and a 3-song prescription from Dr. Dog. Plus: Aggie yells, a Dinner Party Timeout, and a cross-word joke from singer Cate le Bon. Read more...

  • The B3

    Kris Holechek Peters
    March 2, 2012 8:45 AM
    Recipes , lemon , sodium bicarbonate , sugar , vodka

    This week in 1899, Bayer Corp. patented a little pill they called "aspirin." For a healthy heart, listen to the history of it's creation once a day, then take two of these and call us in the morning. Read more...

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Episode 142: The Duplass Brothers, Val Kilmer-Twain, and the Oysteress

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    About The Show

    • Hosts Rico Gagliano and Brendan Newnam

      The Dinner Party Download is a fast and funny ‘booster shot’ of news and culture designed to help you dazzle your friends and family at this weekend’s dinner party. Hosts Rico Gagliano and Brendan Francis Newnam set the table every Friday. Hear what our guests are saying about us inside... more

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