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American Public Media

Welcome to The Dinner Party Download, a fast and funny hour of culture, food and conversation: “public radio’s arts & leisure section.” In every episode you’ll learn a joke; bone up on an odd bit of history and then wash it down with a themed cocktail recipe; meet artists of note; have your burning etiquette questions answered; savor an emerging food trend; and hear your new favorite song. Plus, unconventional wisdom from hosts Rico Gagliano and Brendan Francis Newnam.

The Dinner Party Download

This week: indie-folk duo The Watson Twins shares their secret fantasy…A short history of John Dillinger… How to mix an Old-Fashioned cocktail… Taste a hot sauce 8 times more potent than pepper spray.

Episode 1: The Watson Twins, Dillinger, Hot Sauce

This Week: the artist known as Girl Talk tells us about his explosive high school band… A short history of Jesse Owens… How to mix a “Berliner Olympic” cocktail… An introduction to the All-American fruit most Americans have never tasted. [Photo: Girl Talk performs live at the Virgin Festival, August 2007. Credit: Joe Cereghino]

Episode 2: Girl Talk, Ein Berliner, Patriotic Fruit

This week: author/columnist David Carr discusses ping-pong as a contact sport… Lolita turns 50, but she’s still too young… and how to defraud wine snobs.

Episode 3: David Carr, Lolita, Wine Snobs

This week: a sober chat with Ezra Feinberg about his psych-rock band Citay… We remember the Great Fire of London with a conflagrant cocktail… and a champion barista drinks deep the mad flava of competitive coffee-making.

Episode 4: Ezra Feinberg, London’s Burning, Coffelympics

This week: NYTimes reporter/author Sarah Lyall asks a stupid question… we learn the offal truth about “duck fries”… and the French army invades our cocktail glass.

Episode 5: Sarah Lyall, Duck Fries, Military Drinks

This week: “nerdcore” rapper MC Frontalot rhymes the unrhymeable… take a trip down Memory Superhighway… and Brendan gets fat on the tastes of Autumn.

Episode 6: MC Frontalot, The Internets, Fall Food

This week: superstar author Irvine Welsh talks about his sexual prowess… We learn the history of the only home in Washington, D.C. that hasn’t lost its value… And the Monterey Bay Aquarium ruins dinner.

Episode 7: Irvine Welsh, D.C. Homes, Sushi Guide

This week: Hollywood icon Robert Wagner feels at home on the range… How to mix a cocktail from hell… Orson Welles declares “War” on the radio… and Brendan declares war on cupcakes.

Episode 8: Robert Wagner, War of the Worlds, Anti-cupcake

This week: we seek direct engagement with Aaron Aites of the band Iran… We learn the greatest name in football… Pittsburgh gets drunk on black gold… and Obama supporters dream of home-grown on the White House lawn.

Episode 9: Iran, Football Names, White House Garden

This week: Kevin Barnes of the band Of Montreal defines “sexualien”… Thomas Edison lights up a martini glass… and Rico gets permission to eat endangered birds.

Episode 10: Of Montreal, Edison, Bird-munching

This Week: What do Lamont Dozier, Dr. Albert Hoffman, Swine Flu business suits, Girls and deep-fried butter have in common? They all appeared on the Dinner Party Download this year, and they’re all in our annual Best Of episode. Plus Jonathan Coulton breaks the ice… and download Rico’s favorite tune of the year from rocker Benjy Ferree.

Episode 39: The Best of 2009

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