WAMU 88.5FM American University Radio

The Price of a Slice

Gas prices reach record highs on a daily basis. The cost of shipping has increased. The price of flour is skyrocketing. And many voters say the economy is now the most important issue in the 2008 presidential race. It adds up to a host of challenges for local businesses. For reporter Faryl Ury - it all comes down to the price of pizza. She examines our recent economic hardships through the eyes of a restaurant owner, a pizza delivery man, and the customers who frequent the neighborhood pizzeria.

Smart Shopping

Of course, the impact of rising costs doesn't begin and end with the higher price of pizza. Any trip to the grocery store serves as a sobering wakeup call these days. Robert Krughoff, President of Consumers' Checkbook magazine, brings us some tips on how to save money while shopping for food in the DC region.

Fred Fiske: Iraq

Senior Commentator Fred Fiske revisits the situation in Iraq.

Tween Romance and Designer Labels

Researchers say there's a new trend in popular fiction marketed to teenage girls. A Virginia educator says some of the hottest books may be selling a lot more than just a good read. Nancy King, with the radio program With Good Reason, has more.

Opera in Amman

We follow a local musician to the other side of the globe now, where an opera singer's passion for performing is bridging a cultural divide between East and West. Caroline Widegren, who has a Masters of Music from the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, sang professionally with both the Washington Opera and the Baltimore Opera before moving to the Middle East. Her love of music has helped her to make lots of new friends in a region far removed from the Classical music capitals of the world. Amy Hybels reports.

Best Bets with Colleen Fay

Every few weeks arts critic Colleen Fay joins us to help fill our calendars with her "best bets." Today she's back with highlights for May and beyond.

Finding Inspiration in "Migration"

Colleen Fay spoke about the Jacob Lawrence Migration series. Visitors willing to explore the downstairs galleries of the Phillips Collection will find a contemporary twist on Lawrence's work, all painted by children. Traveling the country for two years, educators and curators brought Lawrence's images into schools as a teaching tool. From his examples, students' own immigration stories rose to the surface and made their way on to canvas. Stephanie Kaye reports.

Music Reviews with Mark Jenkins

There's a dark Washington adage that goes something like this: "Lose a country, gain a cuisine." Now that axiom can be expanded to include indie-rock as well. While the first Vietnamese emigres created a restaurant boom in the region, some of their descendants are making music. Critic Mark Jenkins says two recent examples are Carol Bui and Thao Nguyen, both from Northern Virginia and both with new albums.

Carol Bui's new CD is called Everyone Wore White. Thao Nguyen's new release is We Brave Bee Stings And All. Mark Jenkins also reviews music for the Washington Post and Blender.