WTOP's Bob Madigan
Man About Town
Bob has one of the best jobs in the city. Enjoy some photos of what a "day at the office" is like for the Man About Town
Bob Madigan
Bob Madigan has been with WTOP Radio for 18 years. For most of that time, he has been covering the "Good" "Positive" news of Washington. Here is a chance to listen to some of his most recent pieces and you may even download if you wish. You can email Bob at bmadigan@wtop.com or follow him on Twitter.
** PHOTO: Bob Madigan, left, shaved his head for childhood cancer.
Santa to make a splash
The Water-Skiing Santa and his kneeboarding reindeer! Also featuring The Flying Elves, the jet-skiing Grinch, and Frosty the Snowman in a dinghy all at National Harbor Monday December 24th at 1 pm sharp!
Can you hear the people sing????
Lots of people are headed to the National Theatre to see the US Tour LIVE version of the musical "Les Miserables." Among them Vice President Joe Biden who brought his granddaughter to see one of his all time favorite musicals. But he was not alone. Click on both stories below.
Santa's spirit spreads
This is the story of a young man who combined religious traditions to do the most good!
Santa and the Skins!
The Burgundy & Gold is shining on so many different levels. The Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation and the U.S. Marine Corps teamed up to distribute more than 1,100 toys to underserved youngsters at the annual "Skins Santa Shoppe" toy distribution event at FedExField.
So long to a shining star of Wolf Trap
For 17 years Terre Jones has been at the helm of Wolf Trap guiding it through a tremendous time of growth not just in the scope of entertainment on the Filene Stage or the Barns of Wolf Trap, the commissioning of more than 70 new pieces in diverse genres but especially in education programs. The board of directors hailed the opening of the Center for Education at Wolf Trap as "one of Jones' greatest achievements during his tenure. It is a national resource for artists, teachers, children, and the community". Now that he is retiring at year's end, a wing of the center has been named in his honor: "The Terrence D. Jones Family Education Hall."
Festival of Lights shines on
The National Menorah is 30 feet tall, on the Ellipse on the south side of the White House Each night of Hanukkah another candle will be lighted until all 8 are illuminated. Rabbi Levi Shemtov presided over the annual lighting on Sunday saying, "Indeed, this menorah has become a national symbol of the festival of Chanukah. After all, this is the essence of the celebration - to proclaim and celebrate the miracle of Chanukah - The Festival of Lights in the most public manner possible." The National Menorah is sponsored by American Friends of Lubavitch privately through its National Menorah Council. Check out the two reports by clicking below.
Nothing says Christmas like this!
The Washington Ballet's production of Septime Webre's critically acclaimed "The Nutcracker". It magically transports the audience back in time to historic Washington, DC and stars George Washington as the heroic Nutcracker. Along side the professional dancers are 400 youngsters from the Washington School of Ballet. At the Warner Theatre thru December 23rd. Meet some of stars of tomorrow in the two clips below.
Junior Achievement achieves!
There are 52,000 students in the Greater Washington area getting a leg up on life thanks to Junior Achievement of Greater Washington which empowers young people to own their economic success. Meet some of them in the two clips below.
Yo Yo takes a turn in a turn-around school
Grammy Award Winning, National Medal of Arts and Presidential Medal of Freedom awardee, cellist Yo-Yo Ma and dancer Damian Woetzel spent Tuesday morning at Savoy Elementary School in Washington's Anacostia neighborhood. Listen to the two cuts below to find out what the Washington Performing Arts Society did for these youngsters.
Good news is good for you!
There is science to prove it. Where to get good news other than here?? The Good News Network® the brain child of a Manassass mom, Geri Weis-Corbley who began this effort in 1997 with a passion to serve humanity in doses of positive news.
A chef who cooks without tasting the food??
Samantha Pecoraro is a 15 year-old young lady who dreams of being a chef - but she cannot eat.
From Cape Coral, Florida she is in DC this weekend as an apprentice to Cedar Restaurant's Chef Aaron McCloud. Samantha has a condition called Eosinophilic Esophagitis, an autoimmune disease that causes food to make her extremely ill. Because of this disease Samantha can only eat white potatoes which her body is able to digest.
Yet even though she cannot eat she dreams of being a professional chef.
She takes a culinary class every day. She calls herself a "blind chef" because she cannot taste what she cooks so she focuses on presentation which she documents in photographs for her culinary portfolio.
No shy chef, Samantha recently perfected recipes for escargot and crème brulee.
Sunday December 2, Cedar Restaurant's Chef Aaron McCloud and Samantha will host a dinner benefiting CURED, the research foundation for Eosinophilic Esophagitis, the condition that affects one in 1,000 people.
Sunday December 2, 2012 - 6 p.m.
Cedar Chef Aaron McCloud hosts benefit dinner for Samantha
822 E Street NW
Washington DC 20004
202-637-0012
Tickets: $150 per person
Bright lights
Lots of red, green, blue and aqua lights sparkled along the waters of the Potomac River in Alexandria Saturday. Dozens of light bedecked boats took part in the 13th Annual Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights. Earlier in the day Santa was on hand for pictures and warm cider with the youngsters. The mild weather brought out thousands for what organizers feel was the largest crowd yet.
Farm to market to table
Farmers are bringing some of the best food you can buy to Farmers' Markets all over the region. The largest non-profit group of markets in the region FreshFarm Markets is celebrating its 15 year anniversary and just held it's 10th Annual Farmland Feast. We take you there in the two clips below!
Are you hearing bells??
They are coming from hundreds of bell ringers helping The Salvation Army National Capital Area Command's Red Kettle Campaign. And once again WTOP is a proud sponsor. So, Every time you see a Red Kettle and hear the familiar bell ringing, please donate generously. Every dollar you give stays right here, supporting programs and proving help to those in need in our community. Listen to the two clips below to learn more!
Female Vietnam Veterans get a big shout out
During the Veterans' Day at the Wall 30th Anniversary Celebration the crowd (in the tens of thousands) heard from Allison Hickey, Brig. General USAF (Ret.)and now Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Benefits. As she thanked the women who served during Vietman for opening the door for many more women since then.
Supporting and helping our troops
Especially the wounded warriors. One way to do that is thru the Walter Reed Society which picks up where Uncle Sam leaves off. WTOP & Select Auto Imports partnered thru Veterans' Day to raise money for the Walter Reed Society.
Veterans' Day is for Veterans
And one of the most decorated is Medal of Honor recipient Barney Barnum USMC Col.(Ret.) Listen to the clip below and hear his thoughts on Veterans' Day.
A real life local-boy-makes-good story
He went to Oakton High School in Vienna, went off to Brigham Young University, graduated and headed to Hollywood to take a plunge in the music industry. Today Nathan Pacheco is a rising star in the world of "cross-over" music. Hear part of this talented tenor's story in the two clips below.
Silver Spring sparkles by re-imagining the holidays
The Fountain Plaza in downtown Silver Spring has an environmentally-friendly holiday art installation called "Holiday Destination." by internationally renowned artist (and Washington, D.C. native) Julia Vogl. A 30 foot high structure brings moving colorful light into the plaza by day and night. It is a visual representation of where the local community intends to spend their holidays.
Making joyful noise
When the runners and walkers gathered for the National Race to End Women's Cancers they were cheered on by the Chantilly High School Cheerleaders. And they gave a big boost at the finish line, too. Check out the two clips below.
