For all of you in mourning because you didn’t get a Stephen Colbert ticket – treat yourself to something else fun instead, like my Origins class did! Our “Professor on the Town” event was a huge success, featuring a fantastic tour of the Washington D.C. headquarters of NPR. The tour took us through the newest and most eco-friendly addition to NPR buildings, located in a converted warehouse just a few metro stops away from Foggy Bottom. We were able to see the working space for some of our favorite reporters, and even met one at the end of the tour – Stephen Thompson, host of “Pop Culture Happy Hour” and co-creator of Tiny Desk Concerts ever so causally stopped by, greeting us in a shirt with his program name on it. Quite literally filling the chairs of producers and directors who were a part of “Tell Me More,” our guide gave us a look at where this popular show used to be recorded! We got to check out the main newsroom where reporters for the radio and the Internet site sit (if I ever have three computers on my desk, then I’ll really know I’ve made it) as well as the department where all things musical are compiled for the air. Although Bob Boilen wasn’t at his desk when we walked by, it was great to see where Tiny Desk Concerts are produced (and where his Emmy resides). Our event concluded with a delicious lunch at Indigo, an Indian restaurant that specializes in feeding hungry Honors students on bitterly cold days. Overall, this trip was just the study break we needed in this hectic time. Next time you’re looking for a fun getaway or you have a guest in town, check out NPR! A big thank you to the Honors Program for funding this, to our SPA Maggie for organizing the trip, and to our Professor for bringing us out!
 
Audrey Hertzberg is a freshman studying Political Science.