The Next Big Thing

Love and Vikings

A report from London-based reporter Thomas Buch-Andersen on a new constituency asserting its right to legalized marriage in Denmark.

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Paper Work

The order came from Deitch Projects: 125 flowers, each made from 48 individually folded pieces of paper, to be delivered to the SoHo gallery in less than a week. Making origami under deadline and for pay – is it art, zen, or hell? Next Big Thing contributor Matt Power offers his participatory observations. Produced by Emily Botein.

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Candy: The Dark Side

For some people, Valentine’s Day is really about the chocolate. As writer Steve Almond readily admits, for him, every day is – and always has been - about the chocolate. Almond’s new book on the subject, Candyfreak: A Journey through the Chocolate Underbelly of America, will be out in April.

» Read an excerpt of Candyfreak

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Wired Love

In 1879, a telegraph operator named Ella Cheever Thayer wrote a novel about an online romance between two telegraph operators, titled (appropriately enough) Wired Love. Writer Paul Collins, who publishes lost and forgotten books as editor of the McSweeney’s Collins Library imprint, researched the novel and its author. He introduces several excerpts, which are performed here by actress Eliza Foss. Produced by Julie Subrin.

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Finding Morse

The Morse code taps heard in our Wired Love dramatizations were provided by Mel Schneider, vice president of the Kings County Radio Club. For years, Schneider has been using Morse code and other forms of ham radio communication to make contact with people all over the world, all from a little room on the second floor of his house in Brooklyn. He invites Dean over for a demonstration. Produced by Julie Subrin.

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Race to the Top

Photo by Greg Cross for New York Road Runners

It may not be New York City’s best known race, but it’s certainly the tallest. Eighty-six flights, to be precise. Next Big Thing contributor Laura Starecheski stands by as runners huff and puff to the top of the Empire State Building. Recorded with Deepa Ranganathan. Produced by Curtis Fox.

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Band with Van (and Theremin)

Photo by merri cyr

Dean Olsher takes a ride through the streets of New York in a battered tour bus along with the members of Barbez , a local, unconventional cabaret band. Along the way, they talk about leaks, day jobs, and the shaky economics of independent music. Produced by Amanda Aronczyk.

» Visit Barbez's website

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