www.NotMuch.com

By Chris Dunmire

Earlier this month I took a day trip with friends to Madison, Wisconsin, to see a live a broadcast of Michael Feldman's public syndicated radio show "Whad'Ya Know?" at Monona Terrace. Michael has a natural talent for dry wit, which is right up my alley. Read his bio ("The Fastest Mike in the Midwest") and you'll quickly discern what I mean.

This entertaining 2-hour show, on air since 1985, features an opening monologue, radio interviews, live jazz music, witty bantering, a "Town of the Week", and an audience member/caller team quiz show. You can listen to it weekly on public radio, or on the NotMuch.com Web site (download & read transcripts of archived shows). Before the show, audience members are encouraged to submit fun questions to stump Michael with, but as I witnessed, he has a knack for finessing his way through them. I was hoping he'd take on my question about the plausibility of free-range ant farms — alas, time was short.

During our broadcast, one of the audience quiz players was a sweet old woman named Adris who grew up in a lighthouse where her father worked. Adris shared her story with Michael and radio-land about how lonely it was being the only girl in her family with nobody around to play with. Michael sympathized and listened and moved her story along to get the quiz show going. Just before, Adris remarked how much work it was living in a lighthouse keeping it clean and whatnot. Michael quipped, "It must have been light house keeping!" Yes, my kind of pun fun. (Read the entire show transcript for June 14, 2008 here.)

Tickets are easy to order for Whad'Ya Know? via phone or Web site, and in-person ($5), and the experience, for me, was well worth it. If you get a chance to see it, don't miss the free donuts and coffee before the show.

Meeting Artist Kat Beyer

After a morning in the Whad'Ya Know? show, my friends and I walked around the Madison square Farmer's Market, where I eventually bumped into artist and writer Kat Beyer showcasing in the Art Fair off the Square. Kat was a delight to meet and I learned she's recently illustrated a children's book. She has some whimsical watercolor art up on her Web site that you can browse, and I personally enjoyed the step-by-step painting demo on her headless bikeman painting. It illustrates the planning and dynamic work that goes into a painting from a conceptual sketch to a finished piece. Valuable insight into the working artists mind! •

© 2008 Chris Dunmire www.chrisdunmire.com. All rights reserved.