All Of It: Tell Us Your Weekend Plans! – Detailed Summary

Release Date: February 21, 2025
Host: David Fuerst (in place of Alison Stewart)
Podcast: All Of It by WNYC

Introduction

In the episode titled "Tell Us Your Weekend Plans!", host David Fuerst invites listeners to share their weekend activities and highlights various plans from the All Of It team and listeners. The episode emphasizes the diversity of cultural engagements available in New York City, especially during the winter season.

Birding Adventures

Kate Hines, a producer, shares her recent and upcoming birding experiences:

• Recent Trip to Minnesota: Kate visited Minnesota last weekend and observed a great gray owl, recommending birding enthusiasts to explore similar opportunities.

• Upcoming Birding Plans: She plans to attend a play titled Dakar 2000 with her boyfriend but remains hopeful to spot red-winged blackbirds in the park, which signal the early onset of spring with their distinctive "akaree" call.

  "Red winged blackbirds... their akaree call. They're really delightful and I'm hoping that if I'm out and about, I'll see." [02:23]

Kate also humorously interacts with Juliana, the board operator, about recording the red-winged blackbird call on air, adding a light-hearted element to the conversation.

Skiing and Winter Sports

Listener Hannah from Irvington, New York, shares her enthusiasm for winter sports:

• Skiing Plans: She is heading to Belair on Saturday and Windham on Sunday for skiing, highlighting her role as a ski instructor with the program Women of Winter.

  "This has been definitely a historic year, especially up for our northern friends. There's a lot of snow, the conditions are great, and looks like we're going to have, you know, an extended season." [04:19]

• Encouragement for Beginners: Hannah encourages those who haven't tried skiing or snowboarding by emphasizing the accessibility and enjoyment of these activities.

Arts and Culture Events

The episode spotlights several cultural events happening over the weekend:

• Harlem Fine Arts Festival:

  • Caller Monk from Brooklyn mentions attending the Harlem Fine Arts Festival in Midtown, celebrating the African diaspora through contemporary art.

    "I have plans to go to the Harlem Fine Arts Festival this weekend in Midtown." [04:57]

  • Kate Hines later elaborates on the festival's dates (February 21-23) and its focus on bringing together contemporary artists with new collectors.

    "It celebrates the multifaceted African diaspora by bringing together contemporary artists with a new growing class of collectors." [07:35]

• Worship in Music – Yacht Rock Tributes:

  • A text alerts listeners about Losers Lounge's Yacht Rock tribute at Joe's Pub across Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, featuring renditions of bands like The Doobie Brothers, Toto, and Kenny Loggins.

    "Excited to check out their renditions of the Doobie Brothers, Toto, Kenny Loggins, et cetera." [06:14]

  • Kate Hines shares her enthusiasm for Yacht Rock, mentioning her friend's performance with the Yacht Rock Choir of Brooklyn.

    "I went to see her performance which was fantastic and so much fun." [10:49]

• Oscar-Nominated Animated Short Films:

  • Simon, another producer, plans to watch Oscar-nominated animated shorts at BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music), particularly excited about a film titled Beautiful Men.

    "Beautiful Men, about three bald men who go to Istanbul to get hair transplants and find out the only clinic can only accommodate one of them." [06:39]

Wellness and Fitness Activities

Listeners share various wellness-focused plans:

• Yoga Class in Williamsburg:

  • Holly from Brooklyn will be teaching an inversion class focused on headstands at Artful Souls and Wellness.

    "You will go upside down. It'll be a lot of fun." [05:21]

• Morning Yoga and Resolutions:

  • Luke, a producer, intends to pursue his New Year's resolution by attending morning yoga sessions once a month, potentially trying out headstands.

    "Planning to fulfill his New Year's resolution by doing some morning yoga." [08:06]

Sports and Entertainment

The episode touches on sports events and entertainment plans:

• Basketball Matchup:

  • Luke is excited about the Big East basketball game between UConn and St. John's at Madison Square Garden, anticipating a thrilling matchup with fiery coaches Dan Hurley and Rick Pitino.

    "A massive Big east basketball matchup featuring two budding rivals... St. John's beat UConn in the first matchup this season." [08:24]

• Liverpool vs. Manchester City:

  • Jeff from Queens plans to watch the Liverpool vs. Manchester City game in the English Premier League, combining his love for cycling with his passion for football.

    "I'll be biking from the city up to Nyack both on Saturday as well as Sunday... to watch the Liverpool Man City game." [12:47]

Community and Creative Projects

Listeners also engage in creative and community-oriented activities:

• Walking Tour of Audubon Mural Project:

  • A text informs about a nine-mile walk around Central Park, Morningside Park, and Riverside Park with Shorewalkers, focusing on the Audubon mural project.

• Bridesmaid Dress Shopping:

  • Jordan, another producer, seeks recommendations for a green bridesmaid dress for his best friend's wedding, encouraging listeners to share suggestions via Instagram at @olovnyc.

    "I'm going shopping for a bridesmaid dress for my best friend's wedding... Does anyone know where to get a nice green dress?" [11:02]

Unique Listener Contributions

Additional unique plans shared by listeners include:

• Costume Jewelry for Wicked Cast:

  • Larry from Manhattan, a costume jewelry artist, discusses creating new jewelry pieces for the revamped cast of Wicked, addressing the need for updated accessories due to changes in the actors' physiques.

    "They've decided they needed new jewelry... so they can finally have new tiaras and other jewelry pieces." [12:34]

• Cycling in Cold Weather:

  • Jeff emphasizes that adverse weather doesn't impede his cycling plans, attributing successful rides to proper clothing and gear.

    "There's just, just what's known as bad clothing or bad kit in cycling terms." [12:47]

Conclusion

As the episode wraps up, David Fuerst and Kate Hines share their personal weekend plans. David mentions his commitment to hosting Weekend Edition on both Saturday and Sunday mornings, while Kate playfully teases about the ongoing Yacht Rock theme.

"Tell people what time you have to be here at the station to host." [14:11]

The episode concludes with a warm farewell to listeners, encouraging them to enjoy their weekends and thank them for their participation.

Notable Quotes:

• Kate Hines on Red-Winged Blackbirds:

  "Red winged blackbirds... their akaree call. They're really delightful and I'm hoping that if I'm out and about, I'll see." [02:23]

• Hannah on Skiing Season:

  "This has been definitely a historic year... an extended season." [04:19]

• Larry on Wicked's New Jewelry:

  "They've decided they needed new jewelry... so they can finally have new tiaras and other jewelry pieces." [12:34]

Final Thoughts

"Tell Us Your Weekend Plans!" offers a vibrant snapshot of New York City's cultural and recreational landscape. From birding and skiing to arts festivals and yoga classes, the episode showcases the myriad ways residents and visitors engage with the city's rich tapestry. The interactive format, featuring listener contributions, reinforces the community-driven ethos of All Of It, making it a valuable companion for anyone looking to explore and participate in New York's dynamic culture.