Vincent Lee

Review of NPR

Having listened to NPR's programing via TuneIn for...

Having listened to NPR's programing via TuneIn for many years now, stepping into her LEED Gold-Certified Headquarter is surreal and a highlight to my virgin visit to DC.

For NPR fans, make sure to reserve a 60-minute tour (only on Tuesdays starting at 11am) to get a behind-the-scene look at her operation, people, and spirit.

Plan on arriving an hour before the tour to go through a well-documented timeline of NPR in the lobby. There are also videos and audio aids available, though the Soundstik was only emitting static sound during my visit. Is that a test to enter fandom?

Our guide for the day is Amy, a volunteer and advocate of NPR. She brought us to various studio spaces, the war-room (where you might see your favorite host/s from afar), while explaining the many features and functions of the space.

The tour capped off nicely with a visit to Bob Boilen's Tiny Desk (ie. NPR's All Songs Considered nerve center). Things that guests left behind (eg. disposal cup, uneaten cake) are scattered all around the desk / shelves... I call this beauty in chaos.