How does one define "good" architectural criticism? This week on Burning Down the House, Curtis B. Wayne and frequent guest Duo Dickinson are talking with Alexandra Lange, Professor of Design Criticism at the School of Visual Arts and NYU. Why is criticism so often either 'dumbed-down' or 'elitist'? Tune in to hear Curtis, Duo, and Alexandra discuss particular critiques, and what types of criticism take into account functionality and visual appearance. Later, the conversation shifts to criticism in the press, and why opinion pieces are relegated to the Internet. Is criticism of a building necessarily an endorsement of the structure? Find out on this episode of Burning Down the House! This program has been sponsored by Hearst Ranch.

"To write about a project is an endorsement of its importance, but not necessarily of its quality." [55:45] -- Alexandra Lange on Burning Down the House

Jenn Tullock and Pam Stubbs are back hosting yet another episode of The Morning After! Tune in this week to hear Jenn recount a 'Front of House' New York City restaurant horror story. Later, Jenn and Pam talk with Aaron Sherman and Gianfranco Verga about their wine, spirit, and beer website, SevenFifty. Hear about the duo's initial interest in wine, and how it brought them together to form a a digital mega-list of wines from a myriad of distributors and producers. Hear about their innovations in the realm of wine tasting, and how you can compile all of your tasting notes online. Later, Jenn and Pam are joined by Brian Block, manager at Socarrat. Hear how Brian has enjoyed the transition from behind the bar to the floor, as well as his distaste of recent pretentious hipster cocktail revivalists. Hear Brian discuss his ideas on designing cocktails to match restaurant personalities, and why frozen drinks need to make a comeback. This episode has been sponsored by Hearst Ranch.

"In Florence, we met a lot of friendly people who introduced us to what it meant to have wine as a serious part of the culture and part of the meal- the thing that brought all of us to wine and restaurants in the first place." -- Aaron Sherman on The Morning After

This week on Straight, No Chaser host Katy Keiffer takes on the crisis of hunger with guest Anthony Butler, Executive Director of St. John's Bread and Life. Learn about how the federal cuts of the Reagan years left many people in a state of food insecurity that still lingers today and how the current Farm Bill is working its way through the Senate and could leave millions of people hungry with looming cuts to the SNAP program. Tune in to find out how, despite these challenges, Anthony and St. John's Bread and Life are helping millions of hungry New Yorkers by integrating technology, such as their innovative digital food pantry, to streamline costs and get more people fed the right food. This program is sponsored by Whole Foods Market.

" What's happening right now to SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] is that the Senate is proposing over 10 years to cut over $4.5 billion dollars in SNAP money. 40% of those who are hungry will be affected by that, that's around 800,000 families who will lose $90 a month on groceries. The biggest people who will be hurt are people who are receiving other federal subsidies, so the biggest people who will be hurt are working families and seniors."

"Food stamps supports farmers-- that's the purpose of it! This money goes back into farms. Food stamps also dramatically support local economies. "

--Anthony Butler of St. John's Bread & Life on Straight, No Chaser