Weekend America

Food for the Inaugural Ball

Pasquale Ingenito is executive chef of Windows Catering Company, one of the premier catering companies in the DC area. This weekend his kitchens will be in "full production mode" as they prepare food for the various Inaugural events over the next few days. Weekend America host John Moe checks in live with Pasquale in the kitchen.

Illegal Soldiers

Immigrants turned out in record numbers to vote for President-elect Obama, but it's unclear whether he'll tackle comprehensive immigration reform as president. As a Senator, Obama supported the DREAM Act, which offered help to children who were brought illegally over the border. Daniela Gerson reports that the act could be a win-win for both immigrant youth and military recruiters.

America's Infrastructure

Gas in Them Thar Hills

Over the past few years, prospectors have been combing the hills of Pennsylvania. The mineral that's setting off the frenzy is shale. It's a mile or more below ground, and it's full of natural gas - maybe enough to fuel the entire United States for two years. The "gas rush" could make some Pennsylvanians rich. But it could also pollute the state's air and water.

Weekend Soundtrack

Weekend Soundtrack: "From the Bottom of My Heart" by The Wallflowers

It's time to listen to your weekend soundtrack - the songs that bridge the gap from Friday to Monday. This week our story comes from Amy Hoffman. Her weekend soundtrack is the song "From the Bottom of My Heart" by The Wallflowers.

What Happens in the Middle of the Night

Here at Weekend America, we asked listeners what they do in the middle of the night when they're not sleeping. And lots of people took a break from their nocturnal activities to write us. One was an artist/telephone technician who got his best work - both musical and telephonic - done in the wee hours. Another was an emergency room doctor who described the late-night hours in the ER.

Faux Bono

This weekend promises a groovy pre-inaugural concert. Crossing the stage in front of the Lincoln Memorial will be performers including Beyonce, Garth Brooks, Herbie Hancock, and, yes, Bono. But not the not-Bono. Did you know Bono has a doppelganger? He can be found not at the Lincoln Memorial, but in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago.

Tuskegee Airmen

The Tuskegee Airmen made history during World War II as the country's first black military pilots. Their performance paved the way for the end of racial segregation in the military forces. Now they've been invited to the Inauguration to watch Barack Obama make history as the country's first black president. Poet Marilyn Nelson talks about the struggles and the legacy of these legendary pilots.

Presidents of the United States of America

We're getting a new president, and who better to write a song for the occasion than the pop group the Presidents of the United States of America? We hear their composition and how they wrote it.

Good News, Bad News, No News

Good News, Bad News, No News: Flight 1549, Economic Stimulus, and Love

Time for our weekly parlor game to keep track of the news of the week. We're joined by Simon Doonan, author and creative director of Barneys New York; Nancy French, author of "A Red State of Mind"; and Reihan Salam, associate editor at the Atlantic.

Conversations with America

Conversations with America: le thi diem thuy

As America prepares to inaugurate a new president, we've been asking writers and thinkers about transitions in their own lives. Le thi diem thuy is a poet and solo performance artist. She and her family went through a big transition when they left their native Vietnam by boat in 1978. The family settled in Southern California, but we caught up with thuy on a visit to New York City.

Butchery Class

In San Francisco's Bernal Heights neighborhood, the main commercial strip is usually filled with people pushing baby strollers, walking their dogs or carrying their yoga mats. But the third Sunday of every month, the local butcher shop invites folks to sharpen their knives and really get to know where their food comes from.

Lady Dottie

Dorothy Mae "Lady Dottie" Whitsett is the lead singer of Lady Dottie and the Diamonds, based out of San Diego, Calif. The sound is a bit of soul, blues and garage. Whitsett's background is gospel music. San Diego isn't known for blues or soul, but Lady Dottie has an intense following in the indie scene. Producer Angela Kim reports.

Sheriff's Calls

In Northern California's West Marin County, you can find all of this weekend's events listed in the local newspaper, the Point Reyes Light. But what most people turn to first in that paper is a weekly column called Sheriff's Calls. It highlights some of the more nefarious happenings in West Marin. Recently, Reporter Nancy Mullane got a behind the scenes look at how the column gets made each week.