Ryan Hanrahan's Cultural Life.
The popular metrologist rereads Hemingway, loves a museum in Amsterdam and has a fantasy dinner party that will feature some tensions between two legends who once met. Tete de veau gets a mention.
State treasure alert. WVIT Chief Meteorologist Ryan Hanrahan joins Now You Know this week. For 18 years, Ryan has successfully navigated the modern meteorologist’s tussle between knowledge and personality on the air. He’s helped educate a generation of Connecticut students with his frequent school visits. Ryan’s taste for travel is reflected in his cultural treasures.
Favorite author or book.
I’ve always loved Hemingway and find myself rereading The Sun Also Rises or A Farewell to Arms every few years. My favorite summer read is Daniel Silva’s Gabriel Allon series – I’m already looking forward to the July 2024 installment.
The book you are reading.
I’m just about done with Stalin’s War: A New History of World War II. I tend to read a lot of World War II and Cold War historical fiction but occasionally dabble in non-fiction.
The book you couldn’t finish.
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. I’ve tried twice but just can’t do it.
The book you’ve long intended to read but never get to.
War and Peace and Anna Karenina.
Most memorable live performance.
Bruce Springsteen during The Rising tour at Giants Stadium in July 2003.
Your best binge.
That’s a tough one. Breaking Bad was probably the most enjoyable TV show I’ve binged.
Favorite TV series.
Curb Your Enthusiasm.
A YouTube video you find yourself returning to.
Various performances from Live Aid in Philadelphia and Wembley always find a way into my YouTube rotation.
Favorite piece of music.
Two albums jump out at me as my favorites. The White Album by The Beatles and Rumours by Fleetwood Mac.
The music that cheers you up
During the pandemic I really got into Rüfüs Du Sol and have seen them in concert a few times since then. I have a varied taste in music!
If you could own one painting it would be…..
A van Gogh. I’ve always loved van Gogh’s work and the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam is one of my favorite places to visit.
The instrument you wish you’d learned to play
I would love to be able to play the guitar.
Your guiltiest cultural pleasure
About 10 years ago I watched a couple seasons of the Real Housewives. I’m also somewhat fascinated by the royal family.
You wasted an evening…….
Scrolling Twitter.
Something that ought to be better known.
Newsrooms across Connecticut are filled with hard-working people filing stories under tight deadlines and pressure to serve the community. In recent years the media has come under attack but there’s nothing my coworkers care about more than getting it right.
A recent discovery.
Over Labor Day weekend in Paris I had tête de veau and actually didn’t mind it!
Two podcasts you try not to miss.
My commute to work is approximately 3 minutes so I don’t have as much time for podcasts as I’d like. That said, The Daily from the Times is great. I also really enjoy Kara Swisher’s podcasts Pivot and On – the intersection between technology and society really fascinates (and worries) me.
You’re having a fantasy dinner party, you’ll invite these guests…..
Stevie Nicks, Winston Churchill, and Teddy Roosevelt.
The place you feel happiest.
On the beach in Truro, Massachusetts.
The best fictional depiction of life in local television.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show is probably the most enjoyable depiction of a local TV newsroom! The day-to-day reality of local television probably isn’t glamorous or crazy enough (most of the time) for a good TV drama or sitcom.
Thank you, Ryan Hanrahan.
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If you are starting your list of New Year’s resolutions, Anthony Vicino has some reading advice, starting with a Roman emperor.