Williamsburg Spelling Bee on NPR

Adults Put the 'Bee' in Orthography (streaming audio, 3:57) - from today's Morning Edition on NPR.

Spelling bees are not just for kids, as more and more spelling bees for adults sprout up across the country. A bar in Brooklyn, New York, has been hosting one for about five years. That bee attracts people just looking for fun and those who really know their stuff.

Thanks to reporter Ben Calhoun! Shout-out to Carolyn D'Aquila, winner of the bee attended by Mr. Calhoun.

August 17 Winners

Congratulations to:

1st place: Trent Williams
Tied for 2nd place: Ji Seuk, Jonathan Lill, David Zheng

All qualify for the December 7th season finals!

August 3rd Winners

Congratulations to:

1st place: Jonathan Lill
2nd place: David Zheng

Both qualify for the December 7th season finals!

Incidentally, normally we qualify the top three winners for the Finals, but this time around we had a four-way tie for third, so we qualified only the top two, but gave out four third-place prizes. The paninis are delicious.

Jonathan won not only the usual first place prize -- a $25 bar tab -- but also Roller Derby tickets!

Jonathan also went out for a smoke break mid-bee and came back with a tiny, chirping sparrow perched on his hand. Like Snow White. Seriously. Numerous photos were taken. Send one in to the blog if you have photographic evidence of the Spelling Sparrow Incident.