Why do people go to TDR? Is it the delectable cuisine? Is it the friendly service? Is it convivial atmosphere, perfect for studying or conversing with peers?
Or is it the sweet, sweet music? Those smooth, contemporary jams that soothe not only the belly but also the soul! Majic 102.3 WMMJ, "from the top of the Washington Memorial," is the current station of choice for the managers of TDR who pick the station.
"We've recieved no complaints in three years," TDR manager Nancy Bryant said. "Have you read the comment board?"
Truth be told, word on the street is pretty lukewarm. The "baby making music," as it was referred to by School of Communication sophomore Jess Alter, is a subject of ambivalence to some AU diners.
"We should be playing the AU radio station!" said grill man Marc Muse (aka, Big Muse). Indeed, back in the day, AU's own WVAU was the featured fare at the feasting spot. Now, due to the Internet-only nature of the station, that is a little bit harder to accomplish.
The customary WMMJ jams, D.C.'s number one hit R&B station, has become a staple of the TDR experience for some patrons.
"It's cool, feel good music," noted Keith Sniatecki, a sophomore in the Kogod School of Business. His friends, including Hannah McNeill, a sophomore in SOC, agreed that it aided in digestion.
"It is a little annoying, though," when kids take it upon themselves to crank up the volume of the radio, added McNeill. "We just want to talk to our friends."
The classic "that guy" move in the radio department of TDR is to mess with the volume knobs on the walls of certain sections. Levels are known to go from normal to brain-searing in a matter of seconds, all due to a single person's whim.
The music also helps TDR employees, who like the music because they say it makes the day go by faster.
"If there's no music in here, it feels like the day's just dragging on," said pizza chef John Thompson. Employee Tacie Bundy admits they pump up the volume after hours, making cleaning up relatively painless to get the hell out. All working men and women can relate.
It's always comforting to hear the same songs around the same time every day. If you go to lunch around the same time every day, students find they start hearing the same songs, for example "Isn't She Lovely" by Stevie Wonder, or "I Want You Back" by the Jackson 5, or any number of R&B soul songs from the early '90s. In an ever-changing world, a little stability in the Natalie Case show (weekdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.).
Bryant notes that if students do have any complaints, they can request whatever they want. They're always open to suggestions at TDR.
