I saw many good movies this year (back when I was still able to while Van constantly napped). French children, child brides, vengeful children, children in danger – you’ll find all sorts of children in my short list. As well as charming hookers and wild insects. Have Fun!
1. Small Change
3. Bluebeard
4. White Ribbon
5. See the Sea
6. Microcosmos
I read less than usual this year – but number one of my list was about 10,000 pages, so I don’t feel so bad.
If you’re looking for good reads, you’ll not only find a partially genius, mostly amazing, spiraling unfinished sic fi epic, but a terse sci-fi classic of a different sort.
You’ll read about rich people doing bad and bad crooks getting in too deep.
There are curious stories that will haunt you and a high school required reading that I missed in my youth.
Considering that two of the songs on my short list are novelties, it’s not a huge shock my favorite song this year has been a rap about fast food.
You’ll also find an incredibly lovely folk ballad from a glam rocker, a sexed up metal jam and a pretty forgotten dream pop love song.
1. Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell
2. She Was Born to be My Unicorn
5. Poison
The best albums recommended this year will make you want to dance in the streets, take you back to a 60’s you never knew, beg you to tap your toes and sing along, make you stretch your head in bafflement, get your mojo revved up, and make you want to make out with both Serge and his lovely Jane. Have fun!
1. Cartagena!
2. Part One
4. Wicked Witch
5. Grinderman
Flaboyant performers always steal my heart as two have made more short list (three if you count Numan’s robotic persona as flamboyant).
It was also a year for the perfect blue thanks to a fab painter and summer dreaming fashion photography.
But, the mind blowing designer behind many of Bowie’s greatest looks gets the top spot.
3. Sylvester
4. Yves Klein
5. Tom Palumbo
6. Gary Numan
Ok, so Elizabeth Taylor might be an obvious choice, but when her auction showcased her Vuitton luggage with name tags declaring “Mine!” I kind of fell in love all over again with the late, great super star.
Also on my short list of fashionable ladies? How about the sexiest cat lady, the creator of the bias cut, one of the greatest Super Models, an iconic textile artist, and a pioneering punk…
2. Julie Newmar
5. Maija Isola
6. Poly Sterene
Writing this entry is making me very hungry – for spicy Hunan, fresh sushi (on both coasts), creamy gazpacho, huge steaks, and a French childhood favorite.
1. Hunan Kitchen of Grand Sichuan
2. 1 or 8
4. Koi
5. El Almacen
6. La Baguette
Get ready to make your sweet tooth sing! Donuts, truffles, ice cream, macaroons, and pumpkin bread, hooray!
3. Little Oven
4. Crema
6. Steve’s Vanilla Bourbon Ice Cream
Just when you thought the neighborhood couldn’t take another coffee shop, one pops up that’s become my go to. Other great additions include an intimate wine bar,
a huge beer hall that’s kid friendly, and the spot that would easily win for the strangest interior (which I’ve learned since also has a fabulous brunch).
For staying in, one of the choicest local breweries got into the can business and a bottle of iced coffee concentrate saved many a mornings for me.
2. Troost
4. Trix
5. Spritzenhaus
One of the most interesting performances ever, an exhibit full of Muppets, awesome manicures, the best local massage and a Brooklyn waterfront market that became a weekly tradition, this list is full of great activities. None, however could beat the incredible McQueen exhibit that literally brought a tear to my eye.
1. Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty
3. Marie Nails
5. Jim Henson’s Fantastic World
From sharing photos, to awesome art shows, to several great local shops, there was plenty to whittle the time away, but nothing beats carrying Mr. Van!
3. Instagram
4. Midoriya
5. Caribou Baby
Well, we definitely didn’t do as much travel this year, but we still had some fun adventures on both coasts and in between. Friends recommended some amazing spots too!
1. Block Island
2. Disneyland
3. Minneapolis Children’s Museum
4. Austrian Castles (Astrid)
5. Tyddyn Llan, Llangollen, Wales (Dana)
6. Leviathan Installation (Shaun)
Lots of great style was to be found online this year, from vintage Vogues, the most fashionable of men to groupie girls. There also emerged a new site about my neighborhood that’s been ever so helpful and a cultural collection of cool stuff has me transfixed. But it was a children’s book site that stole my heart.
2. Youthquakers
6. Star1973
It was a very good year for television. Not only did Breaking Bad break my mind (not listed here as I recommended in a previous year) but it was the year Game of Thrones graced the small screen! YES!
But the quality television didn’t stop with epic, sex filled, big budget serious fantasy. One of the best period dramas ever debuted, we got to see Karl Pilkington visit the seven wonders of the world, Jeremy Irons gets pulpy and popey, an HBO classic comes to Netflix, and an HGTV show makes us want to pack up and live abroad.
1. Game of Thrones
4. The Borgias
6. House Hunters International
People screamed in terror, viral videos were analyzed, albums got the literary treatment, toddlers made bad movies and got drunk as did a Christmas storyteller… and how we laughed at it all!
1. Baby Trashes Bar in Las Palmas
3. Nightmares Fear Factory Gallery
6. Today Now! Interviews The 5-Year-Old Screenwriter Of “Fast Five”
Lots of hearty comforting food was made in our home this year. A simple fish stew tops the list but spaghetti made it in two slots!
1. Moqueca
2. Slow-Roasted Salmon with Cabbage, Bacon, and Dill
3. Spaghetti with Ground Lamb and Spinach
Great FoodEating at home was a joy with these delicious recipes:
1. Bucatini All’Amatriciana with Spicy Smoked Mozzarella Meatballs
2. Minced Pork with Soba Noodles
3. Baked Grits with Country Ham, Wild Mushrooms, Fresh Thyme, and Parmesan
5. A Selection of Momofuku Recipes
