‘Tis the season of year-end lists. And boy do I love a good list. (I’m currently making my way through Blue Ridge Outdoors’ “Essential 2012 Albums from the South”). I got super excited about making my own list . . . movies and books and albums and restaurants – oh, my! Except I couldn’t think of more than a handful of movies I had seen or books I had read. Somehow The 5 Movies I Saw This Year just doesn’t have the same ring as The Year’s Most Fabulous Movies Ever. I was momentarily discouraged, feeling the dream of year-end list making slipping through my fingers. But then, in a flicker of inspiration I realized there didn’t need to be such a standard theme. There are lots of people, (probably more expert than I) counting down the best of the words written, songs sung and dishes prepared; so instead I give you my 2012 superlatives (in no particular order):
Album Played on Repeat for the Most Consecutive Days: a tie between I and Love and You, The Avett Brothers; and The Lumineers, self-titled. (And yes I know The Avett Brothers have a new album this year – but this was the one I couldn’t get enough of. That’s the beauty of this being my very own list!)
Best Place to Pick up that Skirt/Dress/Shirt that will Make You Smile Every Time You Wear It: Ashby
Best Concert of the Year: Aquanett (Talk about smiling! If you don’t leave this show hoarse from singing along – you probably weren’t alive in the 80’s).
Best Random Yelp Recommendation: – The Pony Bar
Most Unusual Beer I Drank: Rocky Mountain Oyster Stout (just click the link, you know you want to know)
The Saddest Restaurant/Bar Closure: the deck at Mulligan’s (it’s the end of an era, folks)
Most Awesome Place to Celebrate a Birthday: Brooklyn Bowl (40 or 4, they’ve got you covered)
Coolest “Found” Object: my parent’s 1970 KLH turntable (now resting comfortably in our living room, so lovely)
The Best Way to Eat Your Veggies: Crazy, Sexy, Kitchen
The Far-Away Bar I Wish was in My Neighborhood: Euclid Hall (and not just because of the awesome poutine) (*poutine defined*)
All the best to you in 2013, my friends!
