The Best of 2009

I'm going to start a new tradition here. CNN, Time, Newsweek, even People all have "Best of the Best" lists for all kinds of categories, both useful and stupid. In the spirit of the holidays, I'm starting my own list. I'm even going to get a little crazy with font colors. Woo! Living on the edge!

Best Music

1. Sweet Disposition--The Temper Trap
Love, love, love this song. Fell in love with it the first time I heard it in "500 Days of Summer". Love affair has lasted longer than some relationships.

2. Winter Song--Sara Bareilles w/ Ingrid Michaelson
Reflective, a little sad, hypnotic. Perfect for snowy days when the holidays have you a little down. Well, at least I feel that way sometimes.

3. Sick Muse--Metric
Emily Haines has a great voice, and who can resist lyrics like, "Watch out Cupid, money is a sick muse, pull your little arrows out and let me live my life"? Their other stuff rocks, as well.

4. The Resolution--Jack's Mannequin
Love his voice, empowering lyrics, just hits me the right way.

5. Hologram--Katie Herzig
Great song. She has kind of a little-girl voice, but not in an annoying way. Could be the anthem for online dating.

Best Places I Visited

1. Smart Home--Museum of Science & Industry, Chicago, Illinois
If you thought going green was impossible, you haven't caught the vision. From using no-low VOC paints to passive solar to choosing different materials when you upgrade your countertops, this place had it all. Plus it was modern, comfortable, and fabulous.

2. MUNY Opera--St. Louis, Missouri
The MUNY is a national treasure, or it should be designated as such. An open-air theatre with Broadway musicals every week during the hot St. Louis summers, this place is the place to be for the near-suburban St. Louisan. I grew up going there and still do whenever I get the chance. Something about seeing the women in their pretty sundresses and the men in their polos and khakis makes the world seem more civilized and hopeful.

3. Sundance--Provo, Utah
I've been there dozens of times, in all four seasons, and love it more every time. It's beautiful, peaceful, rejuvenating, and fun. Skiing in the winter, hiking in the summer, lift rides up the mountain, gorgeous cabins and condos to sneak off to, open-air plays to attend, amazing food. Thank you Robert Redford!

4. Grant Park--Chicago, Illinois
The park where I fell in love with Chicago and my husband. Home of the Art Institute, Buckingham Fountain, Taste of Chicago. Lovely place.

5. BYU--Provo, Utah
Surprise! BYU has a gorgeous campus. Lots of trees, wide sidewalks, flowers, interesting buildings, nice people, and an amazing number of cultural and athletic activities. From foreign films to nationally ranked football to killer jazz, BYU can fill many a dull day and evening and turn it into something fun and memorable--without spending a fortune.

Best Restaurants

1. Steak 'n Shake--Midwest U.S.
Okay, the food is good but there are lots of better places, I'm sure. I love the whole diner theme, the fact that my parents ate there in high school, and their hamburgers. We love this place. Burger Supreme in Provo has the closest hamburger-goodness I've found around here.

2. Ted Drewes--St. Louis, Missouri
Ted Drewes has been on Route 66 in St. Louis since 1941. It's a tradition for many locals to head there after a Cardinals game, MUNY outing, or any other reason at all. We go every time we're back home.

3. Chunga's--Provo, Utah
OMG. The best Mexican food in The Valley (that's Utah County-speak--short for Happy Valley). Love this place, and they're so nice there.

4. The Bombay House--Provo, Utah
I love Indian food. The first time I ever had it was in London and it was so spicy I thought my mouth was on fire (Flames! On the side of my face!--Clue). The Bombay House is much more user-friendly, though they'll make it as hot as you can stand it if you'd like.

5. Ikea--Worldwide
Who knew? Well, anyone who has been to Ikea knew, I guess. They have great food! I love their salmon, Swedish meatballs, chocolate cake, lingonberry juice--you name it. It's a fun place to eat when we're in the area, and especially when we're shopping there.

Best Movies

1. The Met--Live in HD
If you love opera, are interested in opera, or think you might or should be, do yourself a favor and start with this. These are live broadcasts, straight from the Metropolitan Opera in NYC. I understood what I was watching so much better through this format. The voices are divine, the costumes gorgeous, the sets ingenious, and I learned so much from the interviews and tours between acts. It really spoils you and makes college productions a little less enjoyable, but it's worth every penny.

2. Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince
I completely agree--the end was disappointing and anti-climactic. But any summer with Harry Potter is a good summer, in my opinion. Except for that, I thought it was a very strong entry.

3. 500 Days of Summer
I really enjoyed this movie, and loved the music. I think Zooey Deschanel is lovely, too. My husband didn't like it particularly--maybe it's a chick thing.

4. Julie & Julia
I adore Julia Child and have made no secret of this fact. I found the Julie Powell character to be annoying and self-absorbed, but I love Julia. And Meryl Streep playing Julia is a pretty fair consolation for not having the real woman. Made me want to cook and bake like crazy.

5. Cranford, North & South, Wives & Daughters
I saw all three of these Masterpiece Theatre mini-series this year and love them as I love my Jane Austen movies. Fabulous, beautiful, romantic, funny (surprisingly funny, actually). I love Elizabeth Gaskell and hope her books are as accessible as the films are.

Things I'm Looking Forward to in 2010

1. The Lightning Thief--February
This was a great series of books by Rick Riordan, and the first movie looks really fun.

2. Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows--November
What an amazing book this was. Nonstop tension and action from the first page on. Hope the movie lives up to it.

3. La Push, Washington--July
Can't wait to head back up to "our" cabin on the ocean for a week of Olympic Peninsula gorgeousness and a few days in Seattle. Had St. Louis obligations the past two summers and didn't make it up, but we're really hoping for 2010. Unless my sister gets married, which will take precedence, of course.

4. My first 5K--May
My goal is to run the 5K in the Provo City Half Marathon on May 1. I have my work cut out for me so I don't completely embarrass myself and my family, but I can do it.

5. All the great things that haven't even crossed my mind yet. 2009 had lots of surprises, both welcome and un-, but it could never be said that it was a boring year. Bring it on!