I haven’t done something like this in a few years.

2018 Favorites

Books

• Poetry: Wisława Szymborska’s Here
• Fiction: Evgenij Vodolazkin’s Laurus
• Non-Fiction: Michael McGregor’s Pure Act: The Uncommon Life of Robert Lax
• Children: Maurice Sendak’s In the Night Kitchen

Music

• Album (new): Sons of Kemet, Your Queen is a Reptile
• Album (old): Tohru Aizawa Quartet, Tachibana
• Tune (instrumental): Kenny Barron Quintet’s “Aquele Frevo Axé”
• Tune (w/ vocals): John Prine’s “Summer’s End”

Gustatory

• Beer (session): Fair State IPA
• Beer (sipping): Fair State Du Pounde
• Cocktail: Mezcal Old Fashioned
• Food (homemade): Family-style pollo a la brassa sandwich
• Food (restaurant): Skylight Inn’s BBQ
• Dining Location: Chicago’s 95th Street Bridge
• Recipe: Serious Eats’ Groundnut Soup

Web & Tech

• App: Drafts
• Platform: Blot
• Podcast (new): CJSW’s Jazz Today
• Podcast (ongoing): Roderick on the Line
• Service: Micro.blog
• Site: The Athletic
• YouTube series: It’s Alive! with Brad Leone
• Video: Pascal Floerks’ Bär