Here is a compilation of our favorites this year:
Novels
(1) The Last Samurai by Helen DeWitt
(2) The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
(3) The Road by Cormac McCarthy
(4) Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
(5) The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa
Best Nonfiction/Autobiographies
(1) Flying Scotsman by Graeme Obree
(2) Diet for a Small Planet by Frances Moore Lappe
(3) The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs
(4) Manchild in the Promised Land by Claude Brown
(5) Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Our Favorite Movie Rentals
(1) No Impact Man and Food, Inc. (tied)
(2) The Blind Side
(3) Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
(4) The Pianist
(5) The Hurt Locker
(6) Pi
(7) Paths of Glory
(8) Rosemary's Baby
(9) Run Lola Run
(10) Seven Samurai
Best Trilogy
(1) On the Run
(2) An Amazing Couple
(3) After the Life
Best Art Exhibits/Gallery Shows/Public Art
(1) Georgia O'Keefe at the Whitney
(2) Omer Fast at Postmasters and the Whitney
(3) Scattered Light by Jim Campbell at Madison Square Park
(4) No Longer Empty/The Sixth Borough on Governor's Island
(5) Sukkah City in Union Square
(6) Lego Brick Sculpture of Nathan Sawaya at Agora
(7) Alexander Calder at Gagosian
(8) Agnes Denes at Leslie Tonkonow Gallery
(9) The Artist is Present by Marina Abramovic @ MOMA
(10) Size Does Matter by Shaquille O'Neil @ FLAG Art Gallery
Best Sound Installation
(1) A Bell for Every Minute by Stephen Vitiello at the High Line
Best Broadway Shows
(1) In the Heights
(2) FELA!
Best TV Series EVER
(1) The Wire (we do not have HBO, so we were a little late to the party and watched it on DVD)
Best Travel Destinations
(1) Iceland
(2) Spain
(3) Toronto
Best Vegetarian/Veggie-Friendly Restaurants
(1) Organic Grill
(2) Counter
(3) Bliss
(4) Foodswings
(5) Vatan
Best Vegan Cafes
(1) Jivamuktea Cafe (Union Square)
(2) Little Bird Bakery and Cafe (East Village)
(3) Birdbath (East Village)
(4) Peacefood Cafe (Upper West Side)
Best Live (Raw Food) Restaurants
(1) Caravan of Dreams
(2) Bonobo's
Best Concerts
(1) They Might Be Giants (a show for all ages) at the Beacon Theater
(2) Yo Yo Ma at Carnegie Hall
Best Shakespeare
(1) Shakespeare in the Park @ Central Park - The Merchant of Venice with the amazing Al Pacino
Best View of NYC: Chelsea and Hudson River from the High Line
Top 5 Reasons to Love New York City
(1) Cycling - Greenway, New York City Century and North Fork Century
(2) FREE stuff - Shakespeare, outdoor concerts, movie passes, outdoor movies, music, ice cream
(3) Art Galleries/Museums/Public Art
(4) Williamsburg Restaurants - Pies n Thighs, Egg, Bliss, Tai Thai, Wild Ginger, Chai Home Kitchen
(5) Parks - Central Park, Bryant Park, Jacob Javits Park, Fort Tryon Park and Dolphin Park