Best of 2013 List:
Sharon's Novels
(1) Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
(2) The Birth House by Ami McKay
(3) The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
(4) The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
(5) The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer
David's Books
(1) Native Son by Richard Wright
(2) Wild by Cheryl Strayed
(3) The Road Back by Michael Vitez
(2) The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitgerald
Our Favorite Movie Rentals
(1) Just Another Love Story
(2) Let the Right One In
(3) This Is 40
(4) Sophie's Choice
(5) Infernal Affairs
(6) Rust and Bone
(7) What Have I Done to Deserve This?
(8) Bus 174
(9) Deliverance
(10) Holy Motors
Best Black and White Film Events @ United Palace Theatre in the Heights:
(1) Casablanca - We dressed up in a white jacket and evening gown and celebrated film returning to the Heights in this classic theater after 44 years
(2) It's a Wonderful Life - We sang Christmas carols "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and also "Buffalo Gals" before the movie
Favorite People/Places/Publications to follow on Twitter:
1. Lisa Bonchek Adams - @adamslisa
2. EarthPics - @Earth_Pics
3. Jesse Lasner - @Jesselasner
4. New York Magazine - @NYMag
5. KJ Dell'Antonia - @KJDellAntonia
Best Art Exhibits/Gallery Shows/Public Art
(1) WaterFire in Providence, Rhode Island
(2) 40 Part Motet @ The Cloisters
(3) Mike Kelley @ PS1 (one word: phenomenal)
(4) The Clock @ MOMA
(5) Caterpillar @ the High Line
(6) Behind the Screen Core Exhibition at the Museum of the Moving Image
Best Broadway Show: Once
Best Family Event: Inflation Eve viewing of the Macy's Parade Balloons
Best TV Series: Boardwalk Empire (currently watching Season One on dvd)
Best Sporting Events: Yankees Game (MJ's first Yankees Game and they beat the Giants 6 - 0!)
Best Travel Destinations
(1) San Feliu, Spain
(2) Sintra, Portugal
(3) Perpignan, France
(4) Mystic, Connecticut
(5) Providence and Newport, Rhode Island
Best Vegan Restaurant: Blossom
Best Ice Cream: Oddfellows in Williamsburg (homemade waffle cones!) and Sugar and Plumm on the UWS
Best Vegan Ice Cream: Lula's Sweet Apothecary (RIP)
Best View of NYC: The 102nd Floor of the Empire State Building (staff let Alexi turn the crank to power the elevator up from the 86th to 102nd floor - Alexi's dream come true!)
Top 5 Reasons to Love New York City:
(1)Vegetarian/Vegan Food/Baked Goods - Whether dining out at restaurants, dining in on take-out, trying out the latest and greatest pizza (in Brooklyn at Julianna's!), tasting the best (and most unique) ice cream flavors in the city (Oddfellows), making homemade baby food for MJ from CSA fruits and veggies, or eating the latest and greatest cookies and cookie sandwiches, doissants, and freshly baked vegan cakes, NYC is the food capital of the world
(2) Washington Heights and Inwood Community: Picnics in Bennett and Fort Tryon Parks, Little Seed CSA, Evening Playgroup, Harvest Festival, Easter Egg Hunt, Soccer and Fort Tryon Park Volunteering
(3) NYC Farmer's Markets - We were at the Union Square Farmer's Market monthly this year, and discovered two (new to us) Greenmarkets right in our 'hood: the Fort Washington and 175th Street Farmer's Markets
(4) New York Film Festivals - Tribeca Film Festival (Lenny Cooke), NY Film Festival @ Lincoln Center (About Time) and NY Documentary Film Festival (Breastmilk)
(5) School Choice - Progressive, Charter, Montessori, Private, Dual Language and Public - We love Alexi's school because it truly has a community feel and Sharon loves teaching at Bronx Prep