23 Things I Loved in 2023
This new SLC eatery is just aces all around. Inventive (but not chaotic) menu and gorgeous, wood-heavy interior. Major props to their lighting designer! Best ambiance of the year for date-night dining. I loved their caramely winter squash, pacific bass, and Basque cheesecake.
The Bear
What a feast for the senses. This gets so much (everything?) right about working in a restaurant. I loved the pace of this show. Incredible writing and some of the best performances of the year. My brother (who doesn’t watch tv almost at all) texted me that the Richie-learning-to-restaurant episode was the best episode of TELEVISION he’d ever seen. Also, the soundtrack is pretty much flawless. Looking at you, REM, and live version of “Have You Seen Me Lately?”
GUTS by Olivia Rodrigo
What sophomore slump? Rodrigo comes back swinging and rocking harder than ever. Songs from this album took up two slots on my 2024 Playlist and featured my favorite lyric of the year - “I wanna meet his mom/just to tell her her son sucks.” I know we’re having a collective Taylor Swift moment, but I gotta say I think I’m more in it for Olivia.
Peanut Butter Explosion Jumbo Cookies from Sweet Tooth Fairy
After years of searching, it’s final. I’ve found the best peanut butter cookie in existence.
Shaina Fata Workouts
These 10-20 minute home workouts on instagram were killer and varied enough to keep me engaged and all I needed when I couldn’t get to the gym.
The menu is limited to about a dozen dishes but all are dazzling. They do live jazz on weeknights. Bring your ID—it’s registered as a bar.
Aliss at the Fire by Jon Fosse
The feeling of this book is like none other I’ve experienced.
I Think You Should Leave
Can I be honest and say I don’t like SNL? I mean, I like Kyle Mooney sketches when they manage to sneak their way in, but as a whole it just doesn’t ever surprise me. Tim Robinson’s show, OTOH. This was the exact level of experimental and borderline manic that I need to laugh. I get why he’s a comedian’s comedian.
“Anatomy of a Fall”
Stayed with me long after it ended. You could say I (ahem) fell for it.
Valley of Heart’s Delight by Margo Cilker
This album 1) was way too honky-tonk for me upon initial listen 2) grew on me like cholla in the desert. Notes of Uncle Tupelo, The Shins, Linda Ronstadt and maybe a lil Mazzy Star?
Tabernacles of Clay by Taylor Petrey
Instead of BOM this year, can we please do Tabernacles of Clay? I’ll teach SS. I mean it.
“Barbie”
I have a growing inkling this might just be the best movie of the year.
Falling Upward by Richard Rohr
I don’t know if I’ve highlighted a kindle book more than this one. (“The Church is both my greatest intellectual and moral problem and my most consoling home.”)
This year I settled into a uniform of 100% cotton sweaters and washable silk. A real grown-up.
Cancel culture
Okay, decidedly as a practice cancel culture is not my favorite thing, but it was my favorite thing to talk about.
Graza finishing EVOO
Yeah, it’s buzzy. So what. I put it on everything.
My friend trips to Moab
KC
and Palm Springs
Taylor Swift Eras Tour
Okay, I know I just said I prefer Olivia Rodrigo but this tour was bananas. What a force.
A perfect weekend with Jared seeing Dinosaur Improv at The Largo, eating the best pasta of my life at Mother Wolf, and wandering around the Academy Museum.
Sitting in the hammock with Elliot. Watching Milo play volleyball and piano. Singing in public with Graham. Reading with Claire.
Trump indictment.