Looking Back on 2015

2015 was a stressful year for me, and unfortunately I read very little, fiction or non-fiction, which I regret and hope to turn around in 2016. Anyway, going through the year of What I Read and Watched, I have chosen several standouts.

Of the few art shows I saw Without/Color (part 1), was my favorite, featuring hauntingly beautiful and stark images by Meridith McNeal.

I enjoyed all the Netflix comedy specials I watched this year, but Aziz Ansari's Dangerously Delicious was the standout.

I always love dance, and it is always hard to choose a favorite, but this year I'm going to say Momix: Alchemia, for it's vibrant over-the-top, gorgeous production.

The most gripping documentary I watched in 2015 was hands down The Jinx.

My favorite novel was The First Bad Man.

I only saw a few movies in the theater this year, and most of them were kind of schlocky. Diary of a Teenage Girl, however, was excellent! Of the many movies I streamed, the favorites were all films I was viewing for a second time: Lovely and Amazing, Year of the Dog, and The World According to Garp.

I saw a number of great live music performances that I totally loved. Standouts include Macy Gray at City Winery, Sun Kil Moon at Town Hall, and Joan Armatrading at The Concert Hall.

I read numerous amazing poetry books this year, but my all time favorites were books by Joanna Fuhrman, and Ana Bozicevic. The Year of Yellow Butterflies and Rise in the Fall are both incredibly beautiful.

Once again, Company XIV made my year. This company is amazing in so many ways, it is always a year end favorite, big time. Cinderella, which I saw twice, is a fantastic piece of theater.

Finally, TV. I watched a lot this year. Got obsessively into several amazing shows. Of all of them I was most blown away by the second season of Transparent, the third season of Orange is the New Black, all of Mad Men, and the second season of The Comeback.

Looking back on 2014

So, 2014 is about to come to a close. Now I take a look at What I Read and Watched this year, and make some assessment of general favorites. I read, watched, and saw a lot of really great stuff this year, enjoying most of everything. Yay.

First, I must mention the experience that defies categorization, The National Holocaust Museum in DC, which was intense and profound and important.

My favorite art exhibitions this year was Meridith McNeal's Liar, Liar at Figureworks and Patti Smith's "The Resilience of the Dreamer" at Ft. Tilden.

Of the live music I saw this year I think the best concert was Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, although I thoroughly enjoyed all the concerts I was fortunate enough to go to this year.

I saw lots of dance so it's hard to choose favorites. I'm going to go with Soledad Barrio and Noche Flamenca; Dance Theater of Harlem; Company XIV, and Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo.

I only saw two operas this year, liked them both, and am going to name L'Elisir Amore as my favorite.

For theater, the dark and demanding The Killer, as well as Company XIV (who really are a category of their own).

I watched many movies on Netflix etc, but only saw a few in the theaters. Of those, Her is the only real stand out.

I didn't see many documentaries this year, but include Tim's Vermeer, Spinning Plates, and The Flat as favorites.

It's hard to choose between all the TV series I watched online this year. So, the list of favorites has to include Olive Kitteridge, Big Love, Asylum, and Transparent.

As for reading, I started reading poetry more seriously this year, and tremendously enjoyed all of it. I'm not singling out anything.

Did not read a lot of fiction. The two standouts are very different from each other. The contemporary and artistically exciting Nochita, and the nostalgic and timeless A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

Nonfiction: Bluets, Dear Nobody, I Wear the Black Hat, and Gentrification of the Mind. And of course the timeless and always important and eloquent diary of Anne Frank.

Looking back on 2013

I've never done this before with this blog, but I'm going to do an end of the year roundup of favorites.

Fiction: I didn't read as much fiction as I would have liked this year. My favorites are a tie between Cha-Ching! by Ali Liebegott and Elect H. Mouse State Judge by Nelly Reifler.

Non-Fiction: My favorite non-fiction book was hands down Alysia Abbott's Fairyland; followed closely by David Sedaris' Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls.

Movies: I'm not going to look through all the movies I saw at home from Netflix, etc, but for those I saw in the theater it's a tie between Blue Jasmine and What Maisie Knew.

Documentaries: Really enjoyed Searching for Sugar Man.

Art: I saw a lot of great shows, such as the Magritte and the Balthus recently, but think for my favorite I have to say it was my whole experience at the Centre de Pompidou.

Theater: No question: Fun Home.

Live Music: The Maul Girls.

Opera: I saw a number of operas this year, and am going to say that Wagner's Die Walkure was my favorite, but it was hard to choose.

Dance: 2013 was the year of dance. I went to 14 dance events. I enjoyed them all, and don't really want to choose a favorite, but forcing myself I would say it was The New York City Ballet: All Robbins, because of the stunning final dance, "I'm Old Fashioned".

TV: I watched four series this year, and got really into all of them. Loved Enlightened, and a shout out to Orange is the New Black. But what really blew me away was the masterpiece The Sopranos.