best in 2024: an extensive list
postcard 47: 2024 roundup from me and 45 of my friends—best book, movie, tv show, album release, purchase, and restaurant of 2024
This is a really, really, really long post (like PhD dissertation length kind of long) so please view this on the app or desktop!
A few days ago, I was in the middle of putting together everything I enjoyed in 2024 (best in 2024) as a very belated wrap-up, and then I suddenly got curious at what books and movies my friends enjoyed the most last year and ended up texting many of them extensively. I love these ‘best of’ lists because I feel like it is oftentimes so difficult to pinpoint one specific piece of media that you loved above all else. After a few conversations, I just decided to ask a bunch of my friends to send me their favorites in each category.
So here is a really long list of what all of us enjoyed in 2024, including books, movies, television shows, album releases, purchases, and restaurants. I am so ridiculously excited to post this because quite literally everyone’s taste is incredible and everyone is a good writer. Hopefully you can find a recommendation for yourself in here somewhere, since the list is so diverse!
best book read in 2024
Elle: Intermezzo by Sally Rooney. I waited for a new Sally Rooney for three years, and it was entirely worth it. A story of two brothers, steeped in love, grief, and regrets, learning to reconcile with and concede to love and human connection. Through them, Rooney poses the question: how do you approach intimacy and vulnerability when those feelings are completely foreign to you?
Adeline: Madonna in a Fur Coat by Sabahattin Ali. Set in 1920s Berlin, this novel follows Raif, a reserved young man and Maria, a fiercely independent artist. As he becomes captivated by her, they forge a bond that transcends convention. I found this book to be so timeless, and a stunning reflection on vulnerability and the ache of living with one’s unspoken emotions.
Alexandra: Beach Read by Emily Henry. I am absolutely devastated that I will never be able to read this for the first time ever again. Reading Beach Read made me fall in love with reading again — the way it consumes your being and you can’t put the story down. While I love a good lit-fic or book that makes you think deeply about the world, sometimes a feel-good romance is the cure.
Andie: No One Writes Back by Jang Eun-Jin. This book feels like you’re sitting on a bench somewhere crowded, and around you are people from all walks of life. Not everyone will understand the peace one can feel in the midst of that seemingly disjointed chaos. The simultaneous awe and comfort that comes from remembering that everyone is living a life as complex as yours.
April (april ✨): Intermezzo by Sally Rooney. I’m definitely Peter. Wait no, I’m totally Naomi, but really actually, I also really get Ivan… Intermezzo so perfectly captures so many different flavors of my internal angst. Struggles in love, adulthood, self-actualization, meaning, purpose. I adore how romantic it is— her fixation with beauty, fondness of university, staccato writing style that I feel captures every scene in dollops of paint. I love it.
Arden (Arden Yum): The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera. A love story, but one that is intensely painful and distant and rooted in fantasy. I love the language of this book, and how its whimsy and romanticism are constrained by the natural limits of luck and human fallibility.
Audrey: Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire. I registered for a Palo Alto library card just so I could borrow the entire series. This book has it all — a fascinating magic system, stranger-than-fiction characters, and murder mysteries to boot. Oh, and the best part? Queer representation.
Cherrien: Just Kids by Patti Smith. I felt fully immersed in the world of Patti Smith with this one. To top it off Taylor releasing her TTPD album right as I was in the middle of it really amplified things for me.
Elle: The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert. This Pulitzer-winner doesn’t necessarily scream heartbreaker, but it does just that; told in vignette-like chapters that take the reader around the world, it is wrenching to learn the increments with which our planet is being irreversibly changed. Even if you’re not one to ordinarily go for nonfiction or science writing, I’d give this a chance.
Ellie: Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner. Did I buy this years ago because I too have cried in H Mart? Did it take me until this year to read a book that made me laugh as equally as I cried (not in H Mart this time)? Yes on both counts.
Ellie (lucie eleanor): A Terrible Country by Keith Gessen. It’s 2008, and US-raised Andrei, a young academic, moves to Moscow to care for his aging grandmother. Humorous and heartbreaking in equal measure, and Gessen’s words go down so easily - I felt like I already knew him three pages in.
Ema: Funny Story by Emily Henry. I am unashamed to admit the only books I’ve finished reading in 2024 are all written by Emily Henry. Out of all her novels that I’ve read, I have to say that Funny Story was by far my favourite of them all. This was one that I couldn’t put down once I started, and I ended up staying up past 4 in the morning fully aware that I had work the next morning. I was able to closely relate to background of the main characters, which is probably why I was able to immerse myself so deeply into their world.
Emma: Happy All the Time by Laurie Colwin. This was recommended to me by a friend on Goodreads as the 70s equivalent of Sally Rooney, and it exactly is. This is a hidden gem, so funny and precise and clever and teeming with one-off descriptions that are jaw-dropping strange and true. Honorable mention to the four Toni Morrison books I read and five starred but can’t pick favorites among.
Emma: The Crucible by Arthur Miller. Based on actual historical figures and events; an allegory to the anti-communist hysteria during McCarthyism. In just four acts, this short play manages to tie together themes of betrayal, sin, forgiveness, and love. The best (and most surprising) thing about this book was how well it characterized each character. As it’s a play, it introduces and examines each character at arm’s length; but because of its strong narratorial voice, I was immediately invested. Love this book and loved Abigail so much as a complex villain.
Esje (esje): Septology by Jon Fosse. Perfect in style, story, and substance – a book that immediately entered my all time favorites list, written in the most meditative and prayerful manner across 800 pages without a single period breaking a thought. Mundane, yet powerful.
Eve: Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal by Jeanette Winterson. My Mum gave me her copy of this early in the year, and I didn’t read it until autumn, but it immediately became a favourite (and made me feel close to her as I read it). A young working class woman from an industrial Northern English town who adores books, and maintains her identity even as she fights to create a place for herself at an Oxbridge uni? This book was my soulmate.
Faith (faith zapata): The Idiot and Either/Or by Elif Batuman. I read both of these back to back at the start of the year (albeit I began The Idiot sometime in late December 2023 and my progress bled into January) and I have never felt more seen and understood by a narrator. It was like my own thoughts and experiences were being plucked out of my brain with just names, locations, and minor details changed. Both novels are incredible and go hand in hand, so I can’t choose just one of them—both immediately earned spots in my top 10 books of all time after reading them for the first time.
Gabee: Devotions by Mary Oliver. I read the most poetry I've ever had in my life in 2024, and one of many poetry collections I kept coming back to was this. Something about her writing eases me deeply, as if I am being forgiven for all of my wrongdoings. An excerpt: "To live in this world, you must be able to do three things: to love what is mortal, to hold it against your bones knowing your life depends on it and, when the times comes to let it go."
Griffin (griffin blue emerson): The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner. I don't know why I took so long to come around on Faulkner. Being from the south myself I can see the towns and people I know directly reflected with care by Faulkner. He writes ghost stories about living people, as does Toni Morrison and W.E.B. De Bois and any real true writer of the American South. After finishing The Sound and the Fury, — and though it has a slow start, the fury certainly does come and makes the book impossible to put down, I had my 1930s copy in such a vice grip that the paper began to fall out, — I emerged back into my life with a southern drawl I couldn't shake for days. It was fun. Really sad book, though.
Jacqueline: There are 3 Women & 4 Men by Jaden Payne. Super underrated debut by Jaden, a classic ‘who dunnit’ storyline incorporated with art history in Paris. The best part being, I literally could not guess who had done it!
Jean: After some serious contemplation, I’m gonna have to say either Someone Who Will Love You in Your Damaged Glory by Raphael Bob-Waksberg or The Vegetarian by Han Kang. The first book is more of a light yet heartwarming read that will keep your winter toasty– and it’s funny enough to make you giggle on the subway. It does an amazing job of capturing the beauty of our mundane little world, especially if you’re based in NYC. The second book is definitely a lot heavier than the first recommendation. Yet I have never read a book that has been written so violently beautiful and tragic in the most profound way possible. It’s not an easy read (mentally) so I recommend reading with caution and gentle patience with yourself but I highly, highly recommend it.
Jen: If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino. I have nothing much to say except that this book is just pure, pure magic. If someone asked me why I’m a reader, this is the book I’ll shove into their hands.
Joan: I’m going to be honest, I couldn’t get myself to finish a single book after starting Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood as a joke last year. I thought I could get myself to finish it to move onto other books, but I failed. In my defense it was terrible. I finally accepted that I will never finish that book and am starting the new year off right with Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, a dystopian novel based on the American prison-industrial complex.
Joe: Stormlight Archives by Brandon Sanderson. I’m a geeky boy who needs fantasy injected directly into his veins. More-ish as a half eaten Twix, and a beautifully fleshed out world.
Leah (leah beth): The Bee Sting by Paul Murray. It’s a sprawling family saga that poses a warning about what can boil to the surface when secrets and tensions have been pushed down for so long. I can easily see this novel being lauded as a modern classic, with an ending that will leave you screaming or staring at the wall for a while, depending on the type of person you are.
Lily: The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera. Forever sobbing, crying and throwing up for Tereza. I understand.
Lorea: The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. not sure how i hadn’t read this before. it felt both relatable & not; an invitation for introspection, maybe. i bought a copy for 60 pence at a charity shop in canterbury & read it on the green by the town river. it was a very pleasant afternoon.
Luisa (Luisa): Simple Passion by Annie Ernaux. A short recollection of the emotions Annie experienced the time she fell in love with a married man, where the lines of fiction and reality are often blurred. What I love about how she wrote this is that she is not concerned about explaining the why’s, or making excuses for herself. Annie writes about this time of her life in emotions and not facts. I read it at a point in my life where I was heartbroken and confused and it made me feel comforted and understood. I hadn’t felt like that with any other book before.
Meredith: The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton. As someone who has been struggling to get back into reading, this booked hooked me from the start. This story is absolutely bonkers. Essentially, it’s a murder mystery with a sprinkle of Groundhog Day and a pinch of Downton Abbey.
Nana: All My Cats by Bohumil Hrabal was the perfect read for me as a new cat mom to a lovely tabby. In this short yet weighty memoir, Hrabal captures the transformative love we have for our pets—a love that grounds us in the present while gently reminding us of life’s fleeting beauty.
Natalia: Evenings and Weekends by Oisín McKenna. Set across two days, this is the story of a diverse group of Londoners as they experience falling in and out of love, coming to terms with unexpected illnesses and questioning the next stages of their lives. I loved it. This book was funny, emotional, slightly absurd and just so goddamn readable. A vibrant love letter to London and all who live there, it’s made to be read on a sweltering summer day (ideally on some form of public transport or in a city park).
Niña: Intermezzo by Sally Rooney. This novel felt like an awakening, because for so long I hadn’t been able to bring myself to read the way I used to – all in – until Intermezzo came along. As she always does, Rooney captures the overwhelming enormity of life and doesn’t attempt to stuff it down. Instead she asks what one life can hold inside itself without breaking, recognizing that everything inside us – the joy and the loneliness and the nostalgia from childhood and the grief from adulthood – takes up space, be it good or bad, and all we can do is lean on each other.
Olivia: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. I can’t believe I haven’t gotten around to reading the whole novel before this year. She’s one of the most interesting and recognizable thinkers in recent memory. Everything she writes is so rich and lasting.
Sarah (sarah cucchiara): Days of Abandonment by Elena Ferrante. I’m a Ferrante fan first and a human second and I’m so glad I got around to reading this. The writing is stunning and the story pulled at my heart and destroyed me in a way that very few books have been able to.
Sarah: Putney by Sofka Zinovieff. I think the novel was inspired by Lolita and it‘s basically a more modern and so to say deeper/intensified version of it. I almost read it in one sitting and I still think about it every now and then.
Sarah: The People in the Trees by Hanya Yanagihara. This was first read of the year and my only five-star of 2024. It was a slow start, and although it’s classed as magical realism (which isn’t something that I would necessarily think to reach for), this book was astounding. It follows a young medical graduate’s life, as told by a close friend and admirer, as he embarks on a research expedition to a remote island to crack the code behind the islanders’ unusually long life expectancy. It holds a mirror up to the ethics of scientific research and exploration, and how greed consumes not only individuals, but entire populations. I had no idea what to expect from this, but when a book starts off by telling you the main character is in prison, you know it’ll have a good story to tell. Yanagihara’s storytelling is outstanding, and this book made me feel so much in such a short period of time.
Seo: Unfortunately, I’m a chronic nonfiction reader, so in 2024, I tried to broaden my reading to include more fiction. It’s hard to pick just one out of all the fiction books I liked, but I’ll settle on Ghost Forest by Pik-Shuen Fung. The chapters are short and sparse, and yet, Fung manages to tell such a gripping story of a family spread out through time and space, weaving in elements of intergenerational trauma and grief alongside the fraught relationship between the narrator and her father.
Seoyoung: Book Lovers by Emily Henry hit me in a way I wasn’t expecting, especially through Nora, the main character. The way she grappled with her own vulnerabilities felt so much like a reflection of my own thoughts and experiences. I could completely understand why she made such decisions throughout the book, and it made her journey feel all the more real and relatable. There was something deeply personal about her story, and it made me feel seen in a way that only a few books do, which made me look into other books written by Emily Henry.
Sevval: Babel by R. F. Kuang. It altered my brain cells in a way that I didn’t know was possible. Linguistics and languages, diversity and dark academia in Oxford — count me in. It’s not only my favorite of 2024, but a favorite of all-time. R. F. Kuang definitely landed in my auto-buy authors list with her worldbuilding and storytelling skills.
Shaye (Shaye Easton): Solenoid by Mircea Cǎrtǎrescu. Not sure where to begin with this one – it’s the surreal vision of an outcast in Bucharest, whose meditations soar through physics, mathematics and oneirology, through time and space and higher dimensions, in order to depict the truth (as he sees it) of existence. A metaphysical romp through the tragic labyrinth of reality, which holds escape as its ultimate goal. It awakens you to the world, and to the common plight of humanity. You don’t find literature better than this.
Stacey (Stacey Yu): Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad is a gripping, contemplative, delicately layered novel about homecoming, art, and memory, following a Palestinian-Dutch woman’s return to her childhood home in Haifa, where she reluctantly takes part in a staging of Hamlet in the West Bank. As the production advances through casting difficulties, Israeli intervention, and funding issues, Sonia discovers all the ways Palestine and her family have changed and stayed the same over the years. The ending scene is unforgettable.
Sue: The Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman. Teaches you about spirituality and being present in the moment in a funny fantasy novel.
Tierney: I read Khaled Hosseini’s novels for the first time in 2024 and fell head-over-heels in love. I’m not usually one for historical fiction, hence the length of time it’s taken me to get round to reading these, but both The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns are absolute masterpieces. Heartbreaking and beautifully written, eye-opening and sensitive, these are the definition of must-read novels and so have to be tied for first place.
Yuna: The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez—this fantasy novel completely blew me away and apart. Lyrical, thrilling, experimental, painful, and sooooo goddamn good. I think it’s the only book that made me actually cry in 2024. Let it pull you into its flow and you will be rewarded.
best movie watched in 2024
Elle: The Holdovers (2023, dir. Alexander Payne). I watched this for the first time in February 2024 when I was working my way down the Oscar nomination list and then rewatched it on Christmas Eve. It’s a perfect Christmas movie; everything about this felt like a warm hug. So charming and cozy and snowy and wonderful.
Adeline: Past Lives (2023, dir. Celine Song) I rewatched Past Lives last year and was stunned by how visceral my reaction was on a second viewing. It’s a feeling that’s difficult to articulate, but it’s a film that just reaches the absolute center of your heart.
Alexandra: The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967, dir. Jacques Demy). One of my favorite films is La La Land (2016) and I’m certain The Young Girls of Rochefort is the blueprint. This poses itself as a fun, vibrant, beautiful film — which it is! — but at its core, it is about missed connections. It is about what ifs and personal desires and human connections. After watching this, I thought to myself: what if I didn’t cross paths with that person who is now so important to me?
Andie: Knives Out (2019, dir. Rian Johnson). I watched this one random night while I was dealing with particularly challenging emotions. Storytelling-wise, this is one of the most creative and engaging movies I’ve seen to date. But aside from that, this also reminded me not to take everything so seriously – sometimes, life can just be fun.
April: Challengers (2024, dir. Luca Guadagnino). Soooo fun & flirty and I am such a sucker for the cinematography.
Arden: Challengers (2024, dir. Luca Guadagnino). I walked out of the movie theater and said to my friends that this movie changed my life. It was the energy, the music, the carnality of sports, the messy coalescence of youth and ambition and desire. Just incredible.
Audrey: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023, dir. Francis Lawrence). The book is better, but the movie deserves its flowers. The original Hunger Games trilogy was a staple for me growing up, so being able to relive my inner child through this prequel was just the best.
Cherrien: Embarrassed to say this is my first time watching Lady Bird (2017, dir. Greta Gerwig). I cried my eyes out and ended up looking horrendous the next morning. If I didn’t know I had mommy issues before— I certainly do now.
Elle: Conclave (2024, dir. Edward Berger). I’ve been told my film taste lies at the intersection of history, mystery, and treachery (a la Spotlight, All the President’s Men, and dare I say it, National Treasure). Following the death of the pope and the start of conclave, all three of these ensue as candidates vie and compete even under the mandate of God. Every actor is at the top of their game, the papacy infused color palette is both beautiful and a little terrifying, and the twist at the end is strangely heart-warming as a non-believer.
Ellie: A little embarrassed to say I watched Cabaret (1972, dir. Bob Fosse) for the first time this year. I’ve listened to broadway soundtracks for years but never watched the film and I’m pretty mad I waited this long. Incredible performances, Liza Minnelli the woman you are, and such a haunting film. That ending scene will stay with me for so long.
Ellie: Aftersun (2022, dir. Charlotte Wells.) I was embarrassingly late to this one! It’s the most moving portrait of fatherhood I’ve ever seen, and visually it feels like a childhood memory - there is such sensitivity and care in every shot. It came the closest anything has to reminding me what it felt like to be a child. (Also I watched it with my mum which made the whole thing so much sadder somehow - we were both in tears at the end.)
Ema: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003, dir. Donald Petrie). I don’t know why I hadn’t watched this before - I love and live for Rom Coms, and this is a classic. I had to rewind a few times to watch that scene with Matthew and the motorbike. Why does that scene have such an effect on me. Do I now hear You’re So Vain everywhere I go? Absolutely.
Emma: The Iron Claw (2023, dir. Sean Durkin) made me send my siblings a text so emotional they thought I was going to k*ll m*self. I can’t believe this didn’t get more acclaim. Its immersive performances and quiet devastation have stuck with me for the last year. Fellow siblings girls, beware.
Emma: Interstellar (2014, dir. Christopher Nolan). Can’t believe I’m finally getting around to watching this!! Genuinely SUCH a masterpiece—I don’t have the words to describe the emotions that this film made me feel. The way this film depicted the irreplaceable bond between a father and a daughter through Murph and Cooper was so beautiful; the last scene with Murph and Cooper will forever be etched in my mind.
Esje: Perfect Days (2023, dir. Wim Wenders) is a movie that beautifully visualizes a core philosophy I adore, beautifully reflecting the lines from Fernando Pessoa “I hear the wind blow, and I feel that it was worth being born just to hear the wind blow.” in movie form.
Eve: La Chimera (2023, dir. Alice Rohrwacher). I came out of the cinema with tears pouring down my face. So gently and stunningly beautiful, visually and emotionally. It helped that I watched it around the time that I started to believe in soulmates, plus I think Josh O’Connor’s linen suit deserved its own Oscar.
Faith: I think I’m gonna have to go with Plus One (2019, dir. Andrew Rhymer & Jeff Chan) — I initially only watched this because I saw a clip of some dialogue from it that was almost verbatim words I’d said before in a breakup of my own (“you talk about how you want love; you're always looking for love and I’m here — it’s standing right in front of you and you can’t”) and because I’m just a huge sucker for a romcom. I related way too hard to Alice as a character and I absolutely adore Maya Erskine as an actress; there’s a quality to her energy that just feels so personal to me.
Gabee: Small Things Like These (2024, dir. Tim Mielants). I expected to like this because I’m a huge fan of many people involved—Enda Walsh, Cillian Murphy, and Claire Keegan. It was a little difficult to track down a showing in English, but when I finally found a way to watch this, safe to say that I was not disappointed.
Griffin: I Saw the TV Glow (2024, dir. Jane Schoenbrun) has lingered on my thoughts more than any film has in years. It's a picture perfect piece of Trans art in the most universal sense, — who hasn't, when they were small, felt like they belonged in a different body? In a different world, one that makes sense? And so the topic of the film is estrangement and when the horror comes, the closest analog to the feeling I can think of is the best Creepypastas of the early 2010s, it feels all the more punishing because of course one wants to be where they feel they belong, but sometimes the places where we felt we belonged in our childhood were not real places. For me it was Redwall Abbey from the Redwall series, it was 80s era Marvel comics, etc.; and for Justice Smith's character it was an ill fated, — deeply bizarre in a nostalgic tint of light, — late night young adult television series called the Purple Opaque. There's a scene in the film, and I won't spoil it here, don't worry, that took me back to the breaking down into tears at ten years old because I finished reading A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh books and the sudden absence of it in my life caused me to literally sob in front of my father who had no idea what was going on. It's embarrassing looking back but I think this is a very real thing which people often experience with the media of their childhood, a feeling that is both profound and slightly disturbing, and there hasn't been a better analysis of this than in Schoenbrun's work. Also: Alex G is fantastic on the soundtrack.
Jacqueline: Ok, as I enter my mid-twenties, I am part of that demographic that has never watched the Harry Potter series of films, so when my boyfriend suggested that this was absolutely a huge red flag and had to be rectified, we started watching one movie every weekend up to Christmas. I was blown away by the storyline, the world and honestly the quality of the films. My favourite being the Goblet of Fire. I loved the different challenges that they had to tackle and to see Harry and friends grow up in each film, I can just imagine what it would have felt like for our generation to have almost ‘grown up’ with them as each film came out back then. Overall, it was so good, I went as Hermione for Halloween.
Jean: THIS is the most daunting question someone can ask a film major but I would have to say A Real Pain (2024, dir. Jesse Eisenberg). Captured the beauty of human emotion so tragically well and the acting was stellar. Also, the color corrections were orgasmic, I tell you.
I come back to this to say that if we’re talking about movies not made in 2024, I think Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988, dir. Pedro Almosdóvar) was my favorite watch. So wonderfully humorous and shows exactly how men will disappoint you regardless of the era you live in.
Jen: Memories of Murder (2003, dir. Bong Joon-Ho). Based on real life events, this film was grim and haunting, yet unexpectedly funny. It captured the frustration and obsession of chasing after a killer who never seems to have a solid profile so, so well. I also think that that one scene near the end is one of the most brilliant shots in cinematic history. This was a tough choice so I have to include The Worst Person in the World (2021, dir. Joachim Trier) as an honorary mention.
Joan: Catch Me If You Can (2002, dir. Stephen Spielberg) is a crime movie based on a true story. It was really entertaining to see just how much a white man can get away with in America.
Joe: Nebraska (2013, dir. Alexander Payne).
Leah: I’m embarrassed to admit this but I watched Parasite (2019, dir. Bong Joon Ho) for the first time in 2024, so I think it’d be a disservice to say any other film I watched was better than that. It’s just such a perfectly-made film examining poverty, power, and the violence of economic disparity.
Lily: I finally watched the first Gladiator movie (2000, dir. Ridley Scott). After watching Gladiator II and hearing how “the first one is sooo much better”, I was intrigued. It’s true. The first one is SO much better and definitely brought me to tears. I liked the second one too though, don’t get me wrong!
Lorea: Bullet Train (2022, dir. David Leitch). listen i know everyone here has cool answers but when it comes to movies i’m a simple, unrefined girl. it was entertaining, i laughed out loud at some parts, i liked (most of) the characters. everything i enjoy in a movie.
Luisa: Sing Sing (2024, dir. Greg Kwedar) a movie I had no expectations when I started watching, but that surprised me in the best way. It speaks about masculinity, incarceration, rehabilitation through the arts, and other heavy subjects with the respect these stories deserve. The cinematography it’s beautiful and Colman Domingo leads the story with such care that you can't help but feel in awe of his talent. The rest of the cast, with no previous professional experience, deliver some of the best performances I’ve seen in recent years. A gem that deserves so much more praise that it has gotten.
Meredith: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953, dir. Howard Hawks). Old Hollywood glamour, beautiful people, iconic dance number… need I say more?
Nana: Anora (2024, dir. Sean Baker) was a movie that I did not expect to hit me so hard. The plot follows Anora, a young stripper, as she becomes entangled with Vanya, the immature son of a wealthy Russian oligarch. What begins as a transactional relationship spirals into a whirlwind of power struggles, class clashes, and raw emotion when Vanya convinces Anora to marry him in a desperate bid to escape his family's control. The film captures the raw reality of power imbalances, feminine agency, and the quiet resilience it takes to walk away. A realistic and subversive take on the classic Cinderella story, Anora delivers an ending that is haunting and unforgettable.
Natalia: Wicked (2024, dir. Jon M Chu). If there is one thing you need to know about me, it’s that I’m an insufferably basic, former theatre kid at heart. The way 13-year-old me was losing their ever loving mind as I sat in a downtown Auckland cinema hearing the opening chords of No One Mourns The Wicked in my 27-year-old body. Did I go back to the cinema and see it for a second time? Yes. Did I care that it was 2 ½ hours long. No. It could’ve been five hours and I would’ve been sat. Long story short, I loved it. No notes.
Niña: Begin Again (2013, dir. John Carney). This doesn’t feel like a fair answer because Begin Again is my favorite movie of all time and I rewatch it every year so… But I’m putting it down anyway because this film feels like a gift – from Keira Knightley’s endearing awkwardness, the perfect chemistry of Mark Ruffalo and Hailee Steinfeld as father and daughter, the iconic You can tell a lot about a person by what’s on their playlist scene, to the impeccable soundtrack that is such a tender ode to New York and lost and found love.
Olivia: My Old Ass (2024, dir. Megan Park). I don’t know what did it for me. I watched this over Christmas in a dark room with three friends and was just overwhelmed with a feeling of gratitude for today, for all the people I love, for the people I will come to love. A silly short little movie that packed a punch, I guess. It also felt like a little love letter to Canada, which I think is the most beautiful place in the world.
Olivier: How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (2024, dir. Pat Boonnitipat). The emotions and storytelling, and all the social (familial) implications behind each character is fascinating to say the least, makes you think much more about yourself and what others are thinking.
Sarah: Nosferatu (2024, dir. Robert Eggers) was my most anticipated film of the year and it did not disappoint. I love all things gothic horror and I’m a fan of Eggers’ filmography so I feel like this movie was made with me in mind. The cinematography was stunning and I’ll be thinking about the performances for a long time.
Sarah: Mrs. Doubtfire! Probably an odd choice but I‘d never seen it before. My boyfriend basically forced me to watch it as it‘s one of his favourite childhood movies and I enjoyed it so much. I get why (almost) everyone loves it. Brilliant acting and the vibes (well… not the divorce vibes) are just so nostalgic and cool.
Sarah: This is sooo hard to answer. Mostly because I’m a chronic re-watcher, so you’d be hard pressed to find a film I watched this year that I haven’t seen before… (oops). However, now that I’m thinking about it, I’m going to say Paddington (2014, dir. Paul King). It was a very sweet, wholesome little film and honestly I really enjoyed it.
Seo: The Substance (2024, dir. Coralie Fargeat). Honestly, this movie was so camp and over-the-top in ways that were utterly delightful to watch despite some of the more gruesome scenes. The social commentary isn’t subtle either; it is just as provocative and colorful as the rest of the movie. Still, it was an utterly entrancing movie to watch and I found myself enjoying it to the very last minute, which is so rare for me.
Seoyoung: Meet Joe Black (1998, dir. Martin Brest). I got into watching old films in 2024 and honestly, this film became my all-time favorite. The chemistry between the characters is so magnetic, I could not even blink the whole time. The film talks about love, loss, and connection in such a poetic way it left me in awe. It truly is a cinematic masterpiece- I think I’m going to rewatch it every once in a while.
Sevval: Well, as someone who couldn’t join the Barbenheimer hype in time (fresh mom issues), I watched Oppenheimer (2023, dir. Christopher Nolan) this year and absolutely get the hype. I loved it so much as a person who’s interested in reading stuff about World War II and atomic bomb.
Shaye: The Holdovers (2023, dir. Alexander Payne). Like Elle, I watched this at the start of 2024 and then again at the end, and I think moving forward it’s going to be a yearly re-watch. It’s got those good, cosy “academia in New England” vibes (much like Dead Poets Society). Plus, you know, it’s a great film.
Stacey: The Favourite, 2018, dir. Yorgos Lanthimos). I saw Poor Things earlier this year, my first Lanthimos film, and was so taken by his visual style, penchant for the simultaneously cruel and the innocent, and ability to make the absurd feel absolutely serious. I was keen to make my way through his oeuvre, and loved The Favourite. A lesbian period piece with Emma Stone and Olivia Coleman—what else could you ask for? Thrilling, disgusting, haunting.
Sue: Dune 2 (2024, dir. Denis Villeneuve). Of course… Timothee. But also everything else. The visuals, characters, power struggle, betrayal.
Tierney: This is such a difficult one. I love films and I love cinema and it’s so difficult to choose across genres. I think my stand-out film of 2024 was The Substance (2024, dir. Coralie Fargeat) with Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley directed by Coralie Fargeat. It was the only film that had me with my jaw on my chest, actually shouting at the TV. Special mentions must go to Anatomy of a Fall, Poor Things, Scrapper and Dune 2 though. All five stars.
Yuna: The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant (1972, dir. Rainer Werner Fassbinder) Toxic German Yuri to the max and the best ending scene of all time. Marlene may be my favorite character in any film ever.
best tv show watched in 2024
Elle: Shrinking. So unexpectedly good; heartwarming, great acting, and really really funny. Explores grief and human emotion in such a smart way. Jason Segal, Harrison Ford, and Jessica Williams are so phenomenal in this; their acting chemistry is off the charts. I’m halfway through season 2, and it’s just as good.
Adeline: Love Island USA Season 6 was a cultural reset that you simply had to be there for.
Alexandra: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. I rarely watch and enjoy television; but watching this show was akin to reading The Infernal Devices in high school, staying up until 4AM reposting Tumblr edits, and re(watching) my favorite moments. (The vibes are very different but I love them both just the same.) The fact that it was set on the Upper West Side in NYC made it especially special for me. Love the pace, writing, and dialogue.
Andie: Culinary Class Wars. I binged the entire show in less than a week! Unlike other reality competitions, I loved how all of the people in this were so respectful of each other, resulting in a show that felt like one big love letter from artists to the craft that defines them.
April: Suits. I feel basic but it’s classic and it helps me cope with my own office grind.
Arden: Industry. Oh my God. I thought this was going to be a typical workplace drama at an investment bank, but I was so wrong. I feel like the characters exist in real life. The plotlines are so genius and batshit crazy I can’t stop watching.
Audrey: Sex and the City. I watched this to get excited for my quarter studying “abroad” in New York. Carrie Bradshaw is my hero, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that the brownstones in the show look just as romantic in real life.
Cherrien: No One Wants This (Netflix)— I normally don’t start new series. I’m the type to rewatch my favorite comfort shows over and over again, but sign me up for anything with Adam Brody in it. Also on a side note, Lane should’ve ended up with Dave.
Elle: Black Doves. See above — I rock with history, mystery, and treachery, especially if mother madame mistress Keira Knightley is at the helm. What more could anyone want from this world than a Christmas-set British spy drama?
Ellie: I binged the entirety of BBC’s Motherland and it has remained the best show I watched this year. It cured a piece of homesickness that was stubbornly not going away.
Ellie: The Americans. It’s epic and gripping and keeps you guessing every turn. And it’s really a performance of a lifetime from Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell (who are married irl, which always adds to my enjoyment of a TV show for some reason!)
Ema: How to Get Away with Murder. I started to watch it a few years ago, and I’m not sure why I stopped. I restarted again and finished it last year. Viola Davis is amazing in this (as always) and the show really made me binge the entirety of it in a few days.
Emma: Breaking Bad. It’s so embarrassing that I’m only just watching this show, and even more embarrassing that I’m confidently making this call from the elevated vantage point of the second season, but it really is just that good.
Emma: House of the Dragon. Never finished Game of Thrones because I stopped watching after the Red Wedding, but the cinematography in this was SO stunning (the opening scene literally made me gasp). Haven’t gotten around to season 2 yet though.
Esje: The Eight Game. I don’t really have much of a favorite TV show but I do love a fun thriller that makes you think — in the same realm as Alice in Borderland and Squid Game.
Eve: Game of Thrones. I finally caught up to the rest of the world! Nowhere else can you find so many beautiful Northern English accents in one place (Ned Stark they could never make me hate you).
Faith: Definitely PEN15. As silly as it sounds, it’s just so wonderfully weird, painfully relatable at times, and so heartwarming. The importance of lifelong friendships is so evident in this show, and the masterful balance of comedy and serious moments is just so genius. They tackle such important topics in a lighthearted way that doesn’t take away from the significance of the issue. I’ve rewatched it thrice since; it’s just that good. I felt seen by Maya in ways that were way too close for comfort at times.
Griffin: The Sopranos. I finally did it. I finally finished this show. There's nothing else quite like it; they don't make shows like this anymore. Every episode is a film in itself and the series works very slowly but the attention to detail and the commentary on Late Stage Capitalism puts it up there with Succession and Breaking Bad.
Jacqueline: Black Doves. Absolutely have no words for this apart from if you love a bit of MI5 & action, please watch this. Also Keira Knightley doesn’t age?!
Jean: House of the Dragon. I’m not usually the type to go for shows like this but can we just give a moment for the costume design and set design teams? Absolutely insane amount of detail and work. Side note but I wish I owned a dragon.
Jen: The Bear. This show has been on my watchlist since the first season came out but I only got to watch it last year. Every second of it was so tense that I was sat paralysed through each episode and only felt reprieve at the end of it. The combination of top-notch acting and the erratic cinematography was utterly insane.
Joan: Love Island USA Season 6. IYKYK
Joe: I don’t watch much telly either. I’ve managed to watch the first season of Lost this year, as it was a pretty big cultural movement a couple years back, although I haven’t wanted to carry on.
Leah: Bad Sisters. I binged both seasons over the Christmas break and had the best time. It’s an Irish black comedy with perfect casting, perfect performances, and perfect writing. Truly Sharon Horgan at her best.
Lily: ONE DAY. Oh my god just remembering makes me want to fall to my knees and cry for a month. Emma did not deserve that fate but neither did Dex. He came such a long way just to lose it all again.
Lorea: Attack on Titan. This show just has a remarkable insight into the human condition — especially fear. It explores issues that underlie hatred & war. The animation is phenomenal, the plot is challenging. I truly think everyone should watch this show.
Luisa: I started watching HBO Girls in 2023 and finished it in 2024. A show that it’s not for everyone due to its unlikeable, narcissistic and messy characters, but that I love because of how it represents the ugliest parts of us. It feels so vindicating to watch women be their worst selves without shame. I’ll be thinking about Shoshana’s episode in Japan my entire life.
Meredith: Either has to be Station Eleven or One Day. I will say that Station Eleven was a bit weird, but by the end it had me sobbing. On the other hand, the ugly cries and tears that I shed for One Day might take the cake.
Nana: I finally had the chance to watch Mom, and I binged all six seasons greedily. Chuck Lorre has a certain knack for blending sharp humor while tackling topics of addiction and recovery. I absolutely loved the wildly dysfunctional mother and daughter relationships depicted on Mom, and it was refreshing to see that, although family dynamics can be messy, they can also be a source of growth and redemption. The show doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges of rebuilding trust or maintaining sobriety, delivering its heartfelt messages with honesty and humor. Mom is one of those rare shows that leaves you wanting to give your own mom a long hug after it finishes.
Natalia: The West Wing. In the aftermath of the utter shit show that was the 2024 US Elections, I decided to trick my brain into thinking the world wasn’t ending by watching a series about a fictional White House administration from before the shit hit the proverbial fan. I only meant to watch the pilot, but it’s months later and now I’m on season 5. Is it overly sentimental at times? Yes. But it’s just what I needed. Plus, Alison Janney is absolutely ICONIC as C.J. Cregg and I want to be her when I grow up.
Niña: Spinning Out. I went into this show with zero expectations but a fun, sexy story about ice skating, but it completely rocked me, the depth of it. While certain aspects were dramaticized, Spinning Out still stands strong as a raw exploration of the insurmountable pressures of a very competitive sport, the complexities behind the show’s matriarchs whose dreams are no longer within reach but are long past, and the heart-aching realities behind mental illness and abusive behavior, how it could explain the latter but not excuse it.
Olivia: Black Doves. I am a Keira Knightley stan. I loved seeing her outside a rom-com. She is such a fantastic actress and completely underutilized by BIG HOLLYWOOD… or whatever. Six episodes of a British spy drama? Perfect way to spend a Sunday.
Olivier: I am Tim. What can I say, seeing the behind the scenes and backstory of the legend himself, gave me an even deeper admiration for artists, but also made me think deeply: how can depression still be so prevalent, and how to really deal with it.
Sarah: I watched many shows this year but somehow the only one coming to mind is Love Island USA S6. I’ve been watching the UK version of the show for years and USA S6 brought forth the same feeling that UK S5 had. It was a cultural moment that fully defined my summer.
Sarah: Heartstopper. I refused to watch it because I just couldn‘t picture myself enjoying a romantic series about 15 and 16-year-olds. Well, it‘s one of the cutest and most heart-warming series I‘ve ever seen! The themes of the show get darker with every season, which is devastating, and at the same time it‘s nice to watch something that‘s so close to reality.
Sarah: Ok, I’m so late to the party, but Fleabag. Yes to Phoebe Waller-Bridge, yes to Andrew Scott, yes to ‘Claire, it’s FRENCH!’ Iconic and hilarious and a must-watch for every girlie in their twenties. I loved the constant breaking the fourth wall and Fleabag’s narration.
Seo: Mononoke was the stand-out show for me in 2024. The animation style is so unique compared to other animes and manages to include so many different motifs, cultural symbols, and historical references within the episodes, and despite the initial sparseness of the plot and cast of characters, the ambiguity of the Medicine Seller and the stories that unfold within the different arcs had me thinking about it for days. It’s a short watch, especially compared to other animes and TV shows, so if you have the time for it, I’d highly recommend this.
Seoyoung: Attack on Titan. It was my first anime so I was a little hesitant to start it at first, but it turned out to be soooo good. The storyline is incredibly well-constructed, I finished the entire show in like a week.
Sevval: As a kdrama lover, Love Next Door was a favorite with realistic situations, common family dynamics and problems. I loved how it was portrayed and how each character’s arc hooked me into the story.
Shaye: I re-watched Succession this year – does that count? Otherwise maybe Severance.
Stacey: Crashing, which is Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s predecessor to Fleabag. It’s about a group of thirty-somethings living in an abandoned hospital and all their shenanigans and messy feelings. Waller-Bridge nails comedic timing and dialogue and though I’m happy we have Fleabag, I’m sad its success robbed us of a second season.
Sue: Culinary Class Wars. As a big foodie, this was so much fun to watch. The judges, the dishes, the participants, and of course, Edward Lee. The chef of all Korean Americans who struggle with their dual identity. We love you!
Tierney: Again, I love TV series and so many of the shows I watched in 2024 are close to my heart for different reasons! My absolute favourite though has to be The Bear. Flawless from start to finish. Some other highly recommended include Rivals, The Gentleman, Baby Reindeer (although the fallout has somewhat tainted this one), Ludwig, Gavin & Stacey, Kaos and The Traitors UK.
Yuna: La Máquina but lowkey I didn’t really watch any shows last year. Anyways the only reason I watched it was for the Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna duo so lemme cheat and recommend their film Y Tu Mamá También (2001, dir. Alfonso Cuarón). Well… I did rewatch Ping Pong the Animation, which is my favorite show of all time, so I recommend that too.
best album release of 2024
Elle: The Secret of Us by Gracie Abrams. I listened to this on repeat all summer and then listened to the deluxe version all of fall. So many of my core memories this year had songs from this album in the background to the point where I can vividly conjure up where I was when one of the songs resonated most with me. Favorite tracks: Close to You, Free Now, Packing It Up.
Adeline: I would be lying if I said I listened to anything other than Lana Del Rey’s discography.
Alexandra: Bewitched: The Goddess Edition by Laufey. This is a cop out answer because Bewitched was my favorite album of 2023 but I am a Laufey fan forever and always.
Andie: I’m not really an album typa girl, so I’ll just share my favorite artist I discovered last year. Olivia Dean. Best believe I will fight tooth and nail for tickets if she ever comes to Manila.
April: Huge Laufey fan. Not released this year but I’ve just been spamming her jazz covers of the classics. Misty or I wish you love that sort of deal.
Arden: I’m with Elle on this one. The Secret of Us by Gracie Abrams took up my entire Spotify Wrapped. It’s a part of me now. My favorite songs are Blowing Smoke, Let it Happen, and Free Now.
Audrey: Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat by Charli XCX. Hear me out — the remixed album is more “Charli” than the original. In this version, Charli leans into the electronic distortion and otherworldly sounds that have characterized her music career up until this point. Also, the lineup of featured artists is insane, with the likes of Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande alongside Bladee and Yung Lean. (And Girl, so confusing featuring Lorde literally shifted the culture.)
Cherrien: I wish I could be cool and mysterious and list an album no ones heard of before but I’m with everyone else. The Secret of Us by Gracie Abrams, favorite tracks are I Love You, I’m Sorry and I Told You Things.
Elle: Olivia stole my first idea (Cowboy Carter spring), and Sarah stole my second (brat girl summer) so I have to go with Alligator Bites Never Heal by Doechii. I have been a huge fan of hers for years now, and to see not only her at the top of her game, but others finally catching on to her unique flow and identity is SO satisfying.
Ellie: There’s a lot of answers I could put here, but Chromakopia by Tyler, The Creator stayed with me long after my first listen. He always seems to release an album during an impactful time in my life, and this album continued that trend for me. Favourite tracks: Like Him, Darling I.
Ellie: Night Palace by Mount Eerie. Phil Elverum’s music has been a constant in my life for seven or so years and he always seems to reach hidden places in my brain that I didn’t even know existed. It’s sprawling and beautiful and utter poetry. (Also this may be cheating because Ethel Cain’s new EP Perverts only just came out in 2025 - but Punish, her only single from the project, was the gloomy soundtrack to my November and December - just exquisite.)
Ema: I am incapable of keeping up with new releases especially when it comes to music releases. My top most played song of 2024 was Killer Queen by Queen so I think that’s self explanatory. My overall favourite album is the my self titled album Ema by Ema. I recorded this after my friend gave me a karaoke set for Christmas.
Emma: I Can’t Thank You Enough by Willis. I fell in love with Willis when they were opening for The Greeting Committee (a band I fell in love with when they opened for Hippo Campus), and they have this funky, immersive sound that is totally themselves and somehow extends to every song.
Emma: So many favorites!! But I would have to go with The Secret of Us by Gracie Abrams with everyone else because I actually levitated the first time I heard Close to You. Favorite track currently is Blowing Smoke.
Esje: A Devastating Turn of Events by Rachel Chinouriri. A gorgeous collection of songs that echoes a life lived so fully, playing around with style, and humor, and singing with the purest of emotions. Chinouriri is a gem I am so glad to have discovered in 2024.
Eve: Scarlet 2: CLAUDE. On April 5th Doja Cat released the deluxe version of her Scarlet album and caused two things to happen. Firstly, a deepening of my obsession with her (ACKNOWLEDGE ME is particularly genius) and secondly, the creation of my Substack (I just had to share my feelings about the record).
Faith: Late Start by Carol Ades. Not to flex or anything, but I’ve been a fan of Carol since she was a contestant on The Voice eleven years ago and when she went by a different artist name. My love for her music goes wayyyy back, and I find it so endearing that her artistry and my taste evolved in a similar direction even after all these years. Favorite tracks: Everything Else Is Just Noise, Mom Song, and the title track, Late Start.
Gabee: SABLE, by bon iver. I've been a fan of Bon Iver since… well, forever, and I just want to listen to anything by them. I listen to SABLE, repeatedly, obsessively, incessantly.
Griffin: Manning Fireworks by MJ Lenderman. This album was perfect for fall and every bonfire I went to in the autumn air had it playing on blast through pill speakers.
Jacqueline: I went to the Eras tour so I think Taylor Swift’s whole discography would be appropriate.
Jean: play with earth! 0.03 by wave to earth. I may be a bit biased cause I went to their concert this fall and it was the most magical experience ever but what can I say– K-indie is just on another level. annie. might have been one of my most played songs.
Jen: wave to earth’s play with earth! 0.03. I only listened to four new albums (excluding film scores) in its entirety last year and this was my favourite. I have been and still am in a music slump so this seven track album with its easy listening indie vibe was constantly playing in the background.
Joan: Charm by Clairo. Out of all the incredible albums that came out this year, Charm is the one album I find myself constantly coming back to.
Joe: 3 by KIRINJI. Being nice and awkward again I have no idea when albums are released, so I’m going with a new album to me (Sorry Ella). It all slaps, Akudama slaps twice.
Leah: Eternal Sunshine by Ariana Grande. I have always been and always will be a huge Ariana Grande fan. I’ve listened to this album front to back a million times and it’s still amazing. Favourite tracks: i wish i hated you, we can’t be friends, the boy is mine.
Lily: Kaytranada’s Timeless. There are some very groovy songs on there that are consistent with his style on previous albums. I especially love Snap My Finger and Video. I also went to his concert in Downtown San Diego and it was AWESOME.
Lorea: there have been soooo many good albums this year, this is tough… I’ve got to give Doechii flowers with Alligator Bites Never Heal. she’s an incredible storyteller, one of the coolest artists right now in my opinion. this album has a very 90s sound that I love, that Mos Def kind of cadence. my most-listened to at the moment are “Denial is a River,” “Catfish,” “Boiled Peanuts,” and “Nissan Altima.” truly though as a music lover, so much good stuff this year.
Luisa: Charm by clairo. I have loved Claire since I listened to Alewife on her debut album, but Charm might be my favorite work of hers. The melodies, the lyrics, the jazz and soul influence. THE MOUTH TRUMPET!!! I love it all. My favorite songs are, Nomad, Add Up My Love, and Second Nature.
Meredith: Only God Wad Above Us by Vampire Weekend. A no-skip album, but also I might be biased since I’ve been a fan since I was 7 (thanks to my older brother). Last summer was extra special in that I had the chance to see them twice at MSG for their tour.
Nana: GNX by Kendrick Lamar. Absolutely loved this album and Kendrick once again proves why he’s one of thee most masterful storytellers in music. From start to finish, Kendrick perfectly captures his emotions following last year’s biggest feud and his personal reflections on the current state of hip-hop. Each track feels purposeful, chronicling his thoughts on rivalry, loyalty, and the evolution of the genre he has helped shape.
Natalia: In a year where the music gods gifted us The Secret of Us by Gracie Abrams, Brat by Charli XCX AND The Tortured Poets Department by Taylor Swift….how is a girl supposed to choose? From sad girl autumn to hot girl summer and every moment in between, these were the albums that got me through. But, at the end of the day, it’s always going to be Taylor for me. That woman gets me.
Niña: The Secret of Us by Gracie Abrams. God, this album got me through some of my most heart-wrenching days this year. From being devastated by “Was I just a placeholder to fill the hole inside you?” in Gave You I Gave You I to feeling the smallest kernel of hope with “And what seemed like fate, give it ten months and you’ll be past it” in us., I have been rocked and recharged by The Secret of Us. This album has been my companion, my confidant, the diary of another that seemed to have been a replica of my own.
Olivia: Cowboy Carter by Beyoncé. As a semi-recent Beyoncé fan, I continue to be awed by her. She puts so much love into all of her work (Renaissance should have won Album of the Year, but we’re still not ready to talk about it). They are fully baked narratives with true beginnings, middles, and ends, which I honestly don’t think artists do consistently these days. Each song is a distinct piece of art. It’s also so defiant: screw you CMAs, screw you to the other woman (which is a hot take in today’s era, so I feel like this was rebellious in its own right), screw you genres, and screw you to the exclusionary music industry. And she throws in a beautiful classical aria too?
Olivier: I don’t follow music closely, so maybe the Korean stuff this year with Lisa and Rosé’s APT. I’m still hearing APT in clubs now.
Sarah: How can I not say brat? I’ve been a Charli XCX fan for ages and this album DELIVERED. I don’t know, I think this album just defined my summer and the remix album (specifically “everything is romantic” ft. caroline polachek) lives rent-free in my brain. I liked a lot of the albums that came out this year (Cowboy Carter to be specific) but brat is one that fully changed the trajectory of my life. My fave tracks are: everything is romantic, sympathy is a knife, and spring breakers.
Sarah: The Tortured Poets Department by Taylor Swift. OBVIOUSLY!! Fortnight was my most streamed song of 2024; I just thought it was the perfect spring vibe. It‘s just banger after banger after banger. If you have a favourite song - you‘re lying.
Sarah: Unreal Unearth: Unaired by Hozier. This carried me through summer and autumn. The lyrics, the mystical forest vibes… live laugh love Hozier. My favourite track from Unaired is probably Nobody’s Soldier, but if we look at the entire album, Through Me (The Flood) and Butchered Tongue are both criminally underrated and such incredible songs. Forever obsessed.
Seo: Going Through It by Eliza McLamb was such a sleeper hit for me and unknowingly, I listened to this album so much that Miss McLamb got into my top 5 Spotify artists. My favorites from this album are “Glitter” and “Mythologize Me” but I also quite liked “Modern Woman.”
Seoyoung: HIT ME HARD AND SOFT by Billie Eilish. It’s too hard to choose one though. But I have to say this one since I have been listening to Birds of a Feather nonstop ever since it came out. It’s such a nice drive song!
Sevval: The Tortured Poets Department by Taylor Swift, closely followed by The Secret of Us by Gracie Abrams. I love Taylor, and it was honestly THE experience to watch her live in Zurich in Eras Tour!!! Gracie is just brilliant — she’s a fave, too. My favorite tracks from both albums are “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived” and “Let It Happen”.
Shaye: This is tough because I’m not a huge album person – more of a “I liked this one song” kinda gal. I’ll bow to my Spotify Wrapped for this: my top artist in 2024 was AURORA, and my top song was from her 2024 album, What Happened To The Heart? AURORA’s music has always felt otherworldly to me. Almost ancient. It speaks to something buried deep within us.
Stacey: Imaginal Disk by Magdalena Bay. Synth bedroom pop to make you dance and also fall in love but also get a little weird at the party, like a little too high, but it’s ok because in the end the world is more beautiful than ever and you feel hot.
Sue: How Sweet by New Jeans. Hands down the most repeated album for me last summer. They have such a unique presence in the kpop industry in how they bring out nostalgia for our generation. It’s pretty sad how much mistreatment they’ve endured from HYBE - really hope they can come back as a new group in the new year!
Tierney: This one’s easy! Miss Sabrina’s Short N Sweet has been on repeat since it released. I *am* like other girls!!
Yuna: I’m sorry I literally didn’t listen to any albums that were released in 2024 besides Apple but my fav new auditory find was the OST from Gregg Araki’s Teen Apocalypse films. He has such good taste… those soundtracks are the perfect ‘90s time capsule. Favorite tracks: Vapour Trail - Ride, A Thousand Stars Burst Open - Pale Saints.
best purchase of 2024
Elle: Bianco Latte from Giardini di Toscana. The amount of compliments I’ve gotten while wearing this perfume is insane; I was stopped and asked by TSA at the airport about this. The gourmand scent doesn’t feel overtly cloying or saccharine; this is eating caramel-drizzled vanilla custard while in a cozy sweater on a cold night.
Adeline: My partner and I did a weekend trip to Beacon, NY for my birthday that was really lovely. From the train ride upstate to our stay at Chrystie House to visiting the Dia Beacon museum and local shops, I enjoyed every moment of it.
Alexandra: I truly believe some of the best things money can buy are experiences, which for me was international travel, trips to the museum, and my rent & education. However, if I had to pick one item, they’d be my Gentle Monster Jennie - Hush sunglasses. They are one of the first sunglasses that don’t slip off my low nose bridge and suit my face shape. The personalized charms are precious.
Andie: The Eras Tour tickets. My sisters and I weren’t able to secure tickets during the initial release, so I had to constantly scour the internet for sellers. Everything was worth it though, knowing I got to make my siblings’ dreams of finally seeing Taylor come true.
April: Diptyque’s Orpheon. It’s jasmine but it’s also smokey… but the important part is that it makes me feel like an adult who is sophisticated enough to have tastefully chosen perfume for herself. I bought $200 worth of symbolism.
Arden: Silver jewelry from Mara Paris. I’ve never been the kind of person who takes the time to put on jewelry every morning, until I bought pieces from Mara when I was in Paris last October. They make me feel elegant and put-together. I like the ritual.
Audrey: Heaven by Marc Jacobs x Eri Wakiyama Shoulder Bag. Eri is a Japanese artist whose surreal, manga-inspired artwork has led to collaborations with Miu Miu, Supreme, and Sandy Liang. I’ve become so obsessed with my puffy bag and its tubular strap, illustrated with an anime girl backdropped against a dark sky and vivid green meadow.
Cherrien: Purchased at around this time last year: Candle by Nonfiction in ‘Lapsang Song’. The staff that helped me pick out the scents described this one as “you either love it or you don’t.”— and usually it’s these controversial scents that I end up always loving. If a monk’s room had a Nancy Meyers rebranding, this is what it would smell like. Sounds absurd but I’m telling you this is the only accurate way to describe this candle.
Elle: I was lucky enough to travel to eight countries this year and so I consider those trips, as well as the meals I devoured, the memories I made, and the trinkets I collected along the way to all tie into experiences that were and are priceless to me.
Ellie: Plane tickets to New York that I saved up for and got to have a vacation with my best friend in one of my favourite cities that I hadn’t been to in 10 years. It healed a little part of me to experience it as an adult, and cemented our friendship because we didn’t fall out once even though we were stuck together 24/7.
Ellie: My penny lane coats! I have two - the first one was given to me by a dear friend who found it in St. Petersburg and brought it thousands of miles to London; the second one I thrifted with my brother in Brick Lane and it’s the warmest thing I own. I am in one or the other of them basically every day and I’ll have to gain a whole new personality when the weather gets too warm to wear them.
Ema: Tiffany & Co. Rose Gold Eau de Parfum. I made two major purchases this year with perfumes, and both were impulse buys, but wearing this makes me feel so confident and it doesn’t help that I get complimented by my friends on it too! If I had a soulmate in perfume form, this would be it.
Emma: I tried to have a no buy (okay, low buy) 2024, so all of my favorite purchases were experiences: flights to Europe, Philly sports tickets, nice dinners. The difference wasn’t in how much I spent (I challenge YOU to get out of Barcelona financially scot-free) but how good I felt about spending it.
Emma: Delina La Rosée. It’s such a princess perfume and has a very romantic feel to it, like you’re standing in a garden in Pride and Prejudice. A perfect floral scent for spring-summer.
Esje: Plane tickets! Spring in Japan/Taiwan, Summer in the Nordics, and Winter across China. As I look back at the last year, I find myself remembering the year in fragments of cities and seasons– trips that set the scene for the months to come and give me the energy to power through everyday life.
Eve: Armani Privé Rose Milano eau de toilette. When I first met up with my beloved @allyson (the genius mind behind and it’s just me.), we spent a beautiful day at Portobello Market and both bought small bottles of this. I have a bit of an obsession with roses so was infatuated immediately, and I love that we now share the scent (although, admittedly, she picked it up first <3).
Faith: My Flashback camera. It’s essentially a mock-film camera, simulating the look of a 35mm film camera, but it actually functions via Bluetooth and “develops” your pictures within 24 hours straight into your phone. While I do still love shooting real film on my other cameras, the Flashback saved me a ton of money on film and developing this past year.
Gabee: Loewe Ballet Runners. Hate to admit it, but I've been on more flights than dates in 2024, and I've never owned a shoe so easy and comfortable to travel in than these. I got mine in white so they're versatile enough to pair with anything.
Griffin: Cowboy boots thrifted at Village Discount. Exactly my size, black leather, $23?? Incredible find and now that they're broken in, I can confirm that I'll never be wearing anything else.
Jacqueline: My XGIMI projector that turns my bedroom into a cinema room, I decided to invest in a high quality 4K one during Black Friday and it has changed my life. I use it every day and it looks so chic and minimal.
Jean: Hands down my Birkenstock Clogs, Would laugh at the people who would wear them and think it was low-effort fashion but I would like to apologize to these individuals now. I mainly use them to walk Bleu (my beautiful Toy Aussie) around my neighborhood or run errands nearby but I’ve worn them so much that the bottom is ripping off a bit. Time for new ones?
Jen: Autumn ’23 perfume from ffern. I was looking for a local English perfume brand and fell in love with ffern. This one I bought has citrusy and crisp top notes with a woody base, which is just perfect for me. Plus, the scent still lingers even after a day out.
Joan: Asia trip to Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea with my partner. This trip felt like a celebration of the past two years and our accomplishments together. I knew it would be the last time in a while we’d have time to go on a trip like this, so I cherished every second exploring these countries, meeting up with friends, eating good food, seeing cherry blossoms, and escaping reality for a bit.
Joe: Board Games - I get them for mates for gifts, partly to indoctrinate them into my hobby, and partly because a good modern board game (not looking at you Monopoly/Cluedo/CAH) is a great way to spend a day/weekend/a series of weekends with friends.
Leah: I spent ages thinking about this but to be real, it has to be my new car. I have to drive around a lot for my job and my old car barely had enough power to get up a steep hill, so my new one is a much-needed improvement. She’s also white and a nightmare to keep clean but I love her anyway.
Lily: Um… probably Invisalign? I know it’s silly but for $5500 it better fix my smile better than veneers ever could. I can already see a difference, which is great. Yay!
Lorea: TV. ever since i’ve lived on my own, i’ve never had a tv. i don’t watch all that much stuff, honestly. but i got one for black friday & it’s suchhhhh a gamechanger for ambiance. spotify or cozy fireplace is going 24/7.
Luisa: Honestly, hair mousse. I’ve been on a hair journey the last couple of years and nothing changed the game for me like mousse to keep the form and hold of my curls. I really like the Recamier Adapta Foam Mousse.
Meredith: Hard to choose, but probably The Tote from Sézane. I use it as my work bag and I receive so many compliments. Definitely worth the price — I have it in the patent mahogany color but the polished blue looks so sick. Also, if you haven’t purchased one of those vegetable cutters from Amazon, you’re missing out. As someone who lives in a tiny NYC apartment and only has one counter in her kitchen, it maximizes time and space.
Nana: After a long year and six months of waiting, I finally took time off and bought plane tickets to LA to see my long-term boyfriend. As a self-proclaimed workaholic, I often find myself caught up in the relentless grind of capitalism, losing sight of why I push so hard to earn. This trip was a much-needed reminder, visiting the place I hope to call home someday and reconnecting with the people I love.
Natalia: Every single plane ticket I purchased. There was the trip to Melbourne with my mum to see the Era’s tour, the one month long trip to Europe where I reunited with some of my dearest friends in London, the week in Croatia where I visited the town my grandmother grew up in and met a whole new side of my family and the weekend in the South of France where I drank great wine, ate amazing food, swam in the bluest sea (and randomly saw the end of the Tour De France?).
Niña: My On Cloudtilt running shoes. These have been a game changer for me. I walk to school every day, and there are times when I literally have to run around the hospital so having this pair has been a godsend because it feels like it was sculpted for my feet, like I’m walking on clouds. I’ve worn it abroad to travel too and I haven’t complained once (which is rare, because I hate walking and will moan and groan about my feet hurting every chance I get).
Olivia: My Fujifilm X100V. I was on the waitlist for over a year on this one. It’s the perfect size to take around in a purse and has been my favorite travel companion. I think it really does the outdoors justice when my phone can’t keep up. And my Logitech Lift ergonomic mouse. It makes me giggle and my hand is so much happier at work…
Olivier: A legend football game between Real Madrid and Barcelona. I watched it with my dad and it meant so much because we shared so much memories about football growing up, and seeing some of my favourite players growing up and my favourite team play. hala madrid
Sarah: I was wracking my brain to try to remember what I even bought, but I genuinely think my most used/loved purchase was my Owala water bottle. I hate fad water bottles (a nalgene will always work better than the majority of trendy bottles) but I randomly bought an Owala after I lost my other water bottle and I’ve noticed a difference in the amount of water I’ve been drinking. It’s basically a security blanket for me at this point because I rarely leave my apartment without it.
Sarah: I didn‘t buy much in 2024 (because I‘m severely broke) but I‘d probably say both an all-inclusive holiday at a 5 star hotel in Izmir and Cosmic by Kylie Jenner. One of the best perfumes I‘ve ever owned!
Sarah: Every flight and train I purchased. My favourite holiday was taking my sister to Copenhagen in March as her graduation present. It felt so good to do that for her and go on a girls’ trip and just make memories - it was so worth it. If I’m going to say something physical—probably my On Cloudsurfer Next running shoes. I use them every other day on rotation with my other shoes and finally having a second pair has changed the game. Also, they’re just so bouncy and tbh, health is wealth (this is how I justify every sports expense haha).
Seo: Proper running shoes! I got into running in 2024 and inadvertently gave myself the worst shin splints of my life after wearing shoes that were 1. not made for running and 2. apparently 1.5 sizes too small for me according to the guy at the running store. I got my feet and gait scanned and analyzed, and apparently, the Brooks Glycerin 21 shoes are the best fit for me. It’s made such a difference in my running and decreased the pain.
Seoyoung: I bought so many clothes in 2024, I was shopping online and offline constantly (no joke). I was on the verge of going broke but at least I had cute outfits to wear!
Sevval: My plane tickets to London — it was honestly the best experience. I loved London so much, totally get the hype, and I’d do it all over again.
Shaye: I bought a brown suede blazer from Source Unknown in 2024 and it makes me happy every time I see it in my closet. No regrets. I also got my hands on several rare (and very beautiful) vintage books last year, but how could I choose just one? Actually, scratch that – it’s my 1959 Grove Press hardcover edition of Samuel Beckett’s trilogy, Molloy, Malone Dies & The Unnamable.
Stacey: I got a few new small tattoos this summer (I got my first one in 2020 and haven’t gotten more until now), and the feeling they gave (and continue to give) me—like I’m more me, somehow—was new and beautiful to feel.
Sue: Moulin Rouge Broadway tickets for my mom during her visit to NYC—she absolutely fell in love with John Cardoza which was super funny in an endearing way. Runner up are flight tickets to Hawaii/France/Italy—may be the best trips of my life.
Tierney: My bread maker! I love my baking: it’s mindful, I can listen to my audiobook, I’m totally immersed and I get to eat my baked goods for days afterwards. Baking is great for gifting and for avoiding ultra-processed food so I am absolutely obsessed with my mini bread maker. It’s the Panasonic Compact.
Yuna: My gunpla kits… extremely fun way to zone out for hours on end.
best restaurant of 2024
Elle: Osteria Orzo in Seoul. I went with Elle for the first time two years ago, and have been back six times ever since. My love for this restaurant will live on forever and ever. The interior is beautiful, and their complimentary breadsticks are incredible. Everything on their menu is good, but the beef carpaccio, truffle pasta, and crab meat risotto haunt me (in a good way). Or Bar Bête in Brooklyn—Adeline took me, and it actually rocked my world in a way that my world has never been rocked before. Their duck fat potatoes, little salad, and chocolate cake oh my god.
Adeline: Bar Bête is and always will be so special to me, even more so now that I was able to take my sweet friend Elle during her visit to New York.
Alexandra: Sushi YOLO in New York. Omakase is one of my favorites and this spot was divine. That said, it is definitely not something I eat every day, so here’s a special shoutout to Samwoojung and Mitr for my favorite frequent visits.
Andie: Mamou in Manila. I’m just a steak girl through and through.
April: Theodora in Brooklyn. Was so annoying to navigate to (G line— I’m never there) but the ambiance and innovation and quality of food *chef’s kiss*
Arden: Fair Haven Oyster Company in Connecticut. I often complain that the food scene in New Haven is nowhere near NYC, but I found my favorite restaurant this year. Fair Haven does seafood in a thoughtful, but unfussy way. I love their raw oysters, grilled whole fish, and fried dough.
Audrey: Nubiani in NYC. I went to their East Village location with my long-distance boyfriend, who visited me during Thanksgiving break. As a Korean American, my standards for k-bbq are high — but this hit the fucking spot.
Cherrien: A tie between ‘Ferments’ and ‘AFF’— both in Seoul. The first is a vegan restaurant that serves one of the best hummus plates I’ve ever had. The second is a proper Thai restaurant at an affordable price (not something you see every day in Seoul). Recommend getting a terrace seat if you can. You get a gorgeous view looking over the city!
Elle: La Alcobita in Barcelona. During a three-day trip, my friend and I went there twice. Everything on the menu was incredible. The food intersected contemporary ideas with classic Spanish dishes and the fat pitcher of sangria had me seeing stars (in a good way).
Ellie: Bar Sugo in Toronto. It doesn’t matter what day or time you go here, the quality of food will always be incredible. Some of the best Italian food in the city and the best gnocchi I’ve had in my entire life.
Ellie: Avlu Ocakbaşi in Istanbul - I ate the best mezze of my entire life there. It’s at the top of a small hill overlooking a street full of cats and little shops and Rosa and I watched the sunset.
Ema: 渝(Yu) in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. It’s a small Szechuan restaurant that I always make sure I go to when I’m back and when I’m leaving Hong Kong. My mum and I have tried different Hot and Sour Noodles(重慶酸辣粉) both in Hong Kong and China, and no place has ever beaten it here. The Dan Dan noodles(担担面) here aren’t soupy like what you’d usually imagine. It’s dry, but has such a distinct soy sauce?-esque taste that no other place has ever been able to replicate.
Emma: I am a huge advocate of Philly’s food scene. Of everywhere I’ve lived, it’s not even close — the food here is the best, most interesting, most exciting. My places to go list just grows, no matter how many new meals I try. I’ve determined the best cheesesteak, my favorite brunch, my go-to slice shop, my neighborhood sushi stop, my Sunday-morning dim sum, and the most delicious pasta, but my standout meal was the exemplary tasting menu at Friday Saturday Sunday.
Esje: Potong in Bangkok. One of the coziest and warmest tasting menu experiences of my life—Thai-Chinese inspired dishes elevated by its roots on family and history.
Eve: Aya + Suki on Broadway Market (London). One of my favourite evenings from the year was spent on the comfiest of sofas here eating slow roasted tahini agave carrots, falafel with beetroot hummus, and sesame miso aubergine that I’ve recreated in my own kitchen a hundred times since then (never quite as good).
Faith: I don’t really go to fancy restaurants much, and I have the memory of a goldfish when it comes to this stuff. I’m also just very easy to impress food-wise, I either love or hate it. But I think I’m going to say Da Nang Tourane in my hometown in the SF Bay Area. It’s a local, family-owned Vietnamese restaurant that I’ve been going to with my own family ever since childhood. No matter how many other Vietnamese restaurants I try, I will always have a soft spot for this one.
Gabee: Bún chả Hương Liên in Hanoi, Vietnam. I came here primarily because Obama and Anthony Bourdain ate here once upon a time, but I genuinely think it was one of the best meals I've ever had. It's a humble, little restaurant that's packed with tourists, but I wouldn't miss it if you have a few days in Hanoi.
Griffin: Lula Cafe in Chicago! Elle and I checked this out when she was in town, at the very very end of the year, — and oh my god, some of the most incredible breakfast food imaginable. Everything looked and smelled fabulous but more so was surprising in its flavors. I felt like Remy in Ratatouille with my eyes closed, looking around the room with my hands pinched, savoring the flavors as unexpected ones emerged. Also, our server was wearing a fashionable scarf and their Mimosa's were solid though maybe a little watered down. But anyways, it's a hole-in-the-wall place with real local character, — if you're ever in Chicago you have to check it out!
Jacqueline: Noto in Edinburgh, took me completely by surprise, I booked this last minute as sort of a last meal in Edinburgh before heading back down to London, the restaurant is down a little mews alley with an earthly and minimal interior. The menu is small, almost like a tasting menu, but very innovative. It was a heavy incorporation of seafood and comfort ingredients like snow crab in truffle butter etc but with an Asian twist. Best to say, we got nearly the ENTIRE menu, my boyfriend and I were both in absolute disbelief that this hidden gem was not viral!
Jean: Noodle Village in NYC (Chinatown). I’m the type of person who looks for Chinese food that makes me feel at home and something about the borderline rude service and cramped space isn’t necessarily “homey.” But the food is certainly made from years of hardworking experience and tough love, maybe not for the customers, but to fill the bellies and typical Asian question of “have you eaten yet?”
Jen: Admiralgade 26 in Copenhagen. I had my post-dissertation celebratory dinner here and my head by the end of it? Empty. My stomach? Full. I can still taste that ice cream dessert in my dreams. Scandinavian design is also quite possibly my favourite interior style so I absolutely adored the interior. It is truly one of the best restaurants I have ever been to in my life.
Joan: Moon Rabbit in Washington D.C. by Kevin Tien is a fine-dining, contemporary Vietnamese restaurant. I actually think this is the best restaurant I’ve ever been to. We ordered a “Chef’s Taste to Vietnam,” the tasting menu curated by the chef and his team. We had 0 critiques about anything, and we enjoyed it so much that we ended up ordering more after finishing all of the courses. We also got a picture with the chef.
Joe: As lovely as England is, the only correct answer to the best food is anything that invokes Hong Kong. If you don’t have the same nostalgia, I firmly believe you are morally and ethically in the wrong. 一 三 八 (138) did a big ol plate of roast duck and therefore has my heart forever.
Leah: A small, family-run pub on the outskirts of the closest city to me with views overlooking the countryside. We spontaneously dropped in while driving back from a shopping trip, and it was a great meal. There’s something so comforting about classic British pub food.
Lily: CUT, Las Vegas by Wolfgang Puck. My boyfriend took me out to dinner here and we got the best steaks ever with a delicious bread board and a salad each as appetizers. We got some delicious cocktails and finished off with a banana cream pudding topped with a 24k gold lead inside of a chocolate sphere for dessert. DE-LI-CIOUS.
Lorea: ok the best restaurant i’ve been to this year was one in Vienna & i cannot remember the name for the life of me. it had a farm-to-table rotating menu & everything was sooo fresh. alas, memory doesn’t serve so you’ll just have to do with the restaurant i frequent the most: 68 Cafe — Pho, Wings, & Rice in Dupont, Washington, D.C. a pho bo tai will put me in good spirits no matter the day.
Luisa: The OSH Hotel restaurant CartaAjena and the rooftop Ajeno in Cartagena has some of the best pizzas and hummus I have ever tried. I’m vegetarian and living in the Caribbean region of Colombia can be hard for me because most of our cuisine is sea food based. Sometimes I feel like I miss a lot of my city’s best gastronomy but this hotel has some interesting options. Plus, it’s so beautiful and the reception smells amazing.
Meredith: This is so hard for me because I am lowkey a restaurant gatekeeper. However, for Elle, I will share one of my favorites with you all. Virginia’s in NYC has one of the best burgers I’ve ever had. It’s great for a date night or a dinner with friends!
Nana: sav.seoul in Seoul has been the best contemporary restaurant I have been to in years. They have seasonal menus, and this is one of those rare places where you can confidently order anything off the menu because every dish is that incredible. The last time Elle and I dined here, we almost ordered every single dish, including desserts. Some of my favorites were their Chou-fleur frit, Octopus with chorizo, and their signature rice ice cream.
Natalia: Lilian in Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa (Auckland, New Zealand). This is the chicest osteria and wine bar I’ve ever been to and the fact that it’s located in Aotearoa is baffling to me. With an incredible wine list, a delicious European inspired menu (the woodfired eggplant is life changing) and beautiful interiors, it’s no surprise that this place ALWAYS has a queue out the door. The atmosphere is always incredible and it’s the rare space that is both high end while still feeling like a local neighbourhood restaurant. Also, in typical Kiwi fashion it is the opposite of pretentious. It doesn’t matter who you are, you’re not getting a reservation or skipping the queue (it’s walk in only for dinner service) - I’ve even seen Lorde sitting at the bus stop out front waiting for a table to be free (lol).
Niña: Lao Shan Dong Homemade Noodles in Taiwan. I am my family’s neurotic vacation planner, so this restaurant had been in my sights long before I ever stepped foot in Taiwan. Despite my meticulous planning, we still somehow got lost in our attempts to find the restaurant, because it is a literal hole in the wall. As our first meal in the country, it exceeded every expectation because the meat was tender, the noodles firm, and the broth rich and flavorful.
Olivia: Traif in Williamsburg (NYC)! The most delicious, innovative meal. (Like kiwi caprese salad?) Usually 8-10 courses for just under $60 in a gorgeous backyard. Don’t share too broadly, it’s a cozy neighborhood space and I’m not ready to give her up quite yet.
Olivier: Carbone in Hong Kong. My best friend works there and I definitely lost count how many times I have been there this year. I basically know everyone there and they call me an extra staff at this point lolll
Sarah: Rumi’s Kitchen in DC. My boyfriend and I went for our 4-year anniversary and it was some of the most delicious food I’ve ever had. It is a beautiful Persian restaurant and I’m still thinking about that dinner.
Sarah: Crumb in Sheffield. It‘s not a restaurant but a bakery (hope this counts). I‘ve tried multiple baked goods throughout the year and my favourite by far was their homemade biscoff brownie.
Sarah: London is an absolute cesspit of excellent cuisine if you know where to find it. One restaurant that stuck for me is Riviera on St James’ Street. The loveliest cozy atmosphere, chic without being pretentious, and the food was divine. Dinner there was also a birthday present from my sister to me, so I think that just made it extra special.
Seo: I’m going to cheat and pick a bakery as well: Sea Wolf Bakery in Seattle, specifically for their savory croissants and their excellent sourdough. I feel like their savory offerings far outpace their sweet pastries, which is an unpopular opinion amongst my friends, but it’s such a solid option.
Seoyoung: Tsujihan in Tokyo. I’m not good with seafood in general but this place has the best kaisendon, it’s honestly insane. My friend took me there the first time and I went back every week cause it was so good. The atmosphere is very peaceful and warm, the interior is very traditional Japanese.
Sevval: The Wolseley in London. We had breakfast there, and the dishes were 100/10. Especially the pancakes, the best I’ve ever eaten. I also loved the atmosphere: it’s luxurious and warm. If you have a kid, the staff is very friendly and excels in entertaining kids.
Shaye: 10 William St in Paddington, Sydney. It’s a cosy wine bar with great food, beautiful interiors and a European feel. Can’t go wrong.
Stacey: Caia in London. On top of its wonderful, eclectic, produce-led dishes and great setting, it’s also a record bar. Beautiful intimate atmosphere with amazing music.
Sue: L’Epuisette in Marseille. Thank you to my boyfriend for bringing me here to celebrate my birthday—a beautiful restaurant perched on the rocks overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Every dish was creative and perfect!
Tierney: I live in Bristol, UK and our food scene is unbelievable. My boyfriend and I love tapas and have tried a lot of good tapas spots in Bristol over the years we’ve been there and still, our stand-out is Tare Bistro on Whapping Warf. The food is out of this world. Highly, highly recommend to any visitors.
how many friends do you have😭😭😭😭😭also with the same interests as you😭😭😭😭😭wow
it was suuuuuuuuuch a great year for music releases, but alligator bites never heal and charm were my only no-skip albums. absolute masterpieces.