As is now the standard, I’m choosing to list my favourite things I consumed this year, not necessarily what was released in 2025. And, as noted every year, lists are alphabetical unless otherwise specified.

My favourite albums

A light year for me, music-wise, for sure.

Thee Black Boltz by Tunde Adebimpe

Former TV On The Radio frontman comes back with this solid lineup. Not uniformly great, but the good songs are so good it puts the album on this list.

Phonetics On And On by Horsegirl

“2-4-6-8” was on the list of my favourite songs last year, and the full album is pretty great too.

The Bad Fire by Mogwai

I can’t imagine a Mogwai album which wouldn’t show up on this annual list.

Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory by Sharon Van Etten

A new band, a rekindled crunch, still the same Sharon Van Etten voice.

Songs From The Gang: A Celebration Of Joel Plaskett by Various Artists

A surprise for Nova Scotian musician Plaskett’s 50th birthday from some of his oldest friends. My favourites are the Sloan cover of “I Love This Town” and Alan Syliboy’s version of “Nowhere With You”. Never thought I’d hear that song sung in Mi’kmaq.

Moisturizer by Wet Leg

More varied and self-assured than their debut album. This one convinced Lindsay to get us tickets to see them live in the fall.

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My favourite songs

Not sure what was up this year, but where this is often twenty songs, I struggled to find ten that made this list.

1. Tunde Adebimpe . “Magnetic”
2. Big Thief . “Words”
3. Neko Case . “Little Gears”
4. Geese . “100 Horses”
5. Mogwai . “What Kind Of Mix Is This?”
6. Spoon . “Chateau Blues”
7. U.S. Girls . “The Clearing”
8. Sharon Van Etten . “Idiot Box”
9. Wet Leg . “CPR”
10. Wolf Alice . “White Horses”

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My favourite movies

I watched 16 movies this year (which used to be a light month for me), only 3 of which came out in 2025. I’m so out of the movie game now that I can’t even say “I haven’t watched x, y, or z yet.”

A Complete Unknown (2024)

Some artistic liberties, sure, but but damn if they didn’t encapsulate why Dylan is such a genius. Timothée Chalamet did that about as well as someone could.

A House Of Dynamite (2025)

Started off with incredible tension which sadly wound down as it went, but still a solid throwback to past cold war thrillers. It certainly made me want to watch Fail Safe.

Conclave (2024)

I was expecting Dan Brown light, but it was so much better than that. Ralph Fiennes played his part like a tightly wound spring who’d spent a lifetime learning restraint.

Free Solo (2018)

I think the only time during this documentary I wasn’t on edge was when Alex Honnold was on the ground. And he was almost never on the ground.

Furiosa (2024)

An excellent origin story of an excellent character. And Chris Hemsworth was a terrific addition to the universe. Entertaining as can be.

Leave The World Behind (2023)

A kinda-pocalypse for the modern age. Skillful ratcheting up of tension (racial and otherwise) until the final scene.

Locke (2013)

A technical feat: the entire movie is filmed inside Tom Hardy’s car as he drives to London. We hear other voices, but see no one — the entire story unfolds through conversations on his speakerphone. Hardy’s physicality so often plays a large part in his roles, but here it’s all in his voice and facial expressions.

She Said (2022)

A journalistic procedural about the groundswell of Me Too stories written about Harvey Weinstein, setting his charges in motion.

Sinners (2025)

A combination of monster movie + historical drama + light musical + societal examination. A healthy dose of blues history made this one of my favourites of the year.

Uncorked (2020)

Sure, the subject matter is wine, so I loved it, but it was even funnier than I expected, especially because of Courtney B. Vance.

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My favourite TV shows

Continuing the trend of the last several years, all the attention I used to pay to movies now goes to TV. I watched 53 new seasons of TV this year, and a pile more as re-watch. Probably the most notable shows I’ve been meaning to watch but have not, as yet: The Diplomat S03, Murderbot, Shrinking, the last four episodes of Stranger Things S05, The Studio, and maybe most importantly, Pluribus.

Adolescence

A tour de force of directing, coordination, and in the case of many of the principals, acting. I thought the first episode might have been the finest episode of TV I watched all year, until I saw the third episode.

Andor (S02)

Nary a lightsaber in sight, but still one of the best Star Wars properties. A sci-fi look at how fascism ascends, and how resistance to it isn’t clean.

The Bear (S04)

Not the strongest season of the show, but compelling nonetheless. “The Wedding” was one of my favourites episodes of the series.

The Last Of Us (S02)

Because I did not play the game, I did not see that coming.

Long Story Short (S01)

The newest series from Raphael Bob-Waksberg, also animated, is (was?) just as filled with pathos as BoJack Horseman was. Not sure how many seasons are planned, but I’m excited for more.

Mr. In-Between (S01)

Pretty sure Lindsay found this in an “underrated TV” subreddit. An Australian series about a seemingly regular bloke who’s also a killer for hire. That’s well-worn territory, but this show does it in a refreshing way.

The Pitt (S01)

For a while I dismissed this as ER 2.0, but I kept hearing good things about it. When I eventually started watching it I found myself truly bingeing it, making up excuses to just start the next episode even though it was 1am on a weeknight.

Severance (S02)

Not as good as season one, and a little annoying at times, but still one of the most interesting things on TV.

Somebody Somewhere (all seasons)

Lindsay watched this first and insisted I watch it too, and she was right — it’s one of the sweetest, best-acted comedies I’ve seen in a while.

The White Lotus (S03)

Some parts I loved (aka, Parker Posey), some parts I didn’t, but even a relatively-weak season of White Lotus is better than most TV.

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My favourite books

Last year I read six books. This year I read seven. These were my five favourites.

Sucker Punch by Scaachi Koul

A biting and often-hilarious history of failed relationships (one in particular, but not in totality) of Scaachi Koul, one of my favourite writers.

You Had Me At Pet-Nat by Rachel Signer

In which the author explains how natural wines must be grown, encouraged, nurtured, and eased into the world, as she describes how she does the same thing with her relationship. It’s not as heavy-handed as I make it seem, I promise.

Terror From The Air by Peter Sloterdijk

A bit of a random thing, really — Lindsay had this book out from the library for her PhD thesis, and I just started flipping through it. Before I knew it I was half-finished. A treatise on the idea that the world changed in WWI when warfare began using the very air we breathe to kill us, continuing through WWII with the firebombing of cities like Dresden, Hamburg, and Tokyo. That fire theme was one that recurred in another book on this list too.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

I can see why it became so popular during/after 2020. The description of a foreign virus (albeit a far more deadly one) infecting Toronto recalled those initial COVID days pretty clearly. The rest was a bit of standard-fare post-apocalyptic adventure, but admirable for how it mixed mundanity into the inevitable harshness.

Fire Weather by John Vaillant

I wouldn’t have thought this book — centered on the Fort McMurray fire from a few years ago, but wrapped in the history of northern Canadian resource extraction, the oil sands, and a timeline of the energy sector’s detachment from science and reason when it benefitted them — would be as gripping as it was, but we turned the pages just like we would have any so-called beach read. Also, I didn’t know anything about the Chisholm Fire until I read this book, and it was terrifying.

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My favourite (new) podcasts

Setting aside constant favourites like 99% Invisible, Matt Talks Wine & Stuff with Interesting People, Q, Smartless, Somm TV, The Rest Is History, This American Life, TLDR, Way Down In The Hole, and You Are Good, these are the new-to-me podcasts I got into this year. I am, at present, a good six months behind on my podcasts, so I’ve hesitated to add anything new, but I can see the new Michael Lewis series The Big Short waiting for me.

Good Hang

Certainly helped by Amy Poehler’s network of talented friends, but she’s also becoming a very good interviewer. The segment where she interviews yet more famous friends of the guest is often almost as good as the interview itself.

Good On Paper

Apparently I only added “good” podcasts this year? Anyway, this policy discussion put on by The Atlantic was as interesting as it was short-lived. It wrapped up back in the spring.

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My favourite meals

In chronological order.

Les Brumes du Coudes, Moncton

On one of my many visit to Moncton this year, I met brother #2 and sister-in-law #1 at this tiny place tucked into the Aberdeen Cultural Centre for a surprisingly delicious meal of local favourites and interesting wine. I might have had more impressive meals, but this one makes it on the list for the sheer “This is in Moncton?!” of it.

Nobu, Toronto

When old friend T-Bone and I still worked together, we were constantly going out to new restaurants. As I changed companies and life got busier, it got harder and harder. To wit: when we met for dinner at Nobu it had been nearly eight years since we last broke bread (or, the high-end sushi equivalent). The jalapeño yellowtail and lobster tempura with tamari honey were the best things I ate, but the real highlight was getting to spend four gabby hours with T-Bone again.

Dalvay By The Sea, PEI

A group side quest on a work trip, I had — in a gorgeous lakeside setting, it must be said — one of the biggest and best pork chops I have ever et.

Elora Mill Inn, Elora

A few days after my 50th birthday, we spent a couple days at the Elora Mill Inn. On our first night we did their tasting menu(s), and right from the strawberry basil gazpacho amuse bouche, it was outstanding.

Ricky + Olivia, Toronto

We ate at R+O a few times this year, but the dinner in August with our friends Matt & Lisa was my favourite. The sugar cube cantaloupe with salami, cucumber, and burrata was a standout, and as much as I think they have the best burger in the city, this might have been the best it’s ever tasted.

TOWN, Ottawa

One of a number of standout meals we ate in a weekend trip to Ottawa, this one at TOWN with Patrick and Maeve stood out. Once again, it was a pork chop that charmed me, but everything else down to the salad was fantastic.

Arlo, Ottawa

Our last big meal in Ottawa, and probably the best of the bunch, was a birthday dinner at Arlo. The scallop tartare appetizer was superb. The ribeye for two was cooked perfectly. The wine was delicious. The vibe was great. A star.

Langdon Hall, Cambridge

Definitely the most involved tasting menu of the year, we did the Grand Tasting Menu: 10+ courses over four hours, with wine pairings. Very, very elevated.

Wood Owl, Toronto

Once again with Patrick & Maeve, but this time in Toronto. We’d been wanting to go to the Wood Owl forever, finally getting there in November, and friggin’ loved it. Great wine, excellent food, lovely decor, and warm service.

Mystic, Halifax

I’ve had my eye on this place since it opened, but when it was awarded best new restaurant in Canada by en route a couple months ago, I booked it immediately. We ate there on December 27th, and it blew us away. Every course of both our menus was exceptional. A well-deserved award, and a welcome addition to the Halifax dining scene.

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My favourite bottles of wine

This list is certainly incomplete — I hate documenting my wines when we’re out, and it’s hit and miss as to whether I remember to note/rate them even when we drink them at home. Anyway, it’s a decent-enough list with good geographic representation: one Argentinian, one Chilean, two American, two French, three Italian, and (surprisngly) only one Canadian. In chronological order.

Bachelder 2017 Wismer-Wingfield Vineyard Chardonnay

From my cellar. Perpetually one of the best Chardonnays Canada has to offer.

Bodega Catena Zapata 2016 “Nicolás” Bordeaux blend

From my cellar. One of my all-time favourite Argentinian reds, this one was just at the tail end of vibrancy, but still had plenty of life and flavour.

Villa Poggio Salvi 2018 “Pomona” Brunello di Montalcino

From Carisma restaurant in Toronto. Recommended by Adriano at our Valentine’s Day dinner, and perfectly threaded the needle of a diverse food order.

Sea Smoke 2015 “Ten” Pinot Noir

From my cellar. A favourite since first trying it in Arizona 13 years ago, I used to look for it in Vintages releases. Alas (but rightly) there are currently no US products in those releases, so I’ll continue to enjoy the bottles I have.

Federico Curtaz 2019 Etna “Gamma” Carricante

Domaine Fernand Engel 2018 Pinot Gris Vendanges Tardives

Both from my cellar. We opened four bottles when Ricky + Olivia came over to our house for dinner, but these two — a Sicilian white and an Alsatian late harvest Pinot Gris — were outstanding bookends.

Seña 2013 Bordeaux blend

From my cellar. Each year I meet my friends Dan & Abtin at a steakhouse for dinner, and one of us brings a bottle from our collection. This year, at the new Jacobs location, I brought this storied Chilean red.

Trefethen 2017 Oak Knoll District Cabernet Sauvignon

From my cellar. After meeting the Trefethen family in the Okavango Delta in 2013, I always buy their wine when it appears in the LCBO (prior to the afore-mentioned US product ban). I managed to age this one enough to have it in peak form when grilling for the first time this summer.

Donesco Pacina 2020 Toscana Rosso

From Arlo restaurant in Ottawa. A perfect Sangiovese match for our ribeye for two.

Clos Orgelot 2011 “Clos du Moulin aux Moines” Pommard Premier Cru

From the restaurant at Langdon Hall. On the second night of our stay we opted for a simpler meal, but a fancier bottle of wine. We drank it before the Jays broke our hearts.

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My favourite moments of the year

In chronological order.

1. Gleefully ditching twitter after 18 years
2. Celebrating Mom’s 75th at a pancake breakfast in rural NS
3. Literally any time Bianca slept on the bed with us
4. Experiencing playoff hockey for the first time in four years
5. Going on a hike w/ Dad on his 82nd birthday
6. Sharing a bottle of 2013 Sena with old friends
7. A brief serenade from the captain of our Amsterdam canal cruise, who is also an opera singer
8. Sailing down the Rhine amidst dozens of medieval castles
9. Visiting Alsace, one of my favourite wine regions
10. Turning fifty
11. Spending two whole days in a pool in Niagara-On-The-Lake
12. Sharing a bottle of wine in our backyard on a perfect summer night with Matt & Lisa
13. Drinking a cold beer alone on a quiet, convivial Moncton patio
14. Watching Wet Leg deliver a knockout concert at History
15. Having Thanksgiving with my family, exploring parts of the woods near home I’d never visited before
16. Visiting the Manx pub in Ottawa for the first time in 25+ years
17. Enjoying a cozy fire in our room at Langdon Hall
18. Cheering the Jays on through their World Series run
19. Seeing my fifth Habs game in Montreal (even if they lost, again)
20. Meeting our friend’s extremely adorable baby

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[Cover photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash]