2010 Tops

These are a few of my favorite things. No arguing required. It's just opinion. And hey, it's not like I've seen every movie or heard every album. This is just what I know.

MUSIC:

She & Him - Volume 2 ~ Portland guy M Ward teams up with Zooey Deschanel (yes, the actress) for some simple pleasantries.

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - I Learned The Hard Way ~ More old school funk and soul. It doesn't get any better than this, I'm talking to you everybody in Billboards top 100.

Gogol Bordello - Trans-Continental Hustle ~ I'm somewhat convinced that this Gypsy Punk outfit cannot put out anything bad.

The New Pornographers - Together ~ These days, nobody pulls off Pop Rock more consistently than these guys and gals.

Band of Horses - Infinite Arms ~ Even if everything other than the single Laredo sounded like my dog cleaning himself, this album would still be on this list. But they don't.

John Mellencamp - No Better Than This ~ I've never been a huge fan of Cougarmellon, but this release leaves me in awe.

MOVIES:

Toy Story 3 - Yes, it's as good as 1 and 2. Who knew?

She's Out Of My League - Maybe I just related to this one too much.

Greenberg - Ben Stiller going a whole new direction... that works.

Hot Tub Time Machine - Nothing made me laugh more this year.

Kick Ass - Yes, it is.

Harry Brown - A feel good movie where an old guy kills a bunch of punk kids.

Babies - Look, I don't even have kids and I liked this movie.

The Karate Kid - Yeah, I said it.

Winnebago Man - Best documentary of the year about an old angry guy.

Jackass 3D - My guilty pleasure. However, less penis next time please.

TELEVISION:

Raising Hope - From the creators of My Name Is Earl.

Community - Some of the most thought out story lines.

The Walking Dead - Zombies done right.

The Office - I don't know if this will ever go bad.

30 Rock - Sometimes you just have to think to get it.

Mike & Molly - Fat love.

Rules Of Engagement - Perhaps more consistent laughs than anything else on tv.

Conan - He's back and he's still king of late night.

South Park - It never gets old.

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations - Sure, he's getting older and more sophisticated, but he still has the best job in America.

CBS News Sunday Morning - The only news telling you about the good stuff.

The Daily Show - The only show telling the truth.

Whale Wars - I will watch anything that promotes interfering with savages.

Louie - FINALLY! Truth in a sitcom.

BEER: My list of what to drink if it's ever on tap. (Not including the super limited high end stuff)

Deschutes - Black Butte Porter ~ The best Porter on the market.

Deschutes - Jubelale ~ The best standard winter seasonal available. And 2010 is their best year yet.

Bridgeport - Hop Czar - A great Imperial IPA from one of Portland's first.

Rogue - Dead Guy Ale ~ Their flagship beer.

Double Mountain - Kolsch ~ Simply fantastic. My favorite beer to drink in the summer.

Lagunitas - Brown Shugga' ~ Their winter release. Good things come from accidents.

Lagunitas - Little Sumpin' Wild, Little Sumpin' Sumpin', and Undercover Investigator Shut Down ~ Any of these are fantastic, in the bottle or on tap.

New Old Lompoc - Centennial IPA ~ Sure C-Note is fantastic, but I recently discovered their basic IPA is top notch.

Widmer - Deadlift IPA ~ Another Imperial IPA that knocks my socks off.

Ninkasi - Tricerahops Double IPA ~ Perhaps my favorite beer of all time.

BREWERIES: Where I spend most of my time

Hopworks Urban Brewery (HUB) - Great environment, nice staff, decent food, and consistently good beers.

The New Old Lompoc - Basically my second home.

Rogue Distillery & Public House - The food is as good as the beer and the beer is outstanding.

Deschutes Brewery - Their seasonals are off the charts delicious. The food is good enough to be considered fancy. And the room is gorgeous.

Columbia River Brewing Company - My new friends. Can't wait to see where this place goes. One of Portland's newest.