I always write that I believe I'll have some new kind of introduction to this post, yet the last several years I didn’t believe that to be true, or at least acceptable. Which is to say it seemed craven to celebrate anything during the heights of the pandemic, with so much isolation and so many lives lost and destroyed. This was especially so in 2019 and 2020, and 2021 was better for many, though not all. 2022 though? To quote last year’s These Things I Loved in 2022 Will Change Your Life post, “We’re not on the other side of anything yet, and yet, I did more in 2022, more inside certainly, and just more, period, and full-stop.” So, 2023? More of the same I suppose, even if it still feels off to celebrate much of anything. I'm back with this post, however, I have to be, and I'm once again joined by the delightful guest blogger, consummate pop culture consumer, and son extraordinaire Myles Tanzer. As it has been then, and God-willing, always will be. Let's begin.
Memoirs that sing, and hurt, and explore trauma, death, nostalgia, pop culture, love, literature, the present, past and future, and everything in between.
Glory Guitars / Gogo Germaine, My Father's List / Laura Carney, Story of a Poem / Matthew Zapruder, Brave-ish / Lisa Niver
Essay collections that spoke to me and will speak to you.
The Uncertainty Principle / Joel Wachman & Inter State / Jose Vadi
Nonfiction work that is not essay or memoir exactly, yet contain those elemensts, and are quite wonderful reads.
Deliver Me From Nowhere / Warren Zanes, The Gospel of The Hold Steady / Michael Mann & The Hold Steady, Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma / Claire Dederer
A book that is most definitely nonfiction and a memoir, but something more hybrid than all that too and easily one of my favorite books of the year.
We Are Too Many / Hannah Pittard
Kick-ass short story collections by kick ass writers who, you know, kick ass. One anyway.
Tea Leaves / Jacob Budenz
Novels both wonderful and substantive, by authors wonderful and substantive, who I have quite strong feelings about as writers and humans and a million other things, and so let’s just call it what it is.
Two Minutes with the Devil / Matt Micheli, The Rise and Fall of Ava Arcana / Jennifer Banash, The Book of Rusty / Ben Drevlow, I, Caravaggio / Eugenio Volpe, Super Normal / Josh Denslow
As well as one of the more recents work by Leesa Cross-Smith, which is its own thing, because you know, Leesa Cross-Smith, and no one writes quite like her.
Half-Blown Rose / Leesa Cross-Smith
Also, the Joseph G. Peterson, because if you don't know, now you know.
Memorandum From The Cloud Appreciation Society / Joseph G. Peterson
Books I read (or re-read) for reasons of research and were delighted (and tortured by).
Refuse to be Done / Matt Bell, The Road / Larry McCurtry, Craft in the Real World / Matthew Salesses
Poetry, which I never read enough of, though did much better with this year.
The Lost Positive / Elizabeth Strauss Friedman & The Anxiety Workbook / Christina Olson
And books I was honored to play even the smallest role in supporting as the made it out into the world.
The Mother I Knew: Race to Thunder Bay And The Battle For The Commons / JJ Starr & Made in Maine / Shawn Samuelson Henry,
The movies I re-watched, because well, the Noah Tanzer & Myles Tanzer and you know, children.
Creed & Election
The movies I finally watched, because well, the Noah Tanzer, Myles Tanzer & Debbie Pritzker Tanzer, and you know, family.
Plus One, Mama Mia, Spider Man: No Way Home
Movies I missed in 2022 and caught up with, and while there was really only one this past year, it was something special, albeit devestating and triumphant too.
Women Talking
Movies I missed when first released and caught up with because they were re-released to much acclaim and the audience was so moved by it they rushed the stage in the front of the theater and danced. Okay, there was just one of those, and it too was triumphant.
Stop Making Sense
Movies I watched after taking edibles at some point earlier that night for which the details escape me.
None again this year thank you, that was clearly a 2021 thing.
Movies I watched before, loved, and re-watched, twice, for research purposes & still loved.
After Hours
Rom-Coms (and / or holiday movies), really not great.
Your Place or Mine
Rom-Coms (and / or holiday movies), somewhat better (though only somewhat).
You People
Rom-Coms (and / or holiday movies), mostly better, though I dozed off.
What Happens Later
Rom-Coms (and / or holiday movies), mostly better, and did not doze off.
Somebody I Used to Know & Anyone But You
And what's possibly the best, or at least most original Rom-Com to come out in recent history. For real.
Rye Lane
The superhero movie I watched that made me wonder why it was made.
Ant-Man & The Wasp - Quantumania
The superhero movie I watched that felt like it was good enough, sad enough & fine.
Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3
Summer and / or action movies good enough.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Summer and / or action movies much better than that.
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning, Part 1 & John Wicke: Chapter Four
The just okay, sometimes good movies that were still movies, so yeah, movies.
Somewhere in Queens & Totally Killer
One oddly and pleasantly surprising movie.
You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah
The almost really good movies I was more than happy enough to see because I'll never see enough movies to satisfy my movie Jones regardless.
Asteroid City, Rustin, Saltburn, Shortcomings, No Hard Feelings, You Hurt My Feelings?, The Unknown Country
Well-crafted movies I really liked.
Fremont, Flora & Son, Creed III, Air, Bottoms, Theater Camp, Joy Ride, Are you There God? It's Me, Margaret, The Color Purple, Reality, The Holdovers, May December, Nyad
The best crafted movies of the year that weren't quite my favorite movie of the year.
Barbie, American Fiction, Past Lives, A Thousand and One, Maestro
The quite well-crafted & visually stunning movies that may arguably be the best movie of the year.
Poor Things & Killers of the Flower Moon
But the movie that ultimately, probably, moved me the most in a year when I didn't quite wholly or truly fall in love with anything.
Oppenheimer
Also, documentaries, which were really quite personal, for the directors certainly, and me as well.
The Cape & Dear, Jamie
Movies I still plan to see.
All of Us Strangers, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, Anatomy of a Fall, Zone of Interest
New music which I continued did a way better job of finding this year, way better, mostly thank you to the Apple Music account we added in 2021 (which is not a plug, just a reality), that I was mostly really happy with, starting with musicians I already listened to.
the record / Boy Genius (+ the rest), Call Me If You Get Lost: The Estate Sale / Tyler the Creator, Michael / Killer Mike, The Age of Pleasure / Janelle Monae, Guts / Olivia Rodrigo, Cousin / Wilco, Javelin / Sufjan Stevens, Integrated Tech Solutions / Aesop Rock
Music and artists quite new to me that I really loved. Which includes loads of country & alt-country (is that still a thing), as well as lots of electronic. And yes, there was a lot of it.
I Walked With You A Ways / Plains, Cluster I (feat. John Talabot & Velmondo) / Mioclono, Green Hat / Tzusing, Pila'e Teteo / Kiko El Crazy, Timeless/Davido, Proof of Life / Joy Oladokun, Stand in the Joy / William Prince, Daystar / Beta Librae, Operator / GRRL, Time Ain't Accidental / Jess Williamson, Ain't Through Honky Tonkin' Yet / Brennen Leigh, Super Snooper / Snooper, Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You / Bonnie "Prince" Billy, The Ones Ahead / Beverly Glenn Copeland, Crazy Trip / Tomu DJ, Swells / K-LONE, Resolve / Arnold Dreyblatt, Zach Bryan / Zach Bryan, Hellmode / Jeff Rosenstock, Again / Oneohtrix Point Never, Arepa Mixtape / MJ Nebreda, Changing Channels / Pangaea, Polygon / Galya Bisengalieva, Sator Arepo / Judgitzu, In the Throes / Buddy & Julie Miller, L'Ecstasy / Tiga & Hudson Mohawke
Music I got to listen to live, it was not enough, and I somehow went all year without seeing Ike Reilly. I know.
Chicago Gay Men's Chorus presents On The Big Screen @ Harris Theater (w/ the Debbie Pritzker Tanzer), Dead & Co. @ Wrigley Field (w/ the Debbie Pritzker Tanzer & Avi Beinhacker), The Hold Steady (mostly) + Mountain Goats @ The Salt Shed (w/ the Debbie Pritzker Tanzer), Killer Mike @ Pitchfork, Bruce Springsteen @ Wrigley Field (w/ the Debbie Pritzker Tanzer)
Music I got to listen to live with the Noah Tanzer that was the love.
Mavi @ Lincoln Hall
Music I got to listen to live with the Jason Fisk that was loud and spectacular and just so good.
Run the Jewels @ The Salt Shed
Great (or nearly great) television shows where the second season was as good and at times even better than the first one.
Abbott Elementary, Perry Mason, Yellowjackets, The Bear, Heartstopper, Someone Somewhere, Dark Winds
The one re-boot I watched, which wasn't great, but still made me happy.
Justified: Primeval
The one show I re-watched, because Noah Tanzer, and because it's an all-time great.
Better Things
Shows I caught-up on in their entirety (or mostly) that I enjoyed, loved, or mostly loved, and so did everyone else.
Happy Valley, PEN 15, Broad City (Seasons 1, 2, & 3 anyway), Fisk, Karen Pirie, Apple Tree Road
Television shows that ended, that were fun, sometimes exceptional, and I'm going to miss watching.
South Side, Single Drunk Female, The Other Two, Never Have I Ever, Breeders, Sex Education, Rap Shit!
The television show that ended that truly and honestly made the pandemic a little more bearable.
Ted Lasso
The television shows that ended, that were unique, like nothing else on television, and I will really miss watching.
Reservation Dogs, Barry, How To with John Wilson
The television show that ended, was by far one of my most favorite shows and I will profoundly miss watching.
Succession
The one reality show I watched and couldn't not watch.
Squid Game - The Challenge
Limited run shows just so good and gripping.
Beef
Limited run shows surprisingly addictive.
Jury Duty
New shows not so great, but I watched anyway.
Platonic, Andor
New shows mostly good (or good enough).
The Night Agent, Poker Face, Gen V, Everything Now, Heartbreak High
New shows good.
Shrinking & This Fool
New shows that were shockingly good and just shocking.
My Brave Girls
And the new show that was so shockingly good, stressful, and fun.
The Last of Us
During a year I didn’t watch that many docuseries (or single documentary-style shows), I did watch these which were at times spectacular, moving, and / or heartbreaking.
38 At The Garden, Pamela, a love story, Beckham, Murder in Boston
Live theater, again, though only one show, which is one more then 2022, so there's that.
Theater: Revolution(s) / Goodman Theater | New Stages Festival 2023
There was also a live interview that I attended with the Debbie Pritzker Tanzer and it was sublime (even if it was supposed to be Hebru Brantley).
Eve Ensler in conversation with Rebecca Makkai @ the Chicago History Museum as part of the Chicago Humanities Festival.
Art exhibits, once again quite a few less than 2021, and how is that, though what did happen, happened with the Debra Pritzker Tanzer, which is nice.
Salvador Dalí: The Image Disappears / The Art Institute of Chicago, Van Gogh and the Avant-Garde: The Modern Landscape / Art Institute of Chicago, Art Show: Faith Ringgold / American People | MCA
The podcasts I still listen to again and again, if sometimes inconsistently at that and maybe less regularly than usual, while adding nothing new.
WTF with Marc Maron, Other People with Brad Listi, The Slate Culture Gabfest
The podcast I returned to even as I can't remember why I stopped listening to it.
Heavyweight
The new podcast I listened to for research purposes and could not stop listening to once started.
Tom Brown's Body
The podcast I listened to because it was by former This Podcast Will Change Your Life guest Suzanne Clores and because she's extraordinary (all puns intended and factual too).
Finding Dawn
~
And Now for the Myles Tanzer...
Movies I Finally Watched That I Loved
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Erin Brockovich. Palm Spring. Plus One. Sing Street.
Best Concert Film of the Year
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour
Best Documentary Concert Film of the Year
Renaisannce: A Film by Beyoncé
Meicore Rom-Coms of the Year
Love at First Sight. Red, White & Royal Blue. Your Christman or Mine 2
An Amazing Rom-Com that People Don’t Think Is One
Elemental
Will Go Down as One of the Best Modern Rom-Coms
Anyone But You. Rye Lane.
Why Did I Put It On?
Leave the World Behind. No One Will Save You.
Because of Ben Tanzer
American Fiction. Shortcomings.
…But it Had Jennifer Lawrence
No Hard Feelings.
For Shits and Giggles
Cocaine Bear. M3GAN.
Biggest Let-Downs of the Year
The Little Mermaid. The Other Zoey.
Best Surprises of the Year
Prom Pact. Thanksgiving. Totally Killer.
Movies That Are Labeled as Comedies, But Totally Aren’t
May December.
Best Use of NEPOTISM of the Year
You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah.
Proof that Eve Hewson is the Best Nepo-Baby
Flora and Son.
Most Oscar-baity Movie of the Year
Maestro.
Movies That Healed My Inner Child
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.
I’m Very Sad I Didn’t Like it More
Past Lives. Rustin.
Worst Horror Movies of the Year
Knock at the Cabin. The Nun II.
Great Horror Movies
Evil Dead Rises. Talk to Me.
Visually Stunning Movies that Starred Jacob Elordi and Were Directed by Women
Priscilla. Saltburn.
Female-Led Ensembles Are Back Baby!
80 for Brady. Bottoms. Joy Ride.
Most Underrated Movies of the Year
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
Movie Musicals are Back Baby!
The Color Purple.
Easily the Most Visually Stunning Film of the Year
Poor Things.
Movies I Should’ve Seen in the Theatre and Not at Home During an Ice Day
Killers of the Flower Moon.
First Movie That I Saw By Myself at the Movie Theatre
The Iron Claw.
Best Barbenheimer Movies
Barbie. Oppenheimer.
Easily the Best Movie of the Year
The Holdovers.
Shows That Were Surprisingly Good
Everything Now. Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. School Spirits, Squid Game: The Challenge.
Yeah, I Watched and I Am Not Ashamed of It.
And Just Like That… Season 2. Big Mouth Season 7. Schmigadoon! Season 2. Selling Sunset Season 7.
Competition Shows Where I Disagree With the Winner
Next in Fashion Season 2. Project Runway Season 20.
Yet Another Year Where Drag Race Dominated My Life
RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 15, RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 8, RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under Season 3, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Season 5, Canada’s Drag Race Season 4.
Another Show that Helps Prove that Mike Flanagan is a True Visionary
The Fall of the House of Usher.
A Book That I Loved, But the Show Was Fine
My Life with the Walter Boys. The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 2.
A Book That I Loved, But the Show Was Fine
Daisy Jones & The Six.
Shows That I Finally Watched and I Am Glad That I Did.
American Vandal. Single Drunk Female. Russian Doll. Ugly Betty.
Shows That I Am Sad That Ended
Manifest Season 4. Never Have I Ever Season 4. Sex Education Season 4.
Shows That I Am Sad That Ended and Also Cried During Every Episode
Ted Lasso Season 3.
Shows That Didn’t End and Also Cried During Every Episode
Heartstopper Season 2.
Okay Shows That I Watched with My Roommates
Dr. Death.
Great Shows That I Watched with My Roommates
How to Get Away With Murder. Law & Order: SVU Seasons 19-23.
Shows That Continue to Be Great
Abbott Elementary Season 2. Outer Banks Season 3. Yellowjackets Season 2.
Shows That I Finally Watched and Are Now New Favorites
Broadchurch. Fleadbag. Insecure. The Mick. Six Feet Under.
Great New Shows of the Year
Gen V. Jury Duty. Shrinking.
Easily the Best New Show of the Year That I’m Surprised That I Loved
The Last of Us.
The Best Shows of the Year That Only Had Slam Dunk Episodes
The Bear Season 2. Succession Season 4.
Best Concert of the Year
The Eras Tour (Taylor Swift).
Best Show of the Year
Renaissance World Tour (Beyoncé).
Great Albums That I Finally Listened To
Being Funny in a Foreign Language (The 1975). Days Are Gone (Haim). EVERYTHING IS LOVE (The Carters). Hozier (Hozier). Norman Fucking Rockwell (Lana Del Rey). Something to Tell You (Haim) Wasteland, Baby! (Hozier) Women in Music Pt. III (Haim).
Great Songs That ‘Came Out This Year’, But Don’t Count
Sorry Not Sorry (Rock Version) (Demi Lovato with Slash). The Way (Live Version) (Ariana Grande featuring Mac Miller). You (Recorded Version) (Miley Cyrus). You’re Losing Me (Taylor Swift).
Top 10 Songs of the Year
bad idea right? (Olivia Rodrigo). Dance The Night (Dua Lipa). Feather (Sabrina Carpenter). I Remember Everything (Zach Bryan featuring Kacey Musgraves). Is It Over Now? (Taylor Swift). Look At Us Now (Daisy Jones & The Six) Margaret (Lana Del Rey featuring Bleachers). MY HOUSE (Beyoncé). On My Mama (Victoria Monét). Tummy Hurts (Reneé Rapp).
Albums I Couldn’t Tell You One Song Off Of, But I Listened To
chemistry (Kelly Clarkson). In Pieces (Chloë) Gag Order (Kesha).
Rerecords That Were Okay
Speak Now, Taylor’s Version (Taylor Swift).
Rerecords That I Loved
1998, Taylor’s Version (Taylor Swift). Revamped (Demi Lovato).
Great Albums By Men From Someone Who Doesn’t Usually Listen to Men
Something to Give Each Other (Troye Sivan). Unreal Unearth (Hozier).
Just a Fun Album
Barbie the Album
So Much Better on Shuffle
GUTS (Olivia Rodrigo).
Proof that Carly Rae Jepsen is the Most Underrated Pop Star of All Time
The Loveliest Time (Carly Rae Jepsen).
Twas the Year of Amazing Dance Albums.
Desire, I Want to Turn Into You (Caroline Polachek). Diamonds & Dancefloors (Ava Max). That! Feels Good! (Jessie Ware).
Most Underrated Albums of the Year
The Age of Pleasure (Janelle Monáe). JAGUAR II (Victoria Monét). The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess (Chappell Ronan).
An Album I Dreamed That Would Come Out and Cried When It Did
AURORA (cast of Daisy Jones & The Six).
So Close to be Best Album of the Year
Endless Summer Vacation (Miley Cyrus). My 21st Century Blues (RAYE). Snow Angel (Reneé Rapp).
Easily the Best Album of the Year
Zach Bryan (Zach Bryan).
Worst Book of the Year, Maybe Even Worst Book I Ever Read
A Thousand Boy Kisses (Tillie Cole).
Good Books I Read This Year That Somehow All Revolve Around Gay Teen Romance
Red, White & Royal Blue (Casey McQuiston). The Both Die at the End (Adam Silvera). What If It’s Us (Becky Albertalli, Adam Silvera).
Best Books I Read This Year That Somehow All Have to Do with Finding Yourself
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (Benjamin Alire Sáenz). Carrie Soto Is Back (Taylor Jenkins Reid).
~
Most finally, there are many people to thank for making this a good year (or just rule in general) in spite of all that has been going on and feels like it still will be. And I'm most definitely overlooking some, a lot maybe, and I apologize for that, but there you go.
Ryan W. Bradley, Steve Lafler, Lavinia Ludlow, Rob Funderburk, Greg Olear, John Barrios, Joseph G. Peterson, Michael Seidlinger, Gabino Iglesias, Adam Lawrence, Dave McNamara, Mike Smolarek, Beth Gilstrap, Duncan MacKenzie, Andrew Keating, Avner Landes, Matty Byloos, Michael Czyzniejewski, Ken Wohlrob, Mike Keren, Myles and Noah Tanzer, Leza Cantoral, David Masciotra, Clayton Smith, Bryanna Tartt, Alisha Bashaw, Mel Bosworth, Paul Cohen, Joshua Chaplinksy, Lee Matthew Goldberg, Elizabeth Strauss Friedman, Dana Kaye, Todd Summar, Megan Stielstra, Hosho McCreesh, W. Todd Kaneko, Jim Warner, Mathieu Cailler, David S. Atkinson, Emory Easton, Debbie Pritzker, Steve Eisner, Diego Báez, BL Pawelek, Mallory Smart, James Yates, Larry Rosen, Kristin Fouquet, Jacob Budenz, Lisa Ellen Niver, Clayton Smith, Seth Berg, Maggie Manoyan, Elizabeth Coffey, Mark Wish, Amber Sparks, James Tate Hill, Elizabeth Crane, Mike McClelland-Williamson, Lori Jakiela, Maureen Aitken, Robert Vaughan, Jerry Stahl, Gregory L. Norris, Michael Gillan Maxwell, Meg Tuite, Chris Linkenbach, Robert Duffer, Kathy Haueisen, Coco Picard, Brian Alan Ellis, Nat Kimber, Keir Graff, Luke Jerod Kummer, Emma Irving, Diego Jackson Bliss, Joanna Topor MacKenzie, Jeff Linkenbach, Matt Rowan, Mike DeCapite, Jacob S. Knabb, Jason Behrends, Andrew DeYoung, Jason Pettus, Joanna C. Valente, Moeses Soulright, Anthony Michael Morena, Brad Wolff, Amber Griffith, Bob Hartley, Shifra Malka, Joanna Shroeder, Barbara Newman, Leah Jones, Johnny Misfit, Greg Gerding, Paul Lamb, Trish McDonald, Victor David Giron, The Book Cellar, Gretchen Kalwinski, Michael Paige Glover, Jennifer Banash, Bill O'Neill, City Lit Books, Marilyn Atlas, Matt Fitzpatrick, Art Edwards, Judith Tanzer, Kimberly Ann Southwick, Erika T. Wurth, Leesa Cross-Smith, Brian Gresko, Beth Splaine, Garret Schuelke, Shaindel Beers, Chris L. Terry, Kara Vernor, Adam Tanzer, Patricia Ann McNair, Glen Binger, Ali Gray, Sean Beaudoin, Sean H. Doyle, Ken Sherman, Corey Best, John Reed, Jerry Brennan, Serena Makofsky, Callie Nelson, Lauren Becker, A Novel Idea, David Legere, Marisa Siegel, Andrew Farkas, Brad Listi, Robert James Russell, Jenny Bhatt, Brian Gresko, Lori Hettler, Sharyn Skeeter, Tobias Carroll, Leah Angstman, Christian Winn, Angelique Pesce, Charita Cole Brown, Brad King, Spencer Dew, Glen Binger, Neile Parisi, Steve Karas, Aubrey Cox Warner, Sarina Prabasi, Amanda Headlee, Barry Graham, Jennifer Steele, P&T Knitwear, Wendy C. Ortiz, Dave Newman, Jeremy T. Wilson, Donald Quist, Christine Maul Rice, D. Foy, Ben Drevlow, JH Palmer, Cari Luna, Amber Griffin, Shawn Henry, Elaine Soloway, Rachel Slotnick, Judith Krummeck, Michael Tager, Behn Reza, Largehearted Boy, Cyn Vargas, Colin Hosten, Anne Poirier, Tim Drown, Greg Santos, Joe Starr, Village Well, Joe Thompson, Howard Fox, Allison Joseph, Alan Heathcock, Tony Brunelli, Valerie Roche, Christina Olson, Tara Fishler, Keith Lesmeister, Sara Lippmann, Spencer Fleury, Grace Agnew, Mikaela Shea Fowler, Ariel Rudolph, Kyler Bingham, Giano Cromley, Zoe Zolbrod, Dawn Hogan, Kali VanBaale, Tom Williams, Jennifer Pastiloff, Joshua Mohr, Jackson Bliss, Deborah Greenhut, Neil Elman, Steph Patton, Amy Danzer, Patrick Wensink, Nicholas Barron, Exile in Bookville, Daniel C. Nester, Maria Price, Robert Tomaino, Ashley Marie Farmer, Paul Lamb, Stuart Ross, Steph Rogers, Chauncey Fitzsimmons, Alice Kaltman, Paul Cohen, Kacy Tellesen, Susan Messing, Rick Kogan, Amy Guth, Khloe Karova, Jeff Pfaller, Emily Schultz, Shaindel Beers, Christine Eberle, Volumes Bookcafe, Susan Messing, Jonathan Evison, Leland Cheuk, Rebecca George, Robert James Russell, Donald G. Evans, Carla Ritz, Matt Covert, Christina Beauchemin, Davis Schneiderman, Ray Charbonneau, Sam Slaughter, Gina Frangello, Steph Post, Rachel Hyman, Nick Ostdick, Len Kuntz, Pete Anderson, Terry Hiner, Alicia Del Real, Ryan Elliott Smith, Pam Hoadley, the Tomaloff's, Paula Bomer, Brandon Will, Melissa Faliveno, J. Bradley, Jason Fisk, Gint Aras, Yogi Roth, Eric Spitznagle, Beth Gilstrap, Charles Rubner, Ryan Ridge, Sara Thompson, Lee L. Krecklow, Keidra Chaney, Christopher Bowen, Liz Mason, Chris Tarry, David Olimpio, Jessica Kashiwabara, Christoph Paul, Ines Bellina, Jon Papernick