PAPERMAG: The Best of This and That of 2011, According to Alexis Swerdloff

In no particular order, a smattering of some of the best things I read, saw, did, heard, wore, bought and ate this year.

BEST BOOKS I READ: Vaclav & Lena, a novel about two young Russian émigrés in Brighton Beach, by Haley Tanner; and Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea, a gripping and wonderfully written account of daily life in North Korea by Barbara Demick.

BEST SCENE IN BRIDESMAIDS: Annie (Kristen Wiig) getting too drunk on the plane to Las Vegas and repeatedly trying to sneak into business class, and the ensuing Steve/Stove back-and-forth.

Annie: Whatever you say, Stove!

Flight Attendant Steve: It's Steve.

Annie: Stove! What kind of a name is that?

Flight Attendant Steve: Well, that's not my name. My name is Steve.

Annie: Are you an appliance?

Flight Attendant Steve: No. I'm a man and my name is Steve.

Annie: You're a flight attendant.

Flight Attendant Steve: That's absolutely accurate.

(h/t to Elizabeth Thompson for reminding me of this!)

BEST CHICKEN DISH: Southern Style Chicken, a spicy and insanely tasty dish from the recently-opened Rhong Tiam Express on Orchard Street.

BEST SONG: Girls - "Honey Bunny," off their sophomore album Father, Son, Holy Ghost.

BEST PIZZA I ATE: Pepperoni, hot peppers, and basil pizza from Lucali.

BEST WAY TO SPEND A NIGHT IN MIAMI: Go with five of your best friends to the top of the new Herzog de Meuron-designed parking garage on Lincoln Road and then get a vanilla milkshake downstairs at the Shake Shack.

BEST TV SERIES ON NETFLIX INSTANT THAT I AM NOW ADDICTED TO: Thirtysomething

BEST PIECE OF CLOTHING I PURCHASED: Penfield Kasson Parka.

BEST TEXTILE I PURCHASED: Alhambra Tile Dhurrie Rug from Pottery Barn.

BEST TV SHOW I DIDN'T WATCH UNTIL THIS YEAR BECAUSE THE FACT THAT IT WAS ABOUT FANTASY FOOTBALL REALLY TURNED ME OFF: The League

BEST NEW MUSEUM: Building 92, the Brooklyn Navy Yard Center, which showcases the history of the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The museum also houses a lovely café helmed by Ted & Honey folks.

BEST HOMEMADE MEAL I ATE: Beef bibimbap made by former PAPERMAG.com creative director Carol Lee's mother.

BEST PIECE OF ART I PURCHASED: This cardboard sign courtesy of artist Alejandro Diaz, at Mr. Mickey's annual Art Jamboree. It now hangs above my bed!

BEST ARTICLE I READ NEARLY TWO DECADES AFTER IT CAME OUT: "Mia's Story" in Vanity Fair, Maureen Orth's super-juicy and revealing tell-all about Mia Farrow's side of the Mia-Woody-Soon-Yi scandal.