2022 was awesome! Sorry, is that a “hot take?” Here’s some more polarizing thoughts from my 2022 experiences. Have ire with these, let me know! I only have two goals with this post: 1) outrage people and 2) embarrass myself when I look back years later!
Worst concert:
EDC – Too much everything: people, FOMO, world-class artists, bad boring house music fillers. I’m thankful I have rad friends who made the weekend a blast!
Best concert:
Madeon – Back-to-back shows from Chicago to Minneapolis. (oh, and I saw him a third time in SD)
Honorable mention:
Alicia Keys – Padres Pedal the Cause (Curebound) benefit show at the Rady shell.
Honorable mention 2:
Ben Böhmer – Both EDC sunrise and impulse 1am shows were wildly perfect.
Best goal:
Meatless Monday – I’ve had some memorable meals, haha! My “don’t eat red meat” campaign needs to be reset in 2023…that’s a surprisingly challenging goal.
Best sunset:
Jan 15th – How often do you revisit your sunset pics? For me, once a year, haha!
Best Illumina accomplishment:
EPICv2 – iykyk link here if you want to be a science nerd.
Honorable mention:
Meeting David Bentley and talking genomics after lunch.
Honorable mention 2:
Becoming a Scientist – previous post link here.
Best sport:
Pickleball – Humble brag, my pickleball partner Nicole and I are top 3 at Illumina. Reality check, we also lost a match to 2 gentlemen in their 50s.
Honorable mention:
Inline skating.
Best artist comeback:
Odesza | The Last Goodbye – Totally worth the 5-year wait and nonstop hype!
Honorable mention:
Swedish House Mafia | Paradise Again – 8-years. Duh.
Honorable mention 2:
Red Hot Chili Peppers | Return of the Dream Canteen – A) a bit biased because they’re my favorite band and B) wild that this is their 2 full album released this year! It’s good to be a RHCP fan with John Frusciante back on guitar!
Best surprise album:
Kid Cudi | Entergalactic – It seemed Kid Cudi was done, he re-released 2-nostolgic albums featuring his greatest hits…and BAM, out comes a solid Cudi album with a healthy dose of humming.
Most disappointing album:
Broken Bells | Into the Blue – 8 patient years for this… One song titled The Chase is worth listening to, skip the rest 😦 bummer.
Honorable mention:
Joji | SMITHEREENS – 2-years to release 24-minutes of music across 9 “songs” is not an album. This short-song trend is making me mad! The median song length is 2 minutes and 22 seconds!?!
Best album overall:
Whitney | SPARK – Nonstop earworms! Lyrics burned into my brain faster than anything I’ve listened to in years!
Honorable mention:
Cordae | From a Bird’s Eye View – Every song feels like it could have lead the album as a released single.
Honorable mention 2:
Massane | Another Dawn – Are you a fan of melodic house music? Put this in your rotation!
Best music single:
It’s Time | Sub Focus ft. Gene Farris (link) – I’ve never skipped this song. haha I’m slowly becoming a trance-head.
Honorable mention:
Escape | Kx5 (link) – Kaskade + Deadmau5? This is peak electronic music.
Honorable mention 2:
Something Real | Alison Wonderland (link) – down tempo electronic music can be beautiful.
Plug to my 2022_Singles playlist (link) – all music referenced in this 115-song playlist.
Best new artist (to me!):
Andy Caldwell – Only complaint is his small catalogue of music, release more music plz!
Honorable mention:
Fred again.. – Career is exploding!
Best movie of 2022:
Top Gun: Maverick – Had a great drive-in movie experience with a ginormous screen. Bonus points for watching a movie set in San Diego, in San Diego.
Honorable mention:
Avatar: Way of Water – In 3D, just, wow.
Worst movie:
Nope – Possible caveat: I watched this on a plane…
Best movie I finally watched:
Doctor Sleep – Stephen King + Stanley Kubrick + Mike Flanagan = awesome horror sequel to The Shining.
Best TV show:
Severance – Similarities to LOST. Especially how confused/intrigued I was at the end of every episode.
Honorable mention:
White Lotus Season 2 – Watching rich people struggle on vacation is excellent.
Worst TV show:
Obi-Wan Kenobi – I think I’m done with Star Wars & Disney cash grabs.
Best Documovie:
Good Night Oppy – NASA robots on Mars!
Best music streaming platform:
YouTube music.
Best culinary experience and food pic:
Glühwein from Christmas Markets in Munich, Germany.
Honorable mention:
Chicago Sushi! Mmmmmmackerel!
Best Solo prepared meal:
Singapore Chili Shrimp
Best trip:
Gruber Family Reunion at the farm – Both of my lil baby nephews met each other for the first time!
Honorable Mention:
Wisco weddings (lumping them all here) – I have awesome friends.
Honorable Mention 2:
Surprise Halloween/Birthday party in April
Best Museum:
Michelin Museum – Company history is bonkers fascinating. Michelin star rated restaurants from a tire company??
Honorable mention:
USS Midway – A moving city on the water, also bonkers.
Honorable mention 2:
The Louvre – Haha, my 3rd best museum of 2022 is behind a tire company and and big boat…
Worst “investment” platform:
Voyager – SBF! NOOO! haha
Best tacos:
Tacos El Gordo
Best monument:
Arc de Triomphe
Honorable mention:
Eiffel Tower
Best purchase:
Road bike – perfect for riding 100-miles!
Honorable mention:
Skis – perfect for powpow
Honorable mention 2:
Tennis Racket – perfect for losing mini-matches vs Brian…
Best sporting event:
WTA 500 Iga Swiatek – #1 in the world vs Coco Gauff
Best San Diego Venue:
Soda Bar!
Best new comic:
Stavros Halkias – Big fan of his crowd interactions. Can’t wait to see him February 2023! Couldn’t find a clip of him not swearing, sorry, but enjoy (link here)
Steven Gruber's 