Voice’s choices

Staff picks for the best and worst of 2016

One hundred years from now, historians (presumably space-faring) will no doubt look back at 2016 as a year of painful transformation. Whether we just experienced some major growing pains ahead of a new paradigm of prosperity and harmony or the first tremors of the apocalypse is anyone’s guess. Regardless, there’s a lot to suss out, and we at TTV and Langdon Publishing have no shortage of opinions on the best and worst aspects of one weird year. 

LIZ BLOOD, Managing Editor

Best Book | Muriel Barbery’s “The Elegance of the Hedgehog.” Translated from French, it’s smart, hilarious, and delightful.

Best Album | Lemonade by Beyonce! C’mon.

Best Live Show | Tulsa Artist Fellow Nathan Young did this very strange-to-me but awesome noise music/noise art performance on top of AHHA last September. Close second, Die Antwoord at Cain’s in October.

Most Hopeful News Story | Army Corps of Engineers not granting easement to Energy Transfer Partners to drill under the Missouri River for the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Most Depressing News Story | Energy Transfer Partners says it will drill anyway.

GREG BOLLINGER, Photographer

Best Meal | Fried Chicken from the new Roosevelt’s on Cherry St. That chili honey sauce is indescribable. 

Best Album | Dustin Pittsley Band, self-titled album. Such a unique blend of music. Go listen to it. Now.

Most Depressing News Story | Scott Pruitt being picked to head the EPA. This is just terrifying. Mother Earth and its ecosystems are seeing some fatal consequences from not just the fossil fuel industry but deforestation as well. Mr. Pruitt does not care, unfortunately.

Best Moment for Tulsa | The new Boxyard shopping center in the East Village is pretty, pretty cool.

Worst Moment for Tulsa | Passing of Steve Pryor. Miss that guy a lot. 

GEORGIA BROOKS, Graphic Designer

Best Meal | Steak dinner at Molly’s Landing. When I go to heaven, I will eat dinner at Molly’s every day. 

Best Book | “Gaudy Night” by Dorothy Sayers. For those of us who crave frivolous mysteries set in the 1930s.

Best Movie | “Hell or High Water”

Best Live Show | I loved seeing Sports at this year’s Best of Tulsa party at Fassler.

The thing that defined 2016 | My family are not party-planning types, but we managed to pull off a dope wedding for my sister this year. It was a small, weird, hilarious party and I don’t think I’ve ever had more fun. I continue to feel lucky to be part of that crazy jumble of people.

MADELINE CRAWFORD, Art Director

Best Book | “The Girls” by Emma Cline

Best TV Show | I’m ten years late, but I watched The West Wing in the weeks leading up to the election, and it helped put things in perspective.

Best Live Show | “Hamilton”

Best moment for Tulsa | I love the support for small business that has led to so many great new places opening up this year.

The thing that defined 2016 | We tried fostering dogs this year, and failed miserably in that we adopted our foster dog. It made our family a little bigger and even better.

JOSHUA KLINE, Editor

Best meal | For Thanksgiving dinner, my dad dragged me to Commissary at the LINE Hotel in Los Angeles, which promised an “all vegetarian” riff on turkey day. I was not particularly pleased with this idea, but it turned out to be one of the best meals I’ve ever had, despite it consisting of dishes like “beet tartar,” “grits and quinoa,” and “raw mushrooms with spices.” 

Best book | “The First Bad Man” by Miranda July

Best live show | Radiohead’s OK Computer performed front to back by a supergroup of local musicians at Fassler Hall.
I was watching the video clips from this for weeks after.

Best moment for Tulsa | In the wake of Terence Crutcher’s murder, two things: 1.) Our police department and district attorney responding swiftly and transparently, and 2.) The way our community rallied and showed the rest of the country how to peacefully, productively protest.

In 2017, most looking forward to | Watching Donald Trump try to be president. 

JOHN LANGDON, Digital Editor

Best live show | Steve Ripley’s star-studded Bob Dylan tribute “On a Night Like This.”

Best song | “I Can’t Give Everything Away,” the last track on David Bowie’s Blackstar, is a painful reminder of mortality that somehow manages to sound like all who we’ve lost are smiling comfortingly back at us from the other side of
the grave.

Worst Politician | That Trump can even be called a politician is still deeply depressing.

Best Moment for Tulsa | “C’mon, Matt Damon, get me outta here.”

In 2017, most looking forward to | The opening of A Gathering Place for Tulsa and (because I said this here last year and it didn’t happen in 2016) new episodes of “Twin Peaks.”

JULEY ROFFERS, President of Langdon Publishing

Best Book | “Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living” by Krista Tippett

Best TV Show | CBS Sunday Morning—it’s like reading a magazine.

Most Hopeful News Story | The election of a couple of local moderate Republicans: Mayor G.T. Bynum and District 70 Representative Carol Bush. 

Most Depressing News Story | The election of Donald Trump.

In 2017, most looking forward to | Continued peace throughout most of the world, please.

MORGAN WELCH, Graphic Designer

Best Meal | Eat Street Tulsa graciously introduced me to the Hangover Helper from Bohemia: Moveable Feast. Make sure to also get a side of Lumpia Shanghai.

Best TV Show | A few friends suggested I watch “Shameless,” and now I highly suggest it to everyone else. I had to take breaks from binging because my emotions were going all over the place.

Best Album | The best album from 2016 is a tie between Neck Deep’s Life’s Not Out To Get You and Dance Gavin Dance’s Mothership.

Best thing happening in Tulsa | The ever-expanding downtown. Including the parking fees, downtown is really starting to look and feel like it could compete in the same ranks as any of our big city neighbors.

In 2017, most looking forward to | Going on my first cruise with Warped Rewind At Sea!

GENE WHITE,  Receptionist

Best TV Show | “Madam Secretary,” timely content.

Best Live Show | Rebecca Ungerman’s production of “The Way Motown Revue.” 

Best Moment for Tulsa | Electing our new mayor, G.T. Bynum.

Worst Moment for Tulsa | Law enforcement’s continued “code of silence” practice to protect their own; the inappropriate misuse of power; and the continued double standard in applying justice to its citizens.

In 2017, most looking forward to | Even with the upheaval of this past year, I am most hopeful that many who have been duped and expect wonders will begin to see what is the real truth. I look forward to many in this country who have remained quiet will finally realize that Black families hurt just as much when their love ones lie dead in the streets as White law enforcement families hurt when ambushed and killed. We all bleed the same. We all have feelings, hopes, and dreams. I look forward to the time when the current emboldened racial strife is no longer tolerated by a “quiet majority.” I look forward to when all parents teach their children to respect cultural differences rather then pass on the ignorance and hate of learned societal norms. I have hope and look forward to the future because I have faith in people.