List 61

Love: Soniat House in New Orleans, an idyllic bed and breakfast and the perfect home base for exploring one of the world's most original cities. It's on the edge of the French Quarter, a comfortable distance from the not-for-me Bourbon Street scene. The breakfast in the courtyard is lovely.

Like: Steellllllaaaaaa! P.S., Marlon Brando, what happened to you?

Discovery: The National World War II Museum. It started as a tribute to D-Day, since the Higgins boats that made the beach invasions possible were manufactured in Louisiana. Overtime, the museum's scope has expanded to include the Pacific Theater and exhibits on the homefront as well.

Obsession: Bouligney Tavern. I love when bars or restaurants take over little houses. (Bonus if they're painted grey!) The Bouligney's lounge decor and vibe are right up my alley.

Complaint: That I didn't stick with Treme. The first couple of episodes that I did watch were a bit slow, but I have faith that David Simon will weave his spell, and need to make time to catch up.

List 40

Love: Giant, a sprawling, epic movie about ranching, oil, and clashing cultures in Texas, with great performances from James Dean, Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor and a young Dennis Hopper.

Like: A steak house dinner. When in Rome...

Discovery: Years ago, when working on a new business pitch, I had the chance to go on a Porsche road rally drive across Texas, from Houston to Marathon. The Gage Hotel in Marathon was very cool, and a good base for exploring the beautiful Big Bend National Park which sprawls along the Rio Grande.

Obsession: Timothy Olyphant, the current crush. Not that Justified is set in Texas, but honestly, I challenge any man from the Lone Star State to wear a cowboy hat better than Olyphant's Raylan Givens. I liked Olyphant in Deadwood and love him in Justified, which happily is back for Season 2 starting tonight.

Complaint: That I haven't spent time in Austin, which I expect I'd really dig.

List38

Love: I have always been a sucker for "La Vie En Rose." Yesterday on 4th Street in Berkeley, when the rain took a break, the talented and adorable Laura Weinberg of Foxtails Brigade performed a beautiful, delicate rendition that made my day. You can listen to it here:

http://foxtailsbrigade.bandcamp.com/album/la-nuit

Like: Chicken Under a Brick. Last night we made this version which appeared in Bon Appetit a year ago. What's not to like?

http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2009/09/chicken_al_mattone

Discovery: We have a pretty extensive collection of old LPs - and a broken turntable. I saw this portable Crosley USB Record Player at Urban Outfitters and placed an order. It will be nice to use by the fireplace in the rainy months to come, or out on the patio come summer.

Obsession: The current geek out is Star Wars: The Clone Wars (now in its third season on Cartoon Network.) We're in the midst of season two on DVD. And by we I mean me and my Padawan Stella. It's really fun, but the show is also making what goes down in Episode 3 of the film series all that more tragic.

Complaint: I had a delicious pre-holiday lunch at Cotogna and hoped to take my parents there when they come to town in late February. Alas, a non-5:45, non-9:30 weekend reservation has become all but impossible, even when planning a month in advance. Merde.

List 20

Love: Sixteen Candles. Jake Ryan. Sigh. Happily, the basic premise - having your birthday blown off by pretty much everyone - has been rendered null and void by Facebook and all those very nice Happy Birthday wall posts.

Like: A Red Velvet Cupcake is my birthday treat of choice. Love at First Bite in Berkeley makes a great one.

Discovery: Yo Gabba Gabba is the kids' show for adults. They got the Ting Tings to cover "Happy Birthday" - the song from, yes, Sixteen Candles. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veN2gyCEj8s

Obsession: I want a Mini Countryman. Bad. First, it has to make it to the States. But by my next birthday, I'm hoping that this will be my ride.

Complaint: None so far today. Oh, except aging.

List 12

Love: While I have a girlie side, I am often drawn to guy stuff. Like the vintage-Pendleton-blankets-and-dead-animals hunting lodge vibe of Freemans Restaurant in New York. And the great Peckinpah movie Straw Dogs (which, by the way, is currently being remade with James Marsden taking over the Dustin Hoffman role. Ugh.) And the Timex vintage field army watch from J Crew.

Like: My Uncle Chris' super simple but always good grilled tri-tip recipe. Make a rub using 1.5 T McCormick's Montreal Steak seasoning and .75 T smoked paprika. (It has to be smoked - not just any paprika will do). Rub the roast with olive oil then apply the spice mixture. Let it sit in the fridge for about 6 hours. Then grill over indirect heat for 16 minutes (flipping at 5 minutes, 5 minutes, 3 minutes and 3 minutes - this is bbq science, my friends), then tent it for 10 minutes. Slice and serve. Perfect every time.

Discovery: Cask, the liquor store from the Bourbon & Branch people. It makes you want to drink brown liquor. (Or at least buy some sexy new bottles to display on your bar.)

Obsession: World War II. HBO's Band of Brothers and The Pacific and Terrence Malick's The Thin Red Line bring to life what the men who fought experienced. And Ken Burns' amazing documentary The War looks at it through the lens of four American towns - their boys who fought but also the home front and all that was wonderful (the way everyone sacrificed and rallied together)and shameful(the internment of Japanese Americans) about it.

Complaint: Women's magazines. I can not read them. They suck. Instead I read GQ and Esquire. They have really good articles on politics, pop culture, technology, even food and wine, and good writers like Chuck Klosterman.