Favorite things

Here is my list of favorite things for 2011, inspired by Thanksgiving, Oprah's annual Favorite Things (sans the mail-order pies and $5,000 watches), and a toujour oui positive attitude:

FAVORITE concert: Chamber Orchestra Kremlin

FAVORITE day in Oklahoma: the Canebrake's fourth of July celebration with buffet dinner, live music by La Mustache, and fireworks

FAVORITE place in Harwich, MA: the organic cranberry bog

FAVORITE cookie: macarons from a bakery in Rouen, France

FAVORITE ice cream: JP Licks

FAVORITE lighthouse: Nauset Light in Orleans, MA

FAVORITE thing overheard in a Boston accent: "kah-nah stoo-ah" (translation: corner store)

FAVORITE day in 2011: going to Marconi Beach with Eric

FAVORITE SNL episode: John Hamm & Rihanna

FAVORITE beach: Marconi

FAVORITE cat that is not mine: Kiko Pepin

FAVORITE wildlife: chipmunk who lives under my driveway

FAVORITE Boston activity: free museum nights at the ICA and MFA

FAVORITE way to cope with sub-zero temperatures: reread The Long Winter

FAVORITE thing I did in Paris: Chopin concert at St. Julien

FAVORITE new music: Foster the People

FAVORITE thing I ate in Europe (not including the macarons): stuffed cabbage and kolsch in Cologne

FAVORITE book I read (fiction): A Visit from the Goon Squad

FAVORITE book I read (nonfiction): Just Kids

FAVORITE unexpectedly fun activity: performing with GoVertigo

FAVORITE place to grocery shop in Cambridge: Star Market

FAVORITE cupcake: Birthday Cake flavor from Vanilla Sunshine in Claremont, CA

FAVORITE time of year to go to Boston: October

FAVORITE thing to do with my mom and Eric: go to Rocky Neck

FAVORITE performance in a film: Mia Waskikowska in Jane Eyre

FAVORITE work of art in the MFA's Linde Wing: Endlessly Repeating Twentieth-Century Modernism

FAVORITE new recipe: chicken riggies (OMFG)

FAVORITE restaurant in Louisville: Hillbilly Tea

FAVORITE place to eat with Bubbe Tulip: Rein's

FAVORITE thing about fall semester: having a research assistant

FAVORITE thing about spring semester: finally not having to teach five days a week

FAVORITE yoga class in Cambridge: 90-minute vinyasa with Rolf on Sunday morning

FAVORITE Tulsa treat: Freckles frozen custard

FAVORITE meal in Tulsa: pho ga at Viet Huong

FAVORITE things to bring home for E when I travel: chocolate and beer

FAVORITE cup of coffee, not made at home: latte that came out of the machine on the night ferry from Portsmouth to Caen

FAVORITE cup of coffee made at home: cold brew made with Topeca's whole bean Santa Ana

FAVORITE exhibit at the Musee d'Orsay: Julia Margaret Cameron's photographs, displayed with the pre-Raphaelite paintings they inspired

FAVORITE work of art at the Philbrook: the painting of St. Patrick's Cathedral in the snow

FAVORITE TV series: Downton Abbey

FAVORITE spring break activity: going to the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks

FAVORITE gadget: Fitbit

FAVORITE awesome thing my wonderful spouse did yesterday: take me to see the new Muppet movie