The Best of 2023
Getting back into the swing of this newsletter with a look at last year's favorite things
Is this thing on? Remember me? Remember this newsletter?
I haven’t written in almost three years, so maybe you don’t. To refresh your memory, I’m Dad, and this is Tips From Dad. I love to write, I love to have new experiences, and I love to write about those experiences. As a parent of four young children in the Chicago area, I also love to experience new things with my kids. What better way to share my opinions that no one asked for than through a newsletter that no one asked for? But I’m sure glad you’re reading this!
I’m planning to post more regularly here in the new year, so I thought I would start with a roundup of some of my favorite things from 2023. If you’re new here, click the button below to subscribe. If you’re old here, please read this edition before deciding whether or not to unsubscribe!
Best Movies of ‘23
Did I mention I have four young children? While I love going to the movies and frequently lament the downturn of the cinematic movie-going experience, I am no longer actively doing my part to support my local multiplex.
That said, I think I went to the movies five times in 2023, so I guess there is room for all five of those flicks on my list:
Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning: Part One
Tom Cruise is one crazy 61-year-old thrill-seeker and this was a fun ride. Definitely one of the more entertaining entries in the Mission Impossible series and I’m looking forward to part two coming out...in 2025?! Thanks, Hollywood strikes.
Oppenheimer
I chose Oppenheimer over Barbie. It was a long evening filled with riveting performances and nothing pink in sight.
Nightmare Before Christmas 30th anniversary re-release
I took my kids to see it and it still holds up as a masterpiece of groundbreaking art with timeless songs. Be sure to check out the The Movies That Made Us episode on Netflix that details the fascinating backstory of its creation.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
You would think that I went to see this with my kids, but you’d be wrong. I went with my brothers, as we were all Ninja Turtles-obsessed youths back in their 80s/90s heyday. It’s amazing that the franchise never really went away, and I thoroughly enjoyed this new iteration. The animation style owes a little bit to the Spiderverse movies, though one of my brothers noted that the characters are all a bit more grotesque. I’ll probably show this one to my boys in a couple years when they’re closer to the 7-10 age range.
The Super Mario Brothers Movie
Wow, I guess I went to see two nostalgia-drenched, kid-appropriate movies with my brothers instead of with my kids. Father of the Year. The “Peaches” song is a bit overexposed at this point, but overall this movie was a great expenditure of time and popcorn. I showed it to my kids once it was available on streaming and they liked it, too!
Best Streaming of ‘23
What I didn’t watch in theaters, I more than made up for by streaming endless movies and shows on my couch. This has become our go-to activity after the kids are in bed, and 2023 had a lot to offer.
Slow Horses Season 3 on Apple TV
There are a few shows that I love so much that people have grown weary of hearing me sing their praises. After Severance (my favorite show of 2022), Slow Horses is my favorite series to recommend these days. It’s hard to say which season is has been the best so far, but Season 3 is a top-notch entry in this cliffhanging, character-driven action drama. Gary Oldman’s performance alone is worth the price of admission on this show, and now the uninitiated have three excellent seasons to binge. Plus it’s already been renewed through season five!
Jury Duty on Amazon Prime
If you’re a fan of The Office or Christopher Guest’s mockumentaries, you will love this slight twist on the genre, in which unwitting, non-celebrity Ronald Gladden arrives for jury duty without knowing that the entire case is fiction and his fellow jurors are actors (including a hilarious Jason Marsden playing a pompous version of himself). The premise stays fairly funny throughout the eight-episode season, including the finale’s big reveal of the deception.
Hello, World | Nate Bargatze on Amazon Prime
I love standup comedy, especially clean comedy, and Nate Bargatze was a revelation who seemingly came out of nowhere this year. I discovered him when he hosted SNL this year (and contributed this instant classic sketch), but this 2023 standup special is a great showcase for his unique comedic skills. He’s also an elderly millennial cusper like me, so the issues and topics he broaches are incredibly relatable. Don’t miss his older standup specials on Netflix, too. Or just go down a YouTube rabbit hole.The Bear Season 2 on Hulu
OK, maybe this is the show that I hype too much to other people. Enjoy the ongoing adventures of a talented chef who takes over the failing family beef sandwich shop after his brother commits suicide. The endearing Chicago locale, the incredible acting, and the compelling storylines make this a must-watch. Season 2 is probably even better than Season 1, and it leaves you itching for Season 3. The Christmas episode featuring the family’s Feast of Seven Fishes dinner/disaster is a masterpiece standalone short film in and of itself. If you take nothing else from these lists, at least give The Bear a try. Thank you, Chef.
Best Books of 2023
“I love to read.” That is how I have always described myself, even as my completed book intake has sunk below single digits in some recent years. This year, however, Spotify unlocked a huge library of audio books to premium subscribers and gives 15 hours of free listening each month. Toward the end of the year, this new feature turned me into a voracious book-listener.
How to Stay Married by Harrison Scott Key
I have long envied Harrison Scott Key’s ability to write so eloquently, so thoughtfully, and so humorously about his life—even painful experiences—but this new book takes the cake. He manages to wring humor, faith, and insights from the very recent trauma of his wife cheating on him (twice!) and how he managed to save his marriage and keep his family together. The audiobook is narrated by the author, which makes it extra poignant, and features a chapter written and read by his wife. Buckle up.
Miracle and Wonder by Malcolm Gladwell and Paul Simon
This one is only in audiobook form—and for good reason. Imagine yourself in a small studio with Paul Simon, his guitar, and best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell lobbing questions while Simon walks through the backstories of some of the songs in his prolific catalog. Are you downloading it yet?
Best Music of ‘23
I always collect the music that I find each year (newly released, new to me, or just frequently enjoyed this year) in a Spotify playlist to revisit throughout the year and beyond. Artists I enjoyed this year include Dawson Hollow, The Brothers Comatose, and The Dip (saw them live!).
This year I discovered a 1970s British folk-rock band named Tranquility (that is so little known it doesn’t even seem to have a Wikipedia entry!) that sounds like a splendid cross between the Allman Brothers Band, the Eagles, Harry Nilsson, and the Beatles. Sign me up!
Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats released a great new EP this year, but the YouTube gods also delivered this 2015 Tiny Desk Concert that I played on repeat a lot as background work music.
This is also not new from 2023, but I couldn’t stop playing this Bonnie Raitt cover by Lake Street Dive. LSD will be releasing new music in 2024 and I can’t wait!
I always say that one of the greatest sacrifices I made as a parent was to destroy my Spotify Discover playlist by allowing my kids to play their favorite music using my account. My Artist of the Year on Spotify Wrapped was Judy Garland because of their ongoing Wizard of Oz obsession, and we were in her top 2 percent of fans on Spotify. I relied on Spotify’s algorithm to deliver new music to me, but now all I get are suggestions for show tunes and kids songs. I can’t remember how I happened upon Discover Quickly, but it basically puts you in the driver’s seat of music discovery via Spotify by allowing you to generate playlists of related music based on albums, individual tracks, or artists.
Lil Boo Thang by Paul Russell
This gets its own entry because it is the best song I ever discovered in an Uber on the way to Universal Orlando. To kick off the new year, we started a new routine of clearing the dinner table together as a family and this song plays on repeat until we finish. Frankly, I can’t get enough of it. Instant party.
Best Shopping of ‘23
I’ll bet you weren’t expecting this category, right? But this is the first year that I tried a couple unique online shopping services, and I had positive experiences with both of them. (Use the affiliate links below to get started and we both benefit!)
There’s nothing new about this service, but for a guy who usually sources his clothing in the Kohl’s discount racks, spending a little extra dough on some nice-looking duds was a big deal. The onboarding process was very enjoyable, as you decide whether or not you like certain ensembles, give them your sizes and wardrobe needs, and then await the arrival of your “fix.” I got new pants and dressy shoes that fit well on the first try. Usually I’m lugging multiple sizes to the fitting room and searching multiple stores to find what I need! It gets a little pricey, so I only did a couple fixes, but the clothes I purchased are among my favorites now. Free shipping and free returns for any reason. They also have a “freestyle” section where you can get some good deals on some of their departing styles. (My Kohl’s discount rack proclivity never dies…)
This one is for the boys and a testament to the effectiveness of funny social media marketing. “Johnson you’re fired!” I bought so many shirts from them that I ended up purchasing the membership to get free shipping and 20 percent back on future orders. These are the most comfortable t-shirts and Henleys that I’ve ever worn and they also have a great return policy. And they’re very flattering (and flattening) for people whose new year’s resolution is to do a few more sit-ups…
OK, that’s probably more than enough for my return to this venture. Don’t expect marathons like this every time, but hopefully you’ll at least get some entertaining sprints in your inbox each week. I hope you subscribe, stay subscribed, or pass it on if you know anyone who would enjoy this. Happy new year!
