GPC recommends

At the end of each year, “top 10” and “best of” lists are everywhere.

They list the best songs, books, podcasts, movies, TV shows, video games, restaurants and tech.

We do something a little different.

Since 2019, we've asked our writers to share some of their favorite things. They are free to suggest anything they want. There are no limits.

The idea here is to provide readers with a variety of favorites across a range of topics. The hope is that we might point out some things that may not have otherwise crossed readers’ paths.

It’s an opportunity to expand horizons.

If one of the books, TV shows, podcasts, video games, musical artists or sandwiches below becomes a favorite of yours, great. If not, that's OK too. Either way, we all benefit from trying new things.

Books

Project Hail Mary

This Andy Weir novel was at the top of my to-read list when I made an effort in early 2025 to break out of a book-reading slump. It surpassed expectations. The narrative style was extremely effective and all of the science was well explained. It was easy to connect with the characters and to see their world through the descriptions in the book. There are twists and turns throughout, none of them obvious but all of them effective and logical. You will learn, smile, laugh, cry and consider our place in the universe. — Ray Cooney

Why We Love Baseball

If you know anything about me, you know I genuinely can’t get enough of baseball. I’ve consumed media related to the sport my whole life, but I don’t think I’ve ever read something that better encapsulates the spirit of the game than this book by Joe Posnanski. It covers all the bases, balancing lighthearted tales with heartwarming and tear-jerking stories. It’s easy to pick up and leave off as it’s broken up into a collection of short stories; but beware — if you love the National Pastime as much as I do, it might not be easy to put down. — Ethan Oskroba

Sunrise on the Reaping

Suzanne Collins dropped the second prequel book to her hit series “The Hunger Games” back in March. While many may read the book just to further immerse themselves in the world of Panem that Collins has created, I enjoyed her exploration of government-controlled media and the dangers it brings to allow the party in power to have complete control and unchecked narrative. — Andrew Balko

Movies

Mickey 17

Set in a perhaps not-so-distant future, “Mickey 17” follows underdog Mickey Barnes (portrayed by Robert Pattinson) aboard a spaceship traveling to colonize a new world. Treated quite literally as a disposable employee, Mickey’s job involves various dangerous tasks aimed at helping the ship’s general population survive. I can’t say enough to Pattinson’s range, having seen him in a variety of roles over the last few years, including a brooding superhero and a magical heron. This dark comedy had our attention the entire film, and I’ve been considering a rewatch soon. — Bailey Cline

Love Hurts

This action comedy stars Ke Huy Quan — best known to many as Short Round from “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” — as Marvin Gable, a mild-mannered realtor just named regional Realtor of the Year by his boss, friend and mentor, Cliff Cussick. Marvin is hiding a dangerous past. His brother, Alvin “Knuckles” Gable, is a crime lord who runs “The Company,” and Marvin was once his enforcer. Quan is terrific — funny, likable and capable in the fight scenes. It feels like the kind of role Jackie Chan once excelled in, and fans of action comedies will enjoy it. — Scott Shaffer

Food

5 Arch Brewing Co.

I’ve tried to make a habit of looking for local spots to eat rather than stopping for fast food when I’m on the road covering events. It was the Archway Classic band contest at Centerville High School that brought me to 5 Arch. This spot on the east side of downtown Centerville is worth a visit just for the French fries, which are fresh-cut, fried in beef tallow and tossed with kosher salt. The soft pretzel bites and cheesy bread are also spectacular. Try one of the specialty burgers that fits your tastes. — Ray Cooney

Cheese cubes

After learning that I grew up in Wisconsin, many folks from Indiana and Ohio have asked if that means I like cheese curds. That’s a stupid question, as they are one of the three main food groups. Obviously the answer is yes. And beyond the curds from Buffalo Wild Wings and Culver’s, the newly added cheese cubes at The Greazy Pickle are the closest thing to capturing the magic that is a Wisconsin cheese curd. — Andrew Balko

Television

NYPD Blue

I missed this show growing up. I was just a year or so too young for my parents to let me watch it when it debuted. I didn’t expect too much when I pulled it up on Hulu. What a nice surprise. I got fully pulled into the characters, from oddball detective Greg Medavoy to police administrative aide John Irvin to detective Andy Sipowicz. Dennis Franz, who portrays Sipowicz, puts on a master class in acting. His growth as a human being becomes the central focus of the show. I could not possibly recommend it more. — Ray Cooney

Fringe 

Although “Fringe” premiered on Fox in 2008, it’s a show I’ve started watching in the last year. The sci-fi series shares some similarities with “The X-Files,” with characters assigned to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s “Fringe” division investigating unusual cases. John Noble, who plays the show’s infamous Walter Bishop, won a Saturn Award in 2011 for best supporting actor on television for his role. He also scored multiple award nominations for the same work. To me, his character is the most interesting aspect of “Fringe” — the deeply troubled scientist repeatedly tugs at your heartstrings through the plot. — Bailey Cline

Aussie rules football

If you’re a night owl and sports fan, you’ve probably flipped through channels in the wee hours of the morning looking for a lingering West Coast event to no avail. That’s where Aussie rules football comes to the rescue. Because of the radically different time zone in Australia, games are often on through the night. The best way I can describe the sport is that it has rugby’s physicality with the rapid pace of hockey. The new season in the AFL kicks off in March, so keep an eye out for the action if you’re struggling to get some shuteye. — Ethan Oskroba

Pluribus

Apple TV started releasing its newest original mystery/drama show in late November that largely follows Carol Sturka, played by Rhea Seehorn. She is one of the last few people unaffected by a “virus” that assimilated the rest of the world into a hive mind. This show is best watched with a small group of friends as it elicits conversation over the benefits of world peace versus the beauty of individualism and art. — Andrew Balko

Music

Epic The Musical

My fiancé and I discovered “Epic: The Musical” amid its development. The creator, Jorge Rivera-Herrans, released the final saga on Christmas Day in 2024. Based on Homer’s “The Odyssey,” the musical follows Odysseus as he and his crew make the perilous journey home after war. While it isn’t a true-to-form copy — Rivera-Herrans takes his own creative liberties — the musical has brought a refreshing new perspective to the renowned epic. At more than 1.6 billion streams on Spotify alone, its popularity speaks for itself. The musical also has us hyped for Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” set for release this July. — Bailey Cline

Guns N’ Roses singles

A few weeks ago, one of the biggest bands of the late 1980s released new music. Guns N’ Roses dropped two singles, “Nothin’” and “Atlas.” While neither reaches the heights of “Appetite for Destruction,” both are closer in quality to “Use Your Illusion I” and “Use Your Illusion II” than much of the band’s later output. “Nothin’” is a mid-tempo power ballad reminiscent of “Don’t Cry” and “Estranged.” “Atlas” is heavier and carries a similar theme to “Atlas Shrugged.” With 17 years since “Chinese Democracy,” could a new album arrive in 2026? — Scott Shaffer