Halftime Assessment: The Best of 2014, So Far

Best Concerts
1. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band - April 15 - Columbus, OH
2. Neil Young - April 21 - Chicago Theatre
3. Bob Mould - June 23 - Millennium Park
4. Buddy Guy - January 19 - Buddy Guy's Legends
5. Elvis Costello - June 11 - Copernicus Center
6. Richard Thompson - June 16 - Millennium Park
7. Lollapalooza Argentina, Day 2 (Soundgarden, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Johnny Marr) - April 2
8. Paul Simon & Sting - February 25 - United Center
9. Barry Gibb - May 27 - United Center
10. Lollapalooza Argentina, Day 1 (Arcade Fire, Nine Inch Nails) - April 1

Best Theater
1. Gypsy - Chicago Shakespeare Theater
2. The Phantom of the Opera - Cadillac Palace, Broadway in Chicago
3. The Sound of Music - Lyric Opera
4. Les Miserables - Drury Lane Oakbrook
5. Wit - Aston Rep at Raven Theatre
6. The Last Ship - Bank of America Theatre, Broadway in Chicago
7. Luna Gale - Goodman Theatre
8. The Children's Hour - Pride Films & Plays
9. Lost in Yonkers - Northlight Theatre
10. Blue Man Group - Briar Street Theatre

Best Live Events (of any type)
1. Bruce Springsteen
2. Neil Young
3. Savion Glover - STePz - Harris Theatre
4. Blackhawks v. Penquins Stadium Series
5. Bob Mould
6. Gypsy
7. The Phantom of the Opera
8. The Sound of Music
9. Buddy Guy
10. White Sox v. Cubs, May 7

Best Meals
1. Picasso - Las Vegas
2. CUT - Las Vegas
3. Smith & Wollensky - Chicago
4. Cabana Las Lilas - Buenos Aires
5. Marius Degustare - Rio de Janeiro
6. Hot Doug's - Chicago
7. Arun's - Chicago
8. McCormick & Schmick's - Skokie
9. Aria Buffet - Las Vegas
10. Katzinger's Deli - Columbus

Best New Movies
1. Ida
2. Life Itself
3. The Past
4. Finding Vivian Maier
5. The Lego Movie
6. X-Men: Days of Future Past
7. The Grand Budapest Hotel
8. The Great Beauty
9. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
10. Wadjda and Short Term 12 (both technically 2013 releases but no known chance to see before 2014; as 2014 releases both would rank in the Top 5)

Best Museum Visits
1. Art Institute of Chicago - Magritte exhibition
2. Field Museum - 1893 World's Fair Exhibit and General Collection
3. Carillon Park - Dayton, OH
4. Museum of Science and Industry - Walt Disney exhibition
5. Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes - Buenos Aires
6. Dayton Art Institute - Dayton, OH
7. Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes - Rio de Janeiro
8. Chicago Sports Museum
9. Columbus Museum of Art
10. Niles Historical Museum

Best Non-Museum Attractions
1. 9/11 Memorial - New York
2. Christ the Redeemer - Rio de Janeiro
3. Teatro Colon - Buenos Aires
4. Unity Temple (FLW) - Oak Park
5. Sugar Loaf Mountain - Rio de Janeiro
6. Metropolitan Cathedral - Buenos Aires
7. Metropolitan Cathedral - Rio de Janeiro
8. B. Harley Bradley House (FLW) - Kankakee
9. Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park - Dayton, OH
10. Emil Bach House (FLW) - Chicago 

Best Bargain Entertainment (Under $10) Not Otherwise Cited
1. Cabaret - Northwestern University
2. The Cheetles + Zombies tribute - 27 Live
3. Carl Weathersby - Kingston Mines
4. Northwestern University Symphony
5. Hilary Ann Feldman - My Fair Audrey - Glenview Public Library
6. Northwestern University Jazz - Music of Mingus
7. Multi Kulti Jazz Jam
8. Northeastern Illinois Jazz Combos
9. American English - Skokie
10. Patricia Barber Quartet - Green Mill

Best Albums
1. Led Zeppelin II
2. Led Zeppelin III
3. Led Zeppelin I
4. Bob Mould - Beauty and Ruin
5. Damon Albarn - Everyday Robots
6.
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Best TV
1. Chicago Blackhawks Playoff Hockey
2. World Cup 2014
3. Person of Interest
4. 24
5. The Good Wife
6. Orange is the New Black
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Best Travel Excursions
1. Buenos Aires
2. Rio de Janeiro
3. Las Vegas
4. New York (1/2 day)
5. Columbus
6. Dayton
7. Champaign-Urbana (for Ebertfest)
8. Newark, Ohio
9. Kankakee
10. 

Best Bohemian Rhapsodies
1. Buddy Guy's Legends
2. The Green Mill
3. Manny's Deli
4. Kingston Mines
5. Multi Kulti
6. Chicago Blues Fest
7. The Walnut Room at Macy's
8. Des Plaines Tollway Oasis
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Best Seth Saith Posts
1. Movies of the '70s - March 23
2. Beatles in America 50th Anniversary - February 9
3. Catherine Deneuve Oeuvre - May 31
4. Current State of Art - March 4
5. World Cup Preview by Jordan & Paolo - June 7
6. On the End of Hot Dougs - May 8
7. Nelson Algren 105th Birthday by Ken - April 7
8. Wrigley Field 100th Anniversary - April 23
9. Las Vegas Trip Recap - January 17
10. Global Warming Rant - February 6