Normally, every year I reflect back and report on the favorite things that made my year. This year, I am providing a more well-rounded view and including a worst list. Here it is, the Best and Worst of 2009.

The Best

1. TriMet
OK TriMet, you made the list this year mostly because I used you more than ever before, but also because I hope it will put me in good standing with you since I am entering the year car-less. While I admit there were days I cursed your name (stranded freezing for 45 minutes at a Beaverton station, or stuck in traffic a nearly motionless street car). Overall, you have provided a year of great service, and more importantly, interesting stories. There was the drunk bum who kept dropping his boom box, the woman who simultaneously ranted about cars in the bus lane while devouring an entire chocolate bar, and finally, the driver who yelled at a mentally handicap man repeatedly to stop talking. I look forward to more fond transportation memories in the coming year.

2. In Defense of Food and Food Inc.
The one-two punch of these two heavy-hitters completely changed the way I ate and bought food this year. In Defense of Food is Michael Pollan’s gentle exposé on the practices and politics of the American food industry as it relates to health and well-being. Food, Inc. which also features Pollan, is a  shocking documentary film on the same topic as it relates to health, but also economic, social and environmental factors. Some of the most shocking facts are those that relate to meat production. For instance, the average hamburger comes from meat from over 100 cattle, and since those cattle are raised nearly on top of each other, are covered in their own feces, AND because they are fed an unnatural diet of corn and grains, they are teaming with E.coli and lack the antibodies to fight it. SO to solve this problem, meat processing plants have turned to washing the meat with ammonia. Delicious! Unfortunately that is really just the tip of the iceberg. The industrialization of food in America spans many issues such as: health, government regulation, immigration, genetic modifications, environmental damage, and consumer protections. Educating myself about the consequences of my food purchases has made me a bonafide label reader, food co-op owner, local product endorser, and near-vegetarian.

3. Last Thursday Alberta Street
I was thrilled when I discovered that one of my favorite Portland events, Last Thursday, grew to be bigger and better in 2009 with the closure of the street for the event. To me, Last Thursday is less about the art (which is often more mediocre than its First Thursday counterpart), but the spirit. The summer sun illuminated a circus-like scene of handmade welded bikes, costumed stilt-walkers, roadside DJs and washboard bands, bongo circles, and monochromatically dressed dancing mimes. It seemed as if the whole town was in costume, observing this sporadic parade and thus becoming part of it.

4. GOOD
I could spend hours singing the praises of GOOD which describes itself as an “integrated media platform for people who want to live well and do good.” They produce a magazine, website, social media content, videos, and events all centered around the collective goal of striving to promote forces of good in the world through content informing about education, politics, environment, health, business, culture, and yes, design. It is obvious to any GOOD reader that design certainly plays a huge role in why GOOD is successful. It features engaging, unique and beautiful infographics, celebrates profound photography and most importantly is supported by high quality content that is gathered from contributors from all over the world.

Here are some links to my favorite GOOD features:

http://www.good.is/post/the-year-in-picture-shows/
http://www.good.is/post/Transparency-How-Clean-Is-Your-Tap-Water/
http://www.good.is/post/creative-acts-that-mattered-at-cop15/

The Worst

1. The local business closures
First went Nutshell, the high-end vegetarian restaurant that wowed me with their salt and olive oil menu. Then, came Urban Wineworks with their painted barrel collection and wine classes. Next, we lost Office on Alberta with their swanky designer supplies and artist exhibitions. Finally, the most painful of all, went Quality Pictures, the Northwest gallery that was my former number one First Thursday destination. In 2009 all went the way of the dodo.

2. Greenwashing
Now call me a crazy hippie, but Comcast’s “paperless” billing campaign rings a little less true to me when they are sending me a different elaborate direct mail piece every other day. And excuse me for pointing out that selling bottled tap water (as most bottled water is) with 15% or so less plastic is a tiny step considering it is largely a product that is the antithesis of “green.” Just because a product is less bad does not make it good. The hard truth is that many products are just, in their nature, not green. Sorry Clorox, no matter how many illustrated leaves are on your natural toilet bowl cleaner, I do not consider your product anywhere near green especially considering your “on-the-other-hand” line up of chemically questionable atrocities.

Going green when it comes to products means eliminating unnecessary products that companies have convinced us we needed. When we do buy, it should be from companies whose green standards are built into the foundation of the organization at every level, and are not just a passing phase. Most importantly, it means buying products in bulk with re-used packaging (package designers everywhere will gasp).

3. Parking tickets
That dreaded yellow envelope on my car. The smug ticketer having long since slipped out of sight. I curse under my breath since nobody is around to listen to my pathetic explanations and excuses. And to add to the pain, new in 2009 came the extended fee hours – until 7pm  – and now no free Sundays. A true injustice and setback to proponents of free parking everywhere.

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Thanks to all who made 2009 memorable and successful. Cheers to 2010!