Here’s a look at what Uniter arts and culture staff and contributors were into this past year.

Top Ten Shoulda-Been Hit Songs

1. Fucked Up - Queen of Hearts
2. PS I Love You & Diamond Rings - Leftovers
3. Lykke Li - Sadness is a Blessing
4. Wilco - Art of Almost
5. Joel Plaskett - Jimmie’s Still Jimmie
6. Samantha Savage Smith - The Fight
7. Melanie Laurent - En t’attendant
8. Handsome Furs - Cheap Music
9. Greg MacPherson - Reckless
10. Cannon Bros. - You See

- Nicholas Friesen

Top Ten Places I Ate in 2011

10. Pho No. 1, 81 Isabel St.
9. Sunday Brunch at The Fort Garry Hotel, 222 Broadway Ave.
8. Boon Burger, 79 Sherbrook St.
7. Sushi Ya, 659 Corydon Ave.
6. In Ferno’s Bistro, 312 Des Meurons St.
5. Harman’s Café, 619 Portage Ave.
4. The Tallest Poppy, 631 Main St.
3. Ivory, 200 Main St.
2. Lucky Supermarket, 1051 Winnipeg Ave.
1. Unburger, 472 Stradbrook Ave.

Special Mention: Bread and Circuses (RIP)

- Adam Petrash

Top Ten Records I May or May Not Have Paid for in 2011

10. Beirut - The Rip Tide
9. Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes
8. Destroy, Rebuild, Until God Shows - D.R.U.G.S.
7. The Rural Alberta Advantage - Departing
6. Imaginary Cities - Temporary Resident
5. Protest The Hero - Scurrilous
4. Radiohead - The King Of Limbs
3. Adele - 21
2. Dan Mangan - Oh, Fortune
1. Falling in Reverse - The Drug in Me is you

Top Ten Records of 2011

10.  Yuck - Yu  1.  Destroyer - Kaputt
9.  Cut Copy - Zonoscope
8.  Atlas Sound - Parallax
7.  The War on Drugs - Slave Ambient/Future Weather EP
6.  Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
5.  Holy Ghost! - Holy Ghost!
4.  Washed Out - Within and Without
3.  Austra - Feel It Break
2.  Fucked Up - David Comes to Life
1. Destroyer - Kaputt

- Harrison Samphir

Top Ten Theatre Productions of the 2010/2011 Season

It has certainly been a fulfilling year for theatre in Winnipeg. Both small and large companies have presented deeply moving and enchanting plays that continue to show theatre’s importance within Winnipeg’s thriving arts community. This is just a small selection from an infinite amount of marvelous plays that entertained and enlightened this year.

10. Time 2B Fame Us by Mia Van Leeuwen and Ian Mozdzen (out of line theatres)
9. Magpie by Katherine Koller (Sarasvati Productions)
8. While We’re Young by Don Hannah (University of Winnipeg) 
7. Liars by Dennis Foon (MTYP)
6. Morality Plays by Merlyn Productions (Merlyn Productions)
5. The Boy Comes Home by A. A. Milne (Merlyn Productions)
4. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Dale Wasserman (MTC)
3. The Harmfulness of Tobacco & The Marriage Proposal by Anton Chekov (Blackhole Theatre Company)*
2. Mary Rose by J.M. Barrie (Snakeskin Jacket Productions)
1. Jake’s Gift by Julia Mackey (Juno Productions)
* part of 2011/2012 season

- Derek Loewen

Top Ten Fashion Trends I’ve Loved in 2011 (in No Particular Order)

1. Blazers with contrasting lapels - A structured blazer has always been a necessary staple for any closet, but for an extra touch, a contrasting lapel really amps up the visual interest.  Alexander Wang’s boyfriend blazers are particularly stunning.
2. Anything ‘40s inspired - this includes finger-wave hair, pencil skirts, pearls and gloves.
3. Wide leg ‘70s jeans - This spring saw the pendulum swing away from the second-skin, skinny jean to the flared, wide-leg jean. Jean designer 7 For All Mankind boasts a wide variety that is worth checking out.
4. Wedge heels - All year I’ve been seeing the wedge heel, whether it be on booties, ankle boots, or knee-highs, and I am a huge fan (any additional height will help this 5-foot frame). Actress Rachel Bilson’s line ShoeMint - which launches this month - features some beautiful wedge heels.
5. Oversized, knit sweaters - From cable-knit turtlenecks to wool ponchos, a wide selection of knit sweaters is a must for our freezing Winnipeg winters.
6.  Faux fur collars and cuffs - Jackets and sweaters featuring bold pieces of fur around the neck or sleeves are, in my mind, one of the most luscious trends of the fall. Pieces from Joseph Altuzarra and Michael Kors hearken back to the beautiful Hitchcockian heroines of the ‘50s and ‘60s.
7. Ponytails - Alexander Wang’s Fall/Winter collection featured low and messy ponies, whereas Louis Vuitton saw sleek hair tied back as part of its Autumn/Winter ready-to-wear. What’s easier than throwing your hair back into a ponytail?
8. Tweed, tartan and houndstooth - Feel Scottish in checked jackets and vests a la Christian Dior and Yves Saint Laurent. Elbow patches have been popping up everywhere on cardigans and sweaters, so the logical next step is to truly look like a professor, or a student of Hogwarts, in these classic textures. 
9. Floppy ‘70s Fedoras - Despite not being practical for cold Manitoba weather, these hats will add a touch of Farrah to your wardrobe. Think more Charlie’s Angels, and less Dick Tracy. 
10. Circle scarves - Early 2011 saw the circle scarf begin to appear amidst snowstorms and wind-chill warnings in Winnipeg. A versatile piece, these scarves will likely hang on into early 2012 (at least I know mine will).

- Lindsay Brown

Top Ten (Glee-Free) Cover Songs of 2011

10.  Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) (Katy Perry) - The Vaccines
9.  One Thing (Amerie) - Peter and Kerry
8.  Video Games (Lana Del Rey) - Bombay Bicycle Club
7.  Strangelove (Depeche Mode) - Bat For Lashes
6.  My Boo (Ghost Town DJs) - Friends
5.  Heartbeats (The Knife) - Ellie Goulding
4.  A Case of You (Joni Mitchell) - James Blake
3.  There is a Light That Never Goes Out (The Smiths) - Dum Dum Girls
2.  The Suburbs (Arcade Fire) - Mr. Little Jeans
1.  I Can’t Make You Love Me/Nick of Time (Bonnie Raitt) - Bon Iver

- Jessica Botelho-Urbanski

Top Ten Documentaries (in No Particular Order)

1. Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey, a film by Constance
2. Project Nim
3. A Film Unfinished
4. Page One: Inside the New York Times
5. The Interrupters
6. Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling us?
7. Eco-Pirate: The Story of Paul Watson
8. In Heaven Underground: The Jewish Cemetary in Berlin-Weissensee
9. Forks Over Knives
10. Miss Representation

- Kaeleigh Ayre

Published in Volume 66, Number 14 of The Uniter (November 30, 2011)