Picking Favorites

The OT “Best Of 2024” List!

Hi friends,

We had so much fun with our year-end recap last December, we decided to run it back! We added a few more categories this year and tried to pick just one fave for each but it ended up being more like a top 3-5… oops! Too many good things to choose from! Join us as we look back at the best bites, buys and books (+ more) we enjoyed in 2024.

Have a happy new year,

Rach + Cait

Best of 2024

Best New-To-You Restaurant:

CP: Cafe Kestrel was really really special, definitely the most memorable meal of the year for me. Smithereens was incredibly impressive, as was Demo. Feels like cheating to say but having a meal at Prune while they are still *technically* closed for business was also a dream come true!

RKH: Portland restaurant fav has to be Phuket Cafe! I still think about the strawberry lychee dessert. And I had a very special meal at Madonna in Paris on the first night of our trip.

Best Dish:

CP: The classic pizza at Chrissy’s. Maybe the best pie I’ve ever had?? Narrowly edging out Beddia in Philly, which feels sacrilegious to say. The King cassoulet this fall was also exceptional. The uni soufflé at Bridges was surprising and great. The most cinematic dish, though, has to go to the jumbo grilled cheese at Montague Diner.

RKH: I have to split this into two categories - pregnant best dish, and postpartum best dish (sorry but I spent the better part of 2024 either pregnant, or freshly not pregnant anymore … so that’s the theme!!). While pregnant, the strawberry shortcake custard at Cornet Custard. Obsessed is an understatement. And postpartum, it’s gotta be sandos. Basically any sammy scratches the itch but the turkey pepperoncini from Laurelhurst Market is always at the top of my “order again” suggestions on DoorDash.

Best Drink:

CP: The one that comes to mind first maybe wasn’t the best drink, but came with the most fun add on — a paper plane cocktail served with homemade dunkaroos at Maps in Maine. The champagne cocktail at Pearl Box was another fave. I also had a glass of light Lambrusco at Saint Julivert this summer that I think about at least once a week (this one, for any inquiring minds).

RKH: Nothing hits like that first postpartum marg ...

Best Trip/Stay:

CP: We had a really dreamy time at The Henson in the Catskills this winter, it truly felt like being inside a snow globe! Hotel Peter & Paul in New Orleans had great, location-specific design and the warmest service. I also loved finally getting to explore Portland, Maine after years of being curious about “the other Portland.” Lastly, it was also super sweet and memorable to meet my new nephew and celebrate my dad’s birthday and mine together in Oregon this summer.

RKH: It has to be Paris to see Taylor!! It was such a fun and memorable trip - also made special by the fact that it was sort of a "friend babymoon" as my friend Becca coined it. I loved our hotel, vintage hunting, our facials at Biologique Recherche and a specific pistachio croissant from Ladurée that I still think about. Honorable mention goes to my actual babymoon at Juniper Preserve outside of Bend, and of course taking Alana to SF for the very first time.

Best Investment Buy:

CP: This year really renewed my love for buying yourself jewelry! My birthday present from me, to me was the Bree Nichols Nature Passedat necklace and I also love my Jasmin Sparrow Curve Hoops. Honorable mention goes to these Delarge House sunglasses. I was intimidated by the shape at first but now I’m obsessed and wear them pretty much daily!

RKH: My baby prep team! AKA my pilates instructor, my pelvic physical therapist and my chiropractor. The best money I spent this year, hands down! Although I am tempted to say joining Soho House in Portland, specifically because of the pool ...

Best Home Buy:

CP: Our black marble end table from Aussie brand Franca Studios took forever to get here but was so worth the wait! The most meaningful buy was for sure the print from Lucia Bell Epstein mentioned in our “Male Bag” issue. So delighted to finally own a photo of hers after following her work for so long. We also recently got a proper coffee machine for the first time ever (!!) after years of Chemex pour overs or Mokapot espressos. We landed on this one in off-white that Flynn Mcgarry recommended and it’s so cute on our countertop.

RKH: The Eva Solo Thimble coffee carafe! I actually bought this for Gaw for Christmas last year, but it has turned out to be one of the best, simple home purchases that makes drinking coffee at home all day long so much more enjoyable, simply because it's hot (lol). I did my research before purchasing so you can trust this has been vetted and we recommend! Also on the list - these not-that-ugly baby/dog gates.

Most Used Purchase:

CP: The Rue Sophie Anorak Jacket! This jacket has really gone the distance for me this year. I bought it ahead of our family’s annual Oregon Coast trip but have found myself reaching for it time and time again in NYC too. You can layer so much underneath and it’s just as cool thrown over something casual, like workout clothes. I also have been pleasantly surprised at the versatility of this woven shoulder bag I snagged over the summer. It’s just the right size for the basics (phone, keys, cards etc - since I infamously do not use a wallet!) and has added a nice, textural element to my collection of almost exclusively black bags. Lastly, these white wide-leg, drawstring waist pants quickly became one of my most-worn pairs because of how easy they were to dress up or down. Another slam dunk for Deiji Studios, one of the best basics brands, in my book!

RKH: I know I can't shut up about my Paris souvenir Goyard card holder, but it really is probably my most used purchase of this year. She sparks joy and we love her! And to continue on the pregnancy/baby theme that was my life this year, I have to add the Nuna MIXX bassinet attachment for our stroller, and the Hatch ribbed bodysuit and bike shorts. Perfect for my daily dog walks that I committed myself to continue right up until the very end (another personal highlight of the year, tbh).

Best Skincare/Beauty Buy:

CP: I gotta hand it to the Sofie Pavitt Mandelic serum in combo with the Isla Beauty Elixir! Going less hard with my exfoliation (aka, shelving my beloved P50) has made such a difference in my skin tone and texture, which I wholly attribute to those two gentle-but-effective products. Honorable mention to the 19/99 highlighter in Miele and Merit matte lipstick in Vermillion, which are usually the only two beauty products I use on the day-to-day.

RKH: I had to replace so much of my skincare during pregnancy (and major credit goes to Darc for the 15 Minute Beauty pregnancy beauty guide - the holy grail!), and so the real winners here are the items that did not get immediately swapped back out as soon as I could. I'm still using and loving the YTTP Superberry Dream Cleansing Balm, Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream, Salt + Stone deodorant in bergamot hinoki and the Biologique Recherche Biokiss lip balm.

Best Book:

CP: So many stunners! Service stuck with me the most, Book of Night was conceptually one of the most interesting fantasy books I’ve read in a long time, The Paris Novel was a balm and The Fury had me on the edge of my seat. I also can’t not mention the 6,000+ page journey I went on with Sarah J Mass this year. Her books are such a meme at this point but I genuinely shed a tear when I finished Kingdom of Ash! The Throne of Glass series came to me at a time when my most-used app was StreetEasy, so I really needed another world to immerse myself in. I think I’ll always have a soft spot for it now!

RKH: I'm proud to say I crushed my Goodreads challenge this year (currently at 37/35, go me). My fav this year was Beautyland, with runners up Boy Parts and Natural Beauty. If you're an OT reader you already know the vibes, but the common thread here is "women who are a little weird."

Best Show:

CP: Just like last year, this is the hardest category for me! And made me realize that we watch way more TV than movies. I’m calling it a multi-way tie between Mr and Mrs Smith, The Gentleman, Loot, Tokyo Vice, Industry, The Penguin, Say Nothing — the list goes on! Lots of well-dressed, powerful ladies, which we simply love to see.

RKH: My theme of this year for TV was brain balm. Low cal TV only over here! Grey's Anatomy, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (season two confirmed!), America's Sweethearts, etc. Nothing serious allowed.

Best Movie:

CP: Finally got around to watching the “Before” trilogy this year and it felt especially poignant to see them all for the first time in my mid (😩) 30’s. Such a love letter to being young and abroad (swoon!!!) and how layered long-term relationships are. I also wanted to climb inside the French countryside set of The Taste of Things! Especially intriguing to watch when you discover the two lead actors used to be married and are now bitterly divorced. Finally, I’ll be watching The Holdovers every holiday season from now on. So well acted, so beautiful.

RKH: Did anyone else randomly stumble upon My Old Ass and watch? I feel like there was no promo for that movie and I loved it. Made me cry and was so sweet. Love Lies Bleeding was also so great - always into the general "what year is this in?" vibes and touch of surrealism. I also really enjoyed seeing Twisters in theaters - we love a fun summer blockbuster! Plus, Daisy Edgar Jones’ looks for the press tour were just *chef’s kiss*!

Best Podcast:

CP: Perpetually a Czaronline fan-girl on here, so it has to be the “Continental Garbage” portion of Sentimental Garbage. Caroline and her friend Jen went interrailing and covered movies/shows that were about traveling in Europe on her pod. I was veryyyy the target demo for this! Their dialogue is what inspired me to finally watch the Before movies and reminded me why Eat Pray Love was one of the only DVDs I owned and repeatedly watched. They also dive into Emily in Paris, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and the Eras Tour Movie — all incredible.

RKH: I love listening to Nick Axelrod-Welk and Annie Kreighbaum's banter on Eyewitness Beauty (now on Substack!), and I finally discovered You're Wrong About by fellow Portlander Sarah Marshall this year - my favorite episode was the deep dive into The Jane Collective ... timely, given the 2024 of it all.

2024 Best Overall Closed Tab

CP: This was a building year for me, personally. Between moving (unexpectedly) twice, selling most of our furniture and refurnishing our new space, launching a side hustle, starting a new-ish career path — there were a lot of closed tabs! Seeing my and every other millennial gal’s parasocial best friend, Dolly Alderton, live was a real pinch-me moment, too.

RKH: This is too easy - closing the pregnancy tab. So thankful for a healthy pregnancy and a my perfect, precious little baby!!

2025 Open Tab Manifestation/Prediction or Something You Want More Of in 2025:

CP: Not to dismiss my lessons learned this year about slowing down… but! I’m very eager to do more traveling in 2025. Mike’s sabbatical hits next spring, so I’m already dreaming up a big, Continental Garbage trip of our own during that time. More inspiration, more exploration, more clarity!

RKH: I’m excited to just … continue? Is that the lamest answer lol. But I’m very excited for this new chapter and to find my groove as I get back to work with freelancing and balancing that with my new job of being a parent! I’m so grateful for OT and I’m excited to see what we continue to do with this space over the next year, too. And writing it here to hold myself accountable … but hoping that a little vintage/home goods project I’ve been working on with a friend of mine comes to life this year!

That’s all for our 2024 year in review! To see more of what we talked about, follow our Instagram @opentabsletter or shop all of our issues here.