Happy New Year! (When does it become too late in January to say that, by the way? Is there some kind of etiquette?)
Without any further preamble, and specifically for Karen, here are a few of the things I'm looking forward to in the next few months:
FILMS
I mentioned Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri when I saw it at the London Film Festival in October, and it is now on general release in the UK. I watched it again last week and loved it just as much second time around. It is a tragicomedy that truly is both tragic and funny, and Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell deserve all the awards.
I also saw The Shape of Water at the London Film Festival and highly recommend it. It is hard to describe but it is weird and wonderful, a romantic thriller (if you can imagine such a thing).
In terms of films I haven't seen but am looking forward to, keep an eye out for Lady Bird, The Post, Phantom Thread, You Were Never Really Here and I, Tonya.
THEATRE
Network at the National Theatre is sadly sold out, but if by any chance you can beg, steal or borrow a ticket, DO. It is fantastic.
I am also looking forward to Beginning, Girl from the North Country and Julius Caesar. And I am very smug about having booked tickets for Hamilton back in December 2016. I'll let you know in April if it lives up to the hype.
ART
The fantastic Basquiat exhibition at the Barbican finishes on 28th January, so get there soon if you can. Don't miss Modigliani at Tate Modern which is on until April.
Cezanne's Portraits at the National Portrait Gallery is definitely worth a visit, as is Monochrome at the National Gallery.
Coming up are Picasso at Tate Modern, Andreas Gursky at the newly refurbished Hayward Gallery and Rose Wylie at the Serpentine.
COMEDY
And for something slightly different... if you can see Sara Pascoe do her stand-up show, you must. She's hilarious. Also touring this year and worth seeing are Jon Robins, Joe Lycett and Dara O'Briain. Plus my all-time favourites Flight of the Conchords. I am almost more excited about seeing them again in March than I am about my holiday to Australia in February. Almost.