- - Most brain-tingling new magic book: The Aretalogy of Vanni Bossi. (Unsolicited recommendation: Buy this before the remaining three first edition copies vanish.)
- Keenest magical rediscovery: Richard Bartram’s Trephine. (Incredibly high idea/page ratio. Pretend like you’re planning a last-minute purchase of the expiring Magnum Opossum and grab this instead. Then buy Magnum anyway.)
- Snazziest new magic prop: Gareth Gwatkin’s Blackwood Regal Chop Cup. Absolutely perfect, gorgeous work. And a nice guy to boot.
- Coolest eBay find: Super-clean, all original, prohibition-era Slingerland banjolin.
- Best new musical releases: Midwest Farmers Daughter by Margo Price; Memphis Ukulele Band by the Memphis Ukulele Band.
- Happiest moment for my Klipsches: Bob Dylan, Motril, Spain 2004.
- Goatiest miracle: The Chicago Cubs.
Good riddance 2016, and best of luck to all of us – against very steep odds – for next year.