Throughout the past year, we’ve enjoyed an array of global travels, meaningful books, thought-provoking films, and live music experiences that prompted us to dance and sing. Deeming something “the best” is a heady move, but The Alexander Group knows a few things about exemplary talent, so we offer these 2024 arts and pop culture superlatives as we head into 2025.
Jane Howze, Managing Director
Best Film: Documentary Daughters streaming on Netflix. It’s about a daddy/daughter dance, where the fathers are incarcerated. Look for it to get an Oscar nod.
Best Concert: It’s hard to pick as I went on a concert BINGE this year. Taylor Swift (multiple shows), Joni Mitchell at the Hollywood Bowl, and the Rolling Stones in San Francisco.
Best Trip/Travel Destination: The Gleneagles in Scotland for a bucket list golf trip.
John Mann, Managing Director
Best Film(s): Movies are Will and Harper and The Menendez Brothers documentaries. Will and Harper’s insight into a personal conversation with one of my favorite actors, Will Ferrell, and his good friend’s transformative journey.
The Menendez Brothers is gripping— the story of these infamous brothers and their plea for mercy.
Best Book: Framed by John Grisham (currently reading). It’s the perfect mix of my interest in nonfiction and crime thriller documentaries and shows like Dateline and 20/20.
Best Trip/Travel Destination: Spending Thanksgiving with family on the Big Island, Hawaii. It was an unforgettable week filled with beautiful moments, amazing company, fantastic golf, and breathtaking sunsets.
Jean Lenzner, Managing Director
Best Book: The Women by Kristen Hannah
Sarah Mitchell, Director
Best Book: All Fours by Miranda July
Wellness by Nathan Hill was a close second but was published in 2023
Best Concert/Album: Ben Folds at the San Francisco Symphony!
Best Trip/Travel Destination: We were absolutely delighted by our August visit to Bend, Oregon. Incredible hiking, views, food, and craft beer in Central Oregon. We can’t wait to go back.
Kyle Robinson, Director of Research
Best Film: Deadpool & Wolverine. Funniest movie I’ve seen in quite a while.
Best Trip/Travel Destination: Disneyworld! It was a trip “for the kids,” but it also fulfilled a lifelong wish for my wife and me. We can’t wait to go back!
Jacqueline Griffin, Director of Accounting and Administration
Best Book: The House of Cross by James Patterson
Best 2024 Concert/Album: Earth Wind and Fire and Santana
Anthony Ott, Senior Associate
Best Book: After the Rain by Alexandra Elle. It is a book comprised of gentle reminders for Healing, Courage, and Self-Love. It is for everyone learning how to dance in the rain. Your storms do not define you. Trust your pilgrimage and uncover your joy. It’s an easy peace-giving read.
Best Concert/Album: I went to The Beach Boys! How nostalgic that was!
Best Trip/Travel Destination: I was heading to New Orleans for a golf trip, but it was canceled at the last second because of a hurricane warning. I was at the airport and called by my brother, who was also there for our annual golf trip to celebrate our birthdays. We pivoted quickly to Las Vegas and got comped rooms at the Bellagio. We had an opportunity to play Bali Hai Golf Club, the only championship golf course remaining on the famed Las Vegas Strip. When we pulled up to the 18th hole, Butch Harmon was there watching… the most nervous I have EVER been standing over a golf ball.
Abby Buchold, Senior Research Associate
Best Concert: Sarah McLachlan in early July was the only concert I attended this year—the tickets were a birthday gift from my husband. She performed all of the songs from her 1993 album, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy. I wore that CD out and had to buy a new copy in 1997! As trailing GenX-ers, her music was a college staple for my husband and me. She’s just as amazing now as she was in the 90s!
Best Trip/Travel Destination: We traveled to beautiful Thessaloniki, Greece with some friends in May. Thessaloniki is a lovely city in northern Greece on a bay just off the Aegean, and it is the hometown of one of our travel companions. Highlights included Mt. Olympus, Philippi, and Grevena, a town known as the mushroom capital of Greece. We had nearly perfect weather and enjoyed visiting many seaside tavernas for amazing seafood. I never thought I’d love fried sardines, but I do now.
Jennifer Lee, Administrative Assistant
Best Film: Deadpool & Wolverine
Best Book: Atomic Habits by James Clear (came out in 2018, but I read it this year)
Best Concert/Album: Ten Days – Fred Again
Best Trip/Travel Destination: Goldbar, Washington
Lindsay Ames, Research Associate
Best Concert/Album: My favorite concert of 2024 is a combination with my favorite travel destination (as my family and I haven’t been travelling much lately). Las Vegas, Nevada, for the Sick New World 2024 festival.
My husband and I have gone two years in a row to this festival, for its inaugural and second years, to see our favorite heavy/nu-metal band, System of a Down. We were planning to attend next year as well, but SOAD decided not to headline for 2025 (Metallica and Linkin Park, with their new lead singer, were co-headlining the bill instead), and the festival was not able to sell out like they had the first two years and canceled.