Throughout the year, each of us comes across something that makes us smile or is particularly noteworthy. We have fun gathering our year-end faves to see what our team’s been loving this year. Get to know our staff’s picks with our “Best of 2023” list.

An asterisk (*) denotes local business.

Libby Ballantyne, Administrative Assistant

Food: Cocina Luchadoras* (incredible tacos)

To-do: The Revival Series at the Charles Theatre*

Book: The Essential Rumi translated by Coleman Barks

Revival Series at the Charles Theatre

Dr. Brian Dougherty, D.OM., Acupuncturist

Albums: Acts of Worship by the Actors, Thin Skies by the Bootblacks

Books: The Trial by Franz Kafka, Black God’s Kiss by C.L. Moore, Panpsychism by Peter Ells

TV Shows: The Afterparty (AppleTV+), Bodies (Netflix)

Panpsychism by Peter Ells. Covers the foundation of Panpsychism (a field of scientific/philosophical inquiry attempting to explain human consciousness–something that mainstream science can’t do).

Julia Flaccavento, L.Ac., Acupuncturist

Album: Bookends by Simon & Garfunkel

TV Show: Beef (Netflix)

Restaurant: Arcola & Cafe Campli*

Local Biz: Found Studio*

Treat: Graeter’s Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip ice cream

Scent: “Milk” by Dedcool, “You” by Glossier

Found Studio. Cute little trinkets/gift shop in the Hamilton/Lauraville neighborhood.

Alaina Grim, LMT, Massage Therapist

Books: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Event: Crankie Fest at the Creative Alliance*

Podcast: All There Is with Anderson Cooper. Great podcast about living with and understanding grief.

Next Crankie Fest is May 3, 2024.

Ayanna Harrison, Administrative Assistant

Movie: Oppenheimer

Book: Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry

Recipe: Braised Short Ribs

Restaurant: Pho Bac*

Local biz: Everyone’s Place

Everyone’s Place. Bookstore & African Cultural Center. Photo: Baltimore Magazine

Kim Hennessee, L.Ac., Acupuncturist, Director of Operations

Restaurant: Sangam – South Indian restaurant in Cockeysville

Product: SoBotanical* custom essential oil – we made them last year for our holiday party and I still take great delight in mine

Recipe: I can’t eat enough of this sweet Potato and Red Lentil Curry Recipe from the New York Times

Book: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Podcasts: Ear Hustle and Armchair Expert (inspired my 15 year old son to do a research project on toxic masculinity and the incidence of addiction)

Potato and Red Lentil Curry. Photo: New York Times.

Sarah Humpal, L.Ac., Acupuncturist, Canton Captain

Book: Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman.

Local Biz: Greedy Reads. Such a fantastic local independent bookstore with amazing author events and book clubs as well.

Awe-inspiring scene: Watching the Sandhill Crane migration in my home state of Nebraska

Sandhill Crane Migration. Every year, about a milllion sandhill cranes stop in rural Nebraska to refuel on their long migration. They’ve been doing this for more than 10,000 years. Seeing the skies and field full of these birds and contemplating the scope of time these families of cranes have been migrating was some awe-some perspective giving. Photo: Rick Derevan.

Antonia Jenifer, IR, Reflexologist

TV show: Invencible (Amazon Prime)

Book: You are a Badass Everyday by Jen Sincero

Beverage: Pumpkin spiced chai tea

Album: Floetic by Floetry

Floetic by Floetry. I grew up listening to Floetry and like-sounding artists, I can appreciate and relate to everything so much more now that I have experience beautiful rises and falls of adulthood, as well as experiencing self.

Yan Jiang, L.Ac., Acupuncturist

Book: The Surrender Experiment: My Journey into Life’s Perfection by Michael Singer

Artist: Water Lilies series by Claude Monet

Music: Butterfly Lovers’ Violin Concerto

The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer. Allowed me to learn to listen to the universe more carefully and slow down my choice making process and see the value of waiting.

Dr. Stacey Kargman, N.M.D., L.Ac., Naturopathic Doctor and Acupuncturist

TV show: Ted Lasso (AppleTV+)

New Hobbies: Crocheting, Archery

Recipe: Blackberry Ricotta Pizza with Basil

Book: Can We Talk About Israel? by Daniel Sokatch

App: Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab

Baltimore Gem: Canton Kayak Club

Merlin app. It helps me connect to my surroundings in a new way. Just sitting quietly and listening, getting to know better the creatures I am sharing space with.

Dr. Brianna Livesay, L.Ac., DOM, Acupuncturist

Drink: Bubble tea!

Alexandra McElwee, L.Ac., Acupuncturist

Book: Favorite read this year was absolutely Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr

Recipes: Living for both of these right now: 1-Bowl Pumpkin Muffins (Vegan + GF) and Chickpea, Sweet Potato and Lentil Curry

Local biz: Jinji‘s new chocolate shop on Greenmount in Waverly – highly recommend the hibiscus white chocolate

Jinji. New retail shop located on Baltimore’s historic Waverly Main Street. Photo: Jill Fannon.

Tara Monet, LMT, Massage Therapist, Retail Manager

TCM item: Bian Stone Gua Sha

Book: The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi

The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi. This book was very inspirational to my personal journey as a healer who provides in-home services (at times). But it was based around herbs and Ayurvedic care.

Sarah O’Leary, L.Ac., Acupuncturist, Founder & CEO

Gift: My Life in Weeks Poster.

Book: A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers. About a post AI apocalyptic land undergoing rewilding. Themes of satisfaction and purpose in the aftermath hit home.

Supplement: Beet Chews. In TCM beets are thought of as a medicinal food and supportive of the heart. Recent research suggests they also have an anti-atherogenic (stiffening of the arteries) property. These flavored supplement chews make it easy to get a beet-a-day in.

Life in Week Poster. The average person lives about 4,576 weeks. This poster lays that out in a visual way. I placed my poster in a place I will see it everyday and mark off my weeks.I also circled when my kids will both likely leave for college. Very perspective giving tool!

Dr. Jaqui Oetzel, DACM, L.Ac, Acupuncturist

Self-Care: Happy Light, Sound Healing Rain Drum

Happy Light and Rain Drum. These are my go-to self-care regimen when I don’t have more time to do other things.

Kelli Redmond-Bagby, Administrative Assistant

TV Show: Top Chef, Chopped

Food: Salmon

Cafe/Restaurant: Bird in Hand

Artist: Beyoncé

Bird in Hand. A great safe space to work, eat, and relax. Also, I like to romanticize my life and working in cafés always make me feel like I am in my favorite sitcoms/movies.

Amy Reid, Administrative Assistant

Restaurant: Mera Kitchen Collective

Book: Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake

Local Biz: Red Emma’s, Fruitcamp, B. Willow

Fruitcamp. Not only is it the best tattoo shop but it is also a shared studio space with artists, herbalists, and Bodyworkers.

Dana Robinson, L.Ac., Acupuncturist, Remington Captain

Local Artist (and fuel of the protest fire): Liora Ostroff

Activity: Putting mulch and cardboard on my garden to increase the carbon density.

Local biz: Hex Superette

Outside, Looking In by Liora Ostroff.

Amanda Schulz, Billing Director

TV Show: Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)

Album: The King by Anjimile

Book: Syllabus by Lynda Barry

Night out with friends: Honey Plus Karaoke in Ellicott City

Syllabus by Linda Barry. For creative inspiration.