[UPDATE: Find out who won!]
The day you have been waiting for is finally here. The Golden Globes and Grammys have passed. The Oscars loom forebodingly in the not-so-distant future. But none of that matters! The only important award show of the season is upon us: The 1st Annual Urchie Awards! Today, the nominations are released to the public.
The Urchies bring you what no other award show can: class, artistic integrity, and a Reader’s Choice category, which this year will be for Film of the Year! That’s right, we don’t give you some dinky category to vote on- you get the big one! There will also be a special award recipient announced this Friday. So stayed tuned for that, as well as the red carpet special Thursday, and the 1st Annual Urchie Awards next Monday, March 8! And now, the nominees:
Book of the Year
Clean Breaks by Jeremy Smith and Richard Hammond
Written by the former Editor of The Ecologist Magazine and the Green Travel Correspondent for The Guardian, this book covers a myriad of trips, adventures, and lodging for the eco-conscious traveller. There are things in this book I have never seen anywhere else. Plus, the title is a pun. – Sarah
Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon
I love Thomas Pynchon. – Geo
Imperial by William T. Vollmann
Okay, no, I haven’t finished it yet. Have you seen it? But what I have read so far is easily one of the most unique, individual writing voices in contemporary literature. – Geo
Urchin Destination of the Year
Washington, D.C.
19 free Smithsonian museums, 3 convenient, efficient, and cheap modes of public transportation, beautiful European architecture, and the National Museum of Women in the Arts. D.C. perfectly showcases how a city can be simultaneously modern and historic. International and intellectual spirit permeates the life force of the American capital city. – Sarah
Edinburgh
I spent four days in Edinburgh in January 2009 walking her cobblestone streets, visiting her fantastic modern art museum, writing in cozy cafes, and blowing my money on used books. The glorious fact that nearly every other storefront is a pub must also be mentioned. The Old Town is a sight to behold, the people are genuinely friendly, and I spent my nights pub hopping with a French girl I met called Jeanne. What’s not to like? – Geo
Brussels
Waffles, check. Lambic beer, check. Frites, check. For a fat-tabulous weekend, I would eat my way through the capital city any day. – Margaret
Exemplary Human Being
Dave Eggers
Dave’s nonfiction book A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius is a favourite of the Urchins, and pushed the boundaries of creative nonfiction. Both his nonfiction and fiction works take on critical issues such as wrongfully accused inmates, the American school system, Hurricane Katrina, and Darfur. He founded 826, a national writing, tutoring, and publishing non-profit for kids ages 6-18 and adapted Where the Wild Things Are for the 2009 film. In 2009, he co-wrote the film Away We Go with his wife, Vendela Vida. You’re a legend, Dave.
Ewan McGregor
In 2004, Ewan and his best friend circumnavigated the globe on motorcycle and documented the experience for an endearing television series and subsequent book, both entitled Long Way Round. Along the way, they worked with Unicef, and Ewan and his wife eventually adopted a Mongolian orphan he met on the trip. He has played many queer characters throughout his career, and this past month, when he was knighted to the National Order of Arts and Letters in France, kissed co-star Jim Carrey in celebration, and shot down a news anchor who mocked him about it. Also, he is Scottish and has a French wife.
George Clooney
In addition to being a fantastic actor, George is a United Nations messenger of peace and activist. He single-handedly conceptualised the Hope for Haiti telethon, and convinced many of his famous friends to participate. In his 2006 Oscar acceptance speech, George said that ‘we are a little bit out of touch in Hollywood every once in a while, I think. It’s probably a good thing…we’re the ones who talked about AIDS when it was just being whispered. And we talked about civil rights when it wasn’t really popular. I’m proud to be part of this community. I’m proud to be out of touch.’ I cried at that speech. To me, he meant out of touch with the rest of society, the non-artists, who don’t have the same hope, the same belief that one person can make a difference. George is an Urchin.
Musical Artist of the Year
St. Vincent
I’m no songwriter, but I’ve listened to enough music to be able to recognise an advanced musical mind. I also believe that, in order to create anything innovative, one must know or strive to know her medium inside and out. This is St. Vincent, and her latest album Actor combines all that previously haven’t been combined to create a sound all her own. Says St. Vincent: ‘I love the idea that something could be whimsical and delightful but also disgusting.’ – Geo
Jackson Browne
His poignant and poetically astounding verses may have been written 30 years ago, but are still relevant today. – Margaret
Hanson
Over the past several years, Hanson and their fans have organised 35, 863 one mile walks around the world. These walks and their website have raised the funds to build a school and two wells in an area of Africa greatly affected by HIV/AIDS, provide 690 pairs of TOM’s shoes, and give mothers with HIV/AIDS in South Africa 999 months of treatment and cell phone communication with doctors. Plus, their EP Stand Up Stand Up is phenomenal and bodes very well for their forthcoming album. – Sarah
Briton of the Year
Cheryl Cole
Cheryl added beauty, grace, and charm to our lives in London. Her first solo album this past year was a great success. And she has a Geordie accent. – Sarah
Paul McCartney
He’s a Beatle for godsakes. – Margaret
Chris Cleave
This may be a biased nomination. Cleave is the author of Little Bee, which I haven’t read yet. I met him during a book signing at the shoppe. He was incredibly sweet and very excited to be touring the States, and he had some interesting things to say about writing. Plus, he offered to swap citizenship with me. – Geo
