There has been ample opportunity to reflect on the highs and (mostly) lows of 2008, but the future, luckily, isn't all bleak. Below, your optimistic MEN.STYLE.COM editors name a few bright spots on 2009's horizon:

January 25 will mark the first-ever runway show from one of my favorite brands, Dunhill. Last year the luxury house named Kim Jones, the talented British designer heavily influenced by youth culture, its creative director; this will be his first season showing for the company. Normally I wouldn't get my hopes up for a debut outing, but the prospect of a fresh eye and the vast archives at Jones' disposal lead me to expect something inspiring on the runway. What's more, the collection has not had a single designer since the days of Alfred Dunhill himself, so it will be interesting to see what interpretation the new creative head brings—especially given the quirky and unorthodox approach he takes in his own collections, both namesake and for Umbro.

March 2, 2009: The day that U2's 12th studio album, currently titled No Line on the Horizon, sees its release. Unfortunately, early indications haven't been ultrapromising. For one thing, it seems the first single is an electro-rocker called "Get Your Boots On" ("Discotheque," anyone?). For another, Bono's taken to wearing eyeliner—but the Irish boys have had a pretty good run lately, with nary a misstep (well, arguably) since Pop. And even though they're due for a stinker—they tend to release a crappy record every third time out—I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. Why? Because I have to: There aren't too many other musicians out there worth devoting the time to.

Fashion first: Adam Kimmel has a no-nonsense style that suits the times, and he's still underexposed as a designer. I'd like to see him at least nominated for a CFDA award this year. On the movie front, Johnny Depp just bought the rights to Nick Tosches' book In the Hand of Dante, and I hope he gets to make it in 2009. Tosches is my favorite writer, Depp wouldn't have to wear a pirate costume, and there's one role, a psychotic mob killer, that has Mickey Rourke's name all over it. I'm also curious about Inglourious Basterds. Tarantino's been treading water the last few years, but this is a semi-intriguing project. Not sure about Brad's 'stache, though. As for what I'm not looking forward: March 2, 2009.

The Chinese calendar may have deemed 2008 the Year of the Rat, but every plate I ate off told a different story (a good thing, I'm sure we can all agree). In fact, we were living hoof and snout in a glorious year of the pig. A new generation of swino-phile restaurateurs showed us the finer points of tip-to-tail dining (as much an extreme sport as an epicurian pastime); now for the new year, they're helping us bring it home. Just last week Brooklyn's Tom Mylan and his team opened the butchershop Marlow & Daughters (a companion to the popular Marlow & Sons restaurant in Williamsburg). Here, grass-fed meats of every imaginable cut and kind are on offer for the daring home cook. I may not be able to work the wonders of the chefs I've admired, but the do-it-yourselfer in me can't wait to try. In 2009, if you can't take the heat, stay out of my kitchen.

Sure, the restoration of America's image around the world is nice and all, but what I'm really looking forward to in 2009 is Stumptown Coffee's first branch in New York. The West Coast favorite will make its home inside the new Ace Hotel, which has already received plenty of ink (some of it virtual). Given I live in New York, I'm not likely to spend many nights there, but I can stop in for a cup of the brand's deliciously brewed joe, which I first sampled in '07 on a visit to Portland. Of course, this is small beans (sorry) compared with what I'm really looking forward to: The 2010 World Cup in South Africa. That's the soccer World Cup for you nonbelievers—and no, I'm not British.