Lea Michele’s star turn in “Chess.” Kara Young as an 8-year-old. A 12-minute monologue delivered from a cloud. These are our favorite scenes from this year.

© Sara Krulwich/The New York Times

Crispy fish ssam, knife-cut noodles and more of our favorite bites from a year of eating.

Dulce de leche flan, cherry pie and more of our favorite sweets of the year.

Autobiographical stories and mystery games resonated in a chaotic year.

Autobiographical stories and mystery games resonated in a chaotic year.