Surprise: Your phone hasn’t made the (paper) calendar obsolete.
If anything, those wall and desk planners give the days and months ahead a real permanence.
Plus, the best calendars decidedly improve the makeup of your house or office. They’re art as much as they are administrator.
So, below, our 21 favorite calendars for the new year. There’s a timekeeper here for any taste … including carp lovers.
For nature lovers: National Parks WPA Poster Art Wall Calendar
Oversized reproductions of classic art prints from the early 30s and 40s (and a few new ones done in a similar style), focusing on America’s most renowned national parks.
For nighthawks: Schoolhouse Lunar Calendar
Hand-drawn pen and ink graphics that chart the lunar phases.
For looking WAY ahead: Decade Planner by Workhow
A wall scroll filled with 10 years worth of calendar entries — turn the knob, and see up to two years visible from any given date.
For starting a conversation: Pirelli Calendar 2019
The 46th edition of the über-exclusive publication that’s more art object than daily record. It’s pretty much impossible to get one of your own — that’s an eBay listing below — but you can read more about the calendar’s move from sexualized to artistic and (somewhat) forward-thinking here.
For fishers and/or fetishists: Carponizer Erotic Carp Calendar
“Twelve beautiful carps with attractive women.” Of course it’s German (and NSFW).
For minimalists: At-A-Glance 2019 Monthly Wall Calendar
The best-selling calendar on Amazon (currently 40% off) is a minimalist’s dream: Plenty of writing space, no graphics or unnecessary clutter.
For daily joy: Better Living With Alpacas 2019
Domesticated alpacas chillin’ in rooftop bars, hotel suites and other exotic locations, via Viennese photographer Daniel Gebhart de Koekkoek, who notes, “Alpacas are always positive and smile all day long. They transport their positive energy to others and make them feel better.” Yes.
For supporting a very 2019 cause: NYC Taxi Drivers Calendar
Yes, it’s pin-ups of everyday New York cab drivers — amusing, and well photographed. But the real selling point? A portion of each calendar sold benefits University Settlement, which has been providing education, housing and literacy programs for immigrant families since 1886.
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For NSFW commentary: Marisa Papen 2019
This provocative month-to-month features the button-pushing Belgian model in various nude poses in exotic locales. Big warning here, though: the project is nicknamed the “FXCKRLGN” calendar, and all the pics offer commentary on religion.
For more NSFW, perhaps less blasphemous thrills, Driven by Boredom’s 2019 Dental Calendar is just artsy pics of beautiful, scantily-clad women brushing their teeth. Comes with a free toothbrush.
For making it all about art: All the Fruits Wall Planner
The multi-colored geometric shapes here may not be that practical (though the calendar is printed on easy-to-remove vinyl and the surface is writeable), but the unique horizontal presentation and cool design makes will certain up your office decor.
For thinking in small time frames: 2019 Matchbook Calendar
A matchbox-sized planner (love those undulating lines) that you can take with you or prop up on your desk.
For day-to-day planners
Desk-based, tear-off calendars for your ongoing daily interests. Like big vocab? Try the 365 New Words-a-Year calendar. Extraordinary and bizarre travel destination? Go with Atlas Obscura’s Page-A-Day. Life hacks? Life Hacks it is (March 27: “Line your taco shell with a large lettuce leaf … if the shell breaks, the leat will keep the fillings contained.”) Plus, dogs, fonts and artsy nudity (men and women).
For never needing a calendar again
While you can’t write on ‘em, perpetual calendars usually win out on design and, paradoxically, lifelong practicality. MoMA’s is, of course, more of an art piece — you move two magnetic balls to mark the day and month. The Formosa Perpetual Wall Calendar is a bold red-and-white PVC card display based on Italian artist Danese Milano’s famous work. And the minimalist design by TAIT Design Co. works simply be rotating each month, day and day-of-week disc.
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