by Inlander staff

BEST OF THE INLAND NORTHWEST -- PEOPLE

Best Barista -- Katherine Tibbetts, Cabin Coffee

"Gimme a 20-ounce, split-shot double latte with soy, sugar-free vanilla and sugar-free mocha. Oh, and extra foam, too." Katherine Tibbetts has been dealing with orders like that from already well-caffeinated clients for nearly six years at Cabin Coffee's three locations (including their newest one at the Tapio Center). She's a pro at drawing leafy designs atop a cuppa joe.

And we like ours strong. Tibbetts says that "about one in 20" of her customers orders a quad. Interestingly, preferences vary by area. "In Browne's Addition," Tibbetts says, "you get a lot of artsy-fartsy people, and they want their coffee stronger. At the Tapio Center, you get a lot of businesspeople from the Valley, and they will order, like, a 20-ounce single."

Yahoos. At least we've refined our tastes over the years. "Six years ago," says Tibbetts, "people would only order a vanilla latte." But now customers are "more experimental," she says. "People are ordering a lot more cappuccinos and Ghirardelli mochas."

And judging from our vote count, they want Katherine Tibbetts to be the one swirling their foam. -- Michael Bowen

2nd: Brandy McClinton, Rocket on Argonne * 3rd: (tie) Terra Neilson,

Rocket on Argonne; Brianna Ferrante, Brews Bros.; Jon Lewis, Cafe Doma

Best Dentist -- Dr. Kenneth J. Collins

If your Web site is WeMakeSpokaneSmile.com, you'd better be able to back up your claim. And Dr. Ken Collins does, offering laser whitening (a little gel, a little light — next thing you know, you've got pearly whites) and porcelain veneers (use a chemical bonding process to straighten out your chompers).

But what about those of us who have nightmares about Laurence Olivier peering into Dustin Hoffman's mouth and asking, "Is it safe?" "That's a common concern of a lot of patients — they're afraid of dentists," says Collins. "But we have TVs, headphones, laughing gas — we can sedate them. Nowadays, a lot of dentists are getting extra training in sedation techniques."

A lot of anxious people out there, huh? "No, with today's busy lifestyle, a lot of people just want to come in, have several procedures done and get it over with," Collins says. He even has a new jaw-tracking machine, which figures out ideal bite positions for patients who clench or grind their teeth or have other pain issues.

Dr. Collins' family practice offers safe, painless, friendly dentistry. It's a service he extends from his family (his father, Dr. Kenneth M. Collins, and his wife, Dr. Marnie Collins, are both dentists) to yours. -- Michael Bowen

2nd: Dr. Jodi Funk * 3rd: Dr. Jack Ashlock

Best Elected Official -- Jim West, Mayor of Spokane

Hizzoner pops up on local-access TV channels in an orange safety vest, helping little kids cross the street and explaining those mysterious parking kiosks. He was willing to wade into the River Park Square quagmire, managing to emerge, if not unsullied, at least still intact. And with Principles of Government, he has rejuvenated a process — determining budgetary allocations — that's usually, let's face it, soporific. For a man who's fighting off cancer, he's a regular Energizer Bunny of civic governance. Not only is Jim West our hometown guy, but now he can also claim that in a fairly held election (among our readers, anyway), he out-polled the president. (There is no truth to the rumor that Karl Rove is demanding a recount.) -- Michael Bowen

2nd: President George W. Bush * 3rd: State Senator Lisa Brown

North Idaho's Best: Gov. Dirk Kempthorne

Best Artist -- Harold Balazs

Harold Balazs has big hands. You see right away how he would be such a great sculptor. After his paws crush yours in a vise-grip, then he fixes you with that toothy smile, throwing his head back and letting out a guffaw, his eyes taking in everyone around him with a bemused grin.

A real character, you think. This old man must have plenty of stories to tell.

He's told them — in steel and stone and ceramic — all over town. You know that abstract aluminum floating thing in the river under the Washington Street bridge? It's called "Centennial Sculpture" and it's by Harold Balazs. So is that 30-foot concrete tower (like a Japanese lantern) at the northwest corner of the Opera House.

There are these lovely painted tiles — birds in flight — on the side of the Lincoln Building downtown. Doesn't look like the work of any artist I know. But Harold Balazs is there, too. He's there before us a lot of the time. That's what artists do. -- Michael Bowen

2nd: Conrad Bagley * 3rd: Dorothy Fowler

Best Local Athlete -- Ronny Turiaf

He stayed for his senior year, and while it didn't get him any further into the NCAAA tournament, it did cement his place as a local hero. Another great year has gone by, but suddenly we won't be seeing No. 1 in a Gonzaga uniform anymore.

Ronny — around here, he's a first-name-only celeb — will be remembered, among many other things, for dominating the Maui Invitational when he was a sophomore, for dropping 23 against Missouri in the Battle in Seattle, for cheering at baseball games and retelling jokes in whatever language was convenient, for being the WCC Player of the Year.

Spokane adopted this Martiniquean, and by staying one last season as a Zag, Ronny dug himself deeper into our memories. -- Michael Bowen

2nd: John Stockton * 3rd: Adam Morrison

Best Radio Station -- 93 Zoo FM

The Zoo's headliners are Brooke Fox and Tanya Tyler, who will wake you up during drive time. They'll scream at you every morning for an entire week at 6:30 am in a feature they call Get Your Butt Out of Bed. At 6:50, they deliver the Unfair and Unbalanced news. At 7 o'clock, it's time for Tanya's Trash, which is apparently devoted mostly to making fun of Lindsay Lohan's boobs. Their Web site features photos of Brooke and Tanya posing for pictures with such well-known and famous luminary celebrities as Kimmie Safer, Kenny Andrews and Kurt Angle. (We don't know who they are, either.) Still, the Zoo's mix of pop, dance and even R&B won the station top honors this year. -- Michael Bowen

2nd: KCDA-FM * 3rd: Rock 94.5

Best Radio Team -- The Breakfast Boys, Star 96.9 FM

They're not crazy, they're just a little unwell. The Boys have won this competition now seven consecutive times — obviously, listeners respond to how Dave Sposito and Ken Hopkins sprinkle music of the '80s and '90s on Star 96.9 for your morning delectation, mixing it up with features like "Let's Help a Listener" (a sort of communal psycho-babble help line). For added fun, check out the Boys' online gallery of visual gags, which includes Glen Campbell's mug shot, Michael Jackson with his assortment of noses and Prince Charles riding a Camilla horse. -- Michael Bowen

2nd: Brooke and Tanya, KZZU * 3rd: Radio Men, KKZX

Best TV Anchorperson -- Stephanie Vigil, KHQ

Stephanie Vigil has some chocolate-covered strawberries she'd like to sell you. When she's delivering the news from her anchorperson chair, she may be Very Professional; but in her heart, she's Very Berry.

That's the name of her confections company, which creates desserts so delightful, they just might show up on film at 11:00. After four straight years of earning the silver or the bronze — but not the gold — Vigil has finally triumphed as the favorite on-camera news delivery talent of Inlander readers everywhere.

Our readers must be sweet on her. -- Michael Bowen

2nd: Randy Shaw, KREM * 3rd: Shelly Monaghan, KHQ

Best TV Sportscaster -- Dennis Patchin, KXLY

The goatee, the smirk, the rat-a-tat-tat spouting of sports trivia — Dennis Patchin, winner in this category three of the past four years, is getting just a little too big for his athletic britches, if you ask me. Prides himself on knowing all kinds of — not just trivia, but arcane trivia, the really out-there stuff.

OK, so answer me this one, Mr. Patchin. Who won fifth place in the 1968 Class "C" Shot Put competition in the Tustin [Calif.] Intermediate School League track and field championships (with, by the way, an impressive 28-foot heave of the hefty six-pound ball) and has the ribbon to prove it? Huh? Does Mr. Smarty Pants Sports Trivia know that one?

I didn't think so. -- Michael Bowen

2nd: Tom Hudson, KREM * 3rd: John Fritz, KHQ

Best TV Weathercaster -- Tom Sherry, KREM

If the way tomorrow goes for you hinges on whether conditions during your afternoon commute will be 54 degrees and partly cloudy or — and this is where it gets real dicey — only 52 degrees and completely cloudy — well, then, Tom Sherry's your man.

With a sunny disposition like a May morning — he's a one-man warmness front — Sherry has won this category for the 11th straight time.

He knows whereof he forecasts. Did you realize that Sherry graduated from the Broadcast Meteorology program at Mississippi State University? Or that the BM program includes courses like Applied Climatology and textbooks like Introduction to Satellite Image Interpretation?

And here we thought that while Sherry was pointing and gesticulating, some guy just stood in front of that blue screen and waved fistfuls of cotton balls back and forth. -- Michael Bowen

2nd: George Maupin, KHQ * 3rd: Kris Crocker, KXLY

Best High School Teacher -- James Hagney, Lewis & Clark High School

John Hagney is the kind of teacher you wish you'd had in high school. He runs a student-centered classroom but still wears a tie. He banters with his students, but he doesn't talk down to them: A recent classroom discussion focused in part on the failure of NAFTA to remedy problems with U.S. immigration policy. From a student perspective, it's like this: Mr. Hagney may use lots of SAT words, but he also treats us like adults.

In his classroom, Hagney has made provisions for his students' physical comfort — in addition to the usual too-small desks, there are rows of potted plants, lots of arts posters and reading lamps hovering over cushy lounge chairs. But just as clearly, when it comes to intellectual pursuits, he wants to push his kids outside their comfort zones.

His students' grandparents, Hagney says, would be "astounded" that his classes are "not teacher-centered or textbook-driven. I really do believe in the Socratic method. I become the moderator — I ask questions to generate a dialogue."

Because he's in his "30th year of teaching, going on 40," Hagney has the seniority to teach the students he wants — in his case, seniors in Honors Humanities (recent discussion: "What kinds of things endanger democracy?") and a form of service learning known at LC as the Practicum in Community Involvement (PICI).

"We work with about 30 different nonprofit organizations," Hagney says. "The students develop research projects based on internships. From there, they engage in different projects, guided by mentors with expertise in the subject they are researching."

In other words, students don't just read, they do — it's book learning nourished by actual life experiences.

When it comes to service learning, Hagney walks his talk: He has won public service awards for his work on the Spokane Boundary Review Board and the Chase Youth Commission, among other civic projects.

Included among the PICI student projects Hagney has overseen are studies of the local effects of globalization, free trade and public transportation in the context of the New Urbanism. Students have worked with Spokane City Hall personnel, Hagney says, to devise "economic development strategies for a creating a University District that is attractive to [the students'] demographic.

"Most of my students go on to college. More often than not, they pursue whatever they did for their service-learning project as a major.

"Last year," Hagney recalls, "one student with a strong background in biology and chemistry worked with the Kettle Range Conservation Group. He settled on doing work with bio-diesel at UW — and now he's starting his own company!

"Another student — I think she was class of 2000 — was the first high school student in the country to be licensed, in conjunction with a service learning project, as a hospice caregiver. She did a project on spirituality and the process of dying. Well, she went on to do her undergraduate work, and now I hear she's going on to Harvard Divinity School."

Even if it doesn't always produce that close a linkage between academic pursuits and personal aspirations, service learning seldom fails to ignite students' love for learning. Says Hagney, "It's the closest thing to a panacea I've seen in 30 years."

LC students may joke about Mr. Hagney's cardigan sweaters (the return of Mr. Rogers) and his idea of good television viewing (artsy stuff on local-access cable), but they're obviously glad to have him around: Last fall, "Mr. Hagney for President" stickers sprouted around campus.

For their part, LC parents know that John Hagney is the kind of teacher they wish they'd had back in the day — and the kind they're glad their kids can learn from in the here and now. — Michael Bowen

2nd: (tie) Tom Armitage, North Central; Jeff Norton, Lewis and Clark * 3rd: (tie) Darren Nelson, North Central; John Phelan, East Valley, Emily Torres, Ferris

Best Public Official in North Idaho -- Dick Kempthorne

Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne revealed last week that he has been permanently scarred by his childhood in Spokane.

And he loves it.

Kempthorne was at the airport north of Coeur d'Alene last week for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at a new hangar and headquarters for Empire Airlines, an Idaho company that has outgrown its quarters at Spokane International Airport only to be lured back east of the state line by what company officials called a better business climate.

"Take a look here. Is there a scar?" Kempthorne asked an aide, poking a finger to his lower lip. "Yes, sir, that's a scar," the aide confirmed.

"Freya," Kempthorne said. "That's Freya."

And then he smiled. The governor reminisced about the wicked good sledding down the Freya hill when he was a child. "This one kid cut in front of me and I couldn't stop. The sled runner got me."

Kempthorne came to Spokane in 1953 when he was 2 and attended Franklin Elementary School on the lower South Hill through the fourth grade.

While in town for a conference a few years ago, he made an impulse visit to his old school and dropped off a photograph that he signed and is now on display near the main office.

His dad, Jim, was a sales rep for Maytag, and his late mother, Maxine, worked downtown as a receptionist in an insurance office. The family, including older brothers Jim and Mark, lived near 15th and Freya.

The governor has fond memories of adventures near "Suicide Lane" (the neighborhood boys' name for the road at Upper Lincoln Park), of learning to ice skate on the pond just south of Lincoln Heights and of the school carnivals at Franklin.

"What a town," Kempthorne said. "It was a time that, as an 8-year-old, I could ride the bus downtown after school to meet my mom."

On the way home, they would often stop at Northwest Seed to look at the puppies. On rare excursions to dine out, Kempthorne said he has a lasting memory of a cool dessert: "I don't remember if it was the Ridpath or the Davenport, but they had this dessert where they would put dry ice in a bowl and then orange sherbet in another bowl that went inside of that. For a kid, what a great thing."

Even in his speech before the ribbon-cutting, he mentioned his fondness for the region: "I grew up in Spokane, graduated from the University of Idaho and got married on the top of Moscow Mountain." And he made no bones about running a business-friendly state.

"We want to raise our children in educational facilities that are the finest, and to do that we need a strong economic base," he told the gathering. "We need to be pro-business so that when our children grow up, there will be jobs and they can stay here."

It may be his unabashed affection for North Idaho that makes him the rare state politician who is popular north of McCall. Maybe that's why the espresso-toting readers of an alternative newsweekly would, in one of their Best Of categories, choose a Republican governor from one of the reddest of the red states.

Even Kempthorne was bemused. -- Kevin Taylor

Best Delivery Person -- Eric Battleson, UPS

Live human tissue for skin grafts. Urine and semen samples. Baby snakes. If you're a UPS delivery man with a South Hill route filled with medical-related delivery stops, as Eric Battleson is, you're not just carrying letters from Aunt Martha.

In 15 years with UPS, Battleson has schlepped around a lot of bulky packages with his handcart.

Yet most people don't even notice delivery people, at least not enough to be able to vote for them by name in a contest like this one. How did Battleson get so well known?

"Well, to be frank, I half-jokingly went around and mentioned to my clients that The Inlander was having a Best Delivery Person category this year, and that they should vote for me," he says.

"I was just joking around. But I guess you need to be careful what you wish for," he says. "I'm gonna get raked over the coals at UPS over this."

Battleson, 35, also delivers to residences on the South Hill below 14th Avenue. So what about the stereotype of the lonely housewife answering her front door in something skimpy?

"Yeah, I've had the lady in the towel several times," he says. "Once I had a phone number put on my board instead of a signature. But only once."

Did he call?

"She was really putting herself out there. But nah, I was embarrassed."

After all, the UPS way is regimented. By the book. Battleson delivers around 350 parcels a day — at Sacred Heart Receiving alone, he drops off "between 100 and 130 — my 'stops per hour' is 16.5," he says.

Sounds as if UPS keeps careful track of such things.

"Yes."

The company's new DIAD 4 monitors will be equipped with GPS — meaning that supervisors will be able to pinpoint their drivers in real time.

Still, the public may feel like they see UPS drivers a little too often, in front of them on our streets and highways. (What can Brown do for me? It can get the hell out of my way!)

"The worst problem," says Battleson, "is that people see a barn door, this big brown truck, in front of them and they want to get in front of it — when actually, I'm probably going to move faster than they are. I have to drive pretty aggressively just to get through my day — I'm not going over the speed limit, of course, but I'm not wasting time, either."

If you had to make a delivery at a new location once every 3 minutes and 45 seconds, you wouldn't waste any time either. — Michael Bowen

2nd: Joe Jones, Pizza Pipeline * 3rd: Phil Moritz, Beau-K

Best Hairstylist -- Sonna Brado, Jaazz Salon

"People assume you're a hairstylist because you can't do anything else. But it's a career," says Sonna Brado of Jaazz.

Brado has been a hairstylist for 22 years. She travels to New York every other month to research the latest hairstyling techniques and products and to teach at the hairstyling academy run by Sam Brocato.

Pretty clearly, running the Jaazz Salon is her profession, not just her second choice. Brado conducts in-house seminars for the stylists on her staff — a recent topic was conditioning techniques — along with providing medical and investment benefits. She wants her employees to regard hairstyling as a career, too.

Sonna and her husband Mark Brado opened a salon in Cheney in 1985, where they remained for a decade before opening Jaazz in downtown Spokane. Having moved to another Washington Street location in December — now they're in the American Legion building at Riverside — they've rechristened their business as the Jaazz Salon and Skin Care Center. The interior bespeaks big-city sophistication, with lights strung from overhead steel grilles and Breakfast at Tiffany's looping endlessly on big screens. (Audrey Hepburn — that's the look we're after.)

Being so well established in her career, how does Brado keep satisfying her creative impulses?

She's ready with a recent example of a hairstyle she devised. "There's a woman who works at Mizuna who has very, very long hair, and she wanted something different," says Brado. "So we cut it extremely short on top and then layered it behind in stair steps, almost like shingles. If she pulls it up, it looks like a China doll bob. But it's still long in back, so it's a very versatile look."

Do her customers simply let her work her creative magic on their heads? Brado smiles. "When clients say, 'Do whatever you want,' they don't mean anything of the kind. So it depends on the questions that I ask."

And if they insist the equivalent of a mullet?

"Then I will treat you very gently, as a professional. All I can do is advise you from a place of knowledge and say, 'This is why I think it won't work.'"

She laughs. "It's a good thing that hair grows back," she says, adding that "the trend is toward more volume in hair. In the '80s, we had big hair; in the '90s, it was more flat. Now we're somewhere in between."

You'll have an opportunity to learn about hairstyling trends in late April at the Coeur d'Alene Resort, when, as part of "Pause and Play," Brado will be one of the hairstylists discussing techniques and performing makeovers.

In the meantime, consider paying a visit to Jaazz, where, says Brado, "We want to make people feel good about themselves. I don't want people to look at you and think, 'Great hair.' I want them to think, 'You look great." -- Michael Bowen

2nd: Mark Zalomsky, Studio 1929 *

3rd: Chris Leigh, Salon Nouveau

Best George W. Bush Impersonator -- Lee Lorenz

Somewhere in the world, each of us has a look-alike. But with a population of 6 billion and climbing, most of us will never know if that's true. So it's pretty miraculous that Lee Lorenz not only found his look-alike, but that the person happens to be the President of the United States. A Coeur d'Alene resident for about 30 years, Lorenz says he never paid much attention when people commented that he bore a striking resemblance to the governor of Texas. "I thought, 'So, I look like someone else, so what?'" he says. But when George W. Bush became president, Lorenz's friends and family urged him to capitalize on it.

"It was only two and a half years ago I started doing [impersonations]," Lorenz says. An agent picked him up after Lorenz e-mailed a few photos and says he's been booking gigs non-stop since. It's no wonder; Lorenz looks so much like Bush Jr. that he says people have tried pulling on his face to get the mask off. "One of the first [events] I did was a Lincoln Day Dinner, and I was scared because I didn't know if I could pull it off," Lorenz recalls. "But when [Idaho] Senators Butch Otter and Larry Craig, who know the president personally, were doing double takes at me, that made me realize. They gave me a lot of confidence, both of them saying, 'I thought he was supposed to be in Japan tonight!'"

Now a free agent, Lorenz flies all over the world impersonating George W.

"I've done speeches, political dinners, corporate parties, meet-and-greets," he says nonchalantly. "We put on all the trappings [to make the experience] like what people see on TV — the Secret Service, the metal detectors, the limo. They part the crowd and everyone is cheering."

Lorenz says he's been flown to Madrid to film a movie and to Australia to shoot a commercial for a South Korean credit card company. In Los Angeles, he was approached for an interview and ended up on Jimmy Kimmel Live. In addition, he's attended some spectacular parties, including a New Jersey bar mitzvah, where the kid's family rented the Oval Office set from Saturday Night Live and had Lorenz stand behind the desk and introduce the boy to the crowd.

"There was a [gig] right after that in Arlington Stadium with the Texas Rangers," Lorenz recalls. "I got to throw the game ball at a private corporate party, which had rented the stadium. It's quite a thrill standing on the mound, throwing the ball."

His most memorable gig? "We did a party for the Best Buy Corporation, for [the company's] top producers. They brought everyone to Disney World and rented a private beach. I had a good time with the Nicole Kidman look-alike."

Lorenz hasn't let all the hobnobbing go to his head; he says he doesn't take it too seriously and knows that when George W.'s gig is up, so is his: "I know a Bill Clinton look-alike, and as soon as Clinton was out of office, he was out of work." But that doesn't bother Lorenz, who owns the Coeur d'Alene security installation company, Security Solutions — his "real" job, as he puts it. "It's a chance to travel, I got a good start on my daughter's college education and it's a lot of fun."

As for whether Lorenz is a Bush fan? "That's a no-brainer," he says, chuckling. "I voted for his dad, too. It'd be really hard to play this part if you hated Bush." --Cara Gardner

BEST OF THE INLAND NORTHWEST -- RECREATION

Best Cheap Family Fun -- Riverfront Park

Everybody crows about the downtown revival going on these days, and about the how the Davenport Hotel put Spokane on the map. But we would posit that the construction of Riverfront Park was one of the best things this city ever did for itself. And while it's no Chuck E. Cheese or Six Flags, the park is an ideal place to take the kids on a mild Sunday afternoon. Bring breadcrumbs for the voracious waterfowl, stop for a picture at the Red Wagon (does that thing ever get old?), feed the garbage goat, take a ride on the Looff Carrousel, then let the kids run up and down the grassy hills until they collapse. That way — at least come June or July — they'll be just quiet and docile enough to feel some awe when you pack them into the newly remodeled gondola for a sweep over the falls. --Joel Smith

2nd: Wonderland * 3rd: The Garland Theater

North Idaho's Best: Silverwood

Best Place to Fish -- Lake Coeur d'Alene

We'll be the first to admit that this category is a joke. Everybody knows that a real angler never reveals his or her favorite fishing hole, for fear that every goofy-haired newbie caster and his brother will swoop in and shatter what once was a peaceful, bass-packed paradise. That said, Coeur d'Alene Lake is as good a place as any for said newbie to cast his first line. Packed to the gills with landlocked salmon, kokanee, small- and largemouth bass, and some of the portliest pike in Idaho, the abundant catchins make it a sweet spot for practicing technique. And at 50 square miles, it's plenty big enough to find a nice patch of privacy, allowing the freedom to work on that other half of the fishing technique: quiet, meditative patience. --Joel Smith

2nd: Lake Roosevelt * 3rd: Spokane River

Best New Way to Burn Calories -- Pilates

All of us slovenly winter-fat staff writers were really hoping our readers would inspire us with exciting new ways to get fit for spring. But no. Our second- and third-place winners have been around since the dawn of time (though which came first is up in the air), and the big winner has been blasting away calories for almost 80 years. Developed in 1926 by Joseph Pilates — who called it "The Art of Contrology" — Pilates eschews repetitions of the same exercise for fewer, more precise controlled movements, especially in the "Powerhouse" area — the ass, abs and lower back. Some liken it to yoga, but without the spiritual component.

Those who still pronounce it "pie-lates" and think only California airheads and wussy zen wannabes can do it would be wise to check out classes someplace like FSG, 24 Hour Fitness, Positive Power or Precision Pilates. We guarantee that in 30 minutes, you'll be begging for mercy. --Joel Smith

2nd: Walking * 3rd: Sex

Best Place to Hike -- Riverside State Park

In Hindu culture, rivers are considered holy, and the confluence of two (or more) rivers is seen as a sacred place. It's no surprise, then, that Riverside State Park, overlaid on the confluence of the Spokane and Little Spokane rivers, feels like a sanctuary. The park's 10,000 acres of trails and wilderness are precisely what everybody's talking about when they call this area "Near Nature, Near Perfect."

New hikers to the park will be impressed with its 55 miles of trails, but they should stay on their toes, so to speak. Come summer and sunny weather, the place can crawl with other hikers, bikers, horseback riders, wheelchair jockeys (seriously — the park has a mile of ADA trails), canoers, kayakers and plain old tourists coming to ogle the spectacular Bowl and Pitcher. We say get your hikes in now, people. --Joel Smith

2nd: Mount Spokane * 3rd: Tubbs Hill

Best Place for Rock-Climbing -- Minnehaha (John H. Shields Park)

Climbers say that the best thing Minnehaha has going for it is its location, just six miles outside of downtown Spokane — meaning that in about twenty minutes you can go from sitting in your office, staring at your computer, to hanging from 10 fingers off a granite ledge. That nearness has made Minnehaha a staple among local climbers, but some suggest that it's also made it terra cognita, and thus something of a bore. As with fishing holes, climbers tend to keep their favorite walls secret.

Still, you can't beat the proximity. And though a lot of the best plums may have already been picked over, tougher climbs like Smokey on Fire (V8) and To Have and Two Holds (V7) still give even the most experienced climbers a tough time. And with 70-some other routes scattered around the area, there's still plenty for the novice to discover. --Joel Smith

2nd: Wild Walls * 3rd: Bowl and Pitcher/Deep Creek

North Idaho's Best: Q'emlin Riverside Park, Post Falls

Best Golf Course -- Indian Canyon

Though it's gotten a good dose of competition lately from its fellow muni, The Creek at Qualchan, Indian Canyon remains the crown jewel in the Parks Department's golf circuit. Built on a canyon wall with a 240-foot vertical drop, it's repeatedly been named one of the top 25 public courses in the nation. And that's not because it's easy. Local duffers have cursed themselves indigo trying to tame their hooks and slices over the narrow greens, carved out between towering pines. And just when they've learned to straighten their drives, they're fooled by blind corners, undulating hills and inky, deceptive shadows.

But it's like they say on the ski slopes: If you never fall down, you're not trying hard enough. At Indian Canyon, you know you're at the top of your game when you end every 18 holes with at least a couple of badly bent clubs. Golf shouldn't just be a walk in the park. --Joel Smith

2nd: Qualchan * 3rd: Hangman

North Idaho's Best: The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course

Best Bike Shop -- Wheel Sport

Wheel Sport has been a haven for Spokane's two-wheeled community since the 1970s, when it first opened shop on North Division. Thirty years and two new locations later, they credit their success to a big inventory (around 1,000 bikes) and a welcoming attitude toward all kinds of bikes and bikers. Wheel Sport grease monkey Vince Poff says, "we like to cater to everybody," not just the high-end titanium alloy crew. Long-time riders in need of a tune-up, first-time buyers looking for the perfect fit, little kids eyeing their first rig — they all come to Wheel Sport.

Aside from sales and repair, the shop also organizes a couple of rides a year and sponsors the occasional racer. With springtime coming, cyclists ought to check out their upcoming mountain and comfort bike sale and their renowned midnight bike sale in late July — the "busiest two hours we ever have here," says Poff. --Joel Smith

2nd: Columbia Cycle * 3rd: Two Wheel Transit

North Idaho's Best: Shull's Cycling and Fitness, Coeur d'Alene

Best Place to Ski or Snowboard -- Schweitzer

Named for the Swiss hermit who for years holed up in the Selkirk Mountains near Sandpoint, Schweitzer has been the biggest name in Inland Northwest skiing practically since it opened in 1963. With eight lifts servicing 2,500 acres of luscious powder (some years, at least), the resort has put the city of Sandpoint on the map of vibrant, viable ski towns and amplified the buzz over winter sports in the Inland Northwest in general. And once this freaky El Nino, or La Nina, or Los Nunez or whatever the hell it is finally blows out of here, things are only going to get better. --Joel Smith

2nd: Mount Spokane * 3rd: 49 Degrees North

Best Outdoor Rec Supplies -- REI

Seattle-based REI has been edging out the locals in this category for years, and it will probably continue to do so. The company inspires almost rabid loyalty among its fans and customers, who are drawn in by its whole down-home, adventurous, outdoorsy, friendly Northwestern vibe and stay for the cooperative membership and discounts — including an annual refund on purchases at the store and online.

While some smaller outfitters suspect REI has gotten a little too big for its sturdy, breathable cotton canvas britches (with double-needle construction and gusseted crotch, or course), the well-monied outdoor juggernaut continues to wow with its massive inventory, green-minded philanthropy, out-there adventure tours and in-store perks, like climbing walls and bike test trails. It's a Goliath alright, but it's just so damned nice and friendly. --Joel Smith

2nd: Mountain Gear * 3rd: Mountain Goat

North Idaho's Best: The Black Sheep, Coeur d'Alene

Best Stretch of the Centennial Trail -- Riverfront Park to GU

That this short, mostly urban stretch of the trail beat out its longer, woodsier, more scenic competitors suggests to us that its fans see it as more than just a pretty walk — it's functional, too. Aside from the visual attractions of the park — the Carousel, the reflection of the Opera House on the water and the almost English countryside look of the river east of Division —— this stretch of the trail also serves as the fastest, most direct way for non-motorists to get from the Gonzaga campus to downtown and back. We clocked in at around 10 minutes on a recent bicycle spin from City Hall to the McCarthey Center. Taking the lights and dodging traffic on Spokane Falls Boulevard would have taken twice as long and been only a fraction as lovely. --Joel Smith

2nd: Sullivan Road to Stateline, Idaho * 3rd: through Riverside State Park

Best Health Club -- 24 Hour Fitness

What's nice about 24 Hour Fitness is that you can find one even if you if you move, travel or simply want a change of venue. With more than 300 U.S. locations, and clubs across Europe and Asia, the company is the largest privately owned fitness center in the world, boasting 2.7 million members. So there's really no excuse for not hitting the treadmill even during your next business trip.

Like pretty much all gyms (and cell phone plans), there are a slew of start-up fees and contract plans that flirt with the borders of "reasonable," but once you're on board, things are breezy. Depending on the kind of plan you have and which 24 Hour gym you're in, you can do much more than lift weights and watch C-Span while on the treadmill; there are yoga, spinning, aerobic and dance classes. In some locations, there are pools and racquetball courts. There are also plenty of personal trainers to help you get the perfect workout for your fitness goals. Though the clubs in the Spokane area aren't quite open 24 hours a day, if you show up during the hours they are open, you'll be fit 24/7. -- Cara Gardner

2nd Place: Spokane Athletic Club * 3rd Place: Gold's Gym

Best Neighborhood Walk in North Idaho -- Tubbs Hill

I'm reluctant to compare Tubbs Hill to Central Park in New York City; Coeur d'Alene is no metropolis. Still, the two parks invoke a similar sense of wonder as, with only a few steps, you cross over effortlessly from a concrete world of noise and right angles into a new dimension of stillness and earth, and it's as if the former just ceased to exist. If the central business district is the pumping heart of any city, a well-maintained urban park is that quiet place in its head where it goes, zen-like, to escape.

And while Coeur d'Alene is hardly the Big Apple, Tubbs Hill itself is one of the finest urban parks around. A solid, 135-acre knob of Precambrian mica schist and gneiss jutting out into Coeur d'Alene Lake, Tubbs takes you from the urban to the natural very quickly. From the trailhead at the south end of the parking lot between McEuen Park and the Coeur d'Alene Resort (or, on the other side, at the south end of 11th Street), the trail punches steeply upward through tight-packed pines, eventually opening up to somewhat thinner forest and a few broad grassy areas.

If you're trying not to get lost, follow the numbered signs, posted sporadically on ponderosas and Doug firs. They can be confusing — particularly if you begin on the backside — but they should get you where you want to go. If you don't care about getting lost, take one of the many informally blazed trails and see where it leads (taking note that hiking off-trail can cause harmful soil erosion). Views from all sides and the top of the hill are impressive, but the real money shot on Tubbs is its outer perimeter (pictured above), which skirts the lake, at varying elevations, for almost two miles. This is the kind of trail that begs you not to follow it, suggesting instead that you take a break on a rocky, lichen-encrusted outcrop and just enjoy the view. Or scramble down to the rocky beach and skip a few stones.

And it's this view especially — so broad and blue and calming — that lulls you into the feeling that you're far from home, far from civilization, in the wild. And that's what makes it so shocking when, in the last few steps of the trail, you see a fire hydrant, a sidewalk, the resort, traffic. And you cross back over that threshold. --Joel Smith

Best Way to Get Rec Street Cred -- The Great Outdoors Museum

It's become clear in the last few years that the Inland Northwest is interested in making a name for itself in the field of outdoor recreation. And why not? We already have a history of athleticism, with big events like Bloomsday, Hoopfest and now the Ironman Triathlon in Coeur d'Alene. It's tough to match the wealth of outdoor opportunities we have just in the immediate area — rocks to climb, trails to run, mountains to ski, hills to bike, rivers to raft. And, as a lot of civic boosters never fail to remind us, we're central to even more: summiting in the Cascades, hunting in Montana, spelunking in B.C., fishing in Oregon. And we're urban enough to make for a good base camp. When you think about it that way, you have a pretty good foundation for boasting that Spokane is already the Outdoors Capital of the Northwest.

And in that light, some of the measures the area's already started taking to capitalize on its outdoor wealth — Spokane's "Near Nature, Near Perfect" slogan, the Friends of the Falls' exciting plans for the gorge area, the push to clean up the Spokane River — seem less like paradigm-shifting ideas and more like no-brainers.

But let's say all these things happen and the Inland Northwest becomes a Mecca for outdoor pursuits. We think it needs a center, a hub, something tying it all together. That's where the Great Outdoors Museum comes in. Granted, museums and the outdoors seem like an unlikely match. But you stack this place with climbing walls, bike trails, an archery range, a swimming pool for practicing your Eskimo roll, a little stream where you can practice your fly casting. Then you pack in a lot of interactive exhibits on outdoorsmanship, collect a lot of artifacts — Norgay's mittens, LeMond's bike tires, Roskelley's ice pick — and then fill the remaining space with offices for local outdoors-related nonprofits, like adventure tour companies, a community bike program (with repair shop), and enviros like the Sierra Club or the Friends of the Falls/Aquifer/Centennial Trail. And perhaps most important, stuff the museum with information on what's available to the outdoors enthusiast living in, or visiting, Spokane. Make it a gateway to the outdoors.

The museum attracts field trips from school kiddies, newbies who want to learn to climb or shoot or paddle, hobbyists who need a place to train and tourists who want to get out there but don't know where to start. It's genius, we think.

If Spokane becomes the Outdoors Capital of the Northwest, then the Great Outdoors Museum would be its capitol building. --Joel Smith

Best Park and Neighborhood Walk -- Manito Park

No surprises here. In a city that prides itself on an exemplary parks system, Manito (Algonquin for "spirit of nature") has been, and probably always will be, the centerpiece. Ninety acres in the heart of the South Hill, it's both a hub for the surrounding community and one of those must-see spots for visitors. And, as our readers pointed out elsewhere in this issue, it's lovely enough to be the best local backdrop for a movie.

Manito, which celebrated its centennial last year, got its start in 1904 as a public recreational area and the terminus to a municipal streetcar line. Where today kids feed (and get chased by) ducks and geese, in the earliest part of the last century you could watch a movie by the pond, or waltz the night away at the big dance hall. With the Olmsteds' survey of Spokane's park system in the early 1910s, Manito started looking a little more park-like. Between 1910 and 1913, the newly formed independent parks commission added flower gardens, playgrounds, tennis courts, greenhouses, a ball field, year-round flower displays and built the three-acre, Euro-Renaissance-style Duncan Garden, complete with concrete fountain.

Since then, Manito has become a gardener's paradise. Rose Hill, a cooperative project between the Parks Department and the Spokane Rose Society, features informal beds with more than 1,500 rose bushes, including 150 different varieties. Manito boosters say it's one of the primary horticultural attractions in the Inland Northwest, whatever that means.

The list of attractions for floraphiles goes on and on: The tropical plants at the Gaiser Conservatory; the year-round displays in the Joel E. Ferris Perennial Garden; the intricate Nishinomoya Japanese Garden designed by Nagao Sakurai, the former headman at Japan's Imperial Gardens.

How much time our readers actually spend smelling the roses is questionable, however. We suspect that your overwhelmingly perennial support of Manito Park has more to do with its subtler, quotidian features. The rolling hills and open grassy areas, the courts and fields. Roses, schmoses. For our money, the best thing to do at Manito Park is just to meet up with a couple of friends on a warm summer evening and throw a Frisbee around. It might make a boring movie location, but it makes a beautiful backdrop for ordinary life. -- Joel Smith

BEST PARK 2nd: Riverfront Park * 3rd: Riverside State Park * North Idaho's Best: Coeur d'Alene City Park

BEST NEIGHBORHOOD WALK 2nd: Browne's Addition *

3rd: High Drive * North Idaho's Best: Tubbs Hill

BEST OF THE INLAND NORTHWEST -- NIGHTLIFE

Best Casino -- Northern Quest

The casino closest to Spokane, Northern Quest is just a short drive from the city center, and it has everything you might want in a gambling establishment. You know — the buffet. From what I hear, the Quest's dining experience is a true diamond in the Spokane culinary rough. With a consistently packed schedule of entertainers that we can all remember from some time or another, Northern Quest is your one-stop entertainment shop. It's a fully loaded recreation center – for adults. --Leah Sottile

2nd: Coeur d'Alene TribalCasino * 3rd: Two Rivers Casino

Best Movie Theater -- AMC River Park Square 20

It's a death-defying trip for anyone who suffers from vertigo, but avert your eyes — it's worth the risk to ascend all those escalators to see a movie at Spokane's only downtown theater. What isn't cool about AMC? Well, nothing. They have that neato ticket time board up front, arena seating and great sound. Besides, the AMC 20 is the only theater in town that brings more than just mainstream films. --Leah Sottile

2nd: The Garland * 3rd: Northtown Regal Cinemas *

North Idaho's Best: The Showboat

Best Cocktail Lounge -- The Peacock Room at the Davenport Hotel

No matter the price of the drinks, there's always something that can be said for swank. There's always that one night every year when you might get all dolled up, hit the town and then want to top it off with a nightcap worthy of your apparel. Enter, stage right, the Peacock Room. Located in Spokane's capital of swankiness, the Davenport Hotel, the Peacock allows you to enjoy a strong drink at the bar or at one of the candlelit tables. With its stained glass accoutrements, the Peacock Room is a regular Gatsby-esque hangout — but please, no dancing in the fountain. --Leah Sottile

2nd: Cavallino Lounge * 3rd: Dempsey's Brass Rail

Best Place to Drink Beer -- The Viking

It used to be called Ahab's Whale: You might remember it if you've been around these parts for more than a decade. It's a long-time nautical joint, with female figureheads from the bows of ships dotting some walls, flags hanging from every corner and patch of ceiling. And with the sheer volume of ale on tap at the Viking, there is a whole lot of swashbuckling that goes on at the Viking every night. With over 20 beers on tap and a solid wall of bottled brews, our readers think it's the premier place to drink beer in town — making the jump over last year's winner, the Elk, to take the title this year. --Leah Sottile

2nd: The Elk * 3rd: Mootsy's * North Idaho's Best: Moon Time

Best Bowling Center -- Lilac Lanes

The art of bowling is one that I've never understood or had much luck with — I chalk it up to being uncoordinated and having a slight lazy eye. And bowling culture is something I may never understand. The shirts, the gloves, the multi-colored bowling one-sies? Any activity that calls itself a "sport" yet goes hand-in-hand with cups of Coors Light and packs of Kools is a mystery to me. At Lilac Lanes, however, pondering the mysteries of bowling isn't a useful pursuit. Unlike some of its dark-and-dingy counterparts, things are bright and cheery at the bowling haven on North Nevada. Tables glisten as groups from the avid leaguers to the young and awkward fill the lanes nightly, cocktail waitresses slinking in between. There's a bar, gambling and, of course, balls aplenty. Lilac Lanes is bowling Zen. --Leah Sottile

2nd: Big Daddy's * 3rd: Players and Spectators

Best Local Band -- 10 Minutes Down

Well, the kids are back, all right, and in a big way this year. The longtime skankers who first took this category back in 2002 were beat out the last two years, first by cover band Kidd Sister, and then by blues men Too Slim and the Taildraggers. But this year, their fans came out in full force, invading our racks and crayoning in enough votes to double those for the second-place band, Five Foot Thick.

Things have changed around 10MD Land since they last won – and even more has changed in the band's eight-year history. The Minute-men said goodbye to bassist Kyle Bradshaw and brassman Sean McKenzie last December. In fact, we're not sure that any member of the band is from the original, Gonzaga-bred lineup, but we do know that the kids in town love 'em. How can you not have a soft spot for the clean-cut, smiling members of 10MD? We do, tee hee. --Leah Sottile

2nd: Five Foot Thick * 3rd: Too Slim and the Taildraggers

Best Wine Bar -- Niko's Greek Restaurant & Wine Bar

I had this write-up over half finished when I called Pauline Riley, wine specialist and general manager at Niko's. I told her I was from The Inlander, wanted to write about her wine bar, yadda yadda. But she stopped me.

"Have you been here, though?" she said.

"Uh, well, I've eaten there, but" I yammered.

"Come over, now. What are you doing? Come over," she said, and I could tell that she expected me to comply.

So I walked the three blocks, and Pauline recognized me from the get-go. It was probably the notepad.

She plunked me down at the bar, poured me a "blind wine tour" of three excellent red wines, then rattled off wine jargon that made me understand what I was tasting. I sipped, she talked, we laughed about Sideways, and suddenly I was chatting it up with other customers.

That's the thing about Niko's, and the reason that they've taken the crown in this category for as long as I can remember. Sure, they've got more than 1,000 bottles in their cellar — but at Niko's, you learn what you like, drink what you want and Pauline makes sure that you like it.

"There's nothing worse than having a glass of wine in front of you that you don't like," she says.

Because at Niko's, wine is something for everyone to enjoy, and there's something that will appeal to almost anyone's palate — without it mattering whether you're eating chicken or beef. Like every individual who has come through the doors of the restaurant for the last 19 years, each glass of wine is unique. And Pauline caters to that.

She says she loves nothing more than when people come in before going to a movie, and then end up staying, skipping the movie and relaxing with a glass of wine.

"I think people are sometimes intimidated by the verbiage," she says. "I don't impose my beliefs. You should be able to try anything you want. It's about drinking wine and having a forum to try that wine."

With Pauline's assistance, I savored my wine tour — learning and enjoying along the way. And when I was done, I even left with a bottle of wine. — Leah Sottile

2nd: Mizuna * 3rd: The Peacock Room at the Davenport *

North Idaho's Best: The Wine Cellar

Best Place to Incite the Revolution -- The Coeur d'Alene Tea House

Missoula has Rockin' Rudy's, Boise has the Record Exchange, Spokane's got Boo Radley's, and now Coeur d'Alene has its own little hotbed for political goodies and liberal counterculture. Doesn't every city need one?

The Lake City spot is disguised, however, with all the political mumbo jumbo only being a part of the Tea House's charm. The Tea House is an all-ages music venue, an espresso joint, a tea lovers' paradise and, get this, the "world's largest living room" — though we think that might be a tad exaggerated.

Let's start with the store: Gateway Gardens. Owner Tyson Deering-Soth bought the longtime store and moved it to the Tea House. He saw a void in the North Idaho community for something that aligned with his political views.

With the recent closure of Moon Shadow in downtown Spokane, you can now make the short drive to Coeur d'Alene to restock your hippie toolbox: tapestries, incense, Buddha statues and Bob Marley T-shirts.

As a coffee shop, tea house and living room, Deering-Soth opens up the shop around 10 am, and allows patrons to hole up in one of the many recliners, couches and "mismatched '70s stuff" through 8 pm on weeknights.

"We carry really good coffee, but we have a vast selection of teas," he says — more than 75 varieties, in fact, from green to black, from loose to bag, and with every variety and flavor in between. Enjoy them in a cup or in your own personal pot.

And, very importantly to the region, the Tea House is the largest music venue in Coeur d'Alene. Bands like Coretta Scott, Five Foot Thick and the Uprite Dub Orchestra have already broken in the stage since its early February opening.

"We fall somewhere in between the B-Side and Fat Tuesday's," he says, noting that his current capacity is 150 but should be upped to nearly 300 (once he installs another toilet).

The tea, the culture and the music are all things Soth-Deering is happy to serve up to North Idaho — and he's hoping it's something that the community can learn to embrace:

"It's probably the most politically active dissident store I know of," he says. "It's kind of like a hippie store. It's just kind of a really progressive store in a really conservative community." --Leah Sottile

Best Hot New Nightspot, Place to Meet Single, Live Music Venue and Dance Club -- The Big Easy

If you're suffering from a Spokane inferiority complex, just show the Big Easy to all your out-o-town friends. You know exactly which friends I'm talking about — the ones who lived here but got away, the ones who still pronounce it Spo-CANE, and the ones who ask you, "What the hell do you do on weekends?" as if they hadn't lived here for four years. Do I speak from personal experience? Why yes, I do.

Because after you hold your rent check under their upturned Seattle noses, you can take them to the Big Easy. That'll shut them up nice and good. All peeves about the place aside, remember the first time that you walked into the club itself? I do, and I about peed my pants, what with all the pretty lights, dancers and ear-shattering sound system. I was impressed, and my Seattle friends? Well, their jaws dropped.

And apparently our readers' jaws are dropping, too, all over the place, since they've selected the Big Easy as The Inlander's Best Of winner in four nightlife categories this year. Y'all think it's the best club to get crunk with your fellas, meet some hotties, flash some bling, lean back and drop it like it's hot, know what I'm saying? Ahem.

On Friday and Saturday nights, the Big Easy transforms into Club Mardi Gras and Club Fusion, respectively. DJ Decibel spins both nights, blasting everything from the raunchiest bump 'n' grind songs to heavy European techno and house music.

On the live music front, the Big Easy fills the size void between the B-Side and the Spokane Arena — providing a venue for mid-sized bands to play. And that's allowed acts like Liz Phair, Jewel, the Killers, Tegan & Sara and the Roots to rock the faces off of our fair city.

"I think what makes the Big Easy worthy of these honors is the great vibe, the extensive lights and sound system, the high number of national acts, top-notch DJs, great food and drink — and most importantly, the 100 plus members of our team whose number one priority is to show our guests a great time," says Greg Marchant, general manager of the Big Easy. "We are already on track to exceed the level of activity in [2005]."

Our readers say the Big Easy is the spot for nightlife in Spokane. It's a party all the time — and that's exactly what the Big Easy wants it to be. Your Seattle friends will be so jealous. — Leah Sottile

Best Hot New Nightspot 2nd: Trickshot Dixie's * 3rd: The Merq *

North Idaho's Best: The Grail

Best Place to Meet Singles 2nd: Church * 3rd: Dempsey's *

North Idaho's Best: The Iron Horse

Best Live Music Venue 2nd: Fat Tuesday's * 3rd: The Met *

North Idaho's Best: Silver Mountain

Best Dance Club 2nd: Dempsey's * 3rd: Trickshot Dixie's *

North Idaho's Best: The Grail

BEST OF THE INLAND NORTHWEST -- FOOD & DRINK

BEST DRIVE-THRU ESPRESSO -- Jacob's Java

There's a little bit more that goes into winning the Best Drive-Thru category here in Best Of Land. To take the trophy in this category, a drive-thru hut has to prove itself in more than just good foam. Think about it: Customers that hit up drive-thrus for their morning, afternoon or evening fix are in a hurry. They don't want long, slow lines. Baristas must be quick, efficient and deadly when hustling customers through the line of cars, serving quality coffee with a smile that will brighten up a morning commute. It's a risky venture, the coffee hut biz. But rest assured, you're guaranteed the best at Jacob's — readers tell us that every year. — Leah Sottile

2nd: Starbucks * 3rd: Jitterz * North Idaho's Best: Java the Hut

BEST ESPRESSO DRINKS -- Starbucks

Sigh. At this point, there's no use in my preaching to you about the evils of big corporations or the benefits of supporting local business. You guys love Starbucks — the last few years of the Best Of issue have proved that. And you know what, that's OK — we find ourselves blindly herding into line at the downtown Starbucks at least twice a week. We, too, are slaves to the mermaid/siren/lady/monster and her delicious beans. No other java hut whets your need for speed like Starbucks, and judging from the remnants in our office trashcans, we feel the same. --Leah Sottile

2nd: Jacob's Java * 3rd: The Rocket * North Idaho's Best: Café Doma

BEST BAKERY AND LOCALLY OWNED COFFEEHOUSE -- The Rocket

It's probably the smart combination of two things — that warm, fresh-baked smell and the cozy, comfortable, everybody-is-a-regular-here coffeehouse feel — that easily deliver the crown of these two categories to the Rocket Bakeries each and every year. Those poor baristas probably have to wipe drool marks and nose smudges from the baked goods case each evening, because there's a treat for everyone here: the frosting-shellacked cinnamon buns for the self-indulgent, whole-wheat cookies for the wary, scones in every flavor for the tea drinkers. And like the desserts, there's a Rocket for everybody: the Main and Division spot for the daytime sippers, the one on First for Sunday breakfast, the Rocket Market for in-town escapees. With an army of smiling baristas, the Rocket keeps satisfying Spokane's sweet teeth and caffeine addictions year after year. And, on a personal note, they fulfill my insane pink cookie addiction week after week with some of the softest, sweetest batches in town. Hey, Rocket: These love handles are yours.

-- Leah Sottile

Best Bakery 2nd: Rockwood Bakery * 3rd: Great Harvest

Best Locally Owned Coffeehouse 2nd: Rockwood Bakery *

3rd: Four Seasons * North Idaho's Best: Café Doma

Best Breakfast -- Frank's Diner

Inlander readers really stuck it to Frank's Diner last year — handing the title for the first time in 11 years to this year's second-place finisher, Old European. It was a painful blow, we know. Frank's took the vote seriously, it seems, and the Spokane standard is back. Things just seem better around the west downtown train car than we ever remember: The food's still great, but the improvement is in the waitstaff. The short-haired weekend greeter takes your name, asks how your day is and flips you some sh-- if she thinks you need it. The line cooks are a two-man comedy routine, entertaining counter diners with their uncanny omelet skills and relentless pestering of rookie waitresses. It's less of a diner and more like a Sunday breakfast at home. Everyone's a "hon" or a "sweetie" at Frank's — hell, when you eat at Frank's, you're family. -- Leah Sottile

2nd: Old European * 3rd: Cannon Street Grill * North Idaho's Best: Dockside

BEST DESSERT -- Just American Desserts

For almost two decades, sisters Eva Roberts and Tracy Hunter have served up tons of rich desserts: creamy cheesecakes, silky ganache and thick fudgy chocolate cakes. These are desserts that epitomize the best of what dessert should be — an exquisite out-of-the-ordinary treat that will lift an average day to the level of celebration. They are alchemists turning butter, sugar and chocolate into pure delight. Lord knows how many points they've contributed to our collective cholesterol counts, yet we have nothing but gratitude for the experience. --Ann M. Colford

2nd: Cyrus O'Leary's * 3rd: Clinkerdagger * North Idaho's Best: Beverly's

BEST SEAFOOD -- Anthony's HomePort

I'm a seafood snob — I'll admit it. In my coastal New England hometown, Fridays were incomplete without a trip to the local fish market to buy something that had probably been swimming on Thursday. Now that I live 300 miles from salt water, my fishmonger dreams were but wistful memories, refreshed only during occasional visits to Seattle. But now, Spokane, we have our own outlet of the West Side seafood emporium, with a knockout view of the falls to boot. Northwest specialties like salmon, crab and halibut take top marks here, along with an impressive array of oysters fresh from the bracing waters of the northern Pacific. --Ann M. Colford

2nd: Milford's Fish House * 3rd: Red Lobster

Best Steakhouse -- Spencer's

Take prime-quality, corn-fed beef from the American heartland, grill it to perfection, and you're bound to make a lot of people happy. That's the recipe for success at Spencer's, downtown Spokane's contribution to local steakhouse lore. Of course, there's more to a good steakhouse than just steak, and Spencer's fills the bill with soups, salads and yummy desserts. But the beef is the star. When you've got to have that perfect slab o' beef, in the right setting, our ever-knowledgeable readers say this is the place to go. --Ann M. Colford

2nd: Wolf Lodge Inn * 3rd: Outback Steakhouse

Best Winery -- Arbor Crest

When inventor Royal Riblet built his mansion high on a rocky bluff overlooking the Spokane Valley, do you suppose he ever had visions of people wandering the manicured grounds, wine glasses in hand, talking about "a good nose" and "a crisp, lingering finish"? The good Mr. Riblet might be surprised at the transformation of his former home and estate, but those of us who love wine are forever grateful for the many award-winning vintages that emerge from this hilltop winery. The winding drive back down the hill can be a little daunting, so be sure the driver doesn't get too enthusiastic in the sampling room. But otherwise, lift a glass to the brilliant locals who pursue the fine art of oenology. --Ann M. Colford

2nd: Latah Creek * 3rd: Caterina Winery

Best New Restaurant -- Moxie

Chef Ian Wingate made his mark with the first Moxie in a little strip mall storefront in Liberty Lake. Now he's on his own again, and he's brought his imaginative contemporary fusion cuisine to the heart of downtown. Judging by the crowds — and the response of our readers — it was a popular move. Wingate's Asian-inspired dishes gain plenty of attention, but give me a Chipotle Glazed Grilled Meatloaf anytime. Now that's what I call comfort food, gone uptown. Diners can gaze into the open kitchen and prep area, but only if they can tear their attention away from the artfully presented dishes at their own tables. --Ann M. Colford

2nd: Anthony's HomePort * 3rd: Latah Creek Bistro *

North Idaho's Best: Sam's in Kellogg

Best Cheap Eats -- Dick's Hamburgers

There are certain categories in this Best Of thing that we might just have to retire one day due to the fact that the same place wins it hands down every single year. This is one of them. And we couldn't agree more with our readers' undying love of Dick's Drive-In. There is quite simply nothing else quite like it in Spokane, if not the entire universe. This is still one burger (and fries and fish and chicken and ice cream) joint where a dollar actually means something. And that is, one heck of a lot of tasty fast food. Free with every order: '50s-era walk-up service, order fillers who memorize every order, and some excellent people-watching. — Mike Corrigan

2nd: Zip's * 3rd: The Old Spaghetti Factory

Best Fine Dining and Best Waitstaff -- Clinkerdagger

Best complete dining experience in Spokane? You're looking at it, kid. Judging purely from reader responses over lo these many years, one comes to an inescapable conclusion: Clinkerdagger. And it's hard to argue with that, because this local dining institution does pretty much everything and does it right — food, service and atmosphere. Clink's takes this category just about every year, which you'd think would instill them with complacency, even haughtiness. Thankfully, that's not the case. For Clinkerdagger, consistency is the key. The cozy, casual and intimate feel of the restaurant (located since 1974 in the turn-of-the-century Flour Mill), the spectacular views of the Spokane River and the staff's cheerful attention to the finest of details all make dining here an event rather than merely a way to fend off starvation for a few hours. The food as well is world-class and the menu is always surprising. Yet it's those Clinkerdagger traditions (like their famous burnt creme) that make return trips feel like a homecoming. -- Mike Corrigan

Best Fine Dining 2nd: Luna * 3rd: Anthony's HomePort *

North Idaho's Best: Beverley's

Best WaitStaff 2nd: Luigi's * 3rd: Luna

Best Mexican -- Azteca

If we see Azteca Mexican Restaurant with top honors here one more time, so help us we're gonna, well, we swear we're gonna have to, uh — eat there. Come to think of it, we already do. Like just about everyone else in Spokane, it would seem. While Casa de Oro and Rancho Chico routinely fight it out for seconds and thirds in this category, Azteca is usually sitting pretty in first. The restaurant's downtown location across from the convention center is new, but the food here (and at the Northpointe and Valley Mall locations) is the same fresh and tasty Mexican fare that Inlander readers and Spokanites in general turn to time and time again when they've got an itch for well-prepared enchiladas, tacos, burritos and more served up in a relaxed atmosphere by servers who greet you with a smile. -- Mike Corrigan

2nd: Casa de Oro * 3rd: Rancho Chico * North Idaho's Best: Toro Viejo

Best Burger -- Red Robin

Inlander readers consistently go with Red Robin in this category, and while we'd like to say it's all because of the bottomless fries that come with your order (no doubt a big plus), we concede that there are other forces at work here. Like big, meaty burgers smothered in Swiss and/or mushrooms and/or onions and/or bacon and/or just about anything else you can imagine. Like burgers that aren't really burgers at all (veggie and chicken). All served up by a pleasant staff in an atmosphere one might freely refer to as "lively." -- Mike Corrigan

2nd: The Onion * 3rd: D-Lish's * North Idaho's Best: Hudson's Hamburgers

Best Italian -- Luigi's

While there are many places in this town to score decent pasta — along with a few that still think "al dente" has something to do with body work — one place stands out: Luigi's Italian Restaurant. Luigi's many earthly delights (like the Sicilian Linguine) are wonderfully savory and come with stunningly fresh bread and knockout soup or salad. The wines and desserts are also worth noting, and the barkeep in the lounge makes a mean cocktail. Luigi's consistently rates high on the service scale as well (as they did again this year) — an indication that while its cuisine is well regarded, great food isn't the only ingredient in this restaurant's highly successful mix. --Mike Corrigan 2nd: The Italian Kitchen * 3rd: Tomato Street *

North Idaho's Best: Tito Macaroni's

Best Asian -- Mustard Seed

It's not going out on a limb too much say that the Mustard Seed virtually owns the hearts of Inlander readers. The restaurant's move a few years ago from its former downtown digs to its current home in NorthTown Mall has only solidified its hold on the "Best Asian" category. In the immortal words of Yogi Berra, it's deja vu all over again. The Mustard Seed's success can be traced to good service and kitchen creations that graciously and stylishly tiptoe the line between authentic and Westernized. Fresh ingredients, careful preparation and artful presentation — all fundamental aspects of Asian cuisine — are hallmarks of this perennial Spokane favorite. --Mike Corrigan 2nd: Gordy's Sichuan * 3rd: China Dragon *

North Idaho's Best: Bonsai Bistro

Best Sandwich -- Domini's

The Domini family has been running this amazing nosh nook for decades — to the delight of their many regular customers — so it's not much of a surprise that Inlander readers would once again reward them with top honors here. I mean, Manhattan's famous delicatessens are the inspiration for this place, so what's not to like? Simply put, it's about meat and cheese — your choice, in deliciously vast quantities — with your choice of bread and spread. Add chips and an RC Cola (in the can, please) and you've got yourself a hunk of heaven in a plastic basket. The popcorn is free, and the people-watching opportunities are top notch. No checks though, so make sure you've got some green. --Mike Corrigan

2nd: Subway * 3rd: Quizno's

Best Pizza -- David's

While the corporate bigwigs running the nation's chain pizza joints feel the need to come up with some stupid new gimmick (stuffed crusts, bread sticks, dips, free chicken wings, etc.) every three months to peddle their mediocre pies, David's just keeps doing what they've done for years — that is, consistently turning out pizzas of exceptional quality and character. And Spokane digs it. For as long as we've been doing the Best Of deal, David's owner Mark Starr and his congenial crew have been taking home first place in this category simply by doing it their way.

And cheers to the second and third placers (Bennedito's and Rocky Rococo) for squeezing out the big guys this year, making the results in this category a locals-only sweep. --Mike Corrigan

2nd: Bennedito's * 3rd: Rocky Rococo

Best Bar Food -- The Swinging Doors

This friendly family-run neighborhood sports bar/watering hole/restaurant has been going strong since 1981 and deserves every accolade our readers can bestow upon it. The Swinging Doors has 50 (you read that right) television screens beaming satellite sports programming right into your brain: big games, obscure games and everything in between. And the food choices are just as varied. They serve breakfast at all hours along, with burgers, sandwiches, fish and chips, pizza, full dinners and delicacies like gizzards with fires. (How many of those do they serve up in a week?) The Swinging Doors is also open 24 hours a day every Thursday through Saturday to satisfy those weekend wee-hour cravings. --Mike Corrigan

2nd: The Satellite Diner * 3rd: The Elk

North Idaho's Best: Moon Time

Best Heart Healthy Menu --Mizuna

Mizuna is the home of some of the most inventive and delicious — not to mention healthy — culinary creations you'll find anywhere in Spokane. The nice thing is, you sacrifice nothing in terms of flavor with the restaurant's winning vegetarian and vegan dishes, while the relatively new fish and beef options only broaden the scope of what the chefs here consistently accomplish with simple, fresh ingredients and sublime presentation. The majority of the menu is vegan — and almost all dishes can be made that way on request. The atmosphere is elegant, modern and comfortable, and the wine list is extensive. All of which, incidentally, is pretty easy on the heart. -- Mike Corrigan

2nd: Subway * 3rd: Applebee's

BEST LATE-NIGHT DINING -- The Satellite

The trick in a early to bed/early to rise town like Spokane is to find any late hour eats at all that don't include a trip to a chain all-nighter like Shari's or Denny's (who just happen to be this category's second and third placers, respectively). Suburbanites who rarely venture out of their neatly manicured lives to sample nighttime downtown culture might be a tad intimidated by the colorful characters and sometime raucous street life fancies that surround and frequent the Satellite. But the rest of us don't mind a bit. That's because the food is great and the servers are all a bunch of characters in their own right.

"I've had the same people working for me forever," says owner Colleen Freeman, "which is what every employer wants. They get a little complacent sometimes and I have to shake them up. But it's a really nice, diverse bunch, just like our customers."

The menu features sandwiches, burgers, breakfasts, wraps, salads and soups — along with traditional bar food like potato skins and a pile of cheese fries massive enough to feed two or even three. Smoking is OK, and the intoxicating liquids from the full bar are available to you until last call (which is strictly enforced). But the food keeps coming until 4 am, seven days a week.

"We close just long enough for the janitors to get in and clean," Freeman laughs.

And as the bars close on a Saturday night, the nightly kaleidoscope of humanity begins to flow in: a sullen girl curled up in a booth with a cigarette and a book, an old-timer hunched over his coffee at the end of the bar, a table full of would-be players in warm-up gear and crooked baseball caps, laughter exploding from a group of punk rock kids and sport-os with way too much liquor and testosterone in them being shown the door.

Meanwhile, the cook behind the counter drops another basket-load of home fries into the boiling oil. --Mike Corrigan

2nd: Shari's * 3rd: Denny's

BEST BURRITO -- Sonic Burrito

Spokane, you do know a good burrito when you bite one, don't you? Although this town is blessed with several fine burrito huts (see Nos. 2 and 3 below), Sonic Burritos is the clear winner in this category for the umpteenth time for reasons that can be divined through even the most casual observation. Yep, there may be more competition for your specialty burrito buck these days but Sonic — founded way back in 1995 — is till tops.

"There is a lot more competition out there," agrees owner Melissa Massie. "So you can never take anything for granted."

With more than a dozen signature items on the menu (such as the Thai with spicy peanut sauce and the monstrous Sonic Boom), Sonic has taken much of the guesswork out of the burrito construction process. Yet you can still go your own way — or even alter concoctions like the Screamin' Lentil Veggie or the Ragin' Cajun to your taste. The cheerful, helpful staff is there to assist. The restaurant decor is sleek, modern and accommodating, with lots of room for diners to spread out and intriguing metal fixtures and sculptures.

"Everyone really likes the environment," says Massie. "And we keep everything personal, not corporate. I think a lot of people appreciate that."

One of our favorites is the Fish Burrito, which comes stock with white fish marinated in lime and cilantro (not breaded and fried). To go with it, you have your choice of beans, cheese, brown rice, lettuce, red onions, red cabbage, sour cream and salsa and it is topped with chipotle tartar sauce. Like all Sonic burritos, the thing is massive with a unique and deeply satisfying blend of flavors (zesty, savory) and textures (tender, crunchy).

Also of note is Sonic's dizzying array of specialty and gourmet hot sauces, salsas and other ingredients (prepared fresh daily), and people who put a whole lot of fun and love into each of their bulging, tightly wrapped creations.

"It's healthy and quick," says Massie. "And fresh. Other than the tortillas, we make everything here."

Eating one of these things can be something of a messy prospect, though. If you're getting a burrito to go, be sure to stock up on napkins.

--Mike Corrigan

2nd: Slick Rock * 3rd: Qdoba

BEST ESPRESSO DRINKS AND BEST LOCALLY OWNED COFFEEHOUSE IN NORTH IDAHO -- Cafe Doma

Café Doma hasn't been around for long, but long enough, it would seem, to make a big impression on coffee connoisseurs in the region — particularly those who also happened to take the time to fill out Inlander Best Of ballots. Doma nailed not one but two prestigious coffee categories this year. We've had a chance to sample Doma's wares ourselves (actually, some of our freezers are full of the stuff), so we know of what we speak when we say we can see where all the compliments are coming from. And why. The Café in Coeur d'Alene is owned by Terry and Rebecca Patano and staffed by a friendly, easy-going and knowledgeable crew that is passionate about coffee — in particular, specialty coffees that form the foundation of Doma's small batch-roasted product line. A Doma coffee creation — whether a creamy cappuccino, a complex latte or a life–affirming Americano — is a finely crafted product raised, roasted and delivered by human hands.

"People are starting to recognize that the barista is the one who decides if that is a good or bad experience," says Rebecca, who notes that in Europe, a barista is a respected position, typically entrusted to middle-aged men. "We are teaching our baristas that they should have a pride in the craft that they do — there's an art to it."

The beans come from all over the world — Colombia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Sumatra and Ethiopia — and are acquired from brokers who work closely with coffee farmers, ensuring that they receive an adequate price for their crop (hence the café's slogan: "coffee, culture, meaning"). Terry personally roasts the beans in his small roaster that holds a mere 26 pounds of coffee at a time.

"For some people, going to the coffee shop is a daily ritual," says Rebecca. "It's that human touch that's so important. Our customers come in, have a cup of coffee, some baked goods — and they know what we're about."

This careful hand-roasting of select beans and a world-conscious/community-oriented way of doing business can only add up to continued success for this outfit. Doma coffees are available wholesale, retail and are being served at places like Lindaman's, Java on Sherman and other locations throughout the Spokane-Coeur d'Alene area. -- Mike Corrigan

BEST RURAL RESTAURANT -- THE HARVESTER

Rural restaurants serve a unique role in their communities. It's the place to go for a cup of coffee in the morning when you want to catch up on the local news, the place to grab a quick workday lunch, or the spot for a nice dinner out when you don't feel like dolling up for a trip to town. Mostly, though, it's a place to be comfortable, says Frank De Lis, owner of the Harvester in Spangle, just off Highway 195 about 20 minutes south of Spokane.

"We are a rural restaurant, supporting rural communities and serving comfort foods," De Lis says. "My approach is to have a comfortable facility, so when the farmers come in, if they're in their jeans and they just came from the fields, they feel comfortable."

Comfort. That's a word that comes up over and over as De Lis talks about his restaurant. He's made a few changes since his arrival two years ago, painting and adding a few decor touches, but De Lis knows not to mess with the down-home ambience of the place. The orange Naugahyde booths remain in place, along with seating at the counter.

The farmers make up about a quarter of the Harvester's customers, with another quarter drawn in off the highway. The rest are mainly retirees from the surrounding small towns, people who enjoy the drive and come for their favorite familiar foods.

"These are people who know what pot roast is," explains De Lis. "They know what meatloaf is. Chef salad, Shrimp Louie – when's the last time you saw Shrimp Louie on a menu?"

When he first took over the restaurant, De Lis had a dinner special that he called Chicken Scallopini, a lovely dish of lightly seasoned sauteed chicken. But nobody bought it. When he renamed it Lemon Pepper Chicken, suddenly it sold out.

"You have to know your market," he concludes.

The Harvester's menu is filled with sandwiches and burgers, salads — Caesar is as exotic as it gets — and entrees like Mom used to make for Sunday dinner. No scallopini or panini, just good old-fashioned easy-to-pronounce American meals. Except for the handful of Mexican specialties added to please the younger, more adventurous crowd, the menu would fit well in a Norman Rockwell painting.

"We try to do the best we possibly can," says De Lis. "There's no pretense. [Our customers] are beyond that now. They've been through that phase. When they come out to eat, they want to feel... comfortable." — ANN M. COLFORD

2nd: Wolf Lodge Inn (outside Coeur d'Alene) *

3rd: Commellini's (north of Spokane)

BEST OF THE INLAND NORTHWEST -- BONUS QUESTIONS

BEST NAME OF AN ESPRESSO HUT -- Brews Bros.

It doesn't take long for anyone visiting the Inland Northwest to figure out there's a market for coffee. "Market for coffee" is a bit of an understatement: There's a drive-thru espresso stand on practically every corner — and they're all busy. So in order to stand out, espresso huts have to come up with a stellar marketing strategy — one that includes a great name that will stick with customers.

Judging by voters' responses, there are a lot of creatively named drive-thru java huts out there. But one stood out above the others: Brews Bros, which has three locations, one of which is a full-scale downtown coffee shop complete with lounge chairs, food and friendly baristas.

So, how did the owners come up with their business's name? "It's a takeoff on the movie Blues Brothers," explains Shae Obando, one of the original co-owners. "My dad is the retired assistant police chief [for the City of Spokane], and his close friend is also a retired police officer. They opened the first [hut] in 1997."

The theme worked. Commuters love having their coffee slung by two retired cops; after all, you'd figure they know a thing or two about a good cuppa joe. Since then, Obando opened the hut on Ruby and Sinto, sold it as a franchise, and now runs the downtown café.

Brews Bros took the prize by just a hair though, with only a few more votes than second-place winner, Bean Me Up, while there was a tie for third place. Many huts that didn't make it into the top three get honorable mentions for the following categories:

Wordplay: Espresso Yourself, Latte Dah and Field of Beans. Location Puns: Latah Latte and Bigelow Gulp. Being Grounded: Common Grounds, Sacred Grounds (near a church), Higher Grounds, Fair Grounds (serves fair trade) and Stand Your Grounds. — CARA GARDNER

2nd: Bean Me Up * 3rd (tie) Brewed Awakening and Java the Hut

BEST THING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT AFTER THEY FILL IN ALL THE POTHOLES -- How They Fixed the Potholes

OK, so maybe we asked for it. When we put the thing about the potholes in our question, we should've known that it was going to open up one big, bilious sore spot. Like mentioning "the war" around old Uncle Elmer, bringing up street problems around Inlander readers unleashes a veritable torrent of emotion. Of those who responded to this question, more than half suggested other road/traffic problems as the source of the next civic remonstrance.

Chief among the hypothetical complaints was a serious doubt in the city's ability to fix the potholes in the first place. Some said they would complain about the minefield of bumps left after they filled the holes. One reader mused that the color of the new cement would clash terribly with the old pavement, creating a real muni-cultural faux pas. Others say they would complain about the cost of the job, or suggest that the short-sighted city would probably tear the streets up in a few years anyway, to put in pipes they hadn't foreseen. Others, simply, say they would complain about the lack of potholes, with one respondent going so far as to suggest that a pothole-free drive would be so uncharacteristically smooth that they might fall asleep at the wheel and crash their cars.

But that's not all you're mad about. Twelve people said that without potholes, they would rant about ruts. Another 12 complained about ruts and construction on I-90, while a handful bemoaned the lack of a north-south freeway, a functional Monroe Street Bridge, available parking or any rhyme and reason to downtown traffic lights.

And while some directed their ire at specific people and groups — like George W. Bush, the Cowles family, the mayor, meth heads and mullet-graced hicks — no group was more precisely targeted than bad drivers. Especially those who use their cell phone while they drive. Lots of people said that without potholes they would complain about reckless motorists. A dozen more specified chatty cell phone drivers. — JOEL SMITH

2nd: Reckless Drivers * 3rd: Problems on I-90

BEST COSTUME TO RUN BLOOMSDAY IN -- Your Birthday Suit

We've got to be honest with you, every year when we're counting the Best of the Inland Northwest ballots, we counters experience a range of emotions. Excitement is rare; extreme anger and uncontrollable laughter are much more common. Often, we're appalled by your answers — for example, the horde of dorks who wrote "my bed" for the Best Inland Northwest Location for NxNW To Shoot a Movie. Dumb.

But in regard to your answers saying you'd like to run Bloomsday nude: We applaud you, readers. And we challenge you: Bring it on. We'd love to see all you streakers-at-heart put your votes to the test at this year's event. And if you decide to go through with it, call us – we'd laugh our asses off at watching all of your cute little butts work their way up Doomsday Hill (and, ultimately, a local jail cell). We'll even bring a photographer.

Though transforming the annual footrace into a much larger version of the Bare Buns Fun Run was the clear choice here, the rest of your answers were all over the board. Some men think dressing up as a woman would be funny, others think toting a grass skirt and a coconut bra would be a kick. But those are hardly the best. One reader suggested dressing up as a pineapple. Get it? The Pineapple Express? Dressing up as a giant hot dog was another popular one, as was a giant penis costume. And, if a penis could be a popular costume, then you won't be surprised to find out that "a turd" was another common answer — and specified by many of you just like that: t-u-r-d.

From marmots with hangovers, Mayor Jim West, President George W. Bush and every type of food from donuts to pickles and slices of pie, you readers sure got creative. --Leah Sottile

2nd: Drag Queen * 3rd: Hawaiian

BEST SLOGAN TO SELL THE REGION -- Like Seattle in the 1970s

Maybe you guys haven't heard of a slogan before: Judging from 90 percent of your votes, the term is Chinese to you. It's a short advertising phrase intended to rally support for something, guys. So either you've never heard of such a thing or most of you really can't think of anything good to sell the region. Hey, that's fine by us — bad answers are always much funnier.

But the answers that popped up most often on your ballots were ones comparing Spokane to other places, particularly Seattle. Our favorite? "Like Seattle in the 1970s." Back then, the Emerald City was just a blip on the national map. So we're hoping that in 35 years or so, we'll be as cool as our Western Washington neighbors. Personally, we can't wait for the grunge movement, but we're hoping to avoid the congestion. Just think, in a few years we might be like Seattle in the '80s!

Another favorite of ours was "Hate Seattle? Come Here!" Though we don't know many folks who like Spokane more than Seattle, once you look at the problems that plague the state's largest city, there are a lot of advantages to living in Spokane. We have less rain, lower rents, fewer frat boys and Husky fans. It doesn't take you two hours to drive 10 miles, and parking won't cost you your entire savings account. In Spokane, everybody knows your name; in Seattle, people could give a rip about who you are. Hey, maybe that's a good slogan? — Leah Sottile

2nd: Better Than Boise *

3rd: (tie) We're Not All Republicans, Really! / Spokane: The Place Where Nothing Changes

BEST PREDICTION FOR 2005 -- Potholes Won't Get Fixed

The results are in, and the forecast for 2005 — judging from our readers' responses to this category — isn't looking too good. In fact, it's pretty damn gloomy.

Potholes, people. We've got 'em, they're not going anywhere, but boy, do we hate 'em. That's the truth, Ruth. Can't we get over it? Because these wheel-dingers and axle-snappers are going to be with us for as long as we're unwilling to pony up more in the way of taxes to get them fixed. (But hey, those $30 license tabs are nice, aren't they?) So we might as well get used to our highway craters — along with the reasonably predictable "drought" (aka "Firestorm 2005") which is even more out of our hands — and move on to a more pressing and addressable evil.

Like war. War also figured very high in the responses. Closely following the general "more war" on our tally sheet was the even more grim "nuclear war," also known as "Armageddon" and "apocalypse." In fact, if you add all the various war forecasts together, they easily beat out eternal potholes for the No. 1 prediction. Are people out there a little uneasy about the current direction of American foreign policy? Jinkies, it sure seems so.

On a related note, our very own commander-in-chief, George W. Bush, certainly made an impression on our readers this year — not always a good one — as he figured prominently in this category's responses in a variety of ways. Let's see, folks predicted that the president would be impeached or even crowned "King of the World." One guy even predicted that Michael Moore would wind up dating one of the Bush daughters.

Heh. We'd actually like to see that one. — MIKE CORRIGAN

2nd: Drought * 3rd: More Wars

BEST INLAND NORTHWEST LOCATION TO PUT IN THE NEXT North by Northwest MOVIE -- Manito Park

As with a business, the right location can make or break a motion picture. Heck, sometimes the location becomes so engrossing that actors and dialogue end up seeming like adjuncts rather than key components. So we're a little mystified why Spokane's many parks received so many votes in this category. Not that we don't have a lovely park system in Spokane. We do. Not that parks like Manito (the top pick here) aren't drop-dead gorgeous and fully worth our appreciation as valued civic treasures. They are indeed. It just seems that unless your film consists of 90 minutes of picnicking, tree climbing, romantic strolling or performing weddings, a municipal park as a principal film location is, well, kind of boring. Ditto for the third-placer, the Bowl and Pitcher (geology documentaries notwithstanding) and the stunning but way too pastoral Finch Arboretum.

Much more interesting, we'd venture, is the handsome early-20th-century vibe given off by Browne's Addition (tied for second place with the almost-too-broad-to-comment-on "Coeur d'Alene") or the gritty Old West flavor of downtown Hillyard (another big vote-getter). Yep, architecture makes for winning big-screen texture — a fact further recognized by vote-casters who supported the Davenport and the Montvale hotels as ideal Inland Northwest film locales.

Despite our obvious ambivalence about parks as film locations, there's one park selected by a handful of readers that lighted our cinematographic fires. That would be People's Park, Spokane's famous "clothing optional" beach. Yeah, just imagine the possibilities.

But then again, we're pretty sure North by Northwest doesn't make those kinds of movies.

--Mike Corrigan

2nd: (tie) Coeur d'Alene and Browne's Addition * 3rd: Bowl and Pitcher

BEST NEW CULT TO JOIN -- The Cult of Napoleon Dynamite

The signs are everywhere, if you pay close enough attention. People will tell you your new car is "Sweet!" instead of just plain old "Cool!" At a recent 4th-grade art exhibit, sprinkled among the drawings of idyllic little towns were tiny "Vote for Pedro" signs. And if you have moon boots left over from the '80s, you're, as Napoleon would say, "Lucky!"

Yes, there's a new subculture afoot, and all you need to gain admission is to watch Napoleon Dynamite, the sleeper hit of last summer. Made by actual residents of tiny Preston, Idaho, it's hard to know if it's nothing more than a documentary of their lives there. Nothing much happens in the film, and you might wonder what all the fuss is about. Still, this squeaky-clean film hit some kind of nerve and has been adopted by the masses.

I have theories as to why this weird little movie has been so popular. First, it takes you inside geek culture, and that's a fascinating place. Napoleon (played by John Heder) is what anyone who has been in high school would call a dork. You get to see his world — oddly parentless, and populated by an even more painfully dorky brother, Kip, and smarmy Uncle Rico. Preston, with its agricultural backdrop (including terrifying scenes of chicken relocation and bovine murder), is also an exotic locale to most of the general public.

But nostalgia is part of the allure, too, as Napoleon's world is strangely frozen in the 1980s. Uncle Rico is dumped for being "stuck in '82," Napoleon plays endless rounds of tetherball and Deb's crimped hair at the big dance is as '80s as Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time." Then there are Napoleon's T-shirts, all certifiably vintage: one with horses a-galloping across it; another with some kind of rescue helicopter; there's a second horse-themed T-shirt, with the word "Endurance" on it; one for Ricks College; a red one with a wolf-and-moon motif; then the "Vote for Pedro" shirt you may see on people around town.

But deep down inside, this is all about not giving a crap about what people think of you. As most of us grew up, we were hypersensitive to any little misstep. Looking cool was right up there with remembering to breathe. Napoleon doesn't seem to have that gene in him. And since most of us are not as "cool" as Summer Wheatley, not caring is a liberating, even subversive, message.

When all these disciples of Napoleon picture themselves dancing alone in front of the assembled student body, they feel their worries about fitting in wash away; when they imagine getting ditched by their date at the big dance, they realize it's no big deal; and they find out that wearing a lone ponytail at a 90-degree angle out of the side of your head is the ultimate rebuke to the conventions of cool.

Or maybe I'm reading way too much into all this and the cult is really just about that all-American pastime of reciting sweet lines from movies to each other. So I'll end with my favorites; if you haven't seen the movie yet, these will make very little sense, but perhaps they'll pique your interest to the point that you might consider joining up.

Grandma: Knock it off, Napoleon, make yourself a dang quesadilla.

Rex Kwon Do: You think anybody wants a roundhouse kick to the face while I'm wearing these bad boys? Forget about it.

Uncle Rico: Back in '82, I used to be able to throw a pigskin a quarter-mile.

Pedro: Probably build her a cake or something.

Kip: Geez, I think you ripped my mole off.

Deb: I don't need herbal enhancers to feel good about myself.

The Preston High principal: Here in Idaho, we have a little something called pride, understand? Smashing in the face of a piñata that resembles Summer Wheatley is a disgrace to you, me and the entire Gem State.

As for Napoleon, there are so many, I'll just have to try to boil them down to my top five:

You've been ruining everybody's lives and eating all our steak!

Tina, you fat lard, come get some dinner! ... Tina, eat. Food. Eat the food!

Dang! You got shocks, pegs... Lucky! You ever take it off any sweet jumps?

Just tell them that their wildest dreams will come true if they vote for you.

Hey, Summer ... wanna play me?

But if the film offers a mantra that captures the entire cult of Napoleon Dynamite, it comes in the film's opening moments, when a kid on the school bus asks Napoleon what he's going to do today. Napoleon replies with his typical exasperation over the idiots he has to put up with.

Whatever I feel like I wanna do — Gosh! — Ted S. McGregor Jr.

BEST OF THE INLAND NORTHWEST -- SHOPPING

BEST GROCERY STORE and NATURAL FOODS -- Huckleberry's

In this age of gi-normous Wal-Marts and ubiquitous national chains, it really says something that this year's best grocery store is manageably sized, completely unique and embodies everything a "friendly neighborhood grocery store" should. Our staffers hit this store on average about four times a week, and from the looks of things, so do our readers. And how could you not? From a deli catering to all three squares a day to their unparalleled selection of supplements and beauty products, Huckleberry's makes it easy to live healthfully and deliciously. Throw in their periodic One Day Sales (we literally mark our calendars for the Natural Living one) and superb customer service, and you've got Huckleberry's winning formula. — SHERI BOGGS

Best Grocery Store 2nd: Rosauers in Browne's Addition *

3rd: Rosauers on 29th * North Idaho's Best: Costco

Best Natural Foods 2nd: Pilgrim's * 3rd: Lorien

BEST HOTEL -- The Davenport

Ah, luxury. Nothing says it quite like a night at the Davenport Hotel. Saved from the ravages of time by Walt and Karen Worthy, the Davenport is one of those Spokane gems that gets us downright puffed up with civic pride. Back in the day, the hotel temporarily housed such notable names as Clark Gable, Mary Pickford and Bob Hope. These days, guests can choose from the basic Queen-sized suite to the opulent penthouse with its astonishing views of greater Spokane. From the real gold leaf surrounding the famed main floor fireplace to the famously comfy Davenport beds, this is truly one of America's most extraordinary hotels. -Sheri Boggs

2nd: Hotel Lusso * 3rd: The Montvale Hotel *

North Idaho's Best: The Coeur d'Alene Resort

BEST FARMERS' MARKET -- Spokane Farmers' Market

What is it about farmers' markets that makes us so damn happy? Seriously, nothing indicates that the hideous gray of winter and the shifty promise of spring are really over until the Spokane Farmers' Market opens again for summer. Their Second Avenue location is a steady draw from around mid-May through the beginning of October, featuring local delicacies like fresh honeycomb, fingerling potatoes and, beginning in August, bulging bags of huckleberries. It's also the market of choice for Tolstoy Farms — you can sign up for weekly boxes of produce by calling 725-FARM or by visiting localharvest.org. --Sheri Boggs

2nd: Liberty Lake Farmers' Market * 3rd: Green Bluff *

North Idaho's Best: Kootenai County Farmers' Market

BEST VIDEO STORE and RECORD STORE -- Hastings

If it's any form of audio/visual diversion you're after, Hastings can no doubt scratch to satisfaction your entertainment itch. First, there are the DVD/video rentals — a staggering expanse of new releases, foreign and indie films, and familiar classics ripe for your perusing pleasure. As for the music, Hastings carries all the hottest new releases and gently used CDs, meaning you can pick up that Van Morrison or Pixies album you always meant to own, grab the new Beck (when it's out next week) and even have some cash left over for a book or a magazine or two. Sweet! -- Sheri Boggs

Best Video Store 2nd: Blockbuster * 3rd: Hollywood Video

Best Record Store 2nd: 4,000 Holes * 3rd: Unified Groove Merchants *

North Idaho's Best: The Long Ear

BEST SPA -- Spa Paradiso

Who couldn't use a trip to the spa? From contorting ourselves into desk chair-sized shapes eight or more hours a day to the deleterious effects of too much to do and not enough time in which to do it, we're a stressed-out, amped-up lot. Fortunately, there's the soothing oasis of calm known as Spa Paradiso, conveniently located in the Davenport Hotel's Pompeiian Room (former home of the hotel's 1914 barbershop). As the spa promises, a "cure for the ordinary life" can be found in custom treatments that range from La Stone massage to manicures and seaweed wraps. We can feel our tight, hunchy muscles loosen up just thinking about it.... —Sheri Boggs

2nd: Jaazz Salon * 3rd: ZiSpa

BEST HARDWARE -- Home Depot

Ain't no hardware store bigger or oranger than Home Depot. Our readers didn't specify which one was their favorite (North Side, the Valley or Coeur d'Alene), but we suspect that with Home Depot's staggering selection of power tools, flooring, lighting, faucets, electrical and décor, location wasn't much of an issue. Home Depot caters to the HGTV/DIY crowd — they've got major appliances, professional grade tools and even a rental service for trucks and equipment. And then there's the service — chances are the helpful person in the orange apron has already been there, done that and can help you pick out the right gear for even the gnarliest home renovation project. -- Sheri Boggs

2nd: Miller's Hardware * 3rd: Ace

BEST GIFTS -- Boo Radley's

Anytime I start getting a little down about Spokane and its Spoklahoma/Spocan't ways, all I need to do is walk a few blocks over to Boo Radley's. Even from across the street, the windows cheer me up with their displays of paper lanterns and devil duckies; for a moment, I'm in Seattle or Portland. Once inside, I'm completely absorbed by their unparalleled card selection, their books and especially their CD selection, carefully handpicked by owner Andy Dinnison and his hip-but-friendly staff. But it's not all about stuff I'd like — Boo Radley's is where Spokane goes for gifts you'll find literally nowhere else. Where else are you gonna locate that much-longed for "Vote for Pedro" shirt or an official (adorable) Ugly Doll? That's right. Boo Radley's. Don't even try looking anywhere else. -- Sheri Boggs

2nd: Hallmark * 3rd: Auntie's

BEST NEW BUSINESS -- The Big Easy

Where River Park Square almost single-handedly revitalized downtown five years ago, the Big Easy has similarly turned Spokane's previously tepid nightlife into something vital, visible and alive. Just go downtown any Friday and Saturday night and see for yourself. Where once it was desolate storefronts and relatively empty streets from 8 pm on, now you have to circle the block a time or two just to find a place to park — all the while dodging clusters of people running over to the Big Easy for dancing, drinking and deliciously live music. It's even changed business as usual for everything within a two-block radius — restaurants, bars, coffee shops and galleries within the Big Easy's range all seem to benefit from its proximity. Most important, the Big Easy has put us back on the entertainment map — suddenly we're getting the acts that used to pass us by (Margaret Cho, Elvis Costello, to name a couple). And for that, Inlander readers are most grateful. -- Sheri Boggs

2nd: Montvale Hotel * 3rd: Weldon Barber * North Idaho's Best: Bonsai Bistro

BEST MEN'S AND WOMEN'S CLOTHING STORE -- Nordstrom

All I bought was some face wash, but about a week later I received a handwritten thank you card from my saleswoman at Nordstrom. Same with the jeans I purchased. In fact, I get handwritten cards from sales associates at Nordstrom thanking me all the time, just for getting more mascara or some earrings. Company policy decrees a level of customer service that few can rival. Apparently it works, because customers would like to say, "No, thank you." They've done just that by voting overwhelmingly for Nordstrom as best place to shop for both men and women. Through its stellar customer service, the upscale retail giant avoids making customers feel herded in and out or burdened by sales pitches. You know that jacket you've had for six months? Still haven't found a use for it? If you bought it at Nordstom, you can still return it — whether you kept the receipt or not.

And it's not just a great store to shop in; Fortune magazine rates it 31st among best U.S. companies to work for. So when you receive a handwritten thank you card from one of the company's 52,000 employees, you can be sure they meant every word. — CARA GARDNER

Best Men's clothing 2nd: Macy's * 3rd: Anderson & Emami

Best Women's clothing 2nd: Macy's * 3rd: Jigsaw *

North Idaho Winner: Coldwater Creek

BEST SECONDHAND STORE -- Value Village

Thrift shops come and go, but staples like the two Value Village locations are still the best spots to score your vintage ware, according to Inland Northwest voters. These hand-me-down warehouses are full of hidden gems: worn leather jackets, retro T-shirts and pounds of polyester. Value Village provides all the unique material for your wardrobe. As any veteran secondhand shopper knows, the joy is not just in wearing those matchless pieces but in finding them. It takes a certain kind of shopping talent to weed out what will work from the masses of used clothing, and the best vintage shoppers can be found scouring the racks at Value Village. They'll also be the ones with the distinctive top, funky shoes and endless stream of interesting items filling up their closet space. -- Cara Gardner

2nd: Goodwill * 3rd: Classy Rack

BEST BANK -- Washington Mutual

Maybe it's the free checking, the free online bill paying program or the bank's commitment to America's schools. Most likely, it's a combination of perks that makes Washington Mutual the best bank in the Inland Northwest, according to readers. And I happen to agree; I've banked at WaMu (we're tight like that) for years. They've been there when my debit card was stolen abroad and used prolifically (twice now), and they have patient tellers willing to deal with Luddites like me who still think depositing money in the ATM means it will be gone forever. The WaMoola for Schools program earns debit cardholders points for the elementary school of their choice. The bank pays those schools based on the number of points earned by the cardholders, no strings attached. WaMu employees volunteer in elementary schools through bank programs like Class Acts and WaMoola for L.I.F.E. Lessons, as a part of its commitment to financial literacy. Washington Mutual aids and supports new teacher recruitment, school savings programs for students, cash grants for teacher development and basic financial education for adults. -- Cara Gardner

2nd: Spokane Teacher's Credit Union * 3rd: Washington Trust

BEST FURNITURE STORE -- Burgan's

What do you say about the best furniture store in town? That it's got great couches and fabulous oak dining sets? It does, without a doubt, but a more probable reason for Burgan's success (in business and in The Inlander's Best Of competition) is its commitment to customer service and its visibility in the community. As other furniture stores throw salami around on commercials, hold "Everything Must Go!" sales and sell lounge chairs with the same false enthusiasm employed by used car salesman, Burgan's consistently comes through with its no-gimmick approach to furnishings. That makes all the difference. -- Cara Gardner

2nd: Dania * 3rd: Mor * North Idaho Winner: Walker's Furniture

BEST ANTIQUES -- Finders Keepers

There is a lot of beautiful bling inside Finders Keepers. The glass display cases contain unique antiques in colors in as many shades as a supersized Crayola crayon box. Bejeweled clutches, hair pieces and cigarette holders line the shelves, while every nook and cranny is filled with artful displays of immaculately preserved glass jars and vases, nightstands, handkerchiefs and time pieces. Though the place is small, there are plenty of treasures inside Finders Keepers. And what's better than finding a one-and-only antique? Finding it on sale! Finders Keepers offers perpetual sales: 20 percent to 50 percent off a whole slew of glittering, delightful things, especially the cases of rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets. The inventory is constantly updated, so there's bound to be new precious and newly refinished items during every visit. -- Cara Gardner

2nd: Ruby Street Antiques * 3rd: Aunt Bea's

North Idaho Winner: Wiggett's Marketplace

BEST BOOKSTORE and LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESS -- Auntie's

The Inlander should make a "Best Of Winner" sash for the beloved "Auntie" mannequin in the corner window of Auntie's Bookstore. Not only is the mainstay store the best bookstore in town, but it's also the best locally owned business — no small accomplishment for a business that competes with huge national retail chains and online supercenters. Auntie's has succeeded in convincing Spokane readers that it's worth it to make a trip to their downtown store. With between 70,000 and 80,000 titles — and they'll order for you anything that's not on their shelves — along with the Liberty Café, Uncle's Games & Puzzles, the Paper Garden, Argentum Aurum and Stone Crazy, the bookstore gives customers a varied and satisfying experience. Locals flock to the third floor for author readings and book signings, and Auntie's offers discounts for all members of any book club. Owner Chris O'Harra is a fixture of leadership and vision regarding downtown Spokane's renaissance. Customers and citizens alike have shown their appreciation by shopping at Auntie's Bookstore and by voting it simply the best. — Cara Gardner

Best Bookstore 2nd: Barnes & Noble * 3rd: Borders Books

Best Locally Owned Business 2nd: Wendle Motors *

3rd: Cyrus O'Leary's Pies

BEST BEAUTY SALON -- Jaazz Salon and Skin Care Center

While many of the smaller dots on the map (that would be us here in the Inland Northwest) are still begging our stylists for the "Rachel," Jaazz's hair experts have left the '90s in the hairspray dust, including the clichéd "spa and wellness centers" that have been cropping up everywhere, offering people pre-packaged treatments that Jaazz owner Mark Brado says don't do justice to good skin care. The result is a brand-new image, location and name change for Jaazz Salon and Skin Care Center, (which used to be Jaazz Salon and Day Spa). The salon moved into the American Legion Building earlier this year and introduced its "Audrey Hepburn meets the Jetsons" metropolitan salon, complete with a complementary skin care area, where customers "experience, shop and play" with products. This is the salon's third year in a row and seventh overall in winning The Inlander's Best Salon award: It's no secret that Jaazz is known for giving Spokane great hair and color. But it also offers "touch therapy," where people can pay for specialized sessions including scalp, neck and back manipulations, facials and even nap time. — Cara Gardner

2nd: 14th and Grand * 3rd: Spa Paradiso

BEST STORE THE INLAND NORTHWEST NEEDS -- IKEA

Every year we ask voters this question, and for the past few years, we've gotten an astoundingly definitive answer: IKEA!! We totally agree. Too bad the Swedish retail giant doesn't. I'm sorry to be the one to tell you (actually, we tell you this every year), but IKEA has no plans to open a store in the Inland Northwest. Now before you start thinking, in infamous Spocant fashion, "it's because we're not good enough," the reason, says Anders Berglund, co-owner of the Seattle IKEA, is: "There is just no medium-market format for IKEA. There are still enough bigger markets out there for us [to penetrate]." (IKEA still isn't in Portland, for example.)

But look at the bright side. At a recent IKEA grand opening in a suburb of London, anxious shoppers stormed the 300,000-foot business before its doors were officially open — breaking glass, injuring bystanders, knocking large furniture pieces from shelves and causing an all-out riot. The store had to shut down less than 30 minutes after opening due to massive chaos; five people were hospitalized. We don't want anything like that happening in our neck of the woods, do we? — Cara Gardner

* 2nd: Trader Joe's * 3rd: Urban Outfitters

BEST JEWELRY STORE -- Pounder's Jewelry

So you're going to buy a diamond. It's a big decision in and of itself. But then you've got to figure out where to get it. Where will you get the best bang for your bling? The plethora of jewelry stores, all vying for your big purchase, give confusing promises. Like buying a car, it's hard to figure out what a good price is and to discern the sweet talk from the facts. Inlander voters say Pounder's is the place to play the diamond game. What began as small family business in 1955 is now, three generations and a few growing spurts later, still a fairly small family business in the sense that it retains its customer loyalty. This is the sixth year in a row Pounder's has won Best Jewelry Store for the Inlander's Best Of issue. Keep counting. — Cara Gardner

2nd: Jewelry Design Center * 3rd: Dodson's Jewelers

North Idaho Winner: Clark's Diamond Jewelers

BEST CAR DEALERSHIP -- Wendle Motors

Did Inlander readers finger Wendle Motors as the best dealership in town because they've been bowled over by Mr. Wendle's low, low rates and exemplary customer care? Or has the long-standing dealer's savvy media marketing campaign tunneled so far under the Inland Northwest's skin that, like Pavlov's pup, when we hear "car dealership" we think "Wendle at the Y"? It's anybody's guess.

In 61 years of business, the dealership — which now sells Ford, Suzuki, Nissan and Infiniti from two locations in North Spokane — has succeeded in making Mr. Wendle (which describes three different men) a household name. And when you consider that "car salesman," as a vocation, ranks up there with "lawyer" in terms of public regard, the fact that locals refer to Mr. Wendle as if he's their favorite uncle means the dealership must be doing something right. — JOEL SMITH

2nd: Honda of Spokane * 3rd: Dave Smith Motors

To see the rest of this year's winners checkout out Arts & Culture Section.

Publication date: 03/24/05