Best of 2018
When we started a weekly newspaper, we always knew we had to do a reader's poll, a staple of urban weeklies across the nation. On April 6, 1994, we published our first Best of the Inland Northwest issue — only our 25th issue, weighing in at a whopping 32 pages.
Mar 22, 2018
Intro best of 2018
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It didn't take Cascadia Public House long to establish itself as a favorite new spot for both North Spokane's Five Mile neighborhood residents and folks living a little further afield.
By Chey Scott
Mar 22, 2018
Food best of 2018
Blast from the Past
In the 1980s and 1990s, Patsy Clark's Mansion was the place to be. Even President George H.W. Bush thought so, when he ordered a steak and wine at Patsy Clark's Restaurant with former House Speaker Tom Foley in 1989.
By Wilson Criscione
Mar 22, 2018
Food & Drink best of 2018
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On a gloomy, rainy day in Spokane, the glowing lamps from inside Vino! are a welcome sight from the wet streets.
By Quinn Welsch
Mar 22, 2018
Drink Local best of 2018 vino!
Blast from the Past
It's safe to say a lot has changed in the Spokane beer scene since 2000. Roughly 17 years ago, Fort Spokane Brewery earned the Inlander's distinction of being the Best Locally Brewed Beer.
By Adam Boyd
Mar 22, 2018
Drink Local best of 2018
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His comedy career started seven years ago beneath the Tilt-A-Whirls of Spokane's meticulously curated junk bar, Zola. Casey Strain entered his first variety show as a comic, not knowing how excruciating 10 minutes on the stage is.
By Jordy Byrd
Mar 22, 2018
Nightlife best of 2018 casey strain
Blast from the Past
Back when Kelly's won our prize for Best Place to Meet Your Cowboy, we regaled the Stateline, Idaho, honkytonk with lines from "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" — a monster hit from that era by songstress Paula Cole.
By Dan Nailen
Mar 22, 2018
Nightlife best of 2018
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The amusement park rides are gone, at least for now. The Ferris wheel will be turned to scrap.
By Daniel Walters
Mar 22, 2018
Recreation best of 2018
Blast from the Past
Twenty years ago, the early chapters of the Ryan Leaf story were still being written. At the time it appeared, when the story was complete, it would be one of triumph and greatness.
By Will Maupin
Mar 22, 2018
Recreation best of 2018
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It is a truth universally acknowledged that wine helps people feel like they can master different feats. Even the non-artistic could find themselves feeling like Picasso took over their body.
By Alla Drokina
Mar 22, 2018
Arts best of 2018
Blast from the Past
The late Harold Balazs started a nearly unstoppable reign as Best Local Artist from the very first time Inlander readers weighed in for a Best Of poll back in 1994. In fact, after dipping to third place the next year, the sculptor and multimedia artist from Mead took first place as Best Artist every year from 1996 to 1999.
By Samantha Wohlfeil
Mar 22, 2018
Arts best of 2018 harold balazs
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It's easier than ever to listen to music on the go, to procure playlists and podcasts that make your morning and evening commutes a little less hellish. But some of us still appreciate the personality and unpredictability of live radio, and 92.9 KZZU-FM is the station most of Spokane appears to have programmed on their car stereos.
Mar 22, 2018
Music best of 2018
Blast from the Past
In an era known for worshipping Kurt Cobain, crying over Radiohead's "Creep" and skanking to Rancid and Less Than Jake, Coeur d'Alene's Black Happy found a devoted audience by deliberately shirking genre labels. Their blend of grunge and ska, squelching electric guitars and dextrous bass lines punctuated by muscular brass licks, found a following with local music fans in the mid '90s (and, it must be said, were met with scorn by those who considered themselves true punks), making waves in the Inland Northwest and beyond.
By Nathan Weinbender
Mar 22, 2018
Music best of 2018
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Despite the name, martinis are only a sliver of what mixologist Ryan Roberge is asked to make at 315 Martinis and Tapas. Sure, he serves wine and beer, but what he makes the most of are cocktails, especially the classics.
By Carrie Scozzaro
Mar 22, 2018
People best of 2018
Usually, a fan favorite is a player who tantalizes with his talent or works hard to be a spark plug off the bench. Rui Hachimura is that rare bird who does both.
By Will Maupin
Mar 22, 2018
People best of 2018
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Small but mighty — that's what Sandpoint is. When the votes are tallied for Best Of categories, smaller towns sometimes don't fare as well as others in the volume of votes or the variety of entries. But not Sandpoint.
By Carrie Scozzaro
Mar 22, 2018
Sandpoint best of 2018
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There's nothing junky about JUNK on Fourth Street. The displays are ahh-dorable from floor-to-ceiling with stuff for your home or workspace, indoors and out, even clothing.
By Carrie Scozzaro
Mar 22, 2018
Shopping best of 2018
Whether you're stopping in to pick up the hottest new party game to play on game night, a couple booster packs of Magic: The Gathering, or another Y-Wing for your Star Wars: X-Wing squad, Uncle's Games' two Spokane locations have you covered. For more than four decades, Uncle's has been serving the local community's needs for gaming fun of all types.
By Chey Scott
Mar 22, 2018
Shopping best of 2018 uncle's games
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Rows of golden loaves pack the cooling racks along the back wall of the bakery inside the Moscow Food Co-op in downtown Moscow. The four-person morning crew crowds around a butcher-block work station, prepping pizza dough and packing bread for the daily orders.
By Jacob Jones
Mar 22, 2018
The Palouse best of 2018
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