The Pacific Northwest Inlander

BEST LOCAL TO BE IMMORTALIZED IN A NEW STATUE

1. Bing Crosby

2. John Stockton

3. Mark Few

BEST SPIRITUAL LEADER

1. Rev. Percy "Happy" Watkins

2. Rev. Joe Wittwer

3. Fr. Robert Spitzer

BEST LOCAL BLOGGER

1. Mariah McKay (spovangelist.com)

2. David Blaine (thebackkitchen.blogspot.com)

3. Remi Olsen (tasteeverythingonce.com)

BEST UNSUNG HERO

1. City Snowplow Drivers

2. Mayor Mary Verner

3. (tie) Chief Anne Kirkpatrick, Phil Altmeyer (Union Gospel Mission)

BEST GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY ADVOCACY GROUP

1. Spokane Neighborhood Action Program

2. Center for Justice

3. (tie) Friends of the Falls, Envision

(NI) Kootenai Environmental Alliance

BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER

1. Chrisy Riddle, Central Valley

2. Randy James, North Central

3. (tie) John Hagney, Lewis and Clark, Glenn Williams, Mead

BEST AUTO MECHANIC

1. Ed Cushman, C&H Foreign Auto Repair

2. Bill Mullins, Bill’s Import Auto Repair

3. Rick Louie, Louie’s Auto and Transmission

BEST VETERINARIAN

1. Brian Hunter, Hunter Veterinary

2. Brenda Day, Cat’s Meow

3. Chrystal Wachtel, Audubon Veterinary Clinic

(NI) Frank Clovis, River City Animal Hospital, Post Falls

BEST LOCAL ATHLETE

1. John Stockton

2. Matt Bouldin

3. Jeremy Pargo

BEST LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS TEAM

1. Lewis and Clark Girls Basketball Team

2. Ferris Boys Basketball Team

3. Lewis and Clark Boys Football Team

(NI) Coeur d’Alene High Girls Basketball Team

BEST RADIO DJ OR TEAM

1. Dave, Ken and Molly

2. The Radiomen

3. Jay & Kevin

BEST TV ANCHORPERSON

1. Stephanie Vigil, KHQ

2. Nadine Woodward, KREM

3. Shelly Monaghan, KHQ

BEST TV WEATHERCASTER

1. Tom Sherry, KREM

2. George Maupin, KHQ

3. Kris Crocker, KXLY

BEST TV SPORTSCASTER

1. Dennis Patchin, KXLY

2. Derek Deis, KHQ

3. Greg Heister, Gonzaga Bulldog Basketball broadcaster

BEST TV REPORTER

1. Kjerstin Ramsing, KXLY

2. Jeff Humphrey, KXLY

3. Othello Richards, KREM

BEST FINE DINING

1. Clinkerdagger

2. Luna

3. Wild Sage

(NI) Beverly’s

BEST WINE SELECTION

1. Niko’s

1. Vino!

3. Huckleberry’s

(NI) The Wine Cellar

BEST MEXICAN FOOD

1. Azteca

2. DeLeon’s

3. Rancho Chico

BEST ITALIAN FOOD

1. The Italian Kitchen

2. Luigi’s

3. Tomato Street

BEST SUSHI

1. Raw

2. Sushi.com

3. Suki Yaki Inn

(NI) Fisherman’s Market, CDA

BEST THAI FOOD

1. Thai Bamboo

2. Linnie’s Thai

3. Bangkok Thai

BEST ASIAN FOOD

1. The Mustard Seed

2. Gordy’s

3. China Dragon

(NI) Bonsai Bistro

BEST BREAKFAST

1. Frank’s Diner

2. Old European

3. Chaps

BEST SANDWICHES

1. Domini’s

2. High Nooner

3. Subway

BEST BURGERS

1. Red Robin

2. D’Lish’s Burgers

3. Dick’s Drive-In

(NI) Hudson’s Hamburgers

BEST PIZZA

1. Bennedito’s

2. David’s

3. Papa Murphy’s

BEST BURRITOS

1. Ionic Burrito

2. Slick Rock Burrito

3. Q’Doba Burrito

BEST SEAFOOD

1. Anthony’s

2. Milford’s

3. Red Lobster

BEST STEAKS

1. Spencer’s

2. Wolf Lodge Inn

3. Outback Steakhouse

BEST BAKERY

1. The Rocket Bakery

2. Rockwood Bakery

3. Bittersweet Bakery

(NI) Bakery by the Lake

BEST LOCALLY OWNED COFFEE/ESPRESSO SHOP

1. The Rocket

2. Taste Café

3. The Empyrean

(NI) Java on Sherman

BEST DRIVE-THRU ESPRESSO

1. Dutch Bros.

2. Jacobs Java

3. Brews Bros.

BEST COFFEE ROASTER

1. (tie) Cravens Coffee, Thomas Hammer

2. Café Doma

3. 4 Seasons Coffee

BEST KIDS MENU

1. Red Robin

2. Tomato Street

3. The Onion

BEST DONUTS

1. Donut Parade

2. Krispy Kreme

3. Mike’s Old Fashioned Donuts

(NI) Davis Donuts

BEST PUB FOOD

1. The Elk

2. O’Doherty’s

3. The Swinging Doors

(NI) Moon Time, CDA

BEST BARBECUE

1. The Longhorn

2. Chicken n More

3. Red Lion BBQ

BEST OUTDOOR DINING

1. The Elk

2. Twigs

3. Anthony’s

(NI) Bardenay, CDA

BEST HEART-HEALTHY FARE

1. Huckleberry’s 9th Street Bistro

2. Mizuna

3. Subway

BEST RESTAURANT FOR A FIRST DATE

1. Clinkerdaggers

2. Twigs

3. (tie) Mizuna, The Melting Pot

(NI) The White House Grill, Post Falls

BEST NEW RESTAURANT (OPENED IN 2008-09)

1. The Melting Pot

2. The Two-Seven Public House

3. Sante

(NI) Mackenzie River Pizza

BEST OUTDOOR MUSIC FESTIVAL

1. Pig Out in the Park

2. Festival at Sandpoint

3. Sasquatch Festival, the Gorge

BEST ARTS FESTIVAL

1. Art on the Green

2. ArtFest

3. First Night-Spokane

BEST CHARITY EVENT

1. Coaches vs. Cancer

2. (tie) Epicurean Delight, Komen Race for the Cure

3. Christmas Tree Elegance

BEST KIDS EVENT

1. First Night

2. America’s Kids Run

3. Hoopfest

(NI) Art on the Green

BEST RADIO STATION

1. ZZU 92.9

2. The River 99.9

3. KYRS 92.3

BEST BAND

1. 6 Foot Swing

2. Sonic Death Ray

3. Cure All Remedy

BEST SINGER/SONGWRITER

1. Kaylee Cole

2. Karli Fairbanks

3. Heather O’Brien

BEST CONCERT (OF 2008-09)

1. Wilco and Fleet Foxes at the INB Center

2. Journey/Cheap Trick Heart at the Arena

3. Def Leppard/Styx/REO Speedwagon at the Arena

BEST TOURING MUSICAL (OF 2008-09)

1. The Phantom of the Opera

2. Mamma Mia

3. The Color Purple

BEST PLAY/MUSICAL (OF 2008-09)

1. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Spokane Civic Theater

2. Les Mis, Coeur d’Alene Summer Theater

3. Man of La Mancha, Spokane Civic Theater

BEST ART GALLERY

1. The MAC

2. Lorinda Knight Gallery

3. Tinman

(NI) ArtSpirit Gallery CDA

BEST PIECE OF PUBLIC ART

1. Govedare Bloomsday Runners, Riverfront Park

2. Balasz Fountains, Riverfront Park

3. Spiering Red Wagon, Riverfront Park

(NI) Mudgy and Millie sculptures, Coeur d’Alene

BEST THRIFT STORE (SHOPPING)

1. Value Village

2. Goodwill

3. Classy Rack

BEST PAWN SHOP (SHOPPING)

1. Pawn One

2. Axel’s Pwn Shop

3. Dutch’s

BEST CHEAP FAMILY MEAL OUT (FOOD)

1. Dick’s Drive-In

2. The Old Spaghetti Factory

3. Costco Food Court

BEST LUNCH SPECIALS (FOOD)

1. The Olive Garden

2. Subway

3. Brooklyn Deli

BEST GET-YOUR-MONEY’S-WORTH HAPPY HOUR (NIGHTLIFE)

1. Clinkerdaggers

2. Steam Plant Grill

3. (tie) C.I. Shenanigans, Steelhead Bar and Grill

BEST STRONG BUT CHEAP DRINKS (NIGHTLIFE)

1. The Baby Bar

2. The Park Inn

3. Irv’s

BEST FREE PUBLIC FESTIVAL/EVENT (THE ARTS)

1. Pig Out in the Park

2. Hoopfest

3. ElkFest

(NI) Art on the Green

BEST PLACE FOR A CHEAP NIGHT OUT (THE ARTS)

1. The Garland Theater

2. Riverfront Park

3. Dick’s Drive-In

(NI) Independence Point/Boardwalk, CDA

BEST LIVE/WORK/PLAY WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD (OUTDOORS)

1. Browne’s Addition

2. Manito Park/Cannon Hill area

3. Perry Street District

(NI) Riverstone, CDA

BEST PUBLIC PARK (OUTDOORS)

1. Manito Park

2. Riverfront Park

3. Audubon Park

BEST PLACE TO LOITER, PEOPLE-WATCH AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE WI-FI (PEOPLE)

1. Starbucks

2. Riverfront Park

3. River Park Square

BEST PERSON TO GET A FEDERAL BAILOUT (PEOPLE)

1. Me!

2. Nobody

3. Mary Verner

BEST PLACE TO WALK YOUR DOG

1. Manito Park

2. The Centennial Trail

3. Riverside State Park

BEST PLACE FOR AN OUTDOOR WEDDING

1. Manito Park

2. Arbor Crest

3. Bozarth Mansion

BEST OUT-OF-THE-WAY RESORT

1. Hill’s Resort, Priest Lake

2. Elkins Resort, Priest Lake

3. Williams Lake Resort/Klink’s

BEST QUAINT INLAND NW TOWN

1. Sandpoint

2. Leavenworth

3. Wallace, Idaho

BEST PLACE TO SKI

1. Schweitzer

2. Mt. Spokane

3. 49 Degrees North

BEST PLACE TO SNOWBOARD

1. Schweitzer

2. Mt. Spokane

3. 49 Degrees North

BEST ROCK CLIMBING

1. Minnehaha

2. Wild Walls

3. Quemlin Park, Post Falls

BEST YOGA STUDIO

1. Harmony Yoga

2. Twist Yoga Studio

3. Radha Yoga

BEST HEALTH CLUB

1. Oz Fitness

2. Spokane Club

3. YMCA

BEST OUTDOOR REC SUPPLIES

1. REI

2. Mountain Gear

3. Cabela’s

BEST BIKE SHOP

1. Wheelsport

2. Two Wheel Transit

3. North Division Bike Shop

(NI) Vertical Earth, CDA

BEST BIKE EVENT

1. Spokefest

2. Ironman, CDA

3. Tour Des Lacs

BEST MOM AND POP BUSINESS

1. Miller’s Hardware

2. River Ridge Hardware

3. Ferguson’s Café

(NI) Hudson’s Hamburgers

BEST NEW BUSINESS (OPENED IN 2008-09)

1. Winco Foods

2. Kizuri

3. Polka Dot Pottery (Valley location)

BEST NOW OUT-OF-BUSINESS SHOP WE MISS MOST

1. The Paper Garden

2. Burgan’s

3. Joel

BEST MALL

1. River Park Square

2. NorthTown

3. Spokane Valley Mall

(NI) Riverstone Village Shops

BEST HAIR SALON

1. Jaazz Salon

2. 14th and Grand

3. Dimensions

BEST BARBER SHOP

1. Weldon Barber

2. The Man Shop

3. Dan’s Barber Shop

(NI) Clean Cut, CDA

BEST SPA

1. Spa Paradiso

2. Brick House

3. Zi Spa

BEST CLOTHING BOUTIQUE

1. Lolo

2. Finders Keepers

3. Cues

(NI) Tiffany Blue, CDA

BEST FURNITURE

1. Tin Roof

2. Mor

3. Dania

(NI) Runge, CDA

BEST GIFTS

1. Boo Radley’s

2. Mel’s

3. Simply Northwest

(NI) Sweet Pea, CDA

BEST HOTEL

1. Davenport Hotel and Tower

2. Hotel Lusso

3. Montvale Hotel

(NI) Coeur d’Alene Resort

BEST WINE SHOP

1. Vino!

2. Huckleberry’s

3. Caterina Winery

(NI) Enoteca, Post Falls

BEST BOOKSTORE

1. Auntie’s

2. Barnes and Noble

3. Hastings

BEST JEWELRY

1. Finders Keepers

2. Jewelry Design Center

3. Pounders

(NI) Cheryl Burchell Goldsmiths

BEST FLORIST

1. Liberty Park

2. Beau K

3. Peters and Sons

(NI) Petal Talk, Sandpoint

BEST BANK/CREDIT UNION

1. Spokane Teachers Credit Union

2. Numerica Credit Union

3. Washington Trust Bank

BEST NEW CAR DEALER

1. Downtown Automotive Group

2. Wendle Motors

3. Appleway

(NI) Dave Smith Motors

BEST ORGANIC/NATURAL FOODS

1. Huckleberry’s

2. Fresh Abundance

3. The Rocket Market

(NI) Pilgrim’s

BEST FARMERS MARKET

1. Spokane Farmers Market

2. Liberty Lake Farmers Market

3. Perry Street Farmers Market

(NI) CDA Farmers Marker in Hayden

BEST GROCERY STORE (NAME & SPECIFIC LOCATION)

1. Huckleberry’s, 9th and Monroe

2. Rosauers, 29th and Mt. Vernon

3. Fred Meyer, Wandermere

(NI) Super One Foods, Hayden

BEST CONVENIENCE STORE (NAME & SPECIFIC LOCATION)

1. Rocket Market, 43rd and High Drive

2. 7-11, 14th and Grand

3. Chester Store, Dishman-Mica and Bowdish

(NI) Piggie’s Deli and Market, Sherman Ave., CDA

BEST BEER BAR

1. The Viking

2. The Elk

3. Waddell’s

(NI) (tie) Moon Time, Bardenay

BEST WINE BAR

1. Niko’s

2. Twigs

3. Caterina

(NI) The Wine Cellar, CDA

BEST MARTINI BAR

1. Twigs3

2. Bistango

3. The Peacock Lounge

(NI) The Oval Office, Post Falls

BEST SPORTS BAR

1. The Swinging Doors

2. Heroes and Legends

3. Q at Northern Quest Casino

(NI) Capone’s

BEST ALL-PURPOSE PUB

1. The Elk

2. O’Doherty’s

3. The Swinging Doors

(NI) Capone’s

BEST JUKEBOX

1. The Baby Bar

2. The Blue Spark

3. Far West Billiards

BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE

1. The Knitting Factory

2. Zola

3. The Empyrean

(NI) The Grail, Post Falls

BEST ALL-AGES CLUB

1. The Knitting Factory

2. The Empyrean

3. Cretin Hop

BEST PLACE TO MEET SINGLES

1. Church

2. The Marquee

3. The Blue Spark

BEST DANCE CLUB

1. Dempsey’s

2. Irv’s

3. The Marquee

(NI) Big Al’s, Stateline

BEST NEW NIGHTSPOT

1. The Marquee

2. Zola

3. Casbah

BEST LATE-NIGHT COFFEHOUSE

1. The Empyrean

2. The Service Station

3. Starbucks

BEST LATE-NIGHT FOOD

1. Satellite Diner

2. Taco Bell

3. Dick’s Drive-In

BEST BOWLING CENTER

1. Lilac Lanes

2. Big Daddy’s

3. Players and Spectators

BEST MOVIE THEATER

1. AMC 20, River Park Square

2. Village Centre, Wandermere

3. The Garland

(NI) Regal, Riverstone, CDA

BEST CASINO

1. Northern Quest

2. Coeur d’Alene Casino

3. Big Daddy’s

BEST LOCAL AD CAMPAIGN

Near Nature, Near Perfect

STCU: "You Don't Have to Be a Teacher"

Thomas Hammer Eco-Brew

BEST LOCAL PROJECT TO SPEND SOME OF THAT FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY ON

North-South Freeway

Fix the Streets/Potholes

Light Rail

BEST BUMPER STICKER TO REFLECT LIFE IN THE GOOD OLD INLAND NORTHWEST

Snow Happens (and similar)

Co-Exist

Hell Froze Over: Welcome to Hell (and similar)

BEST CLEVER NEW COCKTAIL/MARTINI TO HELP MARKET THE INLAND NORTHWEST

Snowtini (various concoctions)

Huckleberry-tini (various concoctions)

Washington Appletini (various concoctions)

BEST PLACE FOR THE INLAND NORTHWEST TO RELOCATE IF WE GET ANOTHER WINTER LIKE THE LAST ONE

Hawaii

California (San Diego highest city vote-getter)

Arizona