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Best of the Inland Northwest - 2009

(Only pitted against the Indie Music Edition), "The Best of the Inland Northwest" marks my favorite edition of that free paper found on every corner in Spokane: The Pacific Northwest Inlander. This copy gives credit to 'the best everything' Spokane has to offer - burgers, newscasters, coffee, you name it they've reviewed it. Here are some of the best....*drumroll please....

Best TV Weathercaster - Tom Sherry, KREM
Even though he often tells us about the dreaded snow in March, this guy is officially in the Inlander Hall of Fame. (2nd Place: George Maupin, KHQ. 3rd Place: Kris Crocker, KXLY)

Best Burritos - Ionic Burrito & Cosmic Quesos
Ok - I've heard a lot about this place, I'm thinking that it's time I pay it a visit. (Anyone wanna help me with a burrito and a 'Glow' article??) Well, when the burrito-train calls your name how could you not hit up a cool resturant that features the Ionic Boom (a 15-inch tortilla...stuffed, my friend.) I've also heard there's live music here: Kristin Marlo? (2nd Place: Slick Rock, 3rd Place: Q'Doba)

Best Sushi - Raw
YES! It is the mother-load of all sushi! I love this place with a passion. Now sushi from Spokane can be kinda 'iffy, seeing as we're pretty far away from any oceans. But Raw does it well - you've got all types of traditional sushi-rolls plus and 'island-style' grill servin' chicken curry and stir-fry bowls. Amazing. (2nd Place: Sushi.com, 3rd Place: Suki Yaki)

Best Coffee Roaster - (a tie!?!?) Cravens Coffee and Thomas Hammer
Cravens took the title in '07 while Thomas Hammer happened to scoop it up last year. This year? A dead-tie. I love what the Inlander says: "It's time for a coffee-roaster smackdown. Simon Craven and Tom Hammer, mano a mano, across a table, with beans and cups scattered about..."  I couldn't agree more. (2nd Place: Doma Coffee, 3rd Place: 4 Seasons Coffee)

Best Concert of the Past Year - Wilco amd Fleet Foxes
I knew these guys had to be good as I found them topping the charts in my 'Best Bands of 2008' blog-post...but I had no idea they were this good. But any band that comes back after an encore to play an arrangement of Bob Dylan's 'I Shall Be Released' straight-up deserves to make the list. (2nd Place: Journey/Cheap Trick/Heart at the Arena, 3rd Place: Def Leppard/Styx/REO Speedwagon, at the Arena.)

View the fullll monty of the article at The Inlander.

What would win YOUR votes for faves of Spokane? Any topics to ADD?

In 2006, then-editor Steve Smith of The Spokesman-Review had the idea of starting a publication for an often forgotten audience: teenagers. The Vox Box was a continuation of the Vox, an all-student staffed newspaper published by The Spokesman-Review. High school student journalists who staffed the Vox made all content decisions as they learn about the trade of journalism. This blog's mission was to give students an opportunity to publish their voices. The Vox Box and the Vox wrapped up in June 2009, but you can follow former staffers' new blog at http://voxxiez.blogspot.com.