INSIDE

EDITOR’S NOTE

When we say, in these very pages, that something or someone is the BEST OF THE INLAND NORTHWEST, it’s not some random choice made by Inlander writers in a smoky backroom. No, what you’ll read in this issue — the biggest Best Of issue to date — are the choices of readers like you. And this year, our 30th year of collecting and sharing your favorites, more votes than ever before were cast in our annual contest. Way more than in 1999, when you chose being naked as the best untried restaurant theme. Or 2006, when Hastings was picked as the best CD store. Or, heck, last year when the Baby Bar won Best Tiny Bar. Yes, those were simpler times. But this is 2023! So sit back and enjoy what your kith and kin chose as the best of the best. In fact, like last year, we’ve included some of your own words about why you voted for your favorite comics book shop, local elected official or donuts, among many other categories. Because this is your issue, dear reader. And there’s not much better than that.

— NICHOLAS DESHAIS, editor

CARTER’S LEGACY PAGE 6

CHEWELAH CONUNDRUM PAGE 8

BRUNCH OR BUST PAGE 144

MIDCENTURY VINYL PAGE 150