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EDITED BY BROOKE DENISCO AND AUDREY VAN BUSKIRK

CONTRIBUTORS:
JASON BLALOCK
GREG COOK
JOSH FEIT
KARL HOREIS
NIGEL JAQUIS
JACKIE KASTEN
JOSEPHINE MARTEL
RICHARD MARTIN
CHRISTINA MELANDER
JAMES MCQUILLEN
MAUREEN O'HAGAN
BECKY OHLSEN
IRIS RICHMOND
ROBIN ROSENBERG
JOHN SCHRAG
STEFFEN SILVIS
JESS SLAVIN
KAREN E. STEEN
SARAH TOMLINSON
KATHERINE M. TOPAZ
ERIC VETTER
PATTY WENTZ
JEAN WENZEL
SUSAN WICKSTROM
BOB YOUNG

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LOOKING FOR THE BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT?

HUNTING THE FINEST CUP OF COFFEE?

DESPERATELY SEEKING THE MOST IDEAL SUIT SHOP?

WELL, TURN YOUR EYES ELSEWHERE. FOR WILLAMETTE WEEK'S ANNUAL BEST OF PORTLAND AWARDS,
WE DISDAIN PURELY COMMERCIAL CATEGORIES TO DISCOVER THE BEST CABLE-ACCESS MUSIC SHOW, BEST COMPUTER DETECTIVE OR BEST BREEDING OPTION FOR DOGS WHO FEAR INTIMACY.

 WE ADMIT, IT'S INFORMATION NOT EXACTLY CRUCIAL TO YOUR LIFE IN THIS GREAT CITY, BUT IT WILL, WE HOPE, MAKE LIVING HERE A LITTLE MORE INTERESTING.

URBAN LIVING
BEST NEIGHBORHOOD DOG
BEST EXAMPLE OF KIDS HELPING KIDS
BEST USE OF HEAT LAMPS
BEST PLACE IN THE CITY TO PRETEND YOU'RE AT THE COAST
BEST PLACE FOR GUS VAN SANT SPOTTING
BEST TAPE BALL
BEST PLACE TO MEET A MANLY MAN
BEST MURAL IMPROVEMENT
BEST CHANGING BILLBOARD
BEST FUND-RAISER
BEST CATHOLIC MASS YOU CAN WEAR JEANS TO
BEST TRASH TALK
BEST PORTLAND JOKE
BEST COOL COP HANGOUT
BEST INNER-CITY MANSION
BEST CLOCK
BEST PRENATAL YOGA CLASS

PERSONALITIES
BEST TRI-MET DRIVER
BEST LIMO DRIVER
BEST ROCK 'N' ROLL BARBER
BEST ROYAL RESIDENT
BEST HOST AT A TIKI BAR
BEST DIVE BARTENDER
BEST SPORT
BEST REAL-LIFE HORATIO ALGER STORY
BEST EXAMPLE OF MAKING IT THERE
BEST ORTHODOX RABBI TO HANG OUT WITH
BEST-NATURED MAN IN UNIFORM
 

POLITICS
BEST CAMPAIGN POSTER
BEST PETITION CIRCULATOR
BEST PUBLIC EMPLOYEE TO TRUST WITH YOUR MONEY
 

GETTING & SPENDING
BEST $10 HAIRCUT
BEST PLACE TO BUY WOMEN'S SIZE 11 SHOES
BEST PLACE TO BUY A BEER AND ENGLISH CANDY
BEST TOTAL CLEANSING
BEST ADVICE WITH YOUR MAKE-UP
BEST REASON TO TAKE UP BOWLING
BEST WINE STEWARD
BEST PLACE TO REGISTER FOR YOUR WEDDING
BEST PLACE TO BUY LEATHER BAGS
BEST PLACE TO BUY A PIÑATA
BEST LOCALLY MADE CARDS
BEST PLACE TO FIND A DECENT BRIDESMAID'S DRESS
BEST GUY TO BUY GLASSES FROM
BEST PLACE TO BUY A VINTAGE GUITAR

PLAY
BEST WAY TO PRETEND YOU'VE GOT THE POWER
BEST-KEPT SECRET
BEST WAY TO GET IN SHAPE QUICKLY
BEST PLACE TO BOWL FOR LESS THAN $1
BEST PLACE TO BUY ROLLERSKATES
BEST WAY TO MIX WITH OLD MONEY
BEST ROLLER SKATERS
BEST GORGE GETAWAY
BEST EXCUSE TO BUY A NEW POWER TOOL

 

BUSINESS
BEST CONTRACTORS TO DISCUSS WORLD POLITICS WITH
BEST WOMAN-OWNED ORGANIC FARM
BEST USE OF A DISGRACED SPORTSCASTER
BEST EUPHEMISMS FOR "SMALL, MEDIUM OR LARGE"
BEST CAR DETAILER
BEST HONEST AUTO SHOP
BEST COMPUTER DETECTIVE
BEST USE OF A VACANT LOT
BEST ALTERNATIVE TO MCDONALD'S
BEST ALTERNATIVE TO YELLOW BIKES
BEST DOUBLE RECYCLING
BEST DISCLAIMER
BEST COMEBACK
BEST HAIRDRESSER
BEST ATM

ENTERTAINMENT
BEST HISPANIC GAY BAR
BEST FAN CLUB
BEST TECHIES
BEST NEW ENSEMBLE
BEST BLACKBOARD ARTIST
BEST CD ART
BEST USE OF PORN IMAGERY IN ADVERTISING
BEST PLACE TO MEET A RENT CAST MEMBER
BEST SPACE-AGE STAGE COSTUMES
BEST LOCAL 7-INCH RECORD
BEST PRIVATE SCREENING ROOM
BEST KARAOKE PERFORMANCE BY A LOCAL ROCK STAR
BEST NEW WEDDING LOCATION
BEST LOCALLY PRODUCED SHORT FILM
BEST JUKEBOX AT A STRIP BAR
BEST SUBSTITUTE FOR A DEF LEPPARD
BEST HOPE FOR PORTLAND'S DANCE SCENE
BEST SUNDAY NIGHT SPECIAL


FRESH AIR
BEST LANDSCAPED BLOCK
BEST DRAGON BOAT CAUSE
BEST WAY TO TRAIN FOR HOOD TO COAST
BEST VACATION FOR SEEKING ENLIGHTENMENT
BEST SAFETY INCENTIVE
BEST LOCAL HIKE THAT ISN'T DOG MOUNTAIN

MEDIA
BEST PUBLICATION THAT POSTULATES ABOUT PINBALL
BEST CAMPAIGN TO GET INTO THE BEST OF PORTLAND ISSUE
BEST CABLE-ACCESS MUSIC SHOW
BEST LOCALLY PUBLISHED BEVERAGE MAGAZINE
BEST EXAMPLE OF MEDIA BONDAGE TO SENSATIONALISM
BEST NEWS SERIES
BEST BOOK ABOUT A SKANKY SWAMP WRITTEN IN THE MULTNOMAH COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
BEST WAY TO SUPPORT A HABIT
 

OFF THE BEATEN PATH
BEST PORTLAND'S BEST BY BUS DESTINATION
BEST ACOUSTIC CEILING
BEST BREEDING OPTION FOR DOGS WHO FEAR INTIMACY
BEST WAY TO EASE YOURSELF INTO THE NEW AGE
BEST PLACE TO MAKE OUT WHILE WATCHING AN ARTY MOVIE
BEST DIRECTIONS
BEST PARKING STRIP
BEST EXCLUSIVE ART GALLERY

SUSTENANCE
BEST BAR AMENITY
BEST BISCUITS AND GRAVY
BEST ANARCHIST COOKIES
BEST WATERBORNE SNACK
BEST EGGLESS HANGOVER BREAKFAST
BEST PMS CURE
BEST RESTAURANT THAT CLOSED
BEST ICE-CREAM FLAVORS
BEST HONKY BURRITO STAND
BEST CHEAP LATTE ON THE RUN
BEST REASON TO GO TO FOREST GROVE
BEST BAR FOR BEER AND WAFFLES
BEST VEGAN PIZZA MAKERS
BEST PLACE TO LEARN HOW TO TIE A PORK LOIN
BEST HEALTHY BREAKFAST AT A BAR
BEST SAUCE AT A BURRITO STAND
BEST CHANGE OF HANDS

Originally published: Willamette Week - July 15, 1998