So what exactly makes a head of lettuce, a prosthetic derrière or Cherry Sprout the best Portland has to offer? It all depends on how we look at it. At WW, we don't determine the Best of Portland through scientific means. There are no reader polls, on-the-street surveys or tapas taste-offs. Instead we rely on damn-that's-hot radar, wide-eyed observation and wacky luck. What this process reaps is a collection of personalities, establishments, edibles and innovations as random and surprising as Mayor Katz's color coordination. The close of this century marks our 15th annual Best of Portland issue. Is it difficult to name hundreds of fresh, Portland-perfect items year after year? Actually, thanks to all your moving and shaking, no. It's our pleasure.

URBAN LIVING Best Block to Crunch and Munch Best Place to Hang Out with Creeps Best Anti-"Maul" Solution Best Door-to-Door Scam Best Example of Portlanders Letting Portlanders Be Portlanders Best Place to Tag Legally Best Epitome of Portland Best Place to Live if You Don't Cook Best Louis XIV Bathrooms Best Make-A-Wish Spinoff Best MAX Stop for Intelligentsia Best Salon Decor Best Protest Best Example of Urban Blight PERSONALITIES Best Manhandler Best Nicotine Enabler Best Know-It-Alls Best-Named Press Officer Best Proof that Art Saves Lives Best Dog Walker Best Cook Who Quotes The Big Lebowski Ad Infinitum Best Winter Hawk Fans Best Femme Fatale Best Proof that Our Schools Still Make Sense Best Lifer Cocktail Waitress Best Off da Hook DJ Best Doctor to the Down and Out Best Pad Thai Slinger Best Professor of Hardball Best Shoulders Best One-Man Mariachi Band Best Big-Hearted Mechanic Best Suturist Best Knitter Best Personal Style at Work Best Kitty Princess Best Watchdog Best Public-Transportation Advocates FRESH AIR Best No-Trespassing Symbol Best Place to Talk to the Animals Nine Stories above Ground Best Tree Doctors Best Trellis Best Nest Best Home Improvement that Grew a Personal Business Best Evidence that Someone Read Hillary Clinton's Book Best Seat for Expatriates Back at Home STEALS & DEALS Best Ice Cream Sundae Deal Best Free Suds Best Place to Buy Plastic Animal Eyes and Save the Earth Best Cavity Protection Best Place to Get Extra-Virgin Best Parking Spot Best Wacky and Free Stationary Best Bargain Mini-Spa Best Place to Buy a Wedding Dress for Under $100 MEDIA Best Variety Show from below Sea Level Best Personal Propaganda Technique Best Local Talent in a National Ad Best Bragging Rights Best Pledge Pitch Best Quiet Storm in the Morning Best Press Release Best Portland Bookmarks Best Explanation of Why the Blazers Haven't Blown Up Best Campaign for Rogue of the Week Best New York Power Play, Part 1 Best New York Power Play, Part 2 Best Fly Guy Best Thing to Soften a Bill's Blow Best Use of WW as Performance Art SUSTENANCE Best Bowls of Booze Best Place to Be Intimidated by Beer Best Freudian Snack Best Place to Buy Raw Meat Best Bar for Night-Shifters Best Chocolate-Free Cookie Best Reason to Shout, "Thank God It's Friday!" Best Real Caesar Salad Best Hot Dog Cart Best Theater that Understands Women Best Parlour to Step Into Best Sake Martini Best Use of Peanuts Best Schnitzel Shack Best Pickle Infiltration Best Slice for Tomato-Haters Best Place to Bulk up on Spices over Bagels Best Smoothie Best Fresh Market Best Pie, Hands Down Best Substitute for Mom's Best Impersonation of a Piece of Cake by a Bagel Best New Digs Best Old-Salt Waterfront Dive Best Salad Ingredient Best Place to Eat Like a Californian Best Authentic Mexican Bakery

LAW & ORDER Best Punishment that Fits the Crime Best Fair and Just Greeting Card Best Place to Get Scared Straight Best Guy to Have in Your Corner if You're an Addict Best Evidence of a Legal Conspiracy Best-Named Detective BUSINESS Best Example of Marxism at Work Best New Coffeehouse that Looks Like Starbucks but Serves Better Joe Best Down-Home Laundromat and Danny Glover Haunt Best Restaurant that Keeps It in the Family Best Talking Bag Best Grocery Staff as Social Workers Best Continuation of a Portland Epidemic Best In-the-Know Staff Best DMV Best Way to Go Organic Without Going Anywhere Best Substitute for Square Peg Best Sign of Change Best Thrift Store Renovation Best Lift for Women in Need Best Sevvy Best Place to Spot a Trend Best Way to Earn Your Wheels Best Place for Technophobes ENTERTAINMENT Best Way to Win a Free Pitcher of Beer Best Way to Combat the Trench Coat Mafia Best Retro Recall Best Illegal Concert Venue Best Touch of Vegas Class Best Bar for Wallflowers OFF THE BEATEN PATH Best Place to Fish Indoors Best Place to Buy Missile Casings, Eritrean Flags and Ebony Best Place to Eavesdrop on Locker-Room Talk Best Subtle Non-Smoking Statement Best Sign that the Kids Are Alright Best Prize at a Hamster Race Best Slogan on a Mailing Label Best Sugar Shack Best Restaurant Name that Defies the Stereotype Best Prosthetic Ass Best Truth in Advertising Best Bar You Never Knew About Best Street Name Best Scrapyard-as-Art Restaurant Decor Best Artifact from a PAM Exhibition POLITICS Best Evidence that Politics Once Had Class Best Sunday School Best Gutsy Product Naming Best Voter Drive CONSUMER AFFAIRS Best Blow Job Best Way to Sleep Around Best Place to Get Snowboards and Icepacks Best Way to Save Your Back Best Petals in a Pinch Best Birth-Control Method Best Reincarnation of Formica Best Shopping Atmosphere Best Christmas Present for Canadian Children Best Place to Button Up Best Mini-Mart Selling Asian Herbal Remedies Best Way to Improve Your Genes Best Place to Hop on a Music Trend Best Cigar Wellness Center Best Pan-Asian Pet Product ARTS Best Knock-Out Mural Best Place to Ignore a No-Trespassing Sign Best Writer for the New Millennium Best Functional Public Art Best CD Art Best Audio Guide PLAY Best Place to Put the Pedal to the Metal Best Jukebox Best Pool Table Best Music Class for Babies Best Blacktop Best Summer Stress-Management Plan by a Blazer Best Sign at a Blazers Game Best Bigger, Longer, Uncut Card Collection Best Place to Watch Greyhounds Run Without Having to Place a Bet Best Reason to Go Back to School WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

EDITOR Christina Melander CONTRIBUTORS Caryn B. Brooks, Liz Brown, Brooke Denisco, Jim Dixon, Zach Dundas, Katia Dunn, Amy Faust, Naomi Gollogly, John Graham, Alyssa Isenstein, Nigel Jaquiss, Jackie Kasten, Trevor Kearney, Brian Libby, Chris Lydgate, Dave McCoy, Cate Meeker, Richard H. Meeker, Will Meeker, Mac Montandon, Maureen O'Hagan, Tina Satter, John Schrag, Matt Schwartz, Steffen Silvis, Karen E. Steen, Susan Tomlinson, Erika L. Troseth, Cila Warncke, Patty Wentz, Jean Wenzel, Susan Wickstrom, Bob Young, Mark L. Zusman PHOTOGRAPHERS Basil Childers, Christina Melander, Michael Olfert, Michael Parrish, Anne Reeser, Martin Thiel