For some time now In Between Place has successfully catered to the young imagination of kids from the ages of preschool to pre-teen. Somewhere in there, my maturity level fits in perfectly. It was on their porcelain throne that my mind wandered into a magical, fairytale place leading me toward thoughts of Tacoma. I recalled the recent discussion over a letter that everyone including Santa Claus received about the upcoming visit to the Pacific Northwest from Food Network’s Diners Drive-Ins and Dives television show. The discussion via comment section coaxed readers into listing their top local venues who deserved a visit from this popular foodie show. As I sat upon In Between Place’s potty, I began to mentally create other lists of favorites.



A la Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity book (and later movie starring John Cusak), I have become quite fond of making “Top 5” lists. Most of the time it is extremely hard to limit categories to only five favorites, thus creating the need for sub-categories. Is anyone else as crazy about this as I am?



The worst part is, I’ll make a list only to find myself editing entries within a couple of hours of making them, or after hearing someone else’s entries. If you make these lists like I do, you know what I’m talking about. It’s the part where you say, “Oh, Crap! I forgot about that one! Wait, now I have to start all over. Grrrr!” Or, “Can’t I make it my ‘Top 7’?”



So here we go, guys. I’ll throw out a tiny taste of my “Top 5” lists — and you throw in your two cents. Tell me your “Top 5” from these categories. No one is wrong, no one is right — it’s all opinion. Except for me. I’m always right. But then again, I could be wrong about always being right. What a conundrum. Great. Now I’m all confused, so I’ll just say: Marlon Brando.

EASY: Top 5 chocolate candy bars found in a 7-11

1. 100 Grand


2. Snickers


3. Rocky Road


4. Peanut Butter Twix


5. Skor

INTERMEDIATE: Top 5 pranks on Dwight by Jim on The Office:

1. Sends Dwight faxes from “Future Dwight”


2. Hides Dwight’s cell phone in ceiling tiles, then Pam calls it all day


3. Jim dresses as Dwight (my favorite)


4. Puts Dwight’s desk in men’s restroom


5. Places Dwight’s desk items and wallet into office vending machine

DIFFICULT: Top 5 most monotone Top 40 (pop) male singers (minus hip-hop and country artists).

This category could easily create so many sub-categories

1. James Blunt


2. Bruce Springstein


3. Ben Gibbard


4. David Hasselhoff


5. Bob Dylan

OK — I need two more spaces — this one’s hard. Lemmie add Chris Martin and Chad Kroeger.



Now, just like being at In Between Place, use your imagination and be creative. I challenge you — What kind of Top 5 lists can you come up with? C’mon, you know your mind is already on Thanksgiving vacation. What else did you think you would do today? Work?

[In Between Place, 208 N State St (Above Rector's Antiques, off Sixth Avenue), Tacoma, 253.278.9035]