Things That Make Spokane...Well, Spokane.

Often called Seattle's weird little brother, sometimes called the cousin Portland doesn't like to talk about, Spokane is weird and that's the way Spokane likes it. Here are some of the things that make Spokane Spokane.

1. Northtown Mall Dream Date

Someone invited people on a dream date to the Northtown Mall

2. Dream Date...Reply??

Someone agreed to go on the dream date to Northtown Mall

3. The Romantic Mall Date Conclusion

They WENT on the Northtown Mall dream date

4. Pots and Pans Fall From The Sky

Via Spokane-news.com

This happened?!

5. Friendships that last forever

These guys have been playing tag for 23 years - and they started playing in weird old Spokane

6. The Boat Car

This is the boat car. Everyone in Spokane knows the boat car.

7. The Snow

Sometimes you give snow the middle finger, but in Spokane, the snow give it right back.

8. Local Celebrities

This guy, Harpman Hatter, is a local celebrity who is fighting the man and playing some sweet harmonica in Downtown Spokane.

9. Celebrities passing through!

50 Cent came a shot Home of the Brave in Spokane!

And then proceeded to say, "Have any of you been to Spokane, Washington before? Try not to ever go to Spokane, Washington."

10. The Garbage Goat

There's a garbage eating suction goat. Everyone loves the garbage goat.

(Fun Fact: Not many Spokanites know, but it was designed by Catholic Nun Sister Paula May Turnbull who designed a lot of other statues around Spokane as well.)

11. Local Sports Teams

The Chiefs won the Memorial Cup!

And promptly broke the trophy.

12. Benny and Joon

"Benny and Joon" was shot in Spokane.

And we're all still obsessed with it.

Rightfully so!

How great is Johnny Depp in Riverfront Park?

13. The Milk Bottle

Like I said...We're still obsessed with "Benny and Joon".

(The milk bottle is a real place that is featured in the movie.)

14. The Big Red Wagon

Spokane is home to the World's Largest Radio Flyer.

Not that anyone's trying to beat the record, but if they were, they'd need over 26 tons of steel.

15. Bloomsday

Held since 1977, Bloomsday is a 12k race started by local Olympic celebrity and author, Don Kardong (United States representative in the 1976 Montreal Olympics).

The race has over 40,000 participants yearly and people come from all over the world to run.

Also, there's a real pride in having a retro Bloomsday t-shirt.

(Yes, the name is inspired by James Joyce.)

16. Hoopfest

Hoopfest is the world's largest 3on3 basketball tournament in the world. It's also a time when every person in Spokane tries to park downtown.

17. The Looff Carousel

If you grew up on Spokane, you've gone for a few turns on the good ol' Looff

18. Boo Radley's

Boo Radley's (and it's brother store/coffee shop, Atticus) is a local favorite for strange books, fun collectibles, and Spokane-themed memorabilia. Everyone loves Boo's.

19. Chicken-n-Mo

The best Southern food in the north? I don't know, I'm not an expert, but I do know that Chicken-n-More is delicious and you can't tell me otherwise.

20. Elkfest

Elkfest is Spokane's version of an outdoor indie music fest. Nothing too fancy, but that's how we like it in Spokane. Good indie music, good people, good food from the Elk.

21. The Inlander

When people leave Spokane for bigger cities, be they Seattle, Portland, Boston or beyond, often the first complaint is that the local weekly isn't quite like the Inlander.

22. Spokane Pride

I wrote a whole article, didn't I?