Dan Webster

There are generally two ways Spokanites celebrate the Fourth of July. One is to go to "the lake" – it doesn't matter which lake it is, we all know that every lake is "the" lake – and drunkenly risk life and limb attempting a DIY fireworks display. This is otherwise known as "blowing stuff up." The other, more safe, sane and undoubtedly cheaper way is to take a seat next to a major body of water and check out one of the pro jobs in the area. And that's where we come in. Just in case you're new to the area – or you've been living under a rock – here's a list of happenin' spots to catch the downtown Spokane, Coeur d'Alene or Liberty Lake shows. Of course, these aren't listed in any particular order, and there are plenty of other places to see these or other fireworks displays. We just thought it'd be nice to make some suggestions. Anyway, on with the show: 1. Cliff Drive

If you're looking for a good book recommendation (and who isn't?), here's what Smithsonian Magazine readers list as their favorites: Dan Brown and J.K. Rowling. Seriously. The magazine polled 1,200 of its readers in May to come up with favorites lists for books, movies and activities. The list includes Brown's page-turner novels "Angels & Demons" and "The Da Vinci Code," Rowling's "Harry Potter" series, John Grisham's "The Last Juror," Laura Hillenbrand's nonfiction book "Seabiscuit," Mitch Albom's "The Five People You Meet in Heaven," Lynne Truss' "Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation," J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and Bill Bryson's "A Short History of Nearly Everything."

There are promotional films, and there are documentaries. And then there's the blurry realm in between. In between is where "3 on 3" belongs. Made by Spokane's North By Northwest Entertainment, "3 on 3" – which opens today at River Park Square Cinemas – follows three teams as they play their way through Hoopfest 2003.

"Reno 911: The Complete First Season" “““

If you've read today's IN Life cover story, then you'll already know that there are many good books to read this summer. Most, if not all, are by writers from out of the area. But what about our regional writers? What do they have worth reading? For example, King County Sheriff David Reichert's nonfiction study "My Twenty-Year Quest to Capture the Green River Killer" (Little, Brown, 320 pages, $24.95) was supposed to have come out in October. But the publisher, apparently hoping to appeal to the beach-read crowd, decided to bring the book out in July.

One of the first questions children ask their parents is "Where did I come from?" Parents with a sense of humor might say, "From the hospital." Truth is, most of us simply shrug or offer answers tied to organized religion.