Carman Luntzel is closing her Carman’s Country Kitchen

A PLUSH PIG the color of cotton candy sits on a windowsill at Carman’s Country Kitchen. Though it’s the size of a Beanie Baby, this tiny swine is no Ty Warner product. Official Beanie Babies do not come with the sort of appendage that sticks up over the pork’s belly.

This little piggy has a big salami.

Look around chef-owner Carman Luntzel’s three-table, two-counter (and, in warm weather, a table for eight in the back of her pickup truck) bruncher-y, and you’ll see that it’s a sausage party on and off the menu.

Dingaling-shaped ceramics pepper shelves. Phallus-adorned postcards cling to a corkboard. A mug with a willie for a handle hangs out on a ledge. A purplish rubber johnson dangles from the ceiling fan.

But the wiener-theme teapot and creamer made by the wife of “American Pie” singer Don McLean? Luntzel took it home weeks ago. Over the past three months, she’s been packing up her most cherished decorations, including select members of her member collection.

After 22 years at 11th and Wharton, the self-made chef and self-proclaimed “keeper of the penises” is closing shop and moving to South Carolina.

At summer’s end, Luntzel’s landlord sent notice he wasn’t renewing her lease. The property owner wants to turn her one-of-a-kind South Philly spot into a run-of-the-mill pizza shop.

via Carman Luntzel is closing her Carman’s Country Kitchen.

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Grand Rapids Lip Dub

Image via Wikipedia

“The Grand Rapids LipDub Video was filmed May 22nd, with 5,000 people, and involved a major shutdown of downtown Grand Rapids, which was filled with marching bands, parades, weddings, motorcades, bridges on fire, and helicopter take offs. It is the largest and longest LipDub video, to date.

This video was created as an official response to the Newsweek article calling Grand Rapids a “dying city.” We disagreed strongly, and wanted to create a video that encompasses the passion and energy we all feel is growing exponentially, in this great city. We felt Don McLean‘s “American Pie,” a song about death, was in the end, triumphant and filled to the brim with life and hope.” – Rob Bliss, Director & Executive Producer

*Note: The “NEW WORLD RECORD” designation refers to size and scope, not duration. Storyboards and concept art by Greg Oberle.

Also worth taking a look at is this article from National Public Radio along with an audio clip (about 5 minutes, transcript available).

Strange Random American Pie Quote:

“American Pie speaks to the loss that we feel. That’s why that song has found the niche that it has.” – Don McLean

Related articles

• The Grand Rapids LipDub (the1955hudson.com)
• City Proves Its Mettle With 5,000-Person Lip Dub [VIDEO] (mashable.com)
• The Grand Rapids Lip Dub: A Giant Street Party Set To Music (npr.org)
• The Grand Rapids LipDub (ritholtz.com)
• Grand Rapids Shows Civic Pride With World’s Largest Lip Dub Video (laughingsquid.com)
• The Grand Rapids LipDub (neatorama.com)
• Amazing ‘American Pie’ Viral Video Proves Grand Rapids Is Very Much Alive (wcbsfm.radio.com)