Posted on 12/31/2004 3:28:31 PM PST by Ellesu
SNOHOMISH, Wash. - A mural of pink pigs painted on the side of a barbecue restaurant is apparently too spicy for officials in this city's historic district. The city has denied a permit to Janelle and Steve Carpenter, owners of the BBQ Shack, and the painting has remained veiled behind a white tarp since the restaurant opened last week.
The mural features five pink pigs on a white concrete wall, unwilling participants in meal preparation. One is ready to be grilled as another attempts escape in a hot air balloon. The remaining three appear to be to enticing drivers to stop.
The Carpenters have appealed the decision.
"They think it's very out of place," Janelle Carpenter said of city officials. "It's barbecue. ... It's crazy."
The couple had planned to open their restaurant in October.
At the time, Janelle Carpenter said, the City Council told her she wouldn't need a permit to paint the exterior of the 600-square-foot building.
So began the $3,500 painting of unclothed pigs, as well as one of a black 1957 Chevrolet convertible - the town is known for its classic car shows.
But as the paintings neared completion, Carpenter said she was told that while painting a building is kosher, pigs and other objects are considered murals and require a permit.
She said the city's Design Review Board, which makes recommendations about exterior changes to buildings in the district, objected to the painting because it doesn't fit the district's landscape and because naked pigs might lead to paintings of naked people.
Dwight Hartman, the city's planning manager, denied the permit based on board recommendations. He declined to comment.
Karen Guzak, board chairwoman, also refused to explain the board's objections, citing the Carpenters' appeal.
"How offensive can a pig be?" said Tom Grissett of Snohomish, a customer eating barbecue pork at the diner on Wednesday. "When was the last time you saw pigs with clothes on?"
When naked pigs are outlawed...
Way too easy... Hillary!
OH......MY.......GOD!
The old slippery slope.
What a delicious story.
They'll have to pry my cold, dead fingers from my naked pig.
Like paintings of pigs used to be seen all over the South during the 1960's and early 70's. They were used as adverisments for BBQ restaurants.
What the heck do you expect in a BLUE state??? PETA probably supports this move.
I hope the town fathers dont investigate the local farms...they might find NAKED piggies!!! Oh the humanity...no, oh, the pigheadednes!!!!
Are they planning to barbeque people?
Men holding rods in front of naked pig pictures just add to the problem.
When did pigs become sexual that they needed clothes...? The owners should now throw some thongs on them....or dress them as the morons who won't give the permit.
BTW Porky pig wore a tie but his 'goods' were still nekkik and caused countless people impure thoughts... /eyeroll
Is that the history behind the phrase "Makin' Bacon"?
"Snohomish -- where the men are men and the pigs are nervous"?
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