Summer is for grillin’, chillin’

I'm a sucker for products that are colorful, whimsical and yet practical. While trolling the Internet for unusual grills I came across an image of a pig-shaped pig cooker complete with nose, eye lashes and curled tail. It made me giggle out loud. Turns out that the grill was created by Raleigh-based artist Joel Haas who cleverly named it “Barbie Que.”

I wanted to know more about the inspiration, so I fired off a quick e-mail to see if I could use an image for the article about National Grilling Month and quickly got a response.

Haas was commissioned to make the grill for a barbecue enthusiast and insists that he, too, is loyal to eastern North Carolina barbecue. Even though he married a Tennessee woman. They are “a house divided,” he said with a laugh.

July is National Grilling Month, which only stands to reason when July is also the biggest national celebration since Independence Day is July 4.

Another celebration of independence is John Stowe's Tour d'Afrique. Stowe rode his bicycle for four months through eastern Africa as part of a group of international cyclists.

Featured in X notes this month is Brian Lee. Lee, who is a tattoo artist, designer, businessman and — most of all — BMX junkie, talks about his tattooing local BMX pros and painting a huge mural in honor of Colin Winkleman, former BMX rider who commited suicide in August 2005. The massive mural resides in Dave Mirra's warehouse.

Have a fun, happy and safe July 4!