Marinated Chicken Wings originally uploaded by placbo

In my never ending quest to find the hottest edible substances on the planet, I went searching for the best wings around town. Unfortunately most of my searching revealed sources which just didn’t appeal much to me. I’m looking for the kind of place that has 30+ different kinds of wings and levels of heat from fire extinguisher to “sign a fucking waiver before you eat these”. I’m tired of coming across BW3 or places that serve “mild Buffalo”, “hot Buffalo”, and BBQ and call it a day. I’m really tired of going to BW3 and having the waitress gasp at the fact that I’m ordering 12 Blazin’ wings (they used to be hotter I’m sure–did they dumb it down for mass market appeal?) because, to be perfectly honest, they aren’t even a little bit spicy.

But in my travels today, I found one place that really does appeal to me, Girvan Grille in Brooklyn Park has the Ghost Wing Challenge where you eat 10 wings in 15 minutes and get a t-shirt. The best is their disclaimer at the bottom which reads, in part, “Good hot wings always burn twice. Girvan Grille is not responsible for next day discomfort.” I already have UpWithTheMooses in on a trip up there, any other takers? While they aren’t offering 30+ varieties of wings, at least I know this place will leave me begging for a beer and some ice cubes–especially for round two.

Anyway, that said, what places do you like to eat wings? Do you have any suggestions on where I could find a menu similar to one of my favorite wing places ever? I’m up to any and all suggestions and the hotter the better! So please do share your knowledge of MSP wing joints as my mouth is watering just thinking about them :)

No horn honking originally uploaded by Jeremy Keith

A South Metro resident contacted me the other day with concerns about a decrease in public safety due to Iraq War protesters on the corner of Burnsville Parkway and Nicollet. This citizen felt that the protesters were tying up police resources and distracting drivers by encouraging them to honk in support of their cause which was a position which the Burnsville PD agrees with. After reading the information provided and witnessing the event myself, I am more concerned with the fact that the Burnsville Police Department is seriously wasting their time even observing this event and counting how many drivers are in support of the protest than anything else.

The Burnsville Police Department has said that they believe the honking causes distractions for both passing motorists and pedestrians and that it creates a problem with noise for those people who reside on 129th. The Burnsville PD has gone so far as to use the complaints of a single citizen who approached the officer stationed to observe the protest and their own hunch that the protesters are causing a distraction in order to justify their keeping an officer there to watch people lawfully and peacefully protest something which they do not believe is right.

I don’t know about you but the fact that a Burnsville police officer is stationed at the corner of Nicollet and Burnsville Parkway just so that the PD can record the fact that 68 horns were honked is a bit more than I can stomach. Perhaps instead of concerning themselves with that happy horseshit, they should be standing at the corner of 126th and Nicollet and counting how many people actually use that dangerous and pointless crosswalk to help and mitigate the cost of an actual study which might not be necessary if only a handful of people actually ever use the damn thing.

The Chief of Police, in his e-mail stated, “We are continuing to monitor it because we feel it is a safety issue and we will take the appropriate steps if we deem intervention is appropriate.” Problem for Burnsville lies in the fact that the protesters have been cited before and immediately called in the ACLU who has informed the city that horn honking is a protected free speech right and that there is nothing the city can really do about it–for now.

Now, while the chief feels that this is indeed an issue which needs constant monitoring, I am sure that some of you will find some serious fault in their execution of the plan especially when the ACLU is involved. Because of the involvement of the ACLU and prior case law proving that horn honking is a protected right, the city’s attorney has to keep up with the latest and greatest about the protesters so that they can swoop in and cite people for honking their horns to end the menace to society that all those people pose. It’s my suggestion that the Burnsville PD focus less on counting horns and more on protecting the public from the real dangers like drug dealers selling heroin at the corner of CR-11 and MN-13 causing teenagers to OD.

What do you think about all of this? Is the Burnsville PD right to waste vital resources and plop and officer there who apparently has nothing better to do than count how many passing motorists honk their horns? Should the Burnsville PD be doing something else instead–perhaps chasing down drug dealers and other more violent criminals which seem to be cropping up in larger numbers? Whatever you think about this issue go ahead and comment on and let’s hear what you have to say!

I have a couple of great pictures from around the South Metro as well as some interesting food links/recipes to offer up. This is something I usually would stick into the News Roundup but I figured that they were getting too damn long when I did. So this week, because there were enough, I decided to split them out. If you like this format better please let me know!

1. I follow all the Flickr photos taken across the South Metro and it’s no surprise that a majority of what comes through is from the Minnesota Zoo. In this set a photographer with a sick mind took a ton of photos of animals doing ‘peculiar’ things. I’d keep the kiddies away from these (i.e. they’re kinda fucked up).

Check out monkey business, lunch, lookout, and slow motion.

2. A couple of recipes which fell under the “4th of July” heading. Check out: grilled catfish, Cajun style, grilled shrimp and bacon rollups (everything is better wrapped in bacon!), and grilled peppers and zucchini salad (something which I am sure only I would enjoy in my house).

3. A video link which shows you how to make peach and brie quesadillas with a lime-honey dipping sauce. I suppose it caught my eye following last week’s grilled peach salad with chorizo and torn buffalo mozzarella (#8).

BTW, I don’t have the recipe for the grilled peach and chorizo but if you post a comment on the Flickr page for the photo maybe she’ll give you what you need.

4. A picture out of Lakeville (if you’re not into food with the head still on, don’t click the link) of a hog roast via Divine Swine Catering. Looks good aside from the large tattoo behind the ears.

5. An awesome shot of a dragonfly and a really adorable photo of a tiny squirrel from an area photographer that I’ve been following for a long ass time.

Well that’s all for this link dump. If you have any other recipes or photos to share, please go ahead and post the links below or throw them into the Lazy Lightning Flickr pool! If you don’t have anything to share, please let me know what you think–especially about the zoo photographer with his mind in the gutter ;-)