Life as I Know It

The online guest book for NASCAR radio personality and writer David Poole is among the most visited on Legacy.com of the past year, according to the online obituary and memorialization site.

Poole, a 1977 Hunter Huss graduate and former city editor and sports editor at the Gazette, died Apr. 28 at the age of 50. He also worked at newspapers in Virginia and Florida before working at the primary NASCAR writer for Charlotte Observer.

He was also known for his radio and television work and was a frequent guest host on “Primetime with the Pack Man” on WFNZ-AM 610 before earning a nationally syndicated NASCAR radio show.

This year was one of many notable deaths, from the tragic loss of Jett Travolta in January to the passing of Patrick Swayze in September, the site said in a press release. Online guest books attracted memories and condolences from family members, friends and fans from around the world.

 ”For many, the death of a beloved public figure can create a real sense of loss and grief,” said Stopher Bartol, president and CEO of Legacy.com. “Online guest books offer a place for mourners from around the world to come together to honor the lives of these influential figures who have touched so many lives.”

 This year’s most visited guest books include those for prominent figures from the worlds of entertainment, journalism, sports, politics and music, as well as a young California girl whose story captured the hearts of people around the world.

Listed alphabetically, they include:

• Bea Arthur: “Golden Girls” star; died April 25, 2009
• Sandra Cantu: 8-year-old murder victim; body was found on April 6, 2009 
• Michael Jackson: Legendary performer and “King of Pop”; died June 25, 2009
• Ashley Jewell: Former fiancé of Kandi Burruss from “The Real Housewives of Atlanta”; died October 2, 2009
• U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy Jr.: Statesman; died August 25, 2009
• Steve McNair: Former NFL quarterback (Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens); died July 4, 2009
• Natasha Richardson: Movie (”Patty Hurst”), Broadway actress and daughter of Vanessa Redgrave; died March 18, 2009
• Patrick Swayze: Movie and television actor; died September 14, 2009
• Jett Travolta: Son of actors John Travolta and Kelly Preston; died January 2, 2009

Each of the personalities is remembered as part of a special feature on Legacy.com’s Lasting Legacies page called “Year in Review.” Organized in one location are the obituaries and guest books for many of the most prominent celebrities and public figures who have died in the past 12 months. Coupled with these are obituaries and biographical information from major media outlets.

For more information and to visit the “Year in Review” retrospective, go to www.legacy.com.

There’s nothing remotely scary about Amber Hyder’s Halloween’s costume idea - unless the campy 60s TV show “The Addams Family” gives you the creeps.

“You don’t want to scare people off,” said Hyder of Kings Mountain, who was trying on a Wednesday Addams costume Thursday afternoon at Party City in Gastonia. “You want to make new friends.”

But instead of the long-sleeved vintage dress the sweet-natured Wednesday sported on the black-and-white show, Hyder opted to try on a more grownup version, complete with a black hip-hugging skirt, a low cut white collar half top and grey striped knee highs.

It’s one sign of how a new four letter word is replacing the adjective of choice in describing many people’s Halloween costumes. Instead of scary, more adults and teens are opting to dress sexy for Beggars Night.

More than half of the nearly 2,000 female adult costumes on BuyCosutmes.com are listed in the “sexy” category. There are schoolgirl outfits, French maids costumes and revealing military and law enforcement gear. Fictional childhood favorites aren’t sacred, either: costumes for fairy tale favorites like Snow White, Dorothy, Goldilocks and Red Riding Hood have been sexed up as well.

“Adults aren’t dressing up like SpongeBob,” said Dale Koontz, a communications and public speaking instructor at Cleveland Community College and a noted pop culture expert.

Instead, they’re dressing like Spongebabe, with the square pants replaced by barely mid-thigh skirts.

The trend towards sexy Halloween costumes has taken off the past few years, said Metina Medford, a Gaston County native who owns Casper’s Costume Closet in Forest City with husband Jeff. The store, which is open year-round, has a wall of nothing but sexy costumes, she said.

“We can hardly keep them in stock,” Medford said. “We have to hire extra help just to watch that wall.”

Teens are showing interest in more mature costumes, too. Online costume retailers hawk outfits such as a Tavern Wench Tween, a High Seas Hottie Teen and a Sweet and Sexy Vampiress Teen.

“We have to watch the (teens),” Medford said. “We will only sale them those kinds of costumes if the parent is present.”

Medford said the proliferation of adult Halloween bashes like last weekend’s Gravedigger’s Ball in Charlotte is one reason customers give for ditching the scary costume, while Koontz added that marketers are really pushing Halloween as an adult holiday. With the drudgery of everyday life, some adults tend to go overboard when they do have the chance to cut loose, she said.

“The idea of shedding responsibility for a night, there’s a real appeal there,” she said.

Plus, dressing cute gets you noticed when you’re out at Halloween party, said Kristen Williams of Kings Mountain, who’s dressing as a gangster girl. She was at Party City Thursday helping Hyder search for costumes.

 ”None of our friends dress scary,” Williams said. “We like dressing pretty.”

Need a Last Minute Costume Idea?

Here are a couple of places to go if you still haven’t decided what you want to be for Halloween:

Casper’s Costume Closet, 2270 US Highway 74A, Forest City. 828-245-7715 or www.casperscostumecloset.com.

Party City, 3686 E. Franklin Blvd., Gastonia. 704-823-1733 or www.partycity.com.

My wife loves, or should I say loved, to wear black. Black shirts, black sweaters,black dresses - you get the idea. Said it’s slimming.

That was until a drawing and a memorable comment from our nephew Dakota a while back. Now, if I may say so, Dakota is the sweetest kid in the world. I know you think yours is, but that’s just because you haven’t met Dakota. He’s a third grader (I think - a good uncle would know) at Carr Elementary in Dallas and is always quick to give his aunt and uncle a big hug whenever he sees us. He’s mild-tempered, mild-mannered and just an all-around good kid.

But, back to the story. It started when Dakota made a drawing for his Aunt Meghan. He was so excited to give it to her, and when he handed the picture he so lovingly and painstakingly drew for her, she saw he had dressed her in all black. That was the first wake-up call for my wife. Then, when she decided to change things up and wear a colorful outfit the next time we saw our nephews, Dakota dropped what’s now considered a classic line in our family on her.

“Who did you borrow that shirt from?” he asked.

Tears of laughter rolled down my face as my embarrassed wife stumbled over her words while searching for an answer.

It’s the kind of question only a sweet, innocent kid would make. And it was pretty darn funny.

But I know there are plenty of other good “Did my kid just say what I think he (or she) said?” stories out there. I’d like to hear about them. Shoot me an e-mail at bpetit@gastongazette.com and tell me what those sweet little darlings said that turned mom’s and dad’s faces red.

Watching football just got even better - at least on Monday nights.

The Epicentre Theaters in downtown Charlotte are showing Monday Night Football on the big screen. The theater, located adjacent to Mez restaurant, features comfortable bucket seating and a full service bar. Seating starts at 8 p.m. each Monday, with kickoff at 8:30 p.m. Entrance is free and parking is validated.

What should make the viewing experience more fun are the trivia questions during commercial breaks, the $2 beer specials and the half-price sliders. During halftime, first-run movie trailers will be shown and half-price shots will be available from the bar.

The restaurant and theaters are located at 210 E. Trade St., Charlotte. For more information, visit www.mezcharlotte.com.

And here’s the Monday Night Football schedule for the rest of the season:

Oct. 19, Denver at San Diego

Oct. 26, Philadelphia at Washington

Nov. 2, Atlanta at New Orleans

Nov. 9, Pittsburgh at Denver

Nov. 16, Baltimore at Cleveland

Nov. 23, Tennessee at Houston

Nov. 30, New England at New Orleans

Dec. 7, Baltimore at Green Bay

Dec. 14, Arizona at San Francisco

Dec. 21, New York Football Giants at Washington

Dec. 28, Minnesota at Chicago

It sounded horrible. Almost blasphemous.

A mac and cheese recipe with mayonnaise? Really? Someone actually thinks ruining one of the ultimate comfort foods with mayo is a good idea?

My wife and I were in Columbus, OH, visiting relatives in July when we were told to try the recipe. There was plenty of eye-rolling as soon as we heard the words “add two cups of mayo.” But we decided to try it anyway, just for laughs.

But after we tasted it, we were too busy shoveling it down our throats to even manage a chuckle. Since then, it’s become a hit at every get-together we’ve attended and has become our most requested (or should I say only?) recipe. Even people who swear they don’t like mayonnaise have gobbled it up.

It’s easy to make and only has five ingredients - one of which is fried onions. And if you think that’s laughable, too, just wait until you try it.

Here it is:

2 cups mayo

4 cups sharp cheddar cheese

2 cans cream of chicken soup

16 oz. box macaroni, cooked

large can of fried onions

Mix all ingredients (except fried onions) and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Mac and cheese is ready when the cheese starts bubbling. Sprinkle the onions on top and enjoy.

Had a 45 minute teleconference with Saturday Night Live and feature film star Steve Martin and a bunch of other starstruck writers today. Among the most talked about topics (at least with Martin) was Shelby native Earl Scruggs.

That’s because, these days at least, Martin is concentrating more on playing the banjo than he is making people laugh. He put out a bluegrass CD, The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo, earlier this year and will perform in Charlotte on Oct. 10 with Asheville bluegrass band The Steep Canyon Rangers.

Martin talked about how he was introduced to the banjo when he was 17 years old by listening to Scruggs and The Kingston Trio. The banjo was “very noticeable in the 60s when I was growing up,” he said.

He met Scruggs when he was 21 or 22 years old backstage at a show and the two formed a friendship. In 2001, Scruggs asked Martin, now 64, to perform with him on a recording of Foggy Mountain Breakdown, along with country music superstar Vince Gill and Late Night with David Letterman sidekick Paul Shaffer, among others.

A bit of bad news for stand-up comedy fans - it doesn’t sound like Martin has any interest in performing stand-up in the future. On the bright side, he said in 2002 he didn’t see himself ever recording a bluegrass album either, so there’s always a chance he could change his mind.

In the meantime, he does play a pretty mean banjo. He’s considered a master of the five-fingered playing style known as clawhammer, a style Scruggs told The New York Times “I know I can’t play.”

If you want to see Martin, who’ll also perform with Pulitzer Prize-winning author and columnist Dave Barry at the Charlotte performance, visit www.blumenthalcenter.org for details. Tickets run from $54-$79.

And look for more on Steve Martin in the Oct. 4 edition of the Gazette.

My favorite annual event is back.

The Yiasou Greek Festival at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Charlotte runs today (Thursday) through Sunday and offers plenty of authentic Greek foods, live Greek music and traditional folk dancing by parish members.

The event, which started in 1978, has become one of Charlotte’s most popular cultural events, drawing visitors from across the region. And in case you’re wondering, yiasou (pronounced “yah-su”) is the Greek word for “hello, goodbye and cheers.”

The festival also features shopping opportunities in the “Agora” open-air market and the Hosanna! Spirit of Orthodoxy Bookstore. In addition, there will be a Greek cultural exhibit with artifacts dating back to 500 B.C. and plenty of art and jewelry available for purchase.

For the first time in the festival’s history, visitors can witness the Ezvones (Presidential Guards) reenact the Changing of the Guards and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The popular tourist attraction takes place in Athens daily in front of the Greek Parliament Building at Syndagma Square and commemorates all of the anonymous Greek soldiers that have fallen in battle.

It all takes place against the backdrop of - and within - the beautiful Greek Orthodox church, which will house the Greek Cultural Exhibit which features artifacts such as Greco-Roman spearheads and coins dating back to 500 B.C. and a living history presentation, “Warriors of Greece.”

But it’s the food that keeps me going back (for what will be my eighth year in a row.)

Here’s a look at some of my favorite foods from the annual event.

Baklava: Layered pastry made of phyloo dough and sweetened with honey; try it with ice cream.

Gyro (pronouced “YEE-roh”): Seasoned lamb and beef in pita with sour cream, garlic sauce, tomato and onion.

Loukoumades: Called “Greek donuts,” they’re balls of fried dough with honey.

Spanakopita: Spinach and feta cheese pie.

Souvlaki: It’s like a gyro except the seasoned lamb is replaced with a Greek shish-kabob.

The 32nd Annual Yiasou Greek Festival takes place today through Sunday at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 600 E. Boulevard, Charlotte. Hours are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. today, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon-8 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $2 and free for children 12 and younger accompanied by a parent or guardian. For more details, visit www.yiasoufestival.org.

Any chance I’ll miss the Charlotte run of “Jersey Boys,” the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons?

Fuggedaboudit!

Even though the show is months away (Mar. 31-Apr. 18), the N.C. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center held a Q&A session with cast members of the touring production Monday at the Booth Playhouse to help hype the show.

Not that it needs it. “Jersey Boys” has been one of the most talked-about productions since winning the 2006 Tony Award for Best Musical. Blumenthal president Tom Gabbard said it’s consistently ranked among the most requested plays area theatergoers want to see.

It’s more than your regular jukebox  musical, Q&A moderator Mike Collins said.

“There’s a real story going on here,” Collins said. “The music is exactly the way you remember the music being.”

That means most of your Four Seasons favorites – whether  you knew they were your favorites or not – are featured in the show, including “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man” and “Who Loves You.”

The show revolves around the Four Seasons – Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi – breaking into show business and the story behind their songs.

It’s full of Jersey boys being Jersey boys, which means plenty of colorful language, colorful cars and colorful girls, said Buck Hujabre, who plays Norm Waxman and others.

“It’s a lot like a mix of VH1’s ‘Behind the Music’ with an episode of ‘The Sopranos,’” Hujabre said.

“In the 1950s and 60s these guys were doing things no one in the public knew about. Today we have Twitter, we have Facebook, you know everything your favorite band is doing – you know what they ate for lunch last week. The fact that these skeletons were kept in the closet for song long makes it more compelling.”

The story is what keeps audiences engaged, said Josh Franklin, who plays Guadio. But it’s the music that keeps people filling up the theaters.

“We like to say it’s essentially a rock concert and a really good play in one,” Franklin said. “The music – you can’t get any better than Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. It’s part of pop culture. It’s in commercials and movies and everywhere and no matter what age you are, you’re familiar with the music and it brings a smile to your face or tears to your eyes depending on the song and the memory you associate with it.”

Nowadays, more and more people are associating the music with “Jersey Boys.” It’s expected to be one of the hardest-to-come-by theater tickets since “Wicked” last appeared in Charlotte.

As for me? I’m buying the hype – and my tickets – early. There’s no way I’d miss this one.

The dialogue is secondary. The set design is minimalist. The story is implausible - at best.

But somehow, “Mamma Mia!” makes it work.

At the opening night of the musical’s fourth run in Charlotte, people were literally dancing in the aisles during the show’s raucous, concert-like encore.

You’d be surprised at how many khaki and button-down types and white hairs still love the music of Swedish pop band ABBA, which framed the musical’s porous plot.

If you aren’t one of the 40 million worldwide that’s seen the show, or didn’t contribute to the $600 million-plus the 2008 film version has earned, here’s the rundown:

On the eve of her wedding, Sophie’s (Liana Hunt) quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her independent mother Donna’s (Michelle Dawson) past back to the Greek island they last visited 20 years ago.

It also brings back her mother’s best friends, rich divorcee Tanya (Rachel Tyler) and carefree Rosie (Kittra Wynn Coomer).

If you go knowing that much, nothing else matters. You can just sit back and enjoy the music. Even I was surprised to discover I knew as many ABBA songs as I did. I’ve never owned a CD, seen a video or sought the band’s music out in any way.

Someone must have implanted a chip in my brain because I still knew songs like “Honey, Honey” and “The Name of the Game.”

The show’s highlights revolve around the performances of Donna and possible dad suspect No. 1, Sam Carmichael (John Hemphill). The pair’s rendition of “S.O.S.” blew me away, while Donna’s performance of “The Winner Takes It All” was a showstopper.

Audience members loved “Does Your Mother Know,” performed by Tanya and boy-toy Pepper (Adam Michael Kaokept) and Rosie’s take on “Take a Chance on Me,” which included an assist from possible dad suspect No. 2, Bill (Martin Kildare), while possible dad suspect No. 3, Harry (Michael Aaron Lindner), regularly elicited laughs throughout the show.

The low-light - the men didn’t consistently hold their own with the women. But in a often raunchy show that was almost like a Judd Apatow comedy for girls, that didn’t matter.

It’s a celebration of female friendship and ABBA’s enduring music. Everything else, in this play at least, is unimportant.

Mamma Mia, Here It Is Again

“Mamma Mia!,” the hit musical based on the music of Swedish pop band ABBA, runs through Aug. 2 at Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St., Charlotte. Tickets are $30 through $100. Student and Gal Pal discounts available. For the performance schedule, tickets or more information, call the N.C. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center box office at 704-372-1000 or visit www.blumenthalcenter.org.

Charlotte Restaurant Week has finally ventured into Gaston County. The Queens Feast, which runs from July 10 through July 19, gives folks a chance to get a three course, fixed-menu meal for $30 per person at some of Charlotte’s trendiest and upscale restaurants - i.e., you can eat for (relatively) cheap at places that would normally wreck your budget.

It had been a Charlotte-only affair since its inception, with foodies lining up at steakhouses like Sullivan’s, Del Frisco’s and Ruth’s Chris and other popular restaurants like Noble’s and M5 for dining experiences usually reserved for special occassions.

This go-round, Old Stone Steakhouse on Main Street in downtown Belmont (and sister restaurant to LaVecchia’s Seafood Grille in downtown Charlotte) has joined the feast.  

Here’s a look at Old Stone’s fixed menu for the special Charlotte Restaurant Week:

Wine

One bottle of specially selected wine per couple
(Wine choice may be upgraded.)

Appetizer (choice of one)

Sundried Tomato & Goat Cheese - goat cheese smothered in a sundried tomato & herb oil, served with toasted pita

Old Stone Wedge Salad - topped with shredded carrots, grape tomatoes, dried cranberries & crisp potato sticks; choice of dressing: sherry vinaigrette, bleu cheese, rosemary ranch, thousand island, honey mustard

Old Stone Cheese Fries - house steak fries topped with melted cheese blend, bacon, and our homemade brown gravy

Loaded Baked Potato Soup - just like a loaded baked potato

Entrée (choice of one)

New York Strip 10 oz. - hand-cut in house and served with our signature herb butter

Black & Bleu Sirloin 10 oz. - blackened, topped with Danish bleu cheese, and drizzled with a red wine reduction

Char Grilled Atlantic Salmon 8 oz. - fresh cut daily and topped with our lemon beurre blanc sauce

Twin Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes - pan seared and served with our lemon beurre blanc sauce

Double Thick Glazed Pork Chop 10 oz. - bone-in pork chop drizzled with a smoked bacon apple glaze and a lemon beurre blanc

BBQ Chicken & Ribs - smothered with our signature Cheerwine BBQ sauce

Entrees served with choice of seasonal vegetables, baked potato, steakhouse fries, mash & gravy.

Dessert (choice of one)

Triple Layer Chocolate Cake - three layers of rich dark chocolate cake stacked with layers of chocolate mousse and covered in a dark chocolate icing

Double Decker Key Lime Pie - layers of key lime pie and lemon meringue inside a graham cracker crust topped with lime gelatin and whipped cream

NY Cheesecake - topped with your choice of chocolate or caramel glaze

Peanut Butter Tower - two rich dark chocolate cakes stacked with whipped filling and topped with a peanut butter mousse and a chocolate rose

Visit www.charlotterestaurantweek.com for a full list of participating restaurants. And then go out and treat yourself to a nice meal!