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Ostrich Fest brings family fun, Grammy winners

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

GetOut Editor

The Four Tops’ Duke Fakir is up for any musical adventure and, this March, that includes the Chandler Chamber Ostrich Festival.

“We usually play Phoenix, but anywhere else in Arizona is a good, new adventure,” Fakir said with a laugh.

“We should enjoy the festival. Anything that’s different than the normal scenery or even makes it a little more exciting for us.”

The Four Tops are among the musical acts at this year’s Chandler Chamber Ostrich Festival, which features national and regional musicians, attractions, more than 50 carnival rides, food vendors. Ostriches will roam freely in a designated area at the festival. For the first time in 32 years, the festival will take place on two weekends: Friday, March 11, to Sunday, March 13, and Friday, March 17, to Sunday, March 20.

“We are thrilled to bring two weekends of Ostrich Festival family fun to our community so guests will have the opportunity for double the fun,” said Terri Kimble, the Chandler Chamber of Commerce’s chief executive officer and president.

“We have been working diligently with the

city of Chandler and SLE to plan the safest event possible for what The Four Tops are, from left, Lawrence Payton Jr. (son of original Four Top Lawrence Payton), Alex Morris, Ronnie McNeir and Abdul (Duke) Fakir. (Courtesy of The Four Tops)

is expected to be the best Ostrich Festival ever with our most diverse musical talent lineup to date.”

The Four Tops are co-headlining with fellow Motown legends The Temptations on March 20.

Additional headliners include Grammy award-winning The Band Perry co-headlining with pop star Uncle Kracker (March 11), Grammy-nominated country act Walker Hayes (March 12), rapper Flo Rida (March 13), the ’80s cover band Spazmatics (March 17), the legendary The Beach Boys (March 18) and Grammy winning R&B star Nelly (March 19). The 86-year-old Fakir – the lone surviving original Four Tops singer – said he’s slowing down from touring, but he is leaving a legacy with songs like “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” and “Reach Out I’ll Be There.”

“I’m at an age where I’m not going to perform for too much longer,” he said. “I’m way up there and, at my age, very few people are performing. It’s time for me to ease out of the business and ease out with the wonderful story for The Four Tops.

“Hopefully the younger Tops will keep this going.”

To keep The Four Tops alive, Fakir is working on a memoir for London’s Omnibus Press as well as a Broadway musical, both of which are called “I’ll Be There.”

“There’s a story about the Tops and a lot of people don’t know the true story,” he said. “It’s very interesting and it will be in the book that’s coming out in May, too.

“I want them to know how and why we stayed together all these years; how it was and what it took for us to do that. The life we lived early in our career was very different and very exciting. When we were young, we all said a book was something we would do together. Unfortunately, we never did that. I have the honor of telling the story.”

Fakir anticipates the book and the musical will be hits. “I’ll Be There,” the musical, will be ready by the end of the year, although it has not been cast yet.

“I can’t wait for people to read, hear and go through the life of The Four Tops,” he said. “The wonderful part is my career is still going. It’s amazing to me. We have so much fun on stage. The audience makes it fun, too — especially nowadays because they’ve been pent up for so long.” Country rocker Uncle Kracker – known to his family as Matthew Shafer – wishes he could be in town for Motown night, as he’s from suburban Detroit. The former Kid Rock DJ anticipated his set will be primarily hits like “Follow Me,” “In a Little While” and Smile” and his cover of “Drift Away.”

“When I do these things, I try not to get all new stuff on everybody,” he said with a laugh. “I want to show up and have fun. I want to please them with stuff they’ve heard.

“I want the crowd to participate. After all, everybody needs to help out. If we’re going to be there, we all have to do some lifting.”

Later this year, Shafer will start releasing music again, tunes he recorded during the pandemic-induced break from touring.

“I go crazy if I’m not in the studio,” said Shafer, who has kids ranging in age from 1 “and some change” to 22. “I get the itch if I’ve been out of it too long. I’ll probably do a tour around an actual album release, instead of one-off dates like this. I just can’t wait for this festival. It will be great to play for families again.” ■

If You Go...

What: Chandler Chamber Ostrich Festival Where: Tumbleweed Park, 2250 S. McQueen Road, Chandler When: 2 p.m. to midnight Friday, March 11; 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday, March 12; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday, March 13; 4 to 11 p.m. Thursday, March 17; 2 p.m. to midnight Friday, March 18; 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday, March 19; and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday, March 20 Tickets: Tickets start at $20 for ages 13 and older; start at $15 for children 4 to 12; free for children younger than 4. Chandler residents qualify for free tickets on March 17. Info: ostrichfestival.com

THE MESA TRIBUNE | MARCH 6, 2022

Puppets put a new spin on ‘Golden Girls’

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

GetOut Editor

Betty White was beloved by many, but Samantha Lee Mason gets to share that adoration nightly. She plays White’s character, Rose, in “That Golden Girls Show!” a new “theater experience” that parodies classic “Golden Girls” moments – with puppets. Mason lists the reasons to see the show: cheesecake, laughter, Jazzercise, shoulder pads, sex and schemes.

“It’s super fun,” Mason said. “The character of Rose is known for being very sweet and, playfully, somewhat dim. She’s very earnest and naïve.

“I love getting to bring her to life every day on the stage. Playing Betty White’s character – especially since her death – does bring a lot of weight to the world. It wasn’t there to begin with since I started. I now have the great pleasure to carry on Betty’s legacy the best way I can.”

The 75-minute “That Golden Girls Show!” hits the Chandler Center for the Arts stage on Thursday, March 17, to Sunday, March 20.

“Our story is told through three episodes of the ‘Golden Girls,’” she said. “They’re not episodes that were directly pulled from the actual show. It’s an amalgamation of different lines in the series with a new storyline within the world of the show. It’s very short, very sweet and you’ll laugh the whole time.”

She confesses that even she has a hard Samantha Lee Mason combines two loveable shows into one with her puppet version fo the TV hit “Golden Girls,” coming to the Chandler Center for the Arts.

(Special to GetOut) watcher” prior to her auditions for “That Golden Girls Show!” She saw it on Hulu, fell in love with it and binged the entire series. Now, she gets it.

“That Golden Girls Show!” kicked off its jaunt in 2016 and was forced to close down – just like the rest of the world – due to the pandemic.

“The audience response has just been amazing, too,” she adds. “We look out in the audience and they’re wearing ‘Golden Girls’ face masks. It’s just overwhelming.

“This is the farewell tour now. Fans should see it before it’s gone.” ■

If You Go...

time keeping cool during the performance.

“I tend to be pretty good in terms of staying with it in the show,” she said. “But there have been a few moments when something crazy happens and you have to really focus. That’s the beauty of live theater.”

A Chicago native, Mason is a trained musical theater performer who attended Indiana University. Now residing in New York City, she had puppeting experience, thanks to a run with “Reusable the Musical,” written and directed by John Tartaglia.

“Most of my other performances are in musical theater,” she said. “I lived in Japan and worked for Tokyo Disney Resort for a year and a half. I wanted to travel the world, and that was the best way to do it.” Mason admits she wasn’t an “avid What: “That Golden Girls Show!” Where: Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler When: Various times Thursday, March 17, to Sunday, March 20 Tickets: start at $36 Info: 480.782.2680, chandlercenter.org

Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@timespublications.com

ACROSS

1 Offend 5 Vegas lead-in 8 Biting remark 12 Jacob’s twin 13 Antlered animal 14 Latin love 15 Printout 17 Earring site 18 Roscoe 19 More slothful 21 Filled fully 24 -- colada 25 Cupid’s alias 26 Street vendor’s vehicle 30 Sawbuck 31 Attorney’s load 32 Bee follower 33 Barber’s offerings 35 Panache 36 Aachen article 37 Utter impulsively 38 Architectural style 41 Hero sandwich 42 Actress Perlman 43 Ski lodge cupful 48 “A Room of -- Own” 49 Prior night 50 Not so hot? 51 “Holy cow!” 52 Enervate 53 Trade

DOWN

1 “I’m not impressed” 2 “This -- recording” 3 Distant 4 Fakes, as figures 5 Author Uris 6 Jungfrau, for one 7 Urban silhouettes 8 French novelist 9 Mine, to Marcel 10 Judicial garb 11 Rabbit’s title 16 Cow’s chaw 20 &&&& 21 Actor Rogen 22 Location 23 Singer Braxton 24 Stickum 26 Hindquarters 27 Rights advocacy org. 28 Bring up 29 Bivouac shelter 31 Roman 202 34 Go over again 35 Macaroni shapes 37 Tampa Bay NFLer 38 Pirate’s drink 39 “It can’t be!” 40 Golf props 41 Dance move 44 Eggs 45 Cornfield noise 46 Mouths (Lat.) 47 Music booster

Sudoku

With JAN D’ATRI

GetOut Contributor

Julia Child made it sound fancy but it’s still good

Julia Child made it fancy: Boeuf Bourguignon. But there’s something I’d like you to know.

It’s just stew. Delicious, delectable, savory and oh, so satisfying. But, it’s still just stew. So please don’t let fancy French words intimidate you. Get your Dutch oven out and make this classic comfort food while the weather is still a little cool. Oh, and Bon Appétit! ■

CLASSIC BEEF BOURGUIGNON

(Serves 6)

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 8 oz. center cut applewood smoked bacon, diced 2½ lbs chuck beef, cut into 1-inch cubes 1 tablespoon kosher salt 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper 1 lb carrots, sliced diagonally into 1-inch chunks 2 yellow onions, diced 2 teaspoons garlic, minced (2 cloves) ½ cup Cognac 1 bottle good dry red wine such as Cote du Rhone or Pinot Noir 2 cups beef broth, as needed 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves 4 tablespoons unsalted butter softened, divided 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 lb frozen whole pearl onions 1 lb fresh mushrooms, stems discarded French bread or sourdough loaf, sliced and grilled

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 2. In a large Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the bacon and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is lightly browned. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon to a large plate. 3. Dry the beef cubes with paper towels and then sprinkle them with salt and pepper. In batches in single layers, sear the beef in the hot oil for 3 to 5 minutes, turning to brown on all sides. Remove the seared cubes to the plate with the bacon and continue searing until all the beef is browned. Set aside. 4. Toss the carrots, onions, 1 tablespoon salt and 2 teaspoons pepper in the fat in the pan and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are lightly browned. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. 5. Add the Cognac and ignite with a match to burn off the alcohol. 6. Put the meat and bacon back into the pot with the juices. Add the bottle of wine plus enough beef broth to almost cover the meat. Add the tomato paste and thyme. Bring to a simmer, cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and place it in the oven for about 1¼ hours or until the meat and vegetables are very tender when pierced with a fork. 7. Combine 2 tablespoons butter and the flour with a fork and stir into the stew. Add the frozen onions. 8. In a skillet, sauté the mushrooms in 2 tablespoons butter for 10 minutes until lightly browned and then add to the stew. Bring the stew to a boil on top of the stove, then lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Season to taste. 9. Grill the bread in grill pan or oven. Serve hot with the stew.. ■

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