MANE DONOR

Would you shave the hair off your head for a donation of $10,000 to your favorite charity?

A few months ago I spent some time with nine well-coifed ladies in their late-20’s and asked them that scruples question. 

After shrieks of horror worthy of the best Halloween movie, only two of the nine ladies said they would shave their heads for the monetary donation. 

In a world of Paris, Britney and Lindsay magazine covers, I understood where the seven dissenters were coming from.

I forgot about my conversation with those ladies until I spoke with Melinda Maggio of Frank’s Deli. 

While I ate the best egg salad sandwich around, she told me about her plans to snip off 13 inches of her gorgeous, thick, light brown hair for the non-profit Locks of Love – an organization that provides custom hair prosthetics to children suffering from long-term medical hair loss.

“I wanted to do this in honor of the fourth anniversary of my mom passing away from cancer,” said Melinda Maggio, 27.  “It’s just a ponytail to me, but during my mom’s chemo I learned how important hair becomes when someone is without.  I am happy to do this to help – my hair will grow back.”

Last Thursday, Melinda’s stylist cut off the 13 inch ponytail and donated it to Locks of Love, leaving Melinda with a Victoria Beckham-short hot bob.

“It was emotional for many reasons when my hair was cut,” said Melinda.  “I love the way everything turned out though – both my new haircut and the benefit a child will get from my ponytail.”

She looks great and has the radiant glow of someone who has done something selfless.

“We truly appreciate what Melinda is doing for our organization and the children we serve,” said Lauren Kukkamaa, spokesperson for Locks of Love.  “Any time a donor does this, we are so thankful.”

Because of people like Melinda, Locks of Love has provided more than two thousand hair prosthetics for children around the country since 1997. 

“It takes between six and ten donors for each custom prosthetic,” said Karen. 

Each prosthetic is created from an individual mold of the child’s scalp – ensuring every child can swim, play sports and live just like their friends.

“Anyone questioning whether they should cut so much of their hair off all at once and donate it should spend five minutes with someone who is loosing or has lost their hair,” said Melinda.  “Their minds would change immediately and realize how lucky they are to have the hair to give.”

Melinda rocks – demonstrating that giving of one’s self really is the most gorgeous thing anyone can do. 

Briefly:  I looove Halloween.  It’s one of my very favorite nights in our City – all energized and costumed.  Handing out almost 15 pounds of candy, we look forward to knocks on the door from every adorable ghost, especially friends Charlie, Miriam and Alessandra and Katie.  Can’t wait to see the costumes.

And, Madonna and Guy – if these two beautiful kids can’t make it, who can?  I used to be insane for Madonna.  Now, she’s just embarrassing.  Ug.

Lastly, a few of you have been asking me how to find previous columns written about area businesses and other topics.  Search “The B Plot” or “Virgilio” at TheCoaster.net for most of the past 20 months of this column.

Richard@TheBPlot.com

SPIRITS OF ASBURY

I am seeing escapisim in your future…I am seeing a business…a fun business…in…in…no, on Cookman Avenue.  The store is inviting you…it’s telling me to invite you to explore something new and original in our City this Halloween.

Paranormal Books and Curiosities is packed with so many things to see and do this Halloween, it’s sure to excite and ignite any weary spirit. 

Whether you are interested in an evening of searching for ghosts, investigating spirit-infused location tours in Asbury Park, learning your future or buying an unusual book about Halloween, ghosts or the macabre – Paranormal Books can be your haunted home base. 

“I created this space to be comfortable and homey,” said Kathy Kelly, the store’s owner.  “People are welcome to sit by the fire and talk about their experiences.” 

Kathy’s bookstore features the interesting and uncommon, including:  Encyclopedia of New Jersey, True Crimes, Love Charms and, her best-seller, Ghosts. 

Her current calendar of creepiness events is welcoming, too – compelling enough for passionate believers and light enough for anyone looking for an Asbury Park Halloween adventure. 

The ninety-minute ghost and folklore tours of Asbury Park are a hot ticket.  Last Saturday night, I saw Kathy leading a walking tour of at least 15. 

“Many believe in the paranormal to some degree,” said Kathy.   “Doctors, plumbers, rabbis – most people have a story about the paranormal.  It’s about being able to ask the questions here and having fun.”

A Bradley Beach resident, Kathy launched this “space,” as she calls it, in June, after shifting gears from a career in sports content development for television.

“I wanted to delve more into the paranormal,” said Kathy.  “This space represents years of research I wanted to share.”

While investigating, Kelly began collecting interesting items, which are on display in her space. 

“One of my favorites is an original newspaper advertisement from 1693, announcing the Salem Witch Trial Report, by Harvard College,” said Kathy.

It’s all so fun you’ll get chills – and never scarier than last-call at any bar in town. 

Briefly:  How many demented drag versions of the Sarah Palin costume – think Sarah with a dinosaur, Sarah with a beauty queen sash and crown, Sarah with a map of Russia – are we going to see at the first annual Asbury Park Halloween Block Party on Mattison Avenue, Halloween night (Friday, Oct. 31), beginning at 6 p.m.? 

“This will be the hottest Halloween block party in New Jersey,” said event host, Felipe Rose of the original Village People.

More than $5,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded to the greatest costumes in a variety of categories.

And, loosen your belt another notch – the Culinary Education Center of Monmouth County’s dining room is ready to wow you with another fantastic season of top tier four-course price-fix meals for around $22.  The restaurant – an Asbury Park Best Kept Secret (see TheCoaster.net) – is open for dinner Monday through Thursday. 

Weekdays, the dining room is open for lunch.  The bakery is open too.  Call for the schedule: 732.988.3299.

Richard@TheBPlot.com

MARTHA’S FAVE FRANK

My heart beat a little faster for Martha Stewart recently when she announced, on her daytime talk show, that the WindMill hot dog was one of the “best in the country.”  

Standing majestically in the costliest studio for daytime talk ever – an assortment of superior hot dogs meticulously arranged on her thick, perfectly veined, Carrera marble countertop – Martha named the WindMill one of her “fourteen favorite hot dogs” in the entire country. 

“I can’t pick just one,” said Martha, with an elegant, giddy smile.  “Out of all the hot dogs we tasted, these fourteen each are very special and very delicious.”

A relaxed and jovial Martha dedicated the entire one-hour show, peppered with surprisingly (for Martha) naughty double-entendre, to the hot dog.

“The hot dog is this country’s most famous food,” said Martha.

While Martha effusively described her love for the WindMill hot dog, topped with Gulden’s mustard and proprietary WindMill sauerkraut – a photo of the restaurant’s landmark wind mill-shaped Long Branch location flashing on the television screen – Steve Levine, chief operating officer and self-proclaimed “hot dog guy,” sat in the front row of the studio audience. 

“It was very exciting to be part of the live broadcast of Martha’s show,” said Steve, son of WindMill’s co-founders.  “I know that my parents, co-founders of the restaurant, were proud to see our hot dog on stage with Martha and her friends.”

The extensive search for the best-in-show dogs began weeks ago. 

“We were invited in August by one of Martha’s producers to participate in the contest,” said Steve.

Some vendors dropped off hot dogs for Martha to sample, however Steve’s passion for quality impressed Martha.  He was one of the chefs invited to prepare his hot dogs in Martha’s fully-stacked studio kitchen, for the broadcast. 

“I told the producer that if I couldn’t be in charge of cooking the hot dogs, we couldn’t participate,” said Steve.  “I set up a WindMill workstation in Martha’s kitchen.”

Martha’s new discovery is not news to many locals.  Since 1964, the WindMill has been serving up the same classic, slow-cooked-on-a-griddle-until-they-crack dogs with fresh-daily rolls. 

“I love these hot dogs,” said Maureen Hintelmann of Red Bank, who visits WindMill with her grandchildren every week.  “And everyone is so pleasant.”

Today, there are 10 WindMill locations – including one on Main Street in Ocean Grove – that serve more than 12,000 hot dogs each week.

As the economy continues to crumble, I bet simple, classic, affordable comforts like the WindMill will become even more popular. 

Briefly:  The October issue of Martha’s magazine has a number of gorgeous craft ideas for Halloween.  Simple one: arrange Vaseline glass together and shine a black light on it.  She explains “there is a harmless amount of uranium in the glass – which gives it its green tint, and makes it fluoresce under black light.”

And, Gay Bowling is back – Saturday, Oct. 18.  Barron of Bowling, Michael Delia is your host for another striking season at Asbury Lanes.  Blackberry the full schedule now: Nov. 22, Dec. 20, Jan. 24, Feb. 28, Mar. 28, April 18, May 23, June 20.  Gay card not required.   

Richard@TheBPlot.com

FUNNY FOR YOU

We all need a great laugh and some levity right now.  Let’s laugh together this weekend at comedienne Maureen Langan’s performance at Cry Baby Gallery during the 7^th Annual Women’s Arts Festival. 

Named one of the “Ten Standout Stand-ups Worth Watching” by Backstage Magazine, Maureen is taking a break from opening for Joy Behar, stealing the show with her sharp news satire from MSNBC’s hottie Dan Abrams and touring – a regular at Caroline’s in New York City – to help us forget the country’s troubles and get happy. 

The B Plot:  Where did you come from and where have you been hiding?  

Maureen:  I haven’t been hiding.  It’s just that to get national exposure these days – especially if you’re a gal from Jersey - it seems you have to have sex with a governor from New York.

TBP:  Who is the most famous person in your cell phone? 

Maureen:  Joy Behar.

TBP:  Love Joy.  I hear Elizabeth Hasselbeck is not long for that seat next to her.  Back to you – what’s the most important number in your cell phone?

Maureen:  My local wine shop. 

TBP:  What’s the funniest word? 

Maureen:  I like some bad words that I can’t say here, but I say on-stage.  “Godspeed” cracks me up, because I have no idea what it really means.

TBP:  You were a host for years on Bloomberg Radio – positively the most entertaining part of that network.  What did you learn about all those money people?

Maureen:  You can’t buy soul.

TBP:  Thoughts on the economy?

Maureen:  As a comic, I’ve been living as if the stock market crashed for years.

TBP:  Your satire of current events is brilliant.  The Daily Show’s John Stewart has got to want you.  Politics aside, who will make a more entertaining next four years, Obama or McCain?   

Maureen:  McCain and Palin would be funnier.  I can make jokes about the darkest things – I’m just hoping I won’t have to.  

TBP:  Amen.  Every time Sarah opens her mouth, it’s a joke.  Want to make a shout out to your fans in Asbury Park?

Maureen:  I love my Jersey people and places.  So many people who live outside New Jersey have no idea how great it is.  Too bad for them – I’ll keep you all to myself.  I met my husband at the Jersey shore.  To me, it’s an extra special Jersey place.

Oh, and I want to give a big shout out to my friends Nancy and Bill Graf, owners of the Bradley Beach Inn.  They are amazing people.

TBP:  John Stewart can you hear me?  Godspeed Maureen.

Full schedule for Maureen and the Women’s Arts Festival at BlackBoxAP.org.

Briefly:  Producer and actor, Marj Conn has a talent for choosing the historically interesting, intensely researching the subjects and bringing them to dynamic life on stage.

For two weekends, beginning Friday, Oct. 10, Marj’s Provincetown Fringe Festival presents “Women Behaving Badly and Madly” at the Stephen Crane House (very special venue if you have never been) – featuring monologues about Lizzie Borden and Aileen Wuornos or Eleanora Duse.  You will be entertained and learn something – a great duet for both sides of your brain.  Call: 732.807.4052. 

Richard@TheBPlot.com