When I was 5, my mother was concerned that my father wouldn’t be able to do my hair before he put me on the school bus for kindergarten. This resulted in a heinous pixie cut that gave me a serious case of Toadstool head. Soon after, my dad took me to the grocery store, and when an older man wanted to get into the car next to my dad’s glamorous (ha) Plymouth Horizon, he said to me in a scratchy voice, “Move Along, son.”

That’s right: He mistook me for a boy.

The lovely stylists at Safar Coiffures are artists of their trade, and that’s why hair genius (or shall I say shear genius) Oribe is visiting the salon on Thursday, September 2nd from 6 to 8 pm for an amazing party and live photo shoot. Oribe has styled hair for the most talented photographers in the world: Demarchelier, Newton, Scavullo, Leibovitz, the list goes on and on. Stop by Safar’s Newbury Street outpost to watch him style hair and discuss the business as the glitterati float around cocktail in hand. Want to be one of them? Bring your friends and enjoy live music, delicious treats from Scoozi, Hotel Chocolat, and Shabby Chic, and even cocktail or two. Plus, you can go behind the scenes of a real fashion shoot and learn what it’s all about. Check out their invite video:

Best of all, the gracious staff at Safar are giving away a free haircut and blow dry to one lucky commenter here on my blog! All you have to do is leave a comment, telling me about the most tragic hairstyle you ever had. Did you get the Dorothy Hamill wedge? The “Rachel” a la Jennifer Aniston mid 90’s? Let me know and in 1 week, I will randomly pick a winner to receive the haircut and dry.

Don’t forget to stop by Safar to watch Oribe in action Thursday, September 2nd from 6-8. Here’s the Facebook invite.

Safar Boston

235 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 247-3933

Disclaimer: You can only enter once. Also, you don’t have to attend the event to win, but if you do, you will be an infinitely cooler human being just for showing up. Seriously. Also, the winning haircut will NOT be provided by Oribe. He’s famous, he has better stuff going on.

I’ve always found it interesting to see what artists my favorite celebs listen to. Seeing as I love to judge people based on their musical tastes, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Katy Perry actually knows what’s up.

The “California Gurls” stunner has created a playlist for Equinox, and a portion of the proceeds from iTunes downloads will benefit Cycle for Survival, an indoor cycling event that raises money to research rare cancers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. If you aren’t familiar with Sloan-Kettering, it’s one of the world’s most advanced research centers for cancer. The Cycle for Survival Program helps cancers which are classified as “rare,” but really…they aren’t that rare at all. All pediatric cancers are referred to as rare, as well as pancreatic, uterine, cervical, brain cancer, metastatic melanoma, gall bladder, and cancer, as well as others. Rare cancers attract fewer research dollars than more “typical” diseases, which means the farther we are from finding a cure.

Follow the link below to buy Katy’s play list from itunes. The money could help save a life!

http://www.equinox.com/life/

(photo credit: fitfinelines.wordpress.com)

I was just thinking of all the great female idols that sprouted up in the pop culture of my childhood. Therefore, let’s take a moment to remember these teenage divas, who formed the perfect combination of brains, style, and beauty, with a large dose of girl power thrown in too.

Behold: The teenage dreams we all wished we could be:

1.Clarissa Darling, of Clarissa Explains it All

I don’t know of any girl who didn’t dream of being Clarissa. She was drop dead gorgeous, wore freaky outfits, but could care less about what anyone thought. Also, she had a pet alligator (which randomly disappeared throughout the series) and a cute best guy friend who was allowed to come in through her bedroom window whenever he wanted.

side note: I KNOW I can’t be the only one who’s highly disturbed that the same guy who played Clarissa’s father is now playing Trudy Campbell’s dad on Mad Men.

2. Blossom Russo, on Blossom

Despite having some blatant loser tendencies (um, the HATS!) Blossom traveled up the ladder of awesomeness, and eventually became a somewhat cool teenager. Even cooler? Her leather-clad boyfriend Vinny was super hot, and played by that guy from Hey Dude. AMAZING! Best of all, her best friend Six (yes, as in the number) was the one with the problems, including a laundry list of issues ranging from alcoholism (Oh my god, Six, you’re packing a flask of whiskey in your cute denim purse!?) to divorce, bulimia, and and everything in between.

3. Lisa Turtle, of Saved by the Bell

I mean, some things just don’t need to be explained. But I’ll try. She was loaded, she spent every waking hour that she wasn’t in school shopping, kept a map of the local mall in her locker, and had an amazing fashion sense. (Don’t even TRY to tell me Kelly Kapowski was better. That one shoulder-strapped overall look is not winning ANY points with me.)

4. Dana, on Step by Step

Just kidding, this one’s a fakeout. Nobody actually wanted to be you Dana.

Step by Step was like, that show you watched simply because it was on, and it was a better idea than folding laundry for your mom.

5. Alex Mack, The Secret World of Alex Mack

Okay, she may have come a little late to the game, (wikipedia claims she showed up in ‘94) but she still helped the team win. She was gorgeous, she was smart, and she got doused in a toxic ooze that gave her super powers like telekinesis. I mean, it’s a win-win really.

Just in case you were considering a nice snooze this weekend. Enjoy!

(Via The Daily What)

When you don’t have cable, you sometimes turn to some pathetic sources to entertain yourself. I generally rely on the Internet to kick me back a few decades for a little entertainment. Sitcoms are often really, really bad. But to add even more insult to injury, they often tried to shove some sort of inspirational message in between laugh tracks. This is a phenomenon best known as the “Very Special Episode.”

Very Special Episodes could teach us a variety of lessons including:

a. Drugs are bad
b. Strangers will kill/molest/murder/kidnap you
c. Alcohol will ruin your life
d. Marijuana will KILL YOU EVER TIME

A. Drugs are Bad, as demonstrated by orphan extraordinaire, Punky Brewster.

Not only does this 12 year old carry around what looks like a lot of money’s worth of drugs, but her clique (The Chiclets) is named after that crappy gum you used to get on Halloween when the neighbors started running out of the good stuff. (This is before the pennies come out, however)

B. Old people are generally looking to get you drunk and molest you. Demonstrated by, Gary Coleman in Diff’rent Strokes.

The creepiest of all the Very Special Episodes, I’m still semi-traumatized by this episode of Diff’rent Strokes and can’t help but think about the evil Mr. Horton any time I go by a bicycle shop.

C. Alcohol will ruin your life, as demonstrated by Alex P. Keaton’s drunk uncle (played by a young Tom Hanks!) on Family Ties.

Interesting how sitcom alcoholics never seem to vomit or urinate on themselves, huh?

D. Marijuana will KILL YOU, as shared by the students of Bayside High on Saved by the Bell.

Okay, this video isn’t available, but it is amazing. A rock star, Johnny Dakota, comes to Bayside to film an anti-drug PSA. Of course when he invites Zack and Kelly to a big Hollywood party, because celebs do that ALL the time, they’re smoking marijuana. Zack and Kelly immediately leave and film their own anti-drug PSA.

(photo via jdprecords.blogspot.com)

And while it may not be a sitcom, I must mention the magical creation known as the after school special. Here’s my personal favorite, in which a teenage Helen Hunt is coerced into snorting PCP by her boyfriend, and subsequently jumped out the school window:

Disclaimer: I am well aware that I have failed to mention Saved by the Bell’s Jessie Spano Caffeine Pill Breakdown episode, but it is so outstanding I feel it should be retired from the category.

Hello Herald readers!

You may have noticed that the previous author of this site, Simone, has left the Herald. While I am sad to lose a friend to New York City, I am more than thrilled to be the new features writer for the Inside Track. I hope to provide you with the best juicy gossip, party recaps, celebrity interviews, and all around fun. But before I officially catapult into blogging for The Assistant, here’s a little background about myself.

Born and bred on the mean streets of Simsbury, Connecticut, I have never wanted to do anything besides write. While it may be unimaginable to think of now, once upon a time I was a terribly shy tyke who found immense solace in reading. Books were my outlet, my secret world and my saving grace. I ran away from home with Ramona Quimby, had a pet monkey with Pippi Longstocking, and traveled across the country with Laura Ingalls. While I eventually became the outspoken, brash individual I am today, I  never lost my desire to read and write.

You may have run across my work before all over the web: I spent a long time writing about restaurants here, beauty products here, and women’s issues here. Or maybe you’ve run across my work in stores, like here. While those are just the tip of my professional iceberg, the most cumulative chronicle of my life in Boston is my personal website, Down and Out in Beacon Hill.

I’m thrilled to be on board. Please feel free to email me at megan.johnson@bostonherald.com, and to follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/megansarahj.

Watch CBS News Videos Online

I am not a fan of Lady Gaga. I think her songs are catchy and admire the fact that she’s been able to tap into a mainstream audience and truly made a name for herself… yet I think she’s a poser.

She grew up in a supportive, loving and well-educated family in New York City and went to a competitive prep school — and when her career wasn’t as promising and she’d hoped (all outlined in this NY Mag article) she went to the extreme and became super edgy, super hipster… an all-round super provocateur.

Props to you Lady Gaga for making the big bucks and becoming a star but I’m not digging it. And, I’m not paying tons of $$$ to see you at TD Garden either!

What I will say, however, is that it’s pretty cool of her to post a pic of her at Cambridge’s own Bukowski Tavern on Twitter. It is a hipster/subculture hangout — so not surprising… but good job supporting the little guys!

(Posted to Twitter w/ the text: “At Bukowski’s in Cambridge ordering hooker bbq and beer with my best friends SPW. Let’s Rocknroll Boston.”

AMENDMENT: To address my first commenter’s comments… is this video of Lady Gaga wacky??? Um, I think not.

Next time you order seafood at a restaurant (or buy some at a store) you really need to think about your choices. Some seafood choices are more environmentally friendly than others and it’s important to know which is which when buying and choosing seafood to eat.

To help underscore the importance of eating sustainable seafood (and liking it!) - the New England Aquarium’s Harbor View Cafe is hosting the “Celebrate Seafood Dinner” series which includes a full evening of food along with a delicious three-course meal, paired with wine, as well as informative and entertaining cooking demos by the special guest chefs.

There are three dinners planned in upcoming months and with tickets going for an affordable $65 for members and $75 for non-members — this is a great opportunity to learn more about our environment and our oceans. Plus, all proceeds support conservation programs at the Aquarium!

The next few dinners planned are:

Tuesday, August 24
•Guest chef: Jeffrey Fournier, 51 Lincoln
•Species: wild-caught striped bass, farm-raised bay scallops, farm-raised clams

Tuesday, October 5
•Guest chef: Chris Parsons, Catch
•Species: farm-raised Atlantic halibut, farm-raised Pacific oysters, wild-caught wahoo

Tuesday, November 9
•Guest chef: Julia Brant, Caliterra
•Species: farm-raised Arctic char, farm-raised caviar, wild-caught California spiny lobster

If you’re interested in these delicious and fun-filled events — check them out by calling 617-973-5206 or logging on here.