Star power for Surfrider

COSTA MESA — The Living Room Salon and Art Gallery will turn into a red-carpet hotspot tonight with a host of A-list celebrities coming to support the Surfrider Foundation.

The salon's third annual Evening Extravaganza,  which goes from 6 to 10 p.m., will host celebrities Paris Hilton, Jillian Barberie, Molly Sims, Kevin and Christine Costner — personal friends of salon owner Lacey Cammarata — and the cast of "Laguna Beach," among others, and feature a celebrity poker tournament, a fashion show and live entertainment, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the Surfrider Foundation.

The idea came naturally to Cammarata, a Newport Beach resident who grew up in Orange County and frequented the beach. With hard work and the help of her two friends ? Amy Denoon of Scoop PR and Michelle Pulfrey, a producer for Fox 11 ? she was able to make this year's event bigger than it has ever been.

"I was always interested in supporting children and the community before," said the expertly dressed, bright-eyed blond. "I thought about a summer event, and it was Surfrider."

Despite the celebrity hoopla and the hip party, at the heart of the charity is the cut-a-thon, Cammarata said. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., every stylist and assistant will be lining customers up and cutting their hair for $25 ? a bargain compared with what a haircut would usually cost ? with all the proceeds benefiting the foundation.

In the event's first year, the Living Room raised $1,200 for Surfrider, but Cammarata has loftier dreams for tonight, and the coming years.

"I want to raise big money," she said, sitting on a couch in the lobby of her urban-inspired salon and art gallery. "I want to raise $20,000 and, why not, when you have hundreds of people walking through the salon, why can't we?"

Costa Mesa resident Ed Mazzarella, director of the Surfrider Foundation chapters, said the event is great for the foundation because of the exposure it brings. "It gives us the monetary benefit, but also it exposures us to a new crowd," he said. "And it gives our members something to do."

Last year, Surfrider signed 45 new members, and everyone who gets a haircut can become a member.

IF YOU GO

The Living Room Salon and Art Gallery's charity event benefiting the Surfrider Foundation featuring celebrity poker tournament, fashion show and live entertainment.

125 Rochester St., Costa Mesa

Cut-a-thon from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Evening Extravaganza from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

$25 cut-a-thon, $40 for the party, $250 buy-in for poker

(949) 631-0808