Hair

Trendy clothes, designer hair cuts, plenty of money, not a care in the world. That describes your typical coastal Orange County high school student, if you believe the seemingly endless outpouring of TV shows centering on the beach community. Spurred on by the immense popularity of the landmark blockbuster “The OC,” big networks started churning out shows focusing on the high school-age demographic in Newport Beach and similar areas including “Newport Harbor: The Real Orange County” and “Laguna Beach.

ANAHEIM — Most NFL players ride to special events in limos or in exotic sports cars. When the player is the dead-last pick in the draft, he rolls in the back of a vehicle more ideal for a soccer mom. Welcome to the life of Tim Toone, Mr. Irrelevant. There was no need to valet park the van for Toone at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and Spa on Friday. Toone jumped into the van with his parents, brother, two Mr. Irrelevant Week volunteers, and his agent. Before the seven left the hotel for a Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim game, a couple of guests in the lobby rolled their eyes at the choice of transportation and then grinned.

-- By Christine Carrillo, photo by [tk] HE IS A rockabilly barber taking his customers back to the days of straight-razor shaves and old-style tapers OLD SCHOOL MEETS NEW As the owner of Hawleywood's Barber Shop in Costa Mesa and one of only three barbers, Donnie Hawley is doing the job he always saw himself doing. Wearing a traditional white barber coat, nicely pressed slacks and a pair of swanky two-tone shoes, the 31-year-old has developed his craft to create an atmosphere more in tune with the styles of the '40s and '50s than the current trends of the millennium.

Don't miss the first boutique sale at the Ticktocker Shop put on by the National Charity League of Newport Beach. You'll find what I think is the best selection and prices in designer clothes, household items, accessories and outer wear. The National Charity League supports local charities -- Someone Cares Soup Kitchen; SOS; High Hopes; Human Options; Second Step;and more. Proceeds will go directly to charity. Cash only, all sales are final. 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 540 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa.

In the seventh decade of my life, I’ve finally discovered who I am. Not in the metaphysical sense, of course, but in a more corporal one. I’m a Ginger. A what? A Ginger. That’s me. Gingers had their “coming out” in a 2005 episode of the popular Comedy Central series, “South Park.” Frankly, it was a clever satire of racial intolerance. But, a little more than a week ago a Facebook group jumped on the idea and promoted a “National Kick a Ginger Day.” The contemptible action resulted in several “Ginger kids” around the country being beaten up. It’s not my intention to make light of their misfortune, but I find the subject personally relevant.

The Orange County Market Place weekend swap meet returns Saturday after taking a hiatus during the Orange County Fair. A free concert by the Billys will mark the reopening of the Market Place. The Billys dress as hillbillies and perform a blend of bluegrass, oldies, contemporary rock and comedy. The group will perform from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. near the Westside Grill. Also, don't miss the 6th Annual Elvis Fest and Karaoke on Aug. 28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will feature Elvis tribute artists, a karaoke contest with cash prizes and awards, an Elvis Cake Walk and a bake sale.

I don't know who wrote the piece that follows, but I think that every aging person will be able to relate to it: "The other day a young person asked me how I felt about being old. I was taken aback, for I do not think of myself as old. Upon seeing my reaction, she was immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was an interesting question, and I would ponder it and let her know. "Old age, I decided, is a gift. I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body!

STEVE SMITH By the time my peers and I reached high school, the name-calling and teasing had all but stopped. The high school environment, the just-discovered thrill of driving an automobile, and our increased attention and attraction to members of the opposite sex put teasing way down on the list of priorities. Teasing had declined steadily since junior high school, which had declined since elementary school. I escaped my eight years of elementary and junior high schools relatively unscathed, meaning that only on a few occasions was I called names such as "four eyes" or "freckle face."

It is about 8 a.m. on a Saturday in Newport Beach. The town is still quiet, but at a swank Irvine Co. office building in Fashion Island cars are pulling up in the front circular drive. They are full of a diverse group of people who have signed up for "Master Class," produced by a company known as STYLE 2020. Founded several years ago by O.C. entrepreneur Kathryn Moore , STYLE 2020, headquartered in Newport Beach and with a global reach, is a personal branding company.

The President was here this week. Did you know that? You probably did. There is a back story to the president’s visit that you might find interesting. It’s a story about how you never know when your 15 minutes of fame is going to strike — and sometimes it strikes with a vengeance. Turn the clock back two weeks. I am in Washington wearing my Orange County Transportation Authority hat, along with Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle, who is also on the OCTA Board. We are meeting with lots of people on the Hill and at the White House, making our pitch for stimulus package moola.