December 16-22, 2004

mixpicks

Shiny Happy People

by A.D. Amorosi

Benefit/Shearing

"Mohawk Night." That's the first thing I thought of when I heard that Bonnie L. Grant—Mayor John Street's deputy city representative and a cancer survivor/activist—was throwing the first-ever "Bald Ball: A Hair-Raising Event." In Martin Scorsese's comedy, After Hours, a put-upon Griffin Dunne, finding himself on the run, winds up at a SoHo area club holding "Mohawk Night." Not knowing what that could mean (not an '80s downtowner was Griffin), Dunne's character stepped inside only to be held down by bouncers and have one side of his head sheared. While no one will hold you down (unless you ask), having one's head shaved is a big part of Grant's Bald Ball. (Another big part is that the event is at Toto's, home to one of Philly's most famous hairless domes: owner Toto Schiavone.) With area hairstylists and/or sheep shearers at everyone's beck-and-call, guests can name a price for the value of their hair and auction it off to pals, co-workers and audience members. That's the Bald Ball challenge—one that gets you in free if you accept the fates that await. Once the cash is raised, your head is shaved and all money goes to the Wellness Community of Philadelphia and Locks of Love. Me? I'll write a check. Another great reason to stop by is that, other than its New Year's Eve party, this is the last-ever event at Toto's restaurant, as it closes its doors on Dec. 31 after 19 years. That's something to lose your hair over.

Bald Ball: A Hair-Raising Event, Thu., Dec. 16, 6-10 p.m., $45, Toto's, 1407 Locust St., 215-546-2000, www.baldball.com.