Damon parties continue; designer parties in style

JOHNNY TURNS 31 That Johnny Damon sure gets around. Sports shoemaker Puma announced that a pair of Damon's autographed cleats, which he wore in Game 7 of the ALCS against the Yankees, netted $10,000 in an eBay auction to benefit the Franciscan Hospital for Children. Puma, which had the shoes on display at its Newbury Street store for the last few weeks, matched the winning bid, bringing the donation made yesterday to a total of $20,000. Meanwhile, Damon and teammates Gabe Kapler, Bronson Arroyo, Mark Bellhorn, and Kevin Youkilis celebrated their World Series victory with fans at a private party Thursday night at Ultra 88 at Mohegan Sun. Damon also planned to return to the club, which is owned by Boston nightclub guy Patrick Lyons, to celebrate last night. It was a celebration purely for Damon, we're told, as it was his 31st birthday.

SPELLBOUND IN WELLESLEY The team representing Babson College says it wasn't sure it could ever break the Curse of the Seapoose, but after last year's devastating loss (on seapoose) in the Wellesley spelling bee -- to benefit the town's education foundation -- the team vowed to bounce back. And it did, winning this year's match by correctly spelling the word quinquevir. We were absent the day they taught that one. The Babson team, consisting of Babson professors Lisa DiCarlo-Devine and Jim Hoopes, and the school's spokesguy Michael Chmura, bested a number of academic teams, including Wellesley College and both Yale and Harvard alumni, to advance to the final round. "Now all we need is 20 more wins to match the Patriots," Chmura said.

WELL-SUITED TO BOSTON Hottie designer Dries Van Noten will be at Louis Boston this afternoon for a book-signing followed by a private (either you already have your invite or you're not on the list) customer cocktail party. Van Noten, who recently graced the cover of The New York Times Magazine, is visiting only two stores in the United States to promote his book about fashion shows. As part of his visit to Louis, owner Debi Greenberg is hosting a seven-course dinner (cooked by L chef Pino Maffeo) at which Van Noten will meet with a few up-and-coming designers Greenberg has invited from New York. Those designers include Jane Mayle (daughter of author Peter Mayle), Derek Lam, Alice Roi, Bryan Bradley of Tuleh, and Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough, who designed the hot line Proenza Schouler (named after their mothers). That leaves us with one question: What will they wear to dinner?

COMINGS AND GOINGS Following the Boston Symphony Orchestra's performance Thursday night, maestro James Levine and his entourage made their way to Brasserie Jo. Dining at another table were Boston Ballet's Mikko Nissinen & Co. . . . After showing his support for John Kerry, his former lieutenant governor, former governor and presidential candidate Michael Dukakis and his wife, Kitty, dined at Maggiano's Little Italy in Park Square. . . . And congrats to radio station KISS 108's marketing guru Joe Mazzei and his wife, Jen, on welcoming a new daughter into the family. Ella Rose Mazzei arrived yesterday morning weighing in at 7 pounds, 3 ounces.

WEIN HONORED Jazz event producer George Wein was among seven people named 2005 National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters, The New York Times reported yesterday. Wein, founder of the Newport Jazz Festival, is president of Festival Productions Inc., which produces the international JVC Jazz Festivals and other live jazz events. The winners each receive a $25,000 fellowship. All will be feted at a Jan. 7 ceremony and concert in California. It's been a busy few weeks for Wein: A sculpture was dedicated in his honor at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport recently. About 100 people were on hand when the piece by Boston sculptor Robert Shure was unveiled. The work will be on display permanently.

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