Kerry daughter wants to run; Chelsea hits South End
GOING THE DISTANCE Following in her father's footsteps, Vanessa Kerry is training to run in the Boston Marathon. John Kerry's youngest daughter is studying in London on a Fulbright scholarship, but told friends in a recent e-mail that she's training for the April race. (Her father has said he competed in the late 1970s.) In the e-mail, Kerry said she's running as part of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's marathon team and invited friends to visit the Dana-Farber website and make a donation supporting cancer research. (Among those who've responded are famous friends: singer Carole King and Al Gore's middle daughter, Kristin Gore.) Reached yesterday in Bozeman, Mont., where her mother, Julia Thorne, lives, Kerry declined to specify her reasons for running the marathon, but said that her parents, both of whom have been treated for cancer, are an inspiration. ''It's for everybody I've known who's had cancer," said the third-year Harvard Medical School student. ''It's a way for me to be involved in something positive and proactive after the election."
A LITTLE CHELSEA IN THE SOUTH END Former first daughter Chelsea Clinton dined with a couple of her galpals at the South End bistro Aquitaine on Monday night. The eatery's GM Don Bailey stopped by -- although he's usually off on Mondays -- to catch some of his friends and regular customers in for Valentine's Day dinner. When Bailey stopped by Clinton's table, she admired his shoes (he wasn't wearing his usual GM togs) and solicited a meal recommendation. ''I suggested the lemon sole and for dessert bananas foster . . . which is exactly what she ordered," Bailey said, clearly charmed by the Valentine's Day visitor. ''And she looked beautiful."
BOWING OUT When HBO's ''Six Feet Under" wraps after this season, don't look for actor Richard Jenkins, who plays the deceased patriarch of the funeral home family, to return to Trinity Repertory Company. But the company's former interim artistic director and longtime member was in town this week to bid adieu to artistic director Oskar Eustis, who's taking over New York's Public Theater. Jenkins joked that he was ''supposed to be interim artistic director for a year, and four years later I was still the interim artistic director." Jenkins also told us he's seen the future of theater in Providence, and it's Eustis's assistant, Amanda Dehnert. ''They ought to call the search [for Eustis's successor] off right now and appoint her. She's terrific."
BEN'S A BEAR Remember those e-mails written by the catty acquaintance of Enza Sambataro? The ones about Ben Affleck's ''gross stomach and back hair" and the actor's ugly habit of spitting in the sink? Well, the movie star's personal hygiene hasn't improved any. Quoting a source close to Affleck's new best friend, actress Jennifer Garner, Star magazine says the guy regularly leaves the toilet seat up, drops his wet towels on the bathroom floor, and neglects the dirty dishes piled on the kitchen counter. But best of all is this line: ''[Garner] wanted him to get his back waxed, and he didn't take the suggestion really well," said the source. ''[Garner] jokingly calls him a grizzly bear."
BIG DRAW Saying that she appeals to their ''core demographic," online gambling site Empire Poker has tapped former ''Baywatch" star Traci Bingham to be the website's new spokesgal. The Cambridge native's likeness will be used in conjunction with Empire Poker on its website and all media events. ''Traci will be seen at high profile venues such as red carpet events and poker tournaments wearing Empire Poker gear," the company said in a release. A soon-to-be Penthouse model, Bingham was part of the second season of ''The Surreal Life," appearing with Erik Estrada and Vanilla Ice. Why would Bingham be such a huge draw? The company says ''Empire Poker's North American clientele is dominated by men aged 21-40."
CAN SHE RULE ON STUPIDITY? Look for judge Judy Sheindlin today to rule on Hyde Park resident Limor Guberman's claim that James Sutton of Dorchester owes her $499 for a cruise and a smashed cellphone. (Is it just us, or do these shows always involve a cellphone?) We're told by the show's producers that Judge Judy is in her usual form, giving the litigants her trademark browbeating. The judge admonishes Sutton at one point: ''Just tell me what happened and try not to editorialize or be witty or be smart. I reserve that all to myself."
Globe staff writer Ed Siegel contributed to this report. Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.
