Lauren shows off hot wheels; J. Geils Band reunites
HIGH-HORSEPOWER RECEPTION As the well-heeled arrived at last night's black-tie opening of the exhibition of Ralph Lauren's classic sports cars at the Museum of Fine Arts, they were greeted by a couple dozen museum security guards and their supporters handing out leaflets. The 115 members of the Museum Independent Security Union are currently in contract negotiations with the MFA and want to draw attention to cuts the union members have been facing in the last few years, said Michael Raysson, union president. ''Some of our people even gave up the extra shift, went without overtime so that they wouldn't be working at the party," Raysson said. Some 1,500 people were on the guest list for the party that spread beyond the exhibition area and into the entire museum. In addition to the proud owner of the 16 cars on display, his wife, Ricky, and their children, Andrew, David, and Dylan, other invitees included Merril Pyes, managing partner of exhibition co-sponsor Merrill Lynch; PBS chat show host Charlie Rose; state Representatives Gloria Fox and Jeffrey Sanchez; Celtics CEO Wyc Grousbeck; and Aerosmith's Joey Kramer and Tom Hamilton.
SHOWTIME! For a band that filled arenas back in the day, tonight's show at the Charles Hotel will be a little different. Or will it? ''We're approaching it as, 'Hey, let's get in a room and play our [expletive] off,' " said Seth Justman, keyboardist and principal songwriter of the J. Geils Band. The band, which has reunited only once since breaking up in 1985, is thrilled to be playing at ''Betting on a Cause and a Cure," a benefit for the charities of ex-Bruin Cam Neely, comedian Denis Leary, and actor Michael J. Fox. ''It was a great idea for a great cause," said Justman. Asked what wooba gooba Peter Wolf and the boys will be playing, Justman said the set list is still taking shape. ''But I think people will leave satisfied." In addition to the gig, Justman's also participating in this weekend's ''Super Hunger Brunch" to benefit the Greater Boston Food Bank. ''A lot of people are struggling," he said, ''so I do whatever I can to help out."
MEANWHILE, LAST NIGHT AT KING'S Auto guy Ernie Boch Jr. hosted Denis Leary, funnyman Lenny Clarke, and author Dennis Lehane at an event at King's Lounge to kick off the weekend of fund-raising. Clarke will join Leary tonight for the Charles Hotel fund-raiser and then hook up with Boch at the Massachusetts Film Bureau's Oscar night party at the Four Seasons Hotel.
HER OWN MATRIX Actress-singer Jada Pinkett Smith will be honored today as the 2005 Artist of the Year by the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations. Married to actor Will Smith, whom Harvard previously honored as artist of the year, the actress started her career on TV before taking on several movie roles including two of ''The Matrix" movies and most recently ''Collateral." Pinkett Smith will receive the medal at the annual Cultural Rhythms ceremony at Harvard's Sanders Theatre, and later tonight Pinkett Smith and her band, Wicked Wisdom, will perform. Previous recipients include Denzel Washington, Matt Damon, Halle Berry, Jackie Chan, and Queen Latifah.
AROUND TOWN Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino made his first visit to the Union Oyster House yesterday before meeting with Mayor Tom Menino. After touring the historic restaurant with owner Joe Milano, Lucchino wrote in the visitors' book: ''From the World Series Champs '04 with respect from our institution to your institution." Then, before leaving, Lucchino asked if he could add a comment: ''P.S. You save this place and I will save Fenway Park!!" . . . And for the best celeb sightings in town, thank goodness we have Tom Brady. The Patriots QB was dining Thursday night with two women at Grill 23 & Bar in the Back Bay when, we're told, a fan (female, of course) pretended to be a restaurant worker and tried to clear Brady's table to get a closer look. Why? We could have told you he ordered the pork osso buco.
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