Manny manse on market for $6.9m

The Ritz Towers penthouse perch that Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez and his wife, Juliana, have called home for several seasons is on the market for $6.9 million. The 4,421-square-foot condo on the 37th floor of the North Tower has four bedrooms, six baths, and a large balcony. Also making it a pad fit for a World Series MVP is Manny Jr.'s bedroom with a mural of Fenway Park. Today, Boston Realty Advisors, which has the listing, is giving a sneak peek of some of the penthouse's common areas to the media and will show the entire condo to ''pre-qualified buyers." (Translation: no weekend open-house lookey-loos.) While Manny's future with the team remains unsettled, Juliana has said privately that she would like to move to the suburbs even if they stay in Boston. The Ritz Towers have been a home base for Sox players since they opened about four years ago. Slugger David Ortiz has a condo, pitcher Keith Foulke is in the same building, and shortstop Edgar Renteria bought a penthouse this year for $1.55 million. Outfielder Johnny Damon and his wife, NESN TV show host Michelle Mangan, moved out of the towers for a 7,500-square-foot house in Brookline that the couple has left largely untouched until Damon's future with the Sox is determined.

Here comes the judge

Former state Superior Court Judge Maria Lopez's new half-hour TV show will air next fall on stations that cover 90 percent of the country, according to yesterday's Hollywood Reporter. Sony Pictures Television announced it had added Los Angeles, Washington, and Sacramento stations to a list that now includes 45 of the top 50 markets. Lopez's 14-year career on the bench here was marked by her outspokenness, before she resigned after a controversial decision and an investigation into her conduct. Industry insiders say Lopez inked a multiyear, seven-figure deal. Neither Lopez nor her husband, Boston Phoenix publisher Stephen Mindich, could be reached for comment.

Stemberg marriage is officially over

The divorce of Tom Stemberg, the founder of Staples, and his wife, Dola Hamilton Stemberg, is final. Although the lawyers and spokespeople on both sides were mum yesterday, word is they have reached a settlement and are working out the details. Stemberg, who now works at Highland Capital Partners, and his girlfriend, Katherine Chapman, have a son who was born in August.

Cross has party, magazine covered

''Desperate Housewives" star Marcia Cross, a Marlborough native back in town for the holiday, was the celeb host of Boston Common's party at the Wang Theatre last night. Cross graces the cover of the glossy magazine's sophomore edition. . . . Author James Patterson has chosen the Somerville-based Reach Out and Read and its director Dr. Perri Klass as one of the 34 winners of his PageTurner Awards that will receive cash prizes totaling more than $100,000. Reach Out and Read, which gives books to children when they visit their doctors, will receive a $5,000 excellence award.

Modeling head helps make dream a reality

Candy Ford, head of the Candy Ford Group (formerly known as Ford Model Management) on Newbury Street, will be in tonight's episode of the new A&E show ''Random 1." Ford was tapped after the show's hosts -- Andre Miller and John Chester -- went searching for a young waitress in Providence who has always dreamed of being a model, found her, and paired her with Ford.

'Monty' cast raises $50,000 for charity

During the three-week run of the North Shore Music Theatre's production of ''The Full Monty," the cast and crew raised $50,000 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Donations were collected from audience members after each show. In addition, the cast autographed more than 500 posters, donated by Minuteman Press of Beverly, that were handed out in exchange for a $20 donation. The cast included Sebastian Arcelus, Craig Bennett, George Dvorsky, Susann Fletcher, Michael Scott Harris, Christian Johansen, Milton Craig Nealy, and Darren Ritchie.

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