He went ape for a good cause

How much would you pay for a secondhand gorilla suit? If you're Jim Holzman, the answer is a lot. But then this wasn't just any old ape outfit, it's the one former Sox GM Theo Epstein wore when he made his famous Fenway escape on Halloween. How much did Holzman, president of Brookline-based Ace Ticket, drop to get it? How 'bout $11,000? ''Yeah, I'm the lunatic," Holzman told us yesterday after outbidding nightclub king Patrick Lyons for it at Sunday's Hot Stove, Cool Music fund-raiser. ''It was for a great cause, and when [Sox pitcher/auctioneer] Jonathan Papelbon said the winner had to make sure to [stick it to the Yankees], that was a major motivator." However, the crowd booed when they learned Holzman is a ticket agent. ''I was kind of surpised that I'm donating $11,000 to charity, and some people jeered." Holzman isn't sure what he'll do with the costume, but said he'd gladly return it to Theo if he'd reclaim his old office on Yawkey Way. And what did his wife think of his purchase? ''She said, 'You spent what?' "

Stars help Wenner celebrate 60th

As you might expect, Jann Wenner's 60th birthday bash Sunday was a star-studded affair. The founder and publisher of Rolling Stone, whom Salon once described as ''the ultimate rock groupie," was toasted by a slew of famous friends at New York's Le Benardin restaurant. The party, emceed by Boston's own Peter Wolf, featured performances by Bette Midler, John Mellencamp, David Bowie, and Bruce Springsteen, who, we're told, wrote a special tune for the occasion. VIP guests included John Kerry, Caroline Kennedy, Al Gore, dandy author Tom Wolfe, comedians Larry David and Robin Williams, Richard Gere, Robbie Robertson, Michael Douglas, and Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun.

A Kennedy book of a different breed

Add Ted Kennedy -- and his Portuguese water dog -- to the ranks of celebrity children's authors. The senator and his dog, Splash, will release ''My Senator and Me: A Dog's-Eye View of Washington, D.C." in May. In a statement, Kennedy said he's excited to create a book for kids ''that will deepen their understanding of how our American government works." According to the publisher, Kennedy's book ''not only takes readers through a full day in (his) life, but also explains how a bill becomes a law." The book is illustrated by Caldecott Medal winner David Small.

BSO’s Fenwick Smith to retire

Fenwick Smith, second flute in the Boston Symphony Orchestra, intends to retire at the end of the Tanglewood season this summer, ending a 28-year career with the orchestra. ''This has been a good stint," Smith said yesterday. ''I have lots of other interests, musical and otherwise, that I want to pursue. Now that the orchestra has a principal flute in place, I can leave with a good conscience that the section is in good shape." Smith plans to increase his teaching duties at New England Conservatory, continue to record CDs, and give master classes and recitals internationally under the sponsorship of Verne Q. Powell Flutes, Inc.

Ruiz steps out; Tarshi helps out

Boxer Johnny ''The Quietman" Ruiz of Chelsea stopped into the new OM Restaurant and Lounge in Harvard Square Friday with a group of friends. . . . Word is real estate developer and failed ''Apprentice" contestant Michael Tarshi will host a fund-raiser for Habitat for Humanity at the Foundation Lounge Jan. 19.

Nerdy Rhode Island School of Design grad Diana Eng, a contestant on this season's ''Project Runway," will be at a cutting-edge fashion show on Feb. 1 at the Museum of Science.

Poor Jon Polito. Seems the veteran actor is having to shuttle back and forth between Boston, where he's filming ''Stiffs," and Vancouver, where he's in ''Friends" star David Schwimmer's latest project. Speaking of ''Stiffs," star Danny Aiello attended Saturday's Pats game as a guest of Provident Healthcare Partner's CEO Robert Khederian and New England Distributors' Michele Kolligian, but had to leave before it was over because he had an early production call. If there's another game at Gillette, the film's executive producer Roger Marino and director Frank Ciota have promised they'll change the production schedule.

Richard Dyer of the Globe staff contributed. Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.