The party's over

If Maria Lekkakos sounds a little under the weather -- and she does -- try to understand. It's been a busy couple of days for the former Miss Massachusetts USA. The owner of Alexander's Spa and Salon in Wenham is just back from a whirlwind weekend in Miami, where she styled the chichi wedding of former Miss New York Jaclyn Nesheiwat and rowdy rocker Scott Stapp. ''It was absolutely beautiful," said Lekkakos. Preceded by a radiant rehearsal dinner at Casa Casuarina, the former home of late fashion icon Gianni Versace, the wedding was held at the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. Lekkakos can't reveal who was there, but said A-list actors, athletes, and rockers were among those admiring the Vizcaya's Italianate architecture. (We know Sox pitcher David Wells attended because someone snapped Boomer's picture.) ''I'm excited for [Jaclyn]. Scott seems like a very stylish and nice man," said Lekkakos. When the wedding ended, the good-time groom apparently kept going, getting arrested the next day at Los Angeles International Airport for being intoxicated.

An 'exquisite' meal for Ma

Yo-Yo Ma may want to add food critic to his long list of achievements. After dining with his daughter, Emily, at Mantra on Monday, the famed cellist pronounced his meal ''exquisite," and father and daughter both made the trip downstairs to compliment the new chef Anupam Joglekar. Afterward, Ma stopped to say hi to Karenna Gore Schiff, daughter of the former VP, who was in town to promote her new book, ''Lighting the Way: Nine Women Who Changed Modern America." Before leaving, we're told Ma used his credit card to pick up the check for Schiff's party as well.

‘Fight’ director stirs up audience

Eugene Jarecki's goal was to get people talking, and it's working. The ''Why We Fight" director can't screen his critically acclaimed documentary without provoking a lively dialogue among audience members. ''They tend to be very, uh, vibrant," said Jarecki, who'll conduct a Q&A after Thursday's Boston premiere at the Kendall Square Cinema. The film, featuring conservatives such as William Kristol, Richard Perle, and John McCain, and Democrats such as Gore Vidal, asks why America always looks for military conflicts. In contrast to, say, Michael Moore, Jarecki plays it straight in ''Why We Fight," refusing to play the Red State-Blue State game. ''I don't do that kind of work," he said. ''Entertainment is valuable, but I tend to try to find ways that don't come at the cost of respectable discourse."

Bar becomes hockey haven

The Greatest Bar was Beanpot central the other night as BC alums held a pregame party attended by Ray Bourque, Bob Sweeney, Jeff Norton, and Kevin Stevens, as well as former Canadien Steve Rooney, whose son Joe plays for BC. Not to be outdone, BU reserved the bar's Boston Room, where coach Jack Parker hoisted the Beanpot trophy.

Comedians Steven Wright, Lenny Clarke, and Tony V cracked wise at Avalon last night in a benefit for autism research.

He'll rap about 'Rent'

Anthony Rapp, who played Mark Cohen in both the musical and movie versions of ''Rent," will sing a song and read selections from his book, ''Without You: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and the Musical 'Rent' " at The Wang Theatre on March 28.

Starting today, Karen Swensen is the newest anchor on NECN. Formerly of CBS's affiliate in New Orleans, Swensen broadcast during Hurricane Katrina even as her home was destroyed. She'll co-anchor the ''Good Morning Live" show and noon news with Mike Nikitas. . . . ''Boston Legal" hotshot Denny Crane, a.k.a. William Shatner , will guest conduct at the TD Banknorth Pops by the Sea Concert on Aug. 6 on Hyannis Town Green. . . . Former President Bill Clinton leads a two-hour video conference today at seven colleges in Africa and the US sponsored by BU's African Presidential Archives and Research Center. . . . Canton-based shoe company Reebok is outfitting the players taking part in the McDonald's NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, including Nelly, Bow Wow, Ice Cube, Chris Brown, Nick Cannon, Eva Longoria, Chris Meloni, and Queen Latifah.

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