Cool rain, hot music at Fenway Park
Not even the threat of flash flooding could keep Kay Hanley, Cowboy Mouth, or those cute boys in the Click Five from performing at Fenway last night. Organizers had said the midsummer classic known as Hot Stove, Cool Music would go off rain or shine, and they kept their soggy promise. But instead of setting up on the field, where electric guitars make fine lightning rods, the evening's entertainment was tucked beneath the bleachers. ``We're rocking and rolling and getting back to basics," said sitcom star Mike O'Malley, the evening's MC. O'Malley said Sox GM Theo Epstein will go to great lengths for charity, but he draws the line at electrocution. A fund-raiser for Epstein's Foundation to be Named Later, this year's Hot Stove event included many of the same acts who played last year, with the notable addition of Sweet Baby James Taylor, as well as Maine native Howie Day. Due to the limitations of the makeshift stage, Taylor played only one song, ``Steamroller." He did use his time wisely backstage, asking Sox outfielder Gabe Kapler how best to treat a tender Achilles. Rescheduling the event was discussed, but only briefly. When the Click Five swung their shaggy hair, the girls down front started screaming. ``Everyone looks happy," said Epstein, smiling.
El Tiante brings smoke
Who better than Luis Tiant to host a cigar party across the street from Fenway? The former Sox pitcher stoked a hand-rolled stogie the other night as part of a special prix fixe dinner prepared by Cask 'n Flagon executive chef Kurt Vogel. After the meal, patrons kicked back with a complimentary El Tiante cigar. . . . Ever wonder what Ted Kennedy eats? The senator's former chef, Neil Connolly, has a deal to write a taste-and-tell memoir called ``In the Kennedy Kitchen," which will include 125 of the family's favorite recipes.Affleck will soon be ‘Gone’
Got your fill of "Gone, Baby, Gone"? Good, because Ben Affleck's nearly finished filming. The first-time director expects to be done by Aug. 5 . He would've wrapped even sooner but the Cambridge-bred actor lost a few days when he was hospitalized with a severe migraine and then, we're told, suffered another setback when someone accidentally put a few reels of finished film though an X-ray machine, which required Affleck to re-shoot some scenes. But not long after ``Gone, Baby, Gone" goes away, Dwayne ``The Rock" Johnson will arrive -- again. Word is the studly star of Disney's football flick ``The Game Plan" is recuperating quickly from surgery on his ruptured Achilles ' tendon , and producers are optimistic they may be able to start shooting by the end of September.Premiere event
Director Kevin Smith's new movie "Clerks II" had its LA premiere the other night, and the delightful Eliza Dushku was among those walking the red carpet. (The Watertown native has been pals with Smith since she played Sissy in his 2001 film ``Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.") Also there was Jason Mewes, the formerly stringy-haired actor who's cleaned up a lot since he and Ben Affleck worked together on Smith's films ``Mallrats" and ``Chasing Amy." Mewes gives Affleck full credit for his newfound sobriety. ``When I needed help he definitely helped me out," Mewes said. ``As a matter of fact, he paid for one of my rehabs."Meredith Goldstein of the Globe staff contributed. Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253. 
