DMC gives Boston a good rap

By Carol Beggy & Mark Shanahan  |  June 11, 2007

Old-school rapper Darryl "DMC" McDaniels estimates that he's been spending about half of his time in Boston lately. "Anytime someone calls and tells me there's an event in Boston that will benefit kids -- I'm there," said the New York City native. "The city's really doing something about making life better for it's young people," the ubiquitous performer said from his home in New Jersey yesterday. Tonight McDaniels will be joined by " Sopranos" casting gal Sheila Jaffe and others for the opening of the Equinox Fitness Club in the Back Bay. The party is a fund-raiser to benefit Mark Wahlberg's foundation for inner-city kids, and the Felix Organization, a charity McDaniels and other adoptees formed to help out young people. "You see so much hope in Boston's young people. So much evolution," said the Run - DMC performer. "There is so much life there."

The Langham Hotel's William Hackett was named Boston's concierge of the year at the 20th anniversary Silver Plume Awards gala last night , which was hosted by Where Magazine. The Omni Parker House's Jonathan Pride and Ellen Silverman of the Marriott Custom House were also recognized at the fete, which is the one night of the year all the concierge types from the city's hotels get to go out on the town. . . . Legendary record producer Clive Davis was spotted having dinner the other night at Davio's in Park Square.

Within an hour of watching the series finale of "The Sopranos" at Tosca in Hingham, "Entourage" actor Kevin Dillon rolled up to WaterWorks at Marina Bay in Quincy last night as a passenger in Patriots player Lonie Paxton's 1965 Lincoln Continental. Not a coincidence, Paxton pointed out, as his maroon car is the same model driven by Dillon's character Johnny Drama. Before rolling up for a red carpet reception, Dillon told us that he was "satisfied" by the finale of "The Sopranos" but was "sad to see it end." Dillon, who was planning on heading back to New York City today, said that he sat in suspense as the series came to an end. And of the lack of closure, he said, "You don't want to see Tony get whacked."

A case is made for Judge Singh
Massachusetts District Court Judge Sabita Singh said she was both humbled and proud to be named India New England 2007 Woman of the Year. Addressing a few hundred at the annual gathering that was held on Friday at the Newton Marriott, Singh said that when she came to Boston 20 years ago she found the Indian community more segmented and now "there are so many gathered here" to celebrate the women's accomplishments. A breast cancer survivor, the 40-year-old associate justice was one of 20 women honored at the gala dinner.

Gummer, Danes light up Newport
If you don't know "Evening" star Mamie Gummer's name, her smile immediately reveals she's the daughter of Meryl Streep. "It's amazing to be back here with the film," said Gummer (above left), who along with her costar Claire Danes (above right), returned to Newport, R.I., on Saturday for a screening of the Rhode Island-set movie based on Susan Minot's best seller of the same name. "While it was being made, I knew it was special, but we tried to just roll with it." said Gummer. "I tried to never stop and think about what all was going on . . . and who all was involved," she added, about the who's who cast that includes Gummer's mother, Vanessa Redgrave, Glenn Close, Toni Collette, and Danes's boyfriend, Hugh Dancy. Gummer and Danes were cheered as the crowds waited to attend two screenings, which closed out the Newport International Film Festival. With more than two dozen film credits to her name, Danes said making "Evening" was a "wonderful experience, and we got to spend time in the area" adding that it is "not something that happens all the time -- where it all comes together."

Paris Hilton says she won't appeal her 45-day jail sentence and is "learning and growing" from her time behind bars. Her change of heart came over the weekend when she announced in a statement released by one of her attorneys that she won't fight her sentence after a brief stint under house arrest at her Hollywood Hills home. "Today, I told my attorneys not to appeal the judge's decision," Hilton said in the statement. "While I greatly appreciate the sheriff's concern for my health and welfare, I intend to serve my time at LA County Jail." The celebutante was at a maximum-security detention center, where she was believed to be undergoing medical and psychiatric evaluations to determine the best jail to keep her in as she serves the rest of her sentence. "Being in jail is by far the hardest thing I have ever done," she said in the statement. "During the past several days, I have had a lot of time to think, and I believe that I am learning and growing from this experience." Hilton added she was "shocked" by the attention her case has received and suggested the public and media focus on "more important things like the men and women serving our country in Iraq." (AP)

Actor Paul Reubens (inset) made his first outing as Pee-Wee Herman in 10 years at Spike TV's First Annual "Guys Choice" awards. Reubens, a Boston University drop out, got a standing ovation from the crowd when he came on stage Saturday night. The show airs on Wednesday night. (Reuters)

Emeril Lagasse will spice up next year's Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif. The Fall River-bred celeb chef will serve as grand marshal of the traditional New Year's Day parade and toss the coin before the Rose Bowl football game. "Emeril Lagasse is the very best ambassador for our theme, 'Passport to the World's Celebrations,' " said C.L. Keedy, president of the Tournament of Roses. "In my hometown of New Orleans, we are all about celebrating traditions with family and friends," Lagasse said in a statement. "I look forward to beginning 2008 with the Rose Parade, and paying tribute to the festivities and traditions from around the globe." (AP)

John Lennon was shot and killed outside his New York City apartment after deciding he wanted to return home to see his son rather than go out for dinner, Yoko Ono said in an interview broadcast yesterday. "We were returning from the studio, and I said: 'Should we go and have dinner before we go home?' and John was saying, 'No, let's go home, because I want to see Sean before he goes to sleep.' And it was like he wasn't sure if we would get home before [Sean] went to sleep, and he was concerned about that." Ono, 74, the wife of the late Beatle, made the comment on "Desert Island Discs," the British Broadcasting Corp. radio program that interviews famous people and plays their favorite songs. She said Lennon uttered no dying words when he was shot and killed by deranged fan Mark Chapman outside their Dakota apartment building in Manhattan on Dec. 8, 1980. (AP)

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