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(Bill brett for the boston globe) |
Julie Andrews was the one who was supposed to be in the spotlight. Instead the Oscar-winning actress spent much of the private, intimate dinner at the Massachusetts General Hospital Voice Center singing the praises of the doctors of the Institute of Laryngology and Voice Restoration. Among those the "Mary Poppins" star singled out were doctors Steven Zeitels, Andrew Warshaw, and Robert Hillman. Andrews, who is honorary chairwoman of the ILVR's board of directors, is a patient of Zeitels. (Another of Zeitels's famous patients is Aerosmith's frontman Steven Tyler, who was operated on using new technology developed at MGH.) "Voice is something most people don't think much about until they are in danger of losing it," Zeitels told us after the event. "[Julie Andrews] is helping us to raise awareness and continue with our research and development of innovative ways to treat those who have lost their voice."
Wahlbergs lend a hand
Mark Wahlberg winged into town and joined his big brother Donnie for Don Rodman's The Rodman Ride for Kids 5th annual holiday fete on Saturday night. More than 2,000 festively dressed people packed the Seaport World Trade Center to raise $800,000. The Brothers Wahlberg worked the room and even pitched in during the live auction, which included a round of golf with Mark that went for $30,000. Mark took a break in filming "The Lovely Bones" director Peter Jackson's adaptation of Alice Sebold's bestseller. Donnie's been in the Boston area to work on writer-director Brian Goodman's "Real Men Cry" with Ethan Hawke, Amanda Peet, and Mark Ruffalo.
An Extreme night at BMAs
Gary Cherone was in good voice and an even better mood at the Boston Music Awards Saturday night. With his once and future band Extreme back together, the sinewy singer from Malden said he's fired up about '08. Rapping with us at the packed after-party at the Hard Rock Cafe, Cherone said Extreme's new album is nearly done, and he, guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, bassist Pat Badger, and drummer Kevin Figueiredo are eager to tour. Asked about the whispered reunion of Led Zeppelin, to whom Extreme paid tribute at the BMAs with a manic version of "Communication Breakdown," Cherone said he'd like to open for them. "Let's start that rumor," he said. (Ian Astbury's already started a rumor that The Cult will warm up Page, Plant, et al.) Godsmack's Sully Erna was also at the party, and said his band's new material is on the quiet side. "I really think people will want to sit down and listen to this music," he said. Godsmack fans sit? Others mingling included BMA bigwig Chip Rives, 'BCN alums Charles Laquidara and Oedipus, who brought along fiance Amy Oonpool, Boston singer Brad Delp's fiancee Pamela Sullivan, actor/rapper Dickie Skinz, and BMA Hall of Fame inductee Bobby Brown, who was dining quietly with his girlfriend, Alicia Etheridge, his brother Tommy, and a few friends and family.
Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.![]()



