Andrews sings some praises

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.

Long-suffering Celtics fans weren't the only ones rejoicing when Kevin Garnett joined Paul Pierce and Ray Allen on the Celtics roster, apparently the whole NBA was cheering as well. The press conference announcing KG's signing - and the ecstatic reaction of Beantown - is featured in a new ad by the NBA's advertising agency Goodby, Silverstein, and Partners that will start airing nationally this week. The 60-second spot uses Badfinger's hit "Day After Day," and the lyrics work surprisingly well: "I remember finding out about you," "I give my love to you," and "Bring it home, baby, make it soon." . . . Among those spotted at yesterday's C's game were season ticket holder Donnie Wahlberg and his former New Kids on the Block bandmate Jordan Knight.

Dr. Charles Steinberg, the Red Sox marketing mensch who has just taken a job with the Dodgers, pitched in on one last charity event over the weekend. When the 500 or so gathered in support of the Jewish Community Centers of Greater Boston gathered for a live auction, Steinberg added a chance to throw out a ceremonial first pitch to a Red Sox package that includes seats next to the Sox dugout. More than $650,000 was raised at the soiree that also included author Ben Mezrich offering a night of poker with MIT students and two tickets to the East Coast premiere of "21" starring Kevin Spacey.

Harvard Business School guru Rosabeth Moss Kanter had help from some pretty big star power - Sidney Poitier and his favorite studio head, Sherry Lansing (former CEO of Paramount Pictures) - in doling out five $100,000 prizes to heavy-hitting social entrepreneurs over 60. The trio were in Palo Alto, Calif., recently to recognize the Purpose Prize recipients, who included Donald Berwick of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in Cambridge.

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