Mr. Adams goes Hollywood

Try as they might, the producers of "John Adams," the HBO miniseries based on David McCullough's Pulitzer Prize-winning book, could not tell the second president's story in less than 8 1/2 hours. "Adams and his wife, Abigail, were so prolific and wrote so much," screenwriter Kirk Ellis told us yesterday. "Just the microfilm stretches for over 5 1/2 miles." Much of the written record is housed at the Boston Public Library, which last night hosted a screening of the miniseries that was attended by Ellis, McCullough, Mayor Tom Menino, and the series's VIP producer Tom Hanks. (A history buff, the "Forrest Gump" star hit Faneuil Hall before heading over to the BPL.) McCullough said the miniseries succeeds in part because it doesn't sugarcoat life in the 18th century. "You realize that things were a great deal more difficult than most people today have any idea," the celebrated historian said. "John Adams," which begins airing March 16, stars Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney. Calling the character "Shakespearean," Giamatti said reading and horseback riding were a large part of his prep for the role. "Paul is probably the most professional actor I've ever worked with," said Ellis, who spent five years on the script. "He was word perfect in take after take."

Jackie O. has been portrayed on the big and small screens by a bevy of actresses. Joanne Whalley, Jacqueline Bisset, Jill Hennessy, and Roma Downey come immediately to mind. Next up is Jeanne Tripplehorn, who plays the former first lady in "Grey Gardens," the film based on the spooky 1975 documentary about Jackie's cousins Edith "Big Edie" Bouvier Beale and daughter "Little Edie." Tripplehorn tells PageSix.com that she relished the role. "The research was heaven," she said. "I was just soaking in it to get her dialect. She's such a well-deserved icon." The movie, in which Drew Barrymore plays "Little Edie," comes out later this year.

With his country rocked by a wave of violence, it looked for a while yesterday like Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert would have to postpone his planned get-together with Patriots owners Robert and Myra Kraft, who're visiting Israel with Combined Jewish Philanthropies. But Olmert, a family friend of the Krafts and a committed Pats fan, made time to talk. During the two-hour visit at the PM's residence, Pats players Richard Seymour and Benjamin Watson presented Olmert with some autographed gear. "Those guys are like rock stars here," said Pats publicist George Regan, who's also on the trip with CJP president Barry Shrage, chef Ken Oringer, and Davio's owner Steve DiFillippo.

In the minds of many, says Liborio Stellino, Italian culture begins and ends with "Michelangelo and spaghetti and meatballs." To disprove that, Italy's consul general in Boston hosted a party the other night to promote the work of emerging Italian artists, including Roby Carullo, Monica Checchi, and Silvano Picchi. Checking out the contemporary canvases were Holland & Knight big shot Kenneth Hoffman, PR principessa Jan Saragoni, filmmakers Frank and Joe Ciota, Rocca owner Michela Larson, Brigham and Women's hematologist Dr. Tom Stossel, and divorce lawyer Marie Vaccarelli. An exhibit of the work goes up Friday at Gallery Anthony Curtis on South Street.

Jonathan Grondin finds inspiration just about everywhere. A senior designer for New Balance, Grondin was at Logan Airport, of all places, when he conceived "Super Team 33 Luggage," the sleek new sneak from the Brighton-based company. "I was returning from a [shoe] launch in Denver," Grondin told us at a packed promo party at Good Life. "As the bags went around, I was trying to match the luggage to the people and making up whole stories of their lives." New Balance, whose celeb shoppers include Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, and Adam Sandler, displayed only single shoes at the party so no one walked off with a pair.

Several of the city's top female chefs joined Sage owner Anthony Susi to celebrate Festa Della Donna, otherwise known as International Women's Day. Amanda Lydon of Nantucket's Straight Wharf, Jody Adams of Rialto, Azita Bina-Seibel of Bin 26 Enoteca, Oleana's Ana Sortun, Barbara Lynch of No. 9 Park, and Sage pastry chef Lisa Caldwell worked together to prepare a six-course feast paired with wines.

The opening of Todd English and Eva Longoria's new LA eatery Beso attracted quite a crowd the other night, including a few of Longoria's "Desperate Housewives" castmates. Actress Nicollette Sheridan occupied a booth with beau Michael Bolton, as did Felicity Huffman, who brought along husband William H. Macy. Others toasting the opening were "Desperate Housewives" creator Marc Cherry, reality TV star Kim Kardashian, actors George Lopez, Kyle MacLachlan, Michael Rapaport, Brookline's own Joe Reitman, and Boston native Jonathan Tucker, who was hanging out with English's 18-year-old son Oliver. Also sampling the scallops were TV personality Mario Lopez, singer Sheryl Crow, "Ugly Betty" America Ferrera, and "Beverly Hills 90210" alum Ian Ziering.

Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.