Affleck, Garner create their own political party

They may have been drawn by a chance to meet Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, but the hearts of the 450 people who packed Rumor last night belonged to one man: Barack Obama. The sold-out fund-raiser at the Theater District nightclub was hosted by the Hollywood power couple to rally support for Obama's bid to win the White House. "I'm here because I'm trying to raise money for a campaign and a candidacy that I believe in," Affleck told the media shortly after hopping out of a black Chevy Suburban with his wife and his mom, Chris. "I'm just trying to do my part." Affleck met the Illinois senator when they were both in Boston for the 2004 Democratic National Convention and said his "admiration of [Obama] has grown" since. The Oscar winner seemed particularly proud to participate in a gathering that regular folks could go to, noting "it's not a $1,500-a-plate event for the elite." (Tickets were $250 for a VIP reception and $50 for the main party.) Among those spotted were Senator John Kerry and his wife, Teresa, Red Sox GM Theo Epstein 's brother Paul and his wife, Saskia Grinberg, and Wellness Community-Greater Boston CEO Ron Lipof. The politically savvy Affleck, who has donated at least $4,600 to Obama's campaign according to public records, wasn't going to be drawn into the recent flaps between Obama and Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton, who won the Massachusetts primary. "This is not about casting aspersions," the "Gone Baby Gone" director said. "If I were to choose between the two, it would be Barack." Garner stayed above the political fray, saying she really likes Boston and "would move here in a heartbeat, but it's six hours from where I work." But Garner, who's in town filming "The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past" quickly corrected herself saying, "Whoops, I'm working here at the moment."

All hail the Queen

With Queen Latifah singing her way through a set that included jazz standards, blues, funk, and even her '90s hit "U.N.I.T.Y.," Saturday night's gathering at the Four Seasons Hotel didn't look like just another stop on the spring charity circuit. The gala that honored Diane Patrick and Angela Menino also raised more than $350,000 for the Roxbury Comprehensive Community Health Center. Among the couple hundred people staying into the wee hours and through Latifah's performance were the state's first lady and her husband, Governor Deval Patrick, and the city's first lady and her husband, Mayor Tom Menino. When Latifah greeted the Patricks after the concert by calling Diane "cousin," the first lady quickly replied, "I wish I were your cousin."

Paulist Center honors Sheen

Actor Martin Sheen was at the Paulist Center in Boston on Saturday to be honored by the religious order for his work on causes ranging from poverty to nuclear disarmament. After being presented with the Isaac Hecker Award for Social Justice, "The Departed" star spoke from the pulpit during the Mass. The award, named for the founder of the Paulist Fathers, is given annually to Catholics in North America who "have labored for a more just and peaceful world." Sheen joins a notable list of recipients of the award the Boston center established in 1974 including: Dorothy Day, Cesar Chavez, Sister Helen Prejean, Kip Tiernan, Larry Kessler, and Dr. Paul Farmer.

He might be best known to many as the villain in "Ghost," but actor/director Tony Goldwyn was the toast of Brandeis this weekend. The '82 grad was feted at the 5th annual SunDeis Festival with the first Alumni Achievement Award at a ceremony last night. On Saturday, Goldwyn hosted a screening of "The Last Kiss," the 2006 flick he directed that stars Zach Braff, Jacinda Barrett, Casey Affleck, and Rachel Bilson.

It used to be said that the safest place in Boston was J.J. Foley's because of all the off-duty police who would hang out at the South End bar. So then Friday night at Jurys Boston Hotel would have been the safest place in Boston or Ireland. Gathered at the former police headquarters in the Back Bay were: Ireland's Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan; Mass. State Police Colonel Mark Delaney; Boston's top cop Ed Davis; his predecessor in Boston, Kathleen O'Toole, who is now the chief inspector of Ireland's national police force, the Garda; and Fachtna Murphy, the Garda commissioner. The folks from Ireland are in town to observe some of Boston's police programs. Today, they will be at Boston College.

"The Closer" star Kyra Sedgwick, in town to catch her friend Zohar Tirosh's show "Pieces" at the New Repertory Theatre, stopped by George Lewis's Foundation Lounge in Kenmore Square for dinner the other night. While there, Sedgwick told the staff she had just heard about a program, in which local eateries are participating, where diners donate money they'd pay for bottled water to UNICEF. So Kevin Bacon's better half pitched in a few bucks so the program can provide water to children in need.

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