Paying homage to new Shrine

Just a month after the new MGM Grand at Foxwoods celebrated a Las Vegas-style opening that drew celebs from Alicia Keys to Kim Kardashian, local nightlife magnates Ed and Joe Kane, who own the Marina Bay Beach Club and Estate in the Alley, hosted an opening party of their own Thursday night for their contribution to the MGM complex, the Asian-themed Shrine. Their VIP host, "Dancing With the Stars" beauty Karina Smirnoff, was in good spirits despite recently confirming her split with former dance partner Mario Lopez. She spent most of the night greeting fans and hanging near Shrine partner DJ Riz. Also at the bash were chefs Ming Tsai and Michael Schlow, Herb Chambers with his VP Jim Xaros, McCourt Construction boss Rich McCourt, Kowloon owner Stanley Wong, Rain nightclub owner Anthony Decotis, Kane brothers cohort Randy Greenstein, bread guy Joe Piantedosi, and KISS 108's Chris Tyler and DJ Buddy Costa. The party continues tonight at Shrine with an appearance by "Entourage" star Kevin Connolly, who was linked to Smirnoff's "Dancing" pal Julianne Hough last year.

Before the Celtics boarded duck boats and took their victory lap around Fenway, the NBA champs gathered for a quick fete at the Bleacher Bar, courtesy of the Sox. All the towering types were there: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen (who brought along his daughter Tierra), Leon Powe, Eddie House, Glen "Big Baby" Davis and coach Doc Rivers among them. Decked out in shades and an Air Jordan jacket, Allen (above) made a beeline for Celts owner Wyc Grousbeck and team prez Rich Gotham, embracing them as if he hadn't seen them in years. We didn't see anyone from the Sox there, but, hey, there was a game to be played. Still, the Sox made sure the C's were well taken care of. "They've given us good suites to watch the game," Gotham quipped.

The Celtics faithful lined up at Macy's Downtown Crossing yesterday for a chance to see Kendrick Perkins and, if they were patient, score an autograph from the C's center. Introduced by former Celtic Cedric Maxwell, Perkins told the crowd his shoulder's feeling just fine after a strain caused him to miss Game 5 of the NBA Finals. No. 43 happily signed stuff for fans, including a pair of tiny shorts worn by 2-month-old Anthony Tejeda, who made the scene with his mom, Jesenia Cortes of Roxbury.

WMVY-FM (92.7) celebrated its 25th anniversary Thursday with a concert series at Newport Blues Cafe in Newport, R.I. About 250 people, who included fans of the station as well as listeners who won tickets on the air, celebrated the station, known for its laid-back island charm of light rock and pop music and showcasing new music from local artists who have been known to drop by the Vineyard Haven studios. Musicians who performed last night included singer songwriters Jason Spooner, Rhode Island's JP Jones, and Mutlu. This is the first of three silver anniversary celebrations for the station this summer, according to Gary Guthrie, the station's chief marketing officer. "It was a great time," said Barbara Dacey, longtime DJ for the station, which can also be heard in Newport. "It's great to look back and recognize what we've done in the past 25 years."

Dropkick Murphys frontman Ken Casey (inset) is holding out for no rain tomorrow so that Red Sox players can attend the official opening party for his new Back Bay bar McGreevy's. Casey, who co-owns the joint with "Royal Rooters" documentarian and former 3rd Bass MC Peter Nash, expects Theo Epstein, Jonathan Papelbon, Mike Lowell, and Josh Beckett to attend festivities after the Sox's Picnic in the Park. "I think they'll all be there barring a 12-hour game with a four-hour rain delay." Also on the guest list for the private affair will be Mike O'Malley, Billy Bulger, City Councilmen Michael F. Flaherty and John Tobin, state Senator Jack Hart, Mayor Thomas M. Menino, and the Bruins' Shawn Thornton. Casey didn't bother inviting the Celtics. "It would have felt horrible to even mention it in the middle of their party. Who knows? Maybe one of them will stumble by." Most likely to drop in would be 'do-driven Celtic Scot Pollard, who has reached out to Casey as a diehard Dropkicks fan. "He came to the shows on St. Patrick's Day and whatnot."

WBUR-FM "Con Salsa" host Jose Masso will moderate a panel discussion at the Boston Foundation on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. The panel will examine what role the arts can play in bridging the differences of race, ethnicity, and class. Panelists include Sam Yoon, a Boston city councilor; Jerry Villacres, a managing partner at Ultra-Linx Marketing Group; and Shirley Carrington, interim executive director of Boston Connects Inc.

Harvard linguist Steven Pinker(inset), author of "The Language Instinct" and other word books, confirms that he has been named chairman of the Usage Panel for the American Heritage Dictionary by publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. He succeeds UC Berkeley linguist and NPR word-commentator Geoffrey Nunberg, who has headed the panel for 25 years, and who will be chairman emeritus. It all sounds very serious, but Pinker says, "I hope it will be fun."

Johnny Diaz, Meredith Goldstein, and David Mehegan of the Globe staff contributed. Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.