Little Papi

What will they think of next? Team Baby Entertainment, which previously put out a series of sports-themed children's DVDs, has now teamed up with Topps to create a series of trading cards featuring photos of Major League Baseball players when they were youngsters. Players whose baby pics appear on the first-of-their-kind cards include Sox slugger David Ortiz and former Sox centerfielder Johnny Damon. The cards are only available at Toys "R" Us and Babies "R" Us with the purchase of one of Team Baby's DVD titles.

Singer James Taylor celebrated his 60th birthday surrounded by family and famous friends at Tanglewood over the weekend. The belated bash - JT's actual birthday was in March - came as a surprise to the audience, who figured something must be up when John Travolta suddenly appeared onstage. "James, we know your birthday was last spring, but you know how hard it is to get family and friends together," the actor said, interrupting Taylor's July Fourth performance, "so here we are, nearly 20,000 of your closest friends to tell you 'We love you.' " Travolta then introduced cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who performed "Sweet Baby James" with Taylor, followed by funny video tributes from Homer Simpson and Paul McCartney. Finally, Travolta summoned singer Carole King to the stage, and she and Taylor treated the capacity crowd to a few old faves, including "Natural Woman," "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow," and "You've Got a Friend." Said JT's wife, Kim Taylor: "James doesn't like surprises, so he had an inkling. But he didn't know about [Travolta]."

Tanglewood was the place to be Saturday, too, as the BSO opened its summer season with a lavish Grecian feast that gave the fabulous folk an excuse to party on the wet grass. (Later, soprano Anna Caterina Antonacci sang her heart out as Cassandra, the prophetess who foresaw the sacking of Troy, in Berlioz's epic opera "Les Troyens.") BSO event planner extraordinaire Nina Jung helped the gala's co-chairs, Jacqueline and Albert Togut, realize their grand vision, replete with grilled Maine lobster, figs, dates, nuts, and Baklava on gold-rimmed plates. Artist Jane Miller and Matthew Keller, the creative director of Louis Boston, even created a white Trojan horse statue for the evening, which served as a suitable backdrop for party photos. So diligent in gathering fresh foliage for the horse's mane and tail were Miller and Keller that they were late to the reception. "We were soaking wet and covered in mud," confided Miller, who managed to show up looking fresh and fancy in a billowing off-white halter dress. (Trojan soldiers on loan from Shakespeare & Company - just down the road - posed with partiers, looking more friendly than fierce in their white mini-shifts, helmets, and leather breast plates.) There were a few other familiar faces among the party people, including James and Kim Taylor, Governor Deval Patrick and wife Diane, who gave up their seats in the shed to listen from the lawn, "Indiana Jones" actress and knitwear designer Karen Allen, former Senate prez Billy Bulger, who was seated next to Berkshire benefactors Jane and Jack Fitzpatrick, BSO chairman Edward Linde and wife Joyce, and Lenox Representative Smitty Pignatelli.

Art on the Vineyard

Photographer Peter Simon and wife Ronni hosted a party Saturday to celebrate the opening of their new Martha's Vineyard gallery. The VIP crowd at Simon Gallery included Simon's three sisters Carly, Joanna, and Lucy, James Taylor's songwriting sister Kate, legendary newsman Walter Cronkite and daughter Kathy, "Groundhog Day" director Harold Ramis, Harvard prof Alan Dershowitz, philanthropist Barbara Lee, rock writer Stephen Davis, Sox partner David Ginsberg, and author Richard North Patterson and wife Nancy Clair. "It was a great time and good sendoff for the gallery," said Simon.

Back on tour for the first time in a few years, Boston sounds better than ever. That's according to the band's publicist, who dropped us a note yesterday to say that Adam Sandler, David Spade, and Kevin Nealon all attended the band's LA show a few nights ago. Gail Parenteau said the trio of "Saturday Night Live" alums could be seen rocking out while guitarist Tom Scholz shredded on "More Than a Feeling," "Rock & Roll Band," and "Peace of Mind." This is Boston's first tour since the death of singer Brad Delp in March '07. Taking over on vocals are Stryper's Michael Sweet and Tommy DeCarlo, who's on leave from his day job as a credit manager for Home Depot. The band plays in Gilford, N.H., Aug 2 and at the Comcast Center Aug. 3.

"Law & Order" actress Mariska Hargitay was into Orla and Michael LaScola's American Seasons restaurant on Nantucket over the weekend. The daughter of Jayne Mansfield dined with husband Peter Hermann and a few friends. Also having dinner was MTV's John Norris and his daughter.

Jazzing it up at Foxwoods
The formerly famous DJ Jazzy Jeff was back in the spotlight this weekend, dropping beats at Shrine at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods on the Fourth of July. Will Smith's onetime sidekick worked the turntables at Ed Kane's club with DJ AM. The next night, Dominican dynamo Kat DeLuna performed her hit "Whine Up" for the frenzied crowd.

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

Correction: Because of inaccurate information provided by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, yesterday's Names column erroneously reported that James Taylor and Carole King sang "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" at Tanglewood on Friday. Also, because of a reporting error, the column erroneously reported that Taylor was also at Tanglewood on Saturday.