Damon gets Obama's message across

In these parts we're used to the occasional call from Ted Kennedy urging us to get out and vote, but how do Ohioans rate? The Akron Beacon Journal reports that voters in that crucial swing state are coming home to soothing messages from Matt Damon, encouraging them to register and then vote for Barack Obama. Of course. We already know how he feels about Sarah Palin and company.

Dogs were allowed at a 33 Restaurant & Lounge fund-raiser for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals-Angell Thursday night, cutely coined "33 Yappy Hour." Co-owner Greg Den Herder greeted guests on the patio with his Brussels Griffon, Boris. (Canine-inspired drinks - the Black Lab Russian, French Vanilla Poodle, and White Russian Wolfhound - were on the menu.) Brian Adams of the animal shelter brought a Lhasa apso mix, Mozart, who is currently awaiting adoption. There was even an English bulldog named Tek (yep, a tribute to Jason Varitek), brought along by Corey and Christine Fritts of Medford.

Watertown artist Mike Mandel is very enthusiastic about the presidential election - so much so that he created a roughly seven-and-a-half-foot mosaic of Barack Obama on the side of his porch, at Maplewood Street and Langdon Avenue. Mandel, who's created massive public art pieces for sites such as the San Francisco International Airport, said he actually held back. "I could have done an entire Obama house," he joked. "I've got thousands of square feet of mosaic tile in my garage." Mandel said he created the porcelain and glass tile piece with his wife, a fellow teacher at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. So far he's gotten nothing but love from his neighbors and passersby, some of whom have knocked on his door to ask about the portrait. "Actually there is a neighbor of mine, a friend, who is a McCain supporter. He came over and said, 'You know, it is kind of uplifting.' I'm hoping I'm leaving it up through Inauguration Day." (In the interest of equal time, has anybody out there created a life-sized John McCain? We're listening.)

Lexington's Ethan Zohn is dribbling his way south in his mission to reach Washington, D.C., by Dec. 1, World AIDS Day, and raise money to fight AIDS in Africa. The "Survivor: Africa" winner and cofounder of Grassroot Soccer rolled across the Brooklyn Bridge Wednesday and spent Thursday on the field with Mark Consuelos, Anthony LaPaglia, Brandon Routh, Gilles Marini, Skeet Ulrich, and Donal Logue, as well as some real soccer pros, at a celeb soccer match in New York City. "Anthony LaPaglia was a goalkeeper, and he was pretty good," Zohn said. Marini, of the "Sex and the City" movie, gave a "Sex" tour bus full of fans a thrill. "He took off his shirt and threw it to all the girls," Zohn said. Afterward, the players cleaned up for a swanky gala. Zohn will do youth clinics and events around New York for the next week before continuing on his 550-mile dribble. "I am tired," he admitted, "but more from the party the other night than the dribbling."

Superfan Ben Affleck was expected to take in the Sox vs. Angels game in Anaheim last night. Meanwhile, Fox Filmed Entertainment chairman Tom Rothman told movie site IESB.net that the studio is "thinking very seriously" about a "Daredevil" sequel. Just a wild guess, but we doubt Ben will be back in the tight brown suit.

Actress Mariska Hargitay (inset) will give the keynote at the 35th anniversary luncheon for Day One, founded as the Rhode Island Rape Crisis Center in 1973. The event will take place at the Westin Providence on Nov. 13. Executive director Peg Langhammer said the center is grateful for the support of the "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" star, who "has been a very active and powerful advocate in eradicating sexual violence."

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