Cage moving out of R.I.

Nic Cage, we hardly knew ye. A year after buying a large home not far from Newport, the "Leaving Las Vegas" star is leaving Rhode Island. Cage is selling the mansion, known as the Gray Craig estate, for $15.9 million. "Basically, Mr. Cage is a very busy man and his schedule didn't allow him to spend as much time there as he would like," said Melanie Delman, whose firm Lila Delman Real Estate is listing the property. "He loves the house and loves the area, but he's very busy." That's certainly true. According to IMDb.com, Cage has no fewer than 10 films currently in production. The 24,000-square-foot stone house near Sachuset Beach resembles an English country manor, and includes 12 bedrooms, 10 full bathrooms, a library with a vaulted ceiling, a living room with water views, a vintage conservatory, a billiard room, and a kitchen with stone fireplace. Said Delman: "It's a very unique property."

Just so you know: Jon Avnet, not Jerry Bruckheimer, is producing "Bunker Hill," the Boston-based pilot costarring Donnie Wahlberg and Tom Brady's ex Bridget Moynahan. The Hollywood Reporter got it wrong, but Walon Green, who wrote the script for the TNT cop drama, called to set us straight yesterday. Green, whose credits include "Hill Street Blues," "Law & Order," "ER," and "NYPD Blue," said he and Avnet will be in Boston next week to take a look around. "I spent a year in Boston doing 'The Brink's Job,' and I really loved it," said Green, whose writing partner is Quincy native and former assistant Suffolk County DA Pam Wechsler. Green said he has high hopes for the show in part because of the cast. "We did a test with Bridget and Donnie and they look great together," he said.

Carrie Fisher - minus her Princess Leia buns - celebrated her 52d birthday all week long in Boston. Monday night, Richard Tominsky threw her a party-with-a-view at the Top of the Hub. And Tuesday night, her Huntington Theatre audience serenaded her twice with "Happy Birthday" during her one-woman show "Wishful Drinking." After the show, she got flowers and a glittery cake with lit sparklers from the Huntington folks.

Deservedly, there's a lot of buzz about Danny Boyle's new movie "Slumdog Millionaire," but that doesn't mean it'll do well at the box office. "You can't try to pick stuff that will be a hit," said the British moviemaker, who's best known for his films "Trainspotting" and "28 Days Later." "Choosing material is like falling in love. No one can understand but the two people who are in love." About an Indian boy who appears on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" in order to find his long-lost love, "Slumdog" won the audience award at the Toronto International Film Festival. Filmed entirely in India for just $13 million, it features a no-name cast, including the enchanting actress Freida Pinto. "She was somebody I just saw on a videotape, and it was a perfectly legal one, I hasten to add," said Boyle, who was in Boston yesterday to talk up the movie. "I kept coming back to her, but I also had to be careful that it wasn't her beauty beguiling me." Boyle has heard the Oscar talk, but he's not paying much attention. "It's coming out at the right time of year," he said. "It has a chance to be taken seriously, I suppose."

Reese Hopkins isn't allowing his recent firing from WRKO to ruin his party spirit. The conservative talk-show host is throwing a 500-person "listener appreciation" party on Nov. 14 at Anthony's of Malden. Hopkins, one of nine employees let go by Entercom for financial reasons, will be replaced in the weekday morning slot by syndicated right-wing yakker Laura Ingraham. "I unfortunately made the chopping block, but it's a business decision, it's not personal," said Hopkins, who has appeared recently on CNN as a political analyst. But, the native New Yorker added, "I have a strong following in Boston, and I have no intention of leaving." Boston listeners are "the best in the world," he said so he'll be looking for another local gig. "They're funny, they're smart, they're informative, they make me want to stay," he said of his callers. "I cannot leave. New York is over for me now."

Carson Kressley hearts Boston - from the State House to Newbury Street. The "Queer Eye" makeover maven and outrageous host of "How to Look Good Naked" stopped in all his favorite haunts before heading to the Natick Collection last night for a fashion show and confab with customers at New York & Company.

So, you like us? You really like us? I'm practically a native. I love my little trips to Boston and my trips to Newbury Street and Charles Street. I usually try to hit Louis, and a week ago I was at Riccardi. . . . The owner's son was there and they were super nice. They have such specialized items.

What did you score? A Dior sweater and some amazing jeans . . . and a leopard skin belt.

Are you in the car right now? Yes. I just passed the State House. . . . It's so cute, they have their own entrance for hookers. Very progressive.

Huh? It says General Hooker entrance . . . I wondered where would the VIP hookers go. I have friends at the State House. I always use the General Hooker entrance. I'm keeping it real.

So who do you hang with at the State House? On one of my trips to Boston . . . I always stay at XV Beacon, it's my very favorite. I was in a little convenience store nearby getting yogurt. And I met this woman, Mary Hart, who works for Senate president Therese Murray. I got the whole tour . . . back in March, April . . . I ate dinner with Therese Murray at Stella. Last night, I went with a girlfriend to Union. And the maitre d' was like, 'This is Tom and Gisele's table.' I was afraid people would think I was Gisele. I just asked myself, 'What would Gisele eat?' And then I ate double."

Check out Jeanne Dasaro in the November issue of "O, The Oprah Magazine," on newsstands now. The 27-year-old Dorchester resident won the O White House Leadership Project contest, along with 79 other women nationwide, to develop their project plans at a NYC conference sponsored by "O" and the nonpartisan White House Project in June. The event planner impressed judges with her idea to chronicle the efforts of organizations helping those struggling with poverty. "We're a storytelling organization," she said, of the New Prosperity Initiative, which she started with Alexis Schroeder and Ed Gazarian a year ago. The conference helped solidify their plan, and their short-term goals: to get their website up and begin publishing a quarterly journal. Two other local women won the contest, as well. Anne Dodge, of Cambridge, is working on a project to preserve and develop historic Route 66, and Tori Hogan, also of Cambridge, is bringing people together to assess the success of various international aid programs.

Designer Tory Burch showcased her new resort and holiday lines, inspired by Truman Capote's 1966 Black and White ball, at Saks Fifth Avenue last night. The cocktail soiree was a benefit for New Profit Inc. and its Boston-based organizations, including Citizen Schools, Jumpstart, and Year Up. . . . Former VP Al Gore dined last night at Grafton Street in Harvard Square.

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