Showing their range
Twelve up-and-coming designers, many students at MassArt, took over The Estate last night with a fashion and hair show that ranged from the avant-garde to Chanel-inspired daywear. "There's a lot of non-textile pieces," said Maya Molina-Araujo, the MassArt senior who organized the show, with help from Rick Russo at Fashion House Boston and stylists from some of the city's swankiest salons. "We have one dress that's made of film . . . one out of human hair . . . one made out of string. They're kind of theatrical and crazy." Molina-Araujo expected to close the show with pieces from MassArt alum Millie Bautista's "Preen" collection, inspired by the plumage of birds.
The best of times
Scampo was a mob scene last night, as chef Lydia Shire celebrated the restaurant's inclusion on Esquire's annual "Best New Restaurants" feature. Food writer John Mariani, who put the list together, was holding forth while some familiar faces sampled the savory treats. The guest list included the filmmaking Farrelly brothers, clothier Alan Bilzerian, TV types Frances Rivera and Janet Wu, and restaurateurs Mary-Catherine Deibel and Deborah Hughes, Jasper White, Frank McClelland, and Barbara Lynch.It's a ruff life
Dog breeder Denise Ronayne isn't one to put her Yorkshire terriers in the spotlight. Nonetheless, her pups are about to become TV stars, featured on Animal Planet's "Dogs 101." "I know this is corny, but my dogs are very pretty," says Ronayne, who lives in Sutton and runs Country Home Yorkies. Sounds like the pooches are used to star treatment: Ronayne provides them with velvet bedding and faux furs, gives them all a "spa day" complete with hot oil treatments, and she cooks for her dogs every day. Ronayne said she wouldn't mind if the Obamas watched the show, which airs Saturday at 8 p.m. "What better dog for [their] girls?" she says. "I certainly will pursue it."Rabid New Kids on the Block fans are scaring the heck out of Jonathan Knight, and - in his opinion - endangering his life. On the NKOTB blog Tuesday, Knight addressed an incident in which some enthusiastic folks caused his bus driver to drive the wrong way down an expressway. (It wasn't exactly clear where the "Speed" ride took place, but the Kids played St. Louis the night before.) "Yes, this did happen, and I am not happy about it," Knight wrote, responding to a fan question. "You need to stop driving up on our buses like you do. Half the time you are hanging out your windows and flashing your camera flashes into our driver's eyes, paying no attention to what you are doing! You caused my driver to become so disorientated that night." And his rant continued. "Do you think we are going to pull over and say hi? Please pull it together. I don't want to die in some stupid accident." Knight did preface his lecture by warning, "This isn't for everyone, just a small few."
Hazel Mae's making a return to TV. MLB Network, which launches Jan. 1, yesterday announced that it's hired the former NESN anchor to be a reporter for "MLB Tonight," the network's new nightly studio show, and "Hot Stove," its off-season show. Mae (inset) joins MLB Network's other new hires Al Leiter, Harold Reynolds, and Trenni Kusnierek. Mae, who anchored NESN's "SportsDesk," as well as "The Ultimate Red Sox Show" and "The Buzz," announced in June she was leaving the network. It's believed she was seeking more money.
Love in bloom
We should all be as thoughtful as Ray Allen. The Celts star ordered three dozen long-stemmed red roses from Winston Flowers yesterday, and then had Lucky the Leprechaun deliver them last night to his wife, Shannon Walker Williams, who celebrated her birthday by watching the C's game at the Garden. The couple were married in August.
The future suddenly looks bright for Mr. Brownstone, the Brighton-based Guns N' Roses cover band. Not only is Axl Rose about to release a new CD, which is sure to spur interest in all things GNR, David Letterman's peeps have invited Mr. Brownstone to be the show's musical guest on Wednesday. (The band's made up of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah drummer Sean Greenhalgh as Axl, Gerard Egan as Slash, Drew Thurlow as Duff, Dave Godowsky as Izzy, Mac Furey as Steven Adler, and Chris Joyce as Dizzy.) Also on the show that night is Sarah Palin imposter Tina Fey. Letterman's doing a whole week of cover bands, but why Mr. Brownstone? Said Godowsky in an e-mail to us yesterday: "Because we're the best band ever."
The boys behind "On Broadway" report that the Boston-based film is finally available via digital download on
Linda Matchan contributed to this report. Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253. 