Side by side with 'Law & Order'

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" star Mariska Hargitay was the headliner yesterday at a fund-raiser for Day One, a Providence sexual assault resource center. The organization chose the actress, daughter of the late starlet Jayne Mansfield, to speak based on her work as crusading NYC detective Olivia Benson.

Welch residence going for $27.5m

Want to live like Jack and Suzy Welch? Break out your wallet. The grand Greek Revival on Beacon Street that has been the couple's crib for the past several years is on the market, and the asking price is a cool $27.5 million. The building at 40 Beacon St., known as the Appleton-Parker House, is actually owned by developer James Pappas, who declined to speak with us yesterday. He may be selling now because Jack and Suzy are leaving town. "As long planned, with the last of our kids going off to school next September, we're moving to New York, where we already have a home and where our work is," Suzy Welch wrote in reply to an e-mail yesterday. "We love Boston and will visit often." The building, formerly home to the Women's City Club and listed since 1978 on the National Register of Historic Places, has 12 bedrooms, breathtaking views, and a three-car garage. Although it's been a single-family residence of late, the 18,000-square-foot building is zoned for four condos. Jack Welch, the legendary former CEO of GE, met Suzy Wetlaufer in 2001 when she was editor of the Harvard Business Review. They married three years later. The couple has written two books together and dispense words of wisdom at www.welchway.com.

Bridging the divide

This week's fund-raiser for the Lenny Zakim Fund was a festive affair. School Superintendent Carol Johnson made the scene at the Landmark Center, as did Gabriela Romanow of the traveling global warming exhibit "Double Exposure" and her husband, Bob Romanow, whose chain of Frugal stores stocks the area's largest inventory of African-American books. Others in attendance were Steve and Barbara Grossman, Mary McFadden and Larry Stifler, CEO of Health Management Resources, Susan and Glenn Rothman of Hearts on Fire Diamonds, Elaine and Bobby Sager, and Susan and Barry Tatelman. Zakim, for whom the fund and bridge are named, was director of the Anti-Defamation League's New England office.

"The Hills" star Lauren Conrad will hit The Estate tomorrow to publicize a new social networking site, TheQuad .com, and her holiday clothing line. Which was all she would talk about - and we do mean all. (Sorry, no dish on whether Heidi Montag really kicked her sister, Holly, out of the house. But back to Conrad's fashion line.) "It's a lot of California dresses," Conrad (inset) gushed about the clothes she'll show on local models tomorrow. "It's bright colors - yellow, blue, reds, some brush stroke patterns." Doesn't she know it's getting chilly? "Just do tights, or layer over it."

David Ortiz and wife Tiffany celebrated their wedding anniversary last night with a deluxe dinner at L'Espalier. We're told the Sox slugger and his sweetheart were congratulated by chef Frank McClelland. Ortiz is headed back to the Dominican Republic soon. . . . Celts captain Paul Pierce signed a few bowling pins yesterday in preparation for the inaugural "The Truth Strikes Again" celebrity bowling tournament, which is Monday at Kings Lanes.

The paparazzi snapped pics of Tom Brady's ex with her arm around a mystery man in LA the other day. Unfortunately, Bridget Moynahan's male companion has his head turned in the photos. In June, Bridge told Harper's Bazaar she's dated a bunch since her breakup, but this is the first time she's been photographed getting cozy with someone other than the Pats QB.

BU alum Michaela Watkins is one of two new comedians tapped as featured players on "Saturday Night Live." Watkins, who's worked at the LA-based Groundlings theater, has a recurring role on CBS's "The New Adventures of Old Christine" this season. The other new addition to the show is Abby Elliott, daughter of actor/comedian Chris Elliott.

Karan Takhar is still in the running for the $75,000 grand prize on the "Jeopardy! Teen Tournament." The North Attleborough teen vanquished opponents from Maryland and Ohio in his first round of competition Wednesday and will appear again in the semifinals next Wednesday. He won his match with 26,401 points.

Globe correspondent Carol Stocker contributed. Names can be reached at names@globe.com or 617-929-8253.