A night for the Boys & Girls

Around 600 glittery folks gathered last night for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston's 2009 Annual Dinner at the Westin Copley Place Hotel. The guest list included Mayor Tom Menino, Police Commissioner Ed Davis, construction magnate John Fish, WHDH owner Ed Ansin,National Amusements' Shari Redstone, as well as event cochairs Chris McKown and Abby Johnson, and Dana and Robert Smith.

Black, gold, and green

The Bruins are known for sporting the black and gold - but turns out some of them are pretty green, too. Defenseman Andrew Ference visited the Andrew Peabody School in Cambridge this week to talk to students about how to protect the environment. The school has joined the Bruins environmental I.C.E. (I Can Excel) program, which teaches kids about being green.

It's not "Madoff: The Musical," but it's close. The book about Charles Ponzi by former Boston Globe reporter Mitchell Zuckoff may soon be put to music. Jean Doumanian, a producer of several Woody Allen films, is partnering with Michael Shulman and Craig Saavedra of Starry Night Entertainment to develop a musical based on "Ponzi's Scheme: The True Story of a Financial Legend." (Can't you just hear it?: "We're gonna pull a little con, see/And call it Ponzi") "Ponzi's Scheme" tells the story of Charles Ponzi, the Boston entrepreneur who scammed investors out of millions in the 1920s by promising a huge rate of return. Zuckoff told us yesterday that his discussions with Doumanian and Starry Nighty pre-date the Madoff scandal, but that the project now "has legs." "I was a little skeptical at first, but when you think about 'Jersey Boy' and shows like that, you can see how this might be fodder for a musical," said Zuckoff. "The set is his office, and the story is what's going on in his head." Zuckoff, whose bio of director Robert Altman will be published in the fall, said there's also interest in a movie based on "Ponzi's Scheme." Looks like Madoff's been good for someone, at least.

Dick Albert is joining the exodus from WCVB-TV (Channel 5). The longtime meteorologist (inset) announced his retirement today, saying his last broadcast will be Feb. 26. Albert said he's been in broadcasting for 41 years - 31 years at WCVB - and is ready to move on. "I'm going to be 65," he said. "I've been thinking a lot about it and reading a book called 'The Third Chapter.' " He wants to spend more time with his wife of 42 years, and may also pursue teaching and public speaking, he added. "I would like to teach people how to go into a computer and figure out all those technical things that only TV meteorologists know." The Emmy-winning weatherman is also planning a website to continue sharing his "love of the weather." Co-chief meteorologist Harvey Leonard will take on Albert's duties at 5 and 6 p.m. WCVB news director Coleen Marren also left the station recently, after not renewing her contract, and longtime anchor Jim Boyd retired as well.

Cambridge chef Raymond Ost will be made a knight in the French Order of the Merite Agricole (agricultural merit) for his tireless promotion of French cuisine. The co-owner of Sandrine's Bistro will receive his medal from Boston's French Consul General, Francois Gauthier, at a private reception on Feb. 18 - and no, it won't involve any kneeling or swords, he said. "It's very funny," he said. "It's in the French culture. I'm very honored." Ost has cooked up French delicacies for 35 years, and specializes in the cuisine of his native region, Alsace. Other chefs who've received the medal include Paul Prudhomme, Jacques Pépin, and Julia Child.

Actor James Franco (inset) will be the Hasty Pudding 2009 Man of the Year, the Harvard theatrical troupe announced yesterday. Franco's festivities - a roast and presentation of the traditional pudding pot - will take place next Friday. Known for his roles on "Freaks and Geeks" and in the "Spider-Man" trilogy, the actor most recently starred opposite Sean Penn in "Milk." Franco was nominated for a Golden Globe for his work on "Pineapple Express." Today, actress Renée Zellweger will be honored as the Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year with a parade in Harvard Square and a roast.

File this under juicy gossip: The controversial collegiate website JuicyCampus is folding as of today, apparently a victim of the tanking economy. According to a statement released by its founder and CEO, Matt Ivester, JuicyCampus's ad revenues have plummeted in recent months. The social networking site started with a handful of colleges a year and a half ago, and quickly expanded to more than 500 campuses, including several in the Boston area. Students were allowed to post anonymous gossip about anyone, which resulted in many complaints from those targeted.

Boston-bred actor and "Mad Men" mainstay John Slattery bought himself a Celts hat at Teddy Ballgame's at South Station earlier this week, and then hopped a train out of town.

Bella English of the Globe staff contributed. Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.