Rudat's farewell bash

By Mark Shanahan & Paysha Rhone  |  February 21, 2009

Brandon Rudat was feted by his former Channel 7 co-workers Thursday at a farewell bash at The Estate. The laid-off weekend anchor was spotted dancing and partying in a VIP area with lead anchor Frances Rivera, and reporters Ryan Schulteis, Lauren Przybyl, and Michelle Relerford, as well as some station producers. Rudat is bound for his hometown, Los Angeles. He was let go last week when his contract wasn't renewed.

New Kids on the Block hit a few of the big morning programs this week, performing on NBC's "Today" show yesterday and hamming it up with Regis and Kelly on Thursday. Regis asked a question that ended up being embarrassing for Jordan Knight. "What did you do when you weren't singing over the last 20 years?" the host asked the group. "Solo records," Knight answered. "I was on your show. Nice you recognize me." Oops. Trying to backpedal, Regis fired back: "Jordan. You did solo records, right? Were they a big hit?" Jordan: "Big enough to be on your show."

Lowander Lee, winner of the Boston Symphony Orchestra's Project Mozart fashion contest Thursday night, is thrilled with her triumph. Especially since it's only the second time she has made a piece for public consumption. "I was really, really excited," she said. "I just couldn't believe it." The 27-year-old Quincy artist graduated from Mass Art's continuing ed program with a fashion design certificate two years ago, but she never got the full fashion show experience given to the school's undergrads. So she welcomed the chance to create a piece based on Mozart's music for the competition, which accompanied three Mozart concerts this past week. Ten other local designers competed. Lee constructed her tiered, A-line dress out of heart-shaped pieces of black and purple metallic paper printed with sheet music - Mozart's Symphony No. 40. And it was a labor - she actually ripped up and re-created the entire skirt the night before the contest. "I didn't like the way it looked," she said. Fourteen hours and very little sleep later, the paper cocktail creation was glued back together - barely. "I didn't even let it dry," she said, laughing. No matter: With the help of model Lindsay Dyan, Lee walked away with a $1,000 Bloomingdale's shopping spree and an ad in Boston Common magazine.

Cameron Taylor stole the show from Nick Lachey at the singer's MIX 98.5 concert yesterday morning at the Colonnade Hotel. "Have you had your tonsils out?" the Billerica 8-year-old asked him during a break between tunes. Lachey was floored. "I've been in the business 10 years and that's a question I've never been asked," he said, laughing. "I've been doing interviews all week. . . . 'What do you think about Jessica Simpson's weight? When are you going to do 'Dancing With the Stars'?" (For the record: Lachey still has his tonsils.) Yep, Lachey has heard it all and is only too happy to be behind the scenes on one of his new projects, a "Fame"-like MTV reality show set at his old performing arts high school in Cincinnati. "I don't mind being on-screen, but reality TV . . . I've done my time," said the former star (with then-wife Simpson) of "Newlyweds." "You're kind of making a deal with the devil. It allowed people to get to know who I was. But the downside was, people really get to know you." Lachey's new album drops in May.

Director William Friedkin - he of "The Exorcist" and "The French Connection" fame - spoke at the Harvard Film Archive last night and planned to return this evening. His appearance wrapped a weeklong series of his most notable films. (The Oscar winner's reportedly pulling for "Slumdog Millionaire" for best picture tomorrow, by the way.)

Chef Vincenzo Sorrentino, who heads up Ristorante Mediterraneo in Positano, Italy, is in town to cook two fabulous feasts with notable local chefs this week. And he brought his favorite ingredient - lemon leaves - in his suitcase, just in case he couldn't find them in Boston. "We won't tell the customs agents," joked Lauren Birmingham, owner of Cooking Vacations Italy, organizer of the dinners. Sorrentino, who'll be joined in the kitchen by chefs Lizia and Luca Perrone of Taverna degli Apostoli in Amalfi, Italy, will cook at Olives in Charlestown tomorrow. (And yes, owner and celeb chef Todd English will pitch in, along with executive chef Joe Brenner and pastry chef Al Stephens.) Tuesday, the Italian contingent will move on to Miel "Brasserie Provençale" in the Hotel InterContinental Boston, to cook a cross-cultural four-course meal with executive chef Didier Montarou for some high-profile guests, including Boston's Consul General of France François Gauthier and his wife, and Consul General of Italy Liborio Stellino and his wife, Teresa Abbundo. Mayor Tom Menino may also drop by. The Miel dinner will benefit cancer research at Brigham and Women's and Faulkner Hospital.

Johnny Diaz of the Globe Staff contributed. Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.