Dreamy event

Jay McInerney isn't offended that his Providence-bred producer pal Josh Schwartz wants to remake "Bright Lights, Big City." The New York novelist tells us that the 1988 adaptation of his book, which starred a young Michael J. Fox and Phoebe Cates, wasn't very good and that he'd be happy with a revision. "I didn't like the first movie . . . and I wrote the screenplay," McInerney said. The writer - who'll visit the Brookline Booksmith tonight and the Jabberwocky Bookshop in Newburyport tomorrow to promote a new collection of short stories - said he first met "O.C." and "Gossip Girl" phenom Schwartz when they were jurors at the Tribeca Film Festival. The two have been buddies ever since, which is how McInerney wound up doing a cameo on "Gossip Girl" last year. "I have a daughter who pretty much lives for 'Gossip Girl,' " McInerney said, adding that after he's done signing books, he'll visit family in Boston and Newton. McInerney, who grew up spending summers in Wellfleet, said he'd prefer the new "Bright Lights" to be set in the 1980s, but understands how the story of fast times in New York could work as a modern tale. "I think the '80s period setting is particularly, at this moment, attractive, but on the other hand, I'm sure if anyone could bring it up to date [Schwartz] would be a good candidate. I could see it set in 2007 . . . at Lehman Brothers."

The yellow two-piece? Or the green? Decisions, decisions. Patriots cheerleaders - including Alyssa Tosoni, of East Longmeadow, and Sara Caldeira, of Taunton - spent Saturday morning at Gillette picking out suits for their upcoming trip to Aruba, where the squad will shoot its 2010 swimsuit calendar. Worth noting is that the trip is open to the public; TNT Vacations is signing up fans for the Aruba package that includes performances by the Pats women, as well as a meet-and-greet.

Before the Celtics beat the Heat on Friday night, Ray Allen took time to shake hands with "Carl C.," a 16-year-old boy diagnosed with sickle cell anemia, who says Allen is his favorite player. Carl traveled from Norfolk, Va., for the Make-a-Wish Foundation-sponsored meet-up.

Lonie Paxton may be a Bronco, but he's still getting love from Boston. The long-snapper's going-away party at the Greatest Bar on Saturday night was packed wall-to-wall with well-wishing fans who posed for shots with the now-former Pat. Partygoers included Tom Brady sidekick Will McDonough, Brady's sis Nancy, and Greatest Bar owner Bill Fairweather.