Beckett game for some fashion

By Mark Shanahan & Meredith Goldstein  |  June 20, 2009

Josh Beckett was among friends and fashionistas at the Liberty Hotel the other night. The big Texan, who’s not known particularly for his sense of style, dropped by “Fashionably Late,’’ where local designers debut new lines and everyone looks fab. . . . Michael Milken, Tommy Lasorda, and Dave Perron were at Fenway Park last night on behalf of the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

Former CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite isn’t well, but he is not nearly as ill as some websites are reporting. “His condition is being grossly exaggerated,’’ Cronkite’s executive assistant Cynthia Dicrocco told us yesterday. “He’s dealing with the challenges of being a 92-year-old man.’’ Thursday, Media Bistro’s TV Newser blog reported that the legendary newsman was “gravely ill’’ and perhaps near death. The website did not cite a source for its information. Dicrocco said Cronkite had been ill recently, but is recuperating at home in New York with his companion Joanna Simon, sister of singer Carly Simon. Dicrocco would not reveal the nature of Cronkite’s illness, saying the family wishes to keep it private. “But it is not true that he’s gravely ill,’’ she said. The fragile Cronkite, whose wife Betsy died of cancer in 2005, will not be traveling to Martha’s Vineyard this summer, where he’s been a fixture for many years. Cronkite rarely misses the celeb-heavy Possible Dreams auction benefiting Martha’s Vineyard Community Services, but we’re told he’ll miss this summer’s auction, which takes place Aug. 3.

Someone might be playing with the truth, and that someone might be Tom Brady. Two weeks ago, the Pats quarterback assured a crowd of reporters that his new bride, Gisele Bundchen, was not pregnant. “One is enough,’’ said Brady. Oh, really? A source close to Bundchen told us yesterday that the supermodel is, indeed, pregnant, and People.com also swears it’s so. Our source merely said: “And, yes, she’s pregnant.’’ People.com says the couple is “ecstatic’’ and Bundchen is due early next year. This week, the Brazilian beauty was back in her native country for Sao Paulo Fashion Week, and apparently showed signs of being pregnant. The Brazilian website Glamurama.com.br reports that Bundchen was feeling nauseated backstage at the Colcci fashion show, and the supermodel’s sister Patricia had this cryptic comment: “Everybody will see when Gisele is pregnant because that’s just a natural thing.’’ Reps for Brady and Bundchen were mum yesterday. The QB has a son, John, with his ex-girlfriend, actress Bridget Moynahan.

A Boston Herald reporter who covers crime has been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon - his foot - after allegedly kicking a 74-year-old man at a laundromat in Groveland. Police say the Herald’s O’Ryan Johnson, who is 33 and an amateur boxer, attacked Kent White at Classic Cleaners Laundromat Tuesday. White, who lives in Georgetown, told police he can’t remember what happened, but witnesses said the two exchanged words and then Johnson kicked the septuagenarian in the chest. Police say White was treated and released from the hospital. Johnson is due in court July 23. He did not return a phone call yesterday.

Foley Hoag lawyer Donald Ware made his Broadway debut the other night, appearing on stage in “Hair.’’ How’d he manage that? Ware, the chairman of the American Repertory Theater’s board of trustees, was the high bidder for the walk-on role at the ART’s recent fund-raising gala.

Playboy Golf held a casting call at The Greatest Bar Thursday night, and Candice Cassidy, a.k.a Miss June 2009, was among those doing the judging. Wade Boggs was also in the house.

Talk about a dream come true: At the Q&A after “Cold Souls,’’ the Nantucket Film Festival’s opening selection, first-time writer/director Sophie Barthes said the fanciful concept - about the black market in transplantable souls - came to her in a dream. Later, she ran into Paul Giamatti at a party and buttonholed him over champagne and oysters. “I was shy but I thought, if I don’t do it, I’m an idiot,’’ said Barthes. So enthusiastic was Giamatti that he volunteered half the funding and attracted costars Lauren Ambrose, David Strathairn, and Emily Watson. For his part, Giamatti said he has no qualms working with a neophyte. “It’s more exciting than working with some of these jaded old bastards,’’ he said. Afterward, Giamatti repaired to the Chanticleer with well-wishers, including Ben Stiller and festival cofounders Jonathan and Jill Burkhart, to celebrate over shrimp and Stella Artois.

First-graders in Robin Brody’s class at the Angier School in Newton welcomed a special guest to their end-of-the-year party Wednesday: Jason Varitek. Robin Healey and husband Joe, who are ’Tek’s neighbors, invited the Sox captain to their son Mitchell’s party and were delighted when he actually showed up and even brought autographed photos for the youngsters. “At the moment, he’s king of the first grade,’’ Joe Healey said of his son.

Globe correspondent Sandy MacDonald contributed to this report. Read the Names blog at www.boston.com/namesblog. Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.