The boy band is back in town

Moonwalker Buzz Aldrin was honored by McLean Hospital yesterday for being open and honest with the public about his issues with depression. The reception at the InterContinental Boston was expected to draw a number of supporters, including former Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis and his wife, Kitty, former Dell CEO Kevin Rollins, and Hood Milk chairman - and part-owner of the Red Sox - John Kaneb.

A too-lean and mean Christian Bale was in Lowell filming the Mark Wahlberg movie “The Fighter,’’ which has Wahlberg playing local boxer Micky Ward and Bale portraying Micky’s troubled half-brother Dickie Eklund. This isn’t the first time Bale has gone gaunt for a part. He lost more than 60 pounds for 2004’s “The Machinist.’’ Yesterday was a big day of shooting for “The Fighter,’’ which costars Amy Adams and Melissa Leo. The crew shot a fight scene between Wahlberg and Bale at Tsongas Arena, which called for hundreds of extras to play boxing spectators. Locals who showed up hoping to get themselves in the picture included 1510 AM talk show host Wayne Metrano and his son Nick.

Former Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts exec Peter Meade has been named president and CEO of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate. Meade, who’s currently managing director of PR firm Rasky Baerlein, will step into his new role late next month. In a statement, Kennedy said of Meade’s appointment: “I am honored that he will be leading what will become an important educational institution for this region and for our nation.’’ The institute, slated to be built on the UMass-Boston campus near the John F. Kennedy Library, will be dedicated to informing the public about the role and history of the US Senate.

Jack Welch is going to be OK, according to his office - and his wife, Suzy. Welch’s office released a statement saying that the former General Electric CEO was hospitalized at New York Presbyterian Hospital on July 5 for a bacterial infection, but is on the road to recovery. Suzy Welch confirmed as much on Twitter. “Watching gorgeous sunset out hospital window with [Jack,]’’ said the Tweet. “First good day since this thing began; both feeling so grateful for life.’’

Vanessa Hudgens is coming to the Burlington Mall. Assuming you’re not creepy and that you are between the ages of 10 and 18, she’d like you to sing for her. The “High School Musical’’ actress - who stars in the upcoming teen rock flick “Bandslam’’ - will be in town Aug. 1 to promote the movie and to hear a live performance by two local finalists who win Magic 106.7’s “Bandslam’’ talent competition. Hudgens will choose one of the two acts and have a personal meet-and-greet with them. No word on whether Vanessa’s boyfriend, Zac Efron, will be joining her.

Judith Jones, the editor who published Julia Child’s “Mastering the Art of French Cooking’’ when no one else would, isn’t very comfortable seeing herself portrayed on the big screen in the soon-to-be-released Nora Ephron movie “Julie & Julia.’’ Jones (top left, in undated photo), who was in town from Vermont yesterday for a screening of the film at WGBH, told us that it was difficult for her to see Broadway actress Erin Dilly (bottom left) portray her in the film. No offense to Dilly, it’s just odd to see yourself portrayed on film. “I felt strangely disassociated,’’ Jones said, adding with a laugh, “Somehow the clothes didn’t seem right. That wasn’t my outfit.’’ Not surprisingly, Jones, who’s now in her 80s, had rave reviews for Meryl Streep’s portrayal of Child in the film, which hits theaters Aug. 7. “I think Meryl Streep is so good that after a point, I didn’t know if it was Meryl or Julia.’’ Last night’s WGBH screening was expected to draw a number of high-profile guests from the local culinary and film communities. On the invite list were Todd English, Summer Shacker Jasper White, Atlantic magazine writer Corby Kummer, chef Ming Tsai, UpStairs on the Square’s Mary-Catherine Deibel, Judy Laster of the Woods Hole Film Festival, Michelle Baxter of the Roxbury Film Festival, Anita Walker of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, Denise Kasell of the Coolidge Corner Theatre, Martha and Madeleine Volpe (as in, wife and daughter of BSO director Mark Volpe), Sal Liotta of Westport’s Back Eddy restaurant, and Lisa Simmons of the governor’s office. Appropriately, Le Cordon Bleu was set to cater the affair.

In other local culinary news, Tremont 647 chef Andy Husbands is making the most of his appearance on the reality show “Hell’s Kitchen’’ by hosting dinners before each episode. Starting Tuesday - the night of the show’s premiere - he’ll host a three-course “Hell’s Kitchen’’ dinner every week until he gets kicked off (or - let’s be optimistic - wins the competition). Dinners start at 6 p.m. with a screening of the show at 8.