Rooting for Celtics dancers

Off-the-field hits

Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia used his off day yesterday to plug his new book, “Born To Play,’’ at the Barnes & Noble at the Pru. Watching from the wings while the reigning MVP signed books were teammates Nick Green and George Kottaras. . . . David Ortiz hosted a party in Framingham last night to celebrate the opening of his first restaurant, Big Papi’s Grille. Described as “upscale casual,’’ the restaurant features steaks, Kobe beef burgers, pasta dishes, salads, and some of Papi’s favorites, including Dominican rice, plantain-crusted cod, and the Chimichurri burger. Among those who stopped by were teammates Jacoby Ellsbury, Jonathan Papelbon, Jason Bay, skipper Terry Francona, bench coach Brad Mills, Kiss 108’s Matt Siegel, and chef Ming Tsai.

Bill Cosby is among those questioning the wisdom of President Obama’s comments about Henry Louis Gates Jr. The comedian, hyping his upcoming show at the South Shore Music Circus on WZLX’s “Karlson & McKenzie’’ show, said yesterday that Obama would have been well served by saying nothing. (During his press conference Wednesday, the president said Cambridge police “acted stupidly’’ when they arrested Gates, a scholar of African-American studies at Harvard.) “If I’m president of the United States, I don’t care how much pressure people want to put on it about race, I’m keeping my mouth shut,’’ said Cosby. “I was shocked to hear the president making this kind of statement.’’ It’s not clear if Gates and Cosby are friendly, but in 2004, the prof defended the comedian for comments Cosby made that were critical of blacks who put a higher priority on sports, fashion, and “acting hard’’ than on education and self-improvement. “Why the huge flap over Bill Cosby’s insistence that black teenagers do their homework, stay in school, master standard English, and stop having babies?’’ Gates wrote in an op-ed in The New York Times. “Any black person who frequents a barbershop or beauty parlor in the inner city knows that Mr. Cosby was only echoing sentiments widely shared in the black community.’’

Don’t expect to catch Joy Behar near the water this weekend. The wise-cracking cohost of “The View,’’ who has a gig tonight at the Wilbur Theatre and tomorrow at the Cape Cod Melody Tent, tells us she avoids the ocean - even when visiting the Cape. “No beach,’’ Behar said. “I have a house in the Hamptons and I think I’ve been to the beach three times. Sand in my crotch, I hate all of it.’’ Behar, who will debut “The Joy Behar Show’’ on CNN’s HLN network this fall, expects a number of old friends from Providence to show up for her Boston performance tonight. Long before Behar joined Barbara Walters on “The View,’’ Behar taught at Lincoln High School and lived on Elmgrove Avenue on Providence’s East Side. Behar also told us that despite their political differences, she and “View’’ host Elisabeth Hasselbeck are good buddies. “She is definitely a right-wing Republican, but she’s a sweet girl,’’ Behar said of Hasselbeck, a Rhode Island native. “We talk about kids. We compare outfits. We have girl talk.’’

Just as we always suspected: Robert Pattinson tastes like caramel. Local candy giant Necco has unveiled a line of “Twilight’’-themed candies, including Sky Bars, which were passed out to fans and movie stars Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner at yesterday’s Comic-Con extravaganza in San Diego. Three special candy bars will tie in with the “Twilight’’ sequel “New Moon’’ and hit store shelves just in time for Halloween. (Look for the sweet-cream-filled Bella bar; the werewolf-shaped Jacob bar; and the caramel-filled Edward Cullen bar. If you’re confused, your 15-year-old can explain.) Necco’s vice president of marketing, Jackie Hague, came up with the Necco/“Twilight’’ partnership idea. She used to work for M&M’s, which has made special candies for a few films, including “Star Wars: Episode III.’’

New bostonbruinsTV host Erin McEvoy joined former Bruins Bob and Don Sweeney on a Harbor Sunset Cruise the other night to raise money for the B’s Pan-Mass Challenge team. Both Sweeneys will be riding in the PMC on Aug. 1.

Boston-bred pop act Boys Like Girls - which put “High School Musical’’ star Ashley Tisdale in its new video - performs at Six Flags New England today, which means the local guys will get some quality time at home before heading out for a stint in Japan. Guitarist Paul DiGiovanni told us yesterday that after tonight’s gig in Agawam and tomorrow’s show in New Hampshire, the group will have a much-needed day off in Boston on Sunday. It’s a big deal, considering the group has been on the road for months and is booked with gigs through next spring. (Not that they’re complaining.) DiGiovanni says he’ll probably wind up using the day off to hang out at home in Quincy and to stop at his favorite local sushi spot, Fuji 1546. “I miss the sushi,’’ DiGiovanni told us, of life on the road, where raw fish isn’t always easy to find. “I’m sort of a sushi addict.’’ Good thing he’s on his way to Japan, right? Boys Like Girls plays with Gym Class Heroes and the Veronicas tonight at 5.

The show, as they say, must go on. Just hours before Wednesday’s opening of “Aurelia’s Oratorio’’ at the American Repertory Theater, actress Aurélia Thierrée slipped during a run-through and fell into the orchestra pit, injuring her leg. No problem. Thierrée bandaged her right knee and calf and then hit the stage, where she danced with the greatest of ease.

Commonwealth Shakespeare Company has gone to the dogs. Quite literally. The production of “The Comedy of Errors,’’ which opens July 31 on Boston Common, features a half-dozen or so greyhounds. Yesterday, one of the woofers, Gill, greeted Commonwealth Shakespeare founder and director Steven Maler. . . . Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, who are in town for three nights at the Wang, have been spied at the Four Seasons.