The first family will have plenty of room to roam when they vacation on Martha’s Vineyard next month. After looking at more than a dozen properties on the island, including, we’re told, Caroline Kennedy’s deluxe crib, the Obamas have settled on the 28.5-acre Blue Heron Farm in Chilmark. The expansive summer retreat, located off South Road, is owned by William and Mollie Van Devender, who paid over $20 million for the property in 2005. The Obamas’s one-week rental at the end of August was first reported yesterday by the Martha’s Vineyard Gazette. Terms of the deal have not been released by the White House, but real estate sources say similar properties on the island rent for up to $50,000 for one week. (Given the down real-estate market on the island, the Obamas are likely paying between $30,000-$35,000, we’re told.) There had been speculation that the Obamas would wind up in Oak Bluffs, which is something of an African-American enclave, but the farm in Chilmark was the preferred option in part for its privacy. The property has a white Victorian farmhouse, a hay barn, shed, orchard, elaborate gardens, a swimming pool, golf tee, and even a basketball court.
Some face the music, others opt to settle
Not everyone is as brave - or maybe as foolhardy - as
Charlie Nesson, the Harvard Law prof who’s about to defend former BU student
Joel Tenenbaum in the second file-sharing lawsuit to go before a jury. (The trial starts Monday in Boston’s federal courthouse.) Since the Recording Industry Association of America began suing people for sharing music files five years ago, most of the 30,000 defendants have settled out of court. That’s certainly
Joe Papagni’s intention. The Cambridge Rindge and Latin football coach, who was sued by the RIAA last month, told us he’ll pay $3,000 to settle the case rather than risk a $1 million judgment. (A Minnesota woman was ordered last month to pay $1.92 million for downloading 24 songs.) “I got four kids in college, I can’t afford to fight this,’’ says Papagni, whose kids believed they were downloading music legally using a peer-to-peer network. “I’d have to die to pay that, and that’s not a good alternative.’’ (Among the 2,000 songs he’s accused of illegally downloading are
50 Cent’s “Patiently Waiting,’’
Avril Lavigne’s “Complicated,’’ and
Kenny Chesney’s “Keg in a Closet.’’) The coach’s case caught the eye of state Senator
Anthony Galluccio, who’s just asked AG
Martha Coakley to investigate the “aggressive court action’’ by the RIAA.
Life is good for Sheckler and his fans
Professional skateboarder
Ryan Sheckler drew an enthusiastic crowd yesterday at the Northshore Mall in Peabody. The star of MTV’s “Life of Ryan,’’ Sheckler signed autographs and promoted his new clothing line at
J.C. Penney. (RS includes all the duds favored by ’boarders: hoodies, graphic T-shirts, thermals, woven tops, and the all-important skate-fit denim.) Sheckler’s in town with the Dew Tour, which is at the TD Garden today.
Securing a set
Security remains tight on “The Fighter’’ set after an unidentified man tried to enter
Amy Adams’s trailer. The actress, who plays
“Irish’’ Micky Ward’s girlfriend in the
David O. Russell film, wasn’t hurt. Producers are limiting guests on the set, and all visitors must now wear a special badge. Boxer
Sugar Ray Leonard filmed a few scenes the other day, and was mighty impressed with
Mark Wahlberg’s conditioning and boxing skills. Leonard told people Wahlberg should consider scheduling a few real bouts once the film is done.
Accent on violence
Tie-ins are nothing new in the movie business: A summer blockbuster comes out and Burger King gives away collectible plastic cups. But the producers of
Quentin Tarantino’s new WWII flick “Inglourious Basterds’’ are trying something different. Very different. They’ve created an online video game in which players hunt Nazis and club them to death with a baseball bat. The character in the game is voiced by Newton native
Eli Roth, who plays a Boston-bred soldier in the film. Roth told us yesterday he used his best Boston accent on the video game, and referenced local cities and landmarks. “If you really crush the skull of a Nazi, I’m, like, Lansdowne Street, gone, see ya, buddy,’’ Roth said. There’s also: “Dude, we’re goin’ to get a beer in Methuen.’’ The game hits the ’Net the first week of August. The person with the highest score will win tickets to the Aug. 21 premiere of “Inglourious Basterds’’ in LA.
Around town
Yes, that was
Mark Burgess, formerly of Chameleons UK, at Hennessey’s the other night with Worcester’s Curtain Society and guitarist
Marty Willson-Piper of the Church. In town on business, Burgess was offered a free hotel room by booking agent
Sean Flynn if he’d perform. Willson-Piper heard about the offer and drove up from New York. . . . Canadian rockers Nickelback chowed at Legal Sea Foods in Park Square the other night while vintage riff masters
Donald Fagen and
Walter Becker of Steely Dan were sitting a few tables away.
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