Names

On track with Katie and Suri

Katie Holmes and daughter Suri got in a little exercise at the track at BU. (James Devaney/WireImage)

By Mark Shanahan & Meredith Goldstein

Globe Staff / October 15, 2009

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When she’s not strolling Newbury Street or eating ice cream with her daughter, actress Katie Holmes spends a lot of time working out. The other day, she and Suri made the rounds at the BU track near Agganis Arena. . . . Meanwhile, Holmes’s husband, Tom Cruise, has been busy filming. Twentieth Century Fox this week finally released some information about the movie, including the title. Now called “Knight & Day,’’ it stars Cruise and Cameron Diaz as a couple engaged in a glamorous, sometimes deadly adventure that takes them around the world. (When the cast and crew wrap here, they’re off to shoot in Spain, Austria, and the tropics.) Peter Sarsgaard plays a federal agent pursuing the couple; Viola Davis is a CIA director trying to understand their high-wire activities; Paul Dano is an eccentric genius behind a new technology; and Olivier Martinez is a ruthless arms manufacturer. The movie also costars Maggie Grace and Marc Blucas.

To China, with Larry

Frank Luntz is a man of many talents: He’s a Republican pollster, a political consultant, a linguist, and a Fox News talking head. But Luntz is also a big basketball fan with a special fondness for a certain former Celtic. During a book party this week at literary agent Helen Rees’s high-rise apartment, Luntz took time out to tell us about his recent trip to China with Larry Bird. “I’ve done some work with the Pacers on fan experience, and so they invited me to go with them to China,’’ said Luntz, whose new book, “What Americans Really Want . . . Really: The Truth About Our Hopes, Dreams and Fears,’’ has nothing to do with basketball. So what was Larry like? “I was just grateful he talked to me,’’ Luntz said. “To sit at the feet of a legend was as powerfiul as climbing the Great Wall of China.’’ Rees, who also reps the likes of Jack Welch and Afghan president Hamid Karzai, drew a diverse crowd, including Terry Gomes, president of Roxbury Community College; Carole Berotte Joseph, president of Mass Bay Community College; furrier Mary Kakas; Conexión founder Phyllis Barajas; former state transportation secretary Richard Taylor, Zipcar founder Scott Griffith; city Councilor Mike Ross; author Phyllis Karas; publicist Colette Phillips; and author Juan Enriquez, the founding director of the Harvard Business School Life Sciences Project.

Around town

The Howard Johnson near Fenway celebrated its 50th anniversary with a shindig hosted by owner Bob Sage, who reminisced about famous guests, including Tony Bennett, Ann-Margret, Jerry Vale, Connie Francis, and Dennis “Oil Can’’ Boyd, who stayed there during the season because he had a history of getting lost on his way to the park. Wishing Sage well were Hizzoner Tom Menino, city Councilor Mike Ross, Paul Sacco of Mass. Lodging Association, Convention and Visitors Bureau prez Paul Moscaritolo, Film Bureau chair Paul Foster, flack George Regan, and Sox VP Larry Cancro. . . . Governor Deval Patrick grabbed a sandwich at Pressed Sandwiches Beacon Street yesterday while Patriot Wes Welker was in Pressed Sandwiches Oliver Street on Tuesday buying two Cuban sandwiches.

Singers take it easy

The night before her gig at the Agganis Arena, Kelly Clarkson dropped by Precinct in Somerville. The “American Idol’’ winner was there to see her backup singers, Jill and Kate. (Boston band Gretel was also on the bill, but we’re pretty sure Clarkson was there to catch her buddies.) Despite having sold more than 10 million CDs, we’re told Clarkson was cool and approachable as she enjoyed a vodka drink and listened to the music. . . . The night before his gig, actor Ryan Gosling kicked back with a few cold ones at the Joshua Tree in Allston. (Gosling is 28 and a movie star, but he still got carded at the door, we’re told.) He was in town to perform with his band Dead Man’s Bones at the Middle East. . . . And Foo Fighter Dave Grohl put his feet up at the Liberty Hotel before his gig with supergroup Them Crooked Vultures at the House of Blues.

Wong gets the call

Boston comedian Joe Wong isn’t particularly political, but that could change. Following in the footsteps of funnymen John Hodgman, Stephen Colbert, and Mo Rocca, Wong has been picked to perform at the annual Radio and Television Correspondents’ Dinner in D.C. He’ll do 15 minutes of stand-up for President Obama and assorted politicians, influence peddlers, and entertainers. “I got a call from the lady who organizes the dinner. I guess she saw my performance on [“The Late Show With David Letterman’’] and liked it,’’ Wong told us yesterday. The comic won’t be paid to appear at the black-tie affair, but doesn’t seem to mind. “That’s probably fair,’’ Wong said. “It’s worthless.’’

A dine, dine time

Sox players Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Jason Bay dined with their significant others at Abe & Louie’s the other night. After starting with A&L’s signature shellfish tower, the ballplayers had steaks and the ladies ate salads. . . . After the reception for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell at Renaissance Boston Hotel at Patriot Place, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and his son, Jerry Jr., dropped by Davio’s. They were later joined by Jonathan Kraft, and then Robert and Myra Kraft. The group started with Davio’s Philly cheese steak spring rolls, chicken livers, salads, and pastas. Entrees included veal chops, kobe sirloins, and swordfish. Afterward, the table sang “Happy Birthday’’ to Jones as he blew out a candle on the warm chocolate cake and sipped champagne. . . . “Mad Men’’ star Jon Hamm stopped into Sonsie after filming “The Town.’’

Conservatory to start Venezuelan program

Gustavo Dudamel is in LA, but the US-based branch of El Sistema, the successful, Venezuelan music education program the celebrated conductor was involved with as a boy, is heading to New England Conservatory. Ten grad-level musicians are coming to NEC as the school launches the Abreu Fellows training program, one of the first major initiatives of El Sistema USA. The fellows will spend a year studying at NEC and in Venezuela to learn how to run music education centers throughout the world.

Read the Names blog at www.boston.com/namesblog. Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.