A merry Meryl time

Even better than watching Robert Altman shuffle onto the stage Wednesday was listening to what he had to say. Like everyone else at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, the legendary director showed up to celebrate Meryl Streep, whom he called incomparably easy to work with on the set of his new movie, ''A Prairie Home Companion. ''It's depressing," admitted Altman. ''There's nothing to do with Meryl." But then the 81-year-old filmmaker critiqued the evening's other speakers, including Chris Cooper, Kevin Kline, and John C. Reilly. ''I was worried about Reilly," said the director. Why? A celebrity stoner from way back, Altman confided to the crowd that he'd given the actor a joint before the event. Cooper drew the loudest laugh when he talked about his anxiety about filming a nude scene with Streep. While it helped a bit that the actors are politically like-minded -- ''I do not get naked in front of conservatives" -- Cooper said wearing a robe and a ''weenie sock" on the set is just weird. The celebration continued yesterday with Cooper, Streep, Charlie Kaufman, Susan Orlean, and Janet Maslin gathering to talk about the making of ''Adaptation."

Hors d’oeuvres with the stars

Meryl Streep stayed at the Eliot Hotel while in town, we're told, which was convenient for dining on morsels prepared by Clio chef Ken Oringer. We use the term ''dining" loosely, as Wednesday's pre-award get-together at the restaurant included hors d'oeuvres but not a sit-down meal. (Which didn't please guests who then sat through a three-hour ceremony at the Coolidge.) Streep enjoyed the liquid Parmesan ravioli with black truffles. Kevin Kline ate mostly mini-Kobe beef burgers, giving a nod to his ''Pink Panther" role by telling Clio's French maitre d' Christian Touche that he liked ''le burger." And Robert Altman was rather taken with the ''coronet with peppercorn," even if he called them ''those cone things" when asking for more.

Espresso specialists take their shot

When it comes to espresso culture, Boston is no Seattle, but that's not stopping three local baristi from pitting their grinding, tamping, pulling, and frothing skills against 40 others at the US Barista Championship, which starts today in Charlotte, N.C. Jaime van Schyndel of Simon's Coffee House in Porter Square and Sarah Sunrise Allen and Allison Novak of the 1369 Coffee House in Central Square were recruited just last week by the Specialty Coffee Association of America and Krups, the event's sponsor, when no other Boston-area baristi signed up. They've since been scrambling to practice making 12 drinks -- three espresso shots, three cappuccinos, and three signature drinks -- all within 15 minutes. Van Schyndel placed third in the Millrock Latte Art Competition in February but isn't expecting to take home a title this time: ''This year it's about getting my feet wet."

Leary speaks up for the NHL

Hockey fanatic Denis Leary, star and co-creator of ''Rescue Me," is lending his voice to the NHL's ''My Stanley Cup" ad campaign. The Worcester native will be heard on a TV spot featuring Vincent Lecavalier and Brad Richards of the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Stanley Cup champs. . . . Discovering Justice, a Boston-based nonprofit that educates area youths about democracy, honored Seaport Companies prez John Drew, state Convention Center Authority chairwoman Gloria Larson, former general counsel of FleetBoston Financial Gary A. Spiess, and auctioneer Paul Saperstein. They were feted last night at the Moakley Federal Courthouse in South Boston.

Former Squeeze lead singer and guitarist Glenn Tilbrook gave an acoustic performance for young patients at the Franciscan Hospital for Children.

And historian Doris Kearns Goodwin and Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton got in some practice time for tonight's Banned in Boston event at Avalon on Lansdowne Street to benefit Urban Improv.

Joe Yonan of the Globe staff contributed. Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.