Signing on to the Sox effort

By Carol Beggy & Mark Shanahan  |  October 15, 2007

James Taylor was at Fenway Park early enough on Saturday to check out the Green Monster scoreboard (where he signed the inside wall) and to hang out in the outfield with his wife, Kim, and their twin sons, Rufus and Henry. While dodging balls during the Sox batting practice, Taylor chatted with team chairman Tom Werner and catcher Doug Mirabelli. Sweet Baby James, a longtime Sox fan, earned his keep Saturday night by reading the home team's starting lineup for Fox. Taylor said he's been "tinkering" with a Red Sox song, but wouldn't tell us more. "I don't want to jinx it," he said. . . . Also spotted at Fenway were Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin and her husband, author Dick Goodwin; baseball commissioner Bud Selig, who was grabbing a bite in the EMC Club before the game; former GE honcho Jack Welch and his wife, author Suzy Welch; and political gabber Mike Barnicle chatting up Sox CEO Larry Lucchino's mom, Rose, who was in town from Pittsburgh with Larry's brother Frank and his wife, Bobbie. Packed into the park were Sovereign Bank's Joe Campanelli; Dav El biggie Scott Solombrino with his son, Paul; National Grid's David Manning; nightlife hotshots Patrick Lyons and Ed Kane; Harvard Pilgrim Health Care's Charlie Baker; Bank of America's Jim Mahoney; sports store owner Mitch Modell; fashion designer Joseph Abboud; and Stephen King. Former New Kid Joey McIntyre was spied at the Galway House in his native Jamaica Plain before the game in full Sox garb, where he told folks he was Fenway bound. We also spied Senator John Kerry in owner John Henry's front row seats, Congressman Steve Lynch waiting on Friday night at one of the sausage stands, and "Gone Baby Gone" actor Jay Giannone making his way through the park with his son, Jon.

Pierce's party is a sparkling affair

Fresh off their trip to Europe for some preseason action, the Celtics hit the town in style Saturday night to mark the 30th birthday of team captain Paul Pierce. No. 34 was decked out to the nines in a zoot suit that he showed off while walking the red carpet with his girlfriend, Julie Landrum. Pierce's new teammates Kevin Garnett and his wife, Brandi, and Ray Allen with his financee, Shannon Walker Williams, and nearly all the other players were among the 120 guests at the invite-only party at Saint. Celts legend JoJo White and team co-owner Steve Pagliuca were on hand, as was coach Doc Rivers. But, we're told that the coach cut his stay short because Oct. 13 is Rivers's birthday as well. Lest anyone think the Celts were taking it easy, the whole team was back for a full day of practices yesterday. The team had TVs set up so the players could catch the Pats game in Dallas.

Hudson touches down in Dallas

"Bachelor No. 2" star Kate Hudson was at Texas Stadium yesterday to catch the battle of the undefeated teams as a guest of Patriots owner Bob Kraft. But her trip was expected to be a short one as Hudson was due back for a day of shooting that would take her to several locations, including a jogging scene at Faneuil Hall Marketplace. The "postcard to Boston" montage was originally slated to be shot several weeks ago, but the romantic comedy's director, Howie Deutch, pushed it to the end of filming to get more of a fall in New England feel, we're told. . . . Although the cast and crew had its wrap party on Saturday night at The District on Lincoln Street, there are still a few more days of filming on tap for the flick that also stars Dane Cook and Jason Biggs. . . . Speaking of Kraft, after catching Friday night's Sox game at Fenway, the Pats owner and his wife, Myra, made sure they were in Dallas by Saturday night to attend the 65th birthday party for Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones.

Branson hits Boston

With his trademark charm and public-relations savvy, British billionaire businessman Sir Richard Branson (inset) is on a 24-hour barnstorming mission through Boston to announce his latest venture: Virgin Money USA. Branson recently bought Circle Lending, a Waltham-based family loan service. (It's already been rebranded as Virgin Money.) Branson told us last night that there's a back story to his interest in Circle Lending's family-first business model. Years ago, when he was trying to open a recording studio in the UK, he borrowed $15,000 from an aunt. "As a result of that, Mike Oldfield recorded 'Tubular Bells,' " he said, grinning. "A $20 billion industry was born." The gregarious adventurer will officially unveil his latest project today at an outdoor ceremony at noon in Copley Square. After talking with us, Branson was off to a private party at the Beehive in the South End that featured music by "Ally McBeal" performer Vonda Shepard as a way of thanking his Virgin Atlantic employees and welcoming the Circle Lending folks into the Virgin fold. "If people really work hard to build a company the least I can do is come and say thanks," he said. Though he's not spent a lot of time in the city, Branson said he's thrown a few parties here. Anything he can remember? "Only just."

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