Tom Cruise’s kid Connor, the grown one Katie Holmes doesn’t schlep around for photos, had a DJ gig in town. He was to play a surprise set at the Darby. Since Tom’s here plugging his “Jack Reacher” film, his security detail — he has a security detail like the taller fellow in the White House — checked out the place in case Daddy chose to drop in.
SPEAKING of security details, Sunday, 7:30 p.m., an armed band crowded the Pierre Hotel lobby’s side entrance into Sirio’s. All six wore gold pins, dark looks, black coats. Never took eyes off one man inhaling pasta with half a dozen others at a table parallel to the door. Ask who’s that person? Not one single staffer would say. From the adjacent table, I recognized Ehud Barak, Israel’s former prime pinister now Netanyahu’s deputy P.M.
MIKE D of the Beastie Boys: “Always had sweaty palms about playing Madison Square Garden. Every time we came there we got chills. Never dreamt we’d ever get to walk through the employee entrance. Our first time was when we opened for Madonna. And we walked onstage — and got booed.”
MARC Anthony was to do a Happy Heart Fund benefit for model Petra Nemcova. His call time was 6:30. He arrived 6 p.m. She hadn’t shown yet. Another super-VIP guest was Carlos Slim. Being the world’s No. 1 richest man, figures Carlos has a watch and knows what time to show. He wasn’t there, either. Marc Anthony refused photos, interviews or red carpet until they came. Retiring back to his car, he sat and waited 35 minutes.
KIRSTEN and Kristen — Dunst and Stewart — are in the newie “On the Road.” Kristen’s next, “Focus,” with Ben Affleck starts in April. Kirsten’s last, whatevertitwas, just finished in Europe.
Based on Jack Kerouac’s Beat Generation novel, this one’s about a shaken writer who gets unshaken by a fast-talking Westerner’s ladyfriend (Kristen). Traveling the country, they meet an eclectic bunch which includes Camille (Kirsten).
Miss Dunst: “So here we are, the two of us — Kirsten and Kristen. We really liked one another and got along great. She’s terrific. Emotional and free. I took her under my wing like she’s my sister.
“Before shooting started we all lived together, one apartment for two weeks, in a beat boot camp to absorb the period, everything that beats — music, even tapes of real voices of our character types.
“Making this we crisscrossed America, but New York was the focal point. This film was six years in the making. I was the first actress cast. Kristen was next. I auditioned for it. My part’s not very big. I have only three scenes. Some were fight scenes. But I’m used to auditioning. I remember my very first. For a commercial. I was 3 years old. I’ve done this a really long time.”
And her Christmas plans?
“I’m looking forward to it. I love the holiday. I’ll spend it with my mom.”
HOLLYWOOD has no time to work. Its full-time occupation this week is partying. Saturday the “Les Miz” group was at director Walter Hill’s Spanish-style Beverly Hills home. Literary agent Boaty Boatwright and Doug MacLaren hosted. Peter Cincotti, Eddie Redmayne and Amanda Seyfried sang to Tom Hooper, Topher Grace, Julia Stiles, James Spader and another 100, including Anne Hathaway who, with husband Adam Shulman, will Christmas in Gstaad with Valentino.
Everyone’s adoring Ben Affleck. Matt Damon lunched him Thursday at Spago. Clooney cocktailed him Sunday with invitees like Damon, John Goodman, Michael Nouri, Don Rickles. Don Rickles? Yeah, Don Rickles. Also a pair from Berlin, where Damon soon stars in their film “The Monuments Men.”
HUGH Jackman stole time from galas for a simple private date night with the missus. A candlelit romantic dinner. Then off to premieres in Japan and Australia . . . Brad Pitt, taking ribs about his Chanel ads, laughs and says: “Hey, it’s OK.”. . . NeNe Leakes: “I know all about guys. Relationship can’t work unless he’s the pursuer. Make him like you more than you like him.”. . . Victoria Beckham on looking good while pregnant: “Long tops and leggings.”
SEYMOUR Confucius’ advice to all politicians: A closed mouth gathers no foot.
BROADWAY Cares Collection doing a Broadway Legend Gwen Verdon doll for Xmas . . . So anyone know why gangsta rapper Dr. Dre was invited to a secret private tour of Britain’s enshrined No. 10 Downing Street? . . . Ana Gasteyer: “The Web equals prepackaged diet food. Full of junk. Print’s more important”. . . Christiane Amanpour’s son Darius Rubin, 12, contributed to ABC’s Bible-history doc “Back to the Beginning” on Friday.
VERY elderly couple in a drive-in suburban mall’s restaurant. Friday night. He says: “When did we get here?” She says: “Wednesday.” He says: “So how did we get here?” She says: “We flew.” They then walked out to their car, where he got behind the wheel and they drove away.
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.