SIDETRACK
BROWN IN THE CITY: Actor Billy Brown, who's been on hit TV shows “Sons of Anarchy” and “How to Get Away With Murder,” was spotted at The Palm Boston. He enjoyed a steak dinner and took the time to snap photos with the team there. Word is, he's in town to film the movie “Proud Mary” alongside “Empire” and “Hidden Figures” star Taraji P. Henson.
Speaking of the devil: If you wondered why you couldn't park on Melcher or parts of Summer or Necco streets yesterday, it was for a cool cause. Henson was filming “Proud Mary” here, as the thriller is about a hit woman (Henson) who works for a Boston crime family. Is it us, or is the Hub getting typecast?
DON’T BE SO CAVALIER: In preparation for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against our Celtics, LeBron James and his fellow Cleveland Cavaliers were seen stretching it out at the Equinox Sports Club located within the Ritz-Carlton on Avery Street. The team will be staying at the Theatre District hotel throughout the series, and it's likely they'll continue using the Equinox space for practice.
FOOD FOR GOOD: Boston chefs came together at Mike’s City Diner in the South End for a $500-per-plate fundraiser. Among the mix were Jay Hajj of Mike’s City Diner — who also just came out with a cookbook called “Beirut to Boston;” Tony Messina of Uni, Louis DiBiccari of Tavern Road, and Jamie Bissonnette and Ken Oringer of Coppa, Little Donkey and Toro. The foodie event benefited the Donlin family of Jamaica Plain, who lost husband and father Mike Donlin in a motorcycle crash last month.
KEEP COOL(IDGE): Actress and Norwell native Jennifer Coolidge — whom you've likely seen in “Legally Blonde,” “American Pie,” “Best in Show” and “Two Broke Girls” — was out in the main dining room of Gaslight, the French brasserie located on Harrison Ave. next to SoWa. We hear Coolidge was wearing a lacy black dress, a straw hat and a scarf, which she jokingly referred to as seaweed. She shared mussels, kale salad, swordfish and dessert with a friend — chatting with fellow diners and laughing all the while.