FROM WHITE HOUSE TO OYSTER HOUSE; ZONERS BACK ZEITGEIST

SUCH A CARD White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card is such a fanof the Union Oyster House that he arrived more than an hour early fora ceremony yesterday to unveil the bronze plaque presented to theeatery's owners officially dedicating it as a National HistoricLandmark. Joe Milano, who owns the restaurant, which is the oldeststanding brick building in Boston, told those assembled that he hasbooked events for the Democratic National Convention, includingsomething for the presumptive nominee, John Kerry. Card said hedidn't mind that the restaurant was hanging out the shingles for theDems, adding it was good that they were supporting the place.

ZEITGEIST GETS REPRIEVE Have no fear, fans of Cambridge'sZeitgeist Gallery. The city's Zoning Board of Appeals on Thursdaygranted the popular Inman Square space a permit to continueoperating. That solves one potential crisis in the alternativecommunity, reeling from the recent closings of the performance spacesof the Oni Gallery in Chinatown and Berwick Research Institute inRoxbury. The Zeitgeist will continue to present its blend of jazz,theater, and all-out weirdness. "The meeting was great," says AlanNidle, one of the Zeitgeist's founders. "I thought they were going topull an ambush on us, that was my natural cynicism. But it's great tosee that cynicism refuted."

HUSKIES CALL ON THE DOCTOR US Surgeon General and Vice AdmiralRichard H. Carmona will be the commencement speaker at NortheasternUniversity when the 1,800 undergraduate students get their diplomasMay 1 at the FleetCenter. Honorary degree recipients include GwenIfill, managing editor of PBS's "Washington Week in Review"; JosephTucci, president and CEO of EMC Corp.; and Steven B. Sample,president of the University of Southern California. Boston Globecolumnist Ellen Goodman will speak to graduate students at anafternoon ceremony, where honorary degrees will be bestowed upon NewEngland Patriots magnates Myra and Bob Kraft; Havard professor JudahFolkman, a pioneering researcher of angiogenesis; and Mark Volpe,managing director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

IT SHOULD BE CALLED "ON THE MOVE" Piano-man-turned-Broadway-composer Billy Joel was interviewed yesterday on "Live With Regis andKelly" about "Movin' Out," his musical collaboration with TwylaTharp. On hand for the show, on which Jay Leno pinch-hit for avacationing Kelly Ripa, were two of the leads from the Bostonengagement - Holly Cruikshank (Brenda) and David Gomez (Tony). Both flew down to perform "Uptown Girl" with the New York Cityproduction's band. The duo were back for yesterday's 8 p.m.performance at the Colonial Theatre, where the show runs throughApril 10.

GRAND SLAM FROM SOX FANS One thing's clear: Red Sox fans have a lot of sway. The Red Sox asked them to help select a name for anew feature-length documentary made about the team's 2003 season. Theteam and the film's makers and distributors narrowed the choices tofour and earlier this week asked fans to cast a vote for one of thenames. Although the chosen title was supposed to be announced beforeOpening Day, Red Sox management was so impressed by the fans' creative responses, which flooded the Internet and airwaves, it willreopen the process next week. More details about that will come onMonday.

The four choices fans got to vote on were: "Another Season,""Fenway Blues," "Red Sox Blues," and "This Is the Year." Whatevertitle is selected will have the subtitle: "85 Years Without a Ringand Still Happily Married." The winning name from the first round ofvoting, which the Sox have yet to announce, will be included in thesecond round. The movie's world premiere is in Boston on April 26.

Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.