‘P. Diddy’ opens fashion store

New York — Midtown Manhattan isn’t that far from the Harlem neighborhood where Sean “P. Diddy” Combs grew up, but as Combs christened his new Sean John flagship store on Fifth Avenue, the rapper-designer said he felt like he was worlds away from where he started.

“This is beyond a dream come true,” Combs said Thursday as he watched celebrities Naomi Campbell, Vivica Fox, Nicky and Paris Hilton, and designers Tommy Hilfiger and Zac Posen file into the store for a champagne toast during New York Fashion Week.

Combs isn’t holding a preview of his spring 2005 collection, saying he wants everything to be perfect when he returns to the catwalk — probably February 2005.

“I’ve been designing the show for two years and I’m waiting until everything is absolutely right,” he said.

New Lennon discs in works

New York — John Lennon will have two new compact discs out this fall.

Capitol Records announced it was releasing a 17-song disc, “Acoustic,” which collects some of the quieter post-Beatles work, including “Working Class Hero,” “Watching the Wheels” and “Dear Yoko,” by Lennon, who was killed in 1980.

Seven of the tracks will be available for the first time. An acoustic version of the harrowing “Cold Turkey,” a live take on “Imagine” and a non-sweetened “Real Love” are part of the package.

Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono, supervised the projects, which will be issued Nov. 2.

‘Magic’ to lead Christmas parade

Los Angeles — Earvin “Magic” Johnson will spread Christmas cheer in Hollywood.

The former basketball star will be grand marshal for this year’s 73rd annual Hollywood Christmas Parade, parade executive producer Johnny Grant said Thursday.

“Magic Johnson’s generosity and community involvement make him a year-round Santa Claus,” Grant said.

Since retiring from basketball more than a decade ago, Johnson has opened movie theaters, coffee shops and other businesses in black and ethnically diverse neighborhoods.

Theron injury could’ve been worse

Washington — Stuart Townsend, the boyfriend of Charlize Theron, says that the actress’ recent injury on the set of “Aeon Flux” was bad, but could have been much worse.

Townsend, a movie actor himself, told AP Radio that Theron was doing a back-flip somersault while wearing platform shoes when she slipped and hurt her neck.

“The slipped disc went almost into the spinal cord,” he says. “She’s fine, but could’ve been in a lot of trouble.”

The film, which was being shot in Berlin, has halted production for several weeks. When news of the accident was first reported Aug. 31, a publicist for the Paramount movie did not specify the extent of Theron’s injury, but said it happened during a wire-hanging action sequence.

Townsend says he expected her to be laid up for six weeks.