December 15 – We got off the subway at the Middle Earth stop on Monday, but didn’t run into any Hobbits until we reached the advance screening of Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, the final chapter in the LOTR trilogy. Not really a premiere, this screening was more about the fans, who were thrilled to mix with cast members Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan at the AMC theater on 42nd Street, near Times Square. Model Sophie Dahl, New York Governor George Pataki and Ethan Hawke were also spotted grabbing the ring.