New York, October 1-8 – For a literary jolt before the week’s movie mania, we hit Washington Square Park for "New York is Book Country", a sort of book fair with author readings, panel discussions and food, of course. We found Julie Andrews out in the sunshine hawking her latest kids’ book, Dragon: Hound of Honor. We bumped into international man of mystery Austin Powers, dressed down, Starbucks cup in one hand, cell phone in the other, playing the role of Mike Myers.

On Monday, we said goodbye books, hello movies. Anna Paquin, F. Murray Abraham, Tony winner Jefferson Mays, Tina Brown, Liam Neeson, Rupert Everett, presidential contender sibling Peggy Kerry and Robert DeNiro all came to the premiere of Stage Beauty, starring real-life lovers Billy Crudup and Claire Danes. Probably everyone wanted to see Crudup as a woman – he’s in drag in this film.

The following day, Jennifer Lopez, Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon trotted out their newest, Shall We Dance. The crowd included country music star Julie Roberts, Annabella Sciorra, Barry Bostwick, Donna Karan, Amanda Bynes and Kelly Osbourne sporting two-tone hair. While J. Lo and hubby Marc Anthony made their customary separate entrances at the premiere, the newlyweds actually walked together from their car into the after-party at a midtown club. How romantic.

At the Paris Theater yet again on Thursday, Edie Falco, Glenn Close and Michael Nouri took in Being Julia, starring Annette Bening. Over at Lincoln Center, author Paul Auster and actor Gael Garcia Bernal joined those paying homage to director Pedro Almodovar at the New York Film Festival’s "Viva Pedro" fete.