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.

Los Angeles, October 1-8 – A car pulled up at the Beverly Hilton, and Marc Anthony stepped out and entered the hotel through a side door. The car continued to the front entrance and Jennifer Lopez got out and walked the red carpet, alone. So the Noche de Ninos benefit for Children’s Hospital was just another typical evening for Mr. and Mrs. Anthony. Joining the elusive twosome were Brooke Burke, Cheech Marin, Daisy Fuentes, Leonardo DiCaprio, tango king Joaquin Cortes and designer Tommy Hifiger. Later in the evening, Lopez, DiCaprio and Hilfiger scooted out and went to a John Kerry fundraiser where the Black Eyed Peas performed.

What do Benicio del Toro, Pamela Anderson, Kenny G., Blink 182, David Spade, Tom Green and Marlee Matlin have in common? They’re all skateboarding fans, and they all turned out for the Tony Hawk Foundation’s first annual Stand Up for Skateparks benefit in Studio City. Skateboarding champ Hawk wants to raise funds to build skateparks, mainly in low-income areas. Pamela Anderson made another stop on that same day – we found her at Book Soup promoting her novel, Star, as part of the West Hollywood Fall into Reading book fair.

This was a big week for Billy Bob Thornton. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday, girlfriend Connie Angland and their two-week old daughter Bella in tow. The previous night, his new movie, Friday Night Lights, premiered at Grauman’s Chinese Theater. David Duchovny, Garry Shandling and Serena Williams took in the high school football story. Tim McGraw also stars in the film, and he brought a pretty date named Faith Hill.

Photos by Jen Lowery

Los Angeles, October 2 –Young Hollywood got all preachy about voting again on Saturday at a Rally the Youth Vote benefit for John Kerry at Avalon. Zach Braff, Jason Biggs, Adam Brody, Benjamin McKenzie and Rachel Bilson from The OC, Kirsten Dunst and Mandy Moore caught the Black Eyed Peas in concert. The comparatively ancient Jennifer Lopez, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tommy Hilfiger dashed over to the Kerry fundraiser from another benefit. Is Ashlee Simpson the new party girl? She came with Nicky Hilton,and was very, um, jolly, partying Hilton-style and running around flashing the peace sign.

Photos by Jen Lowery

New York, October 4 –Jake Gyllenhaal was thrilled to be a part of the all-star lineup at last night’s ACLU Freedom Concert. “I’m the youngest among all of them. It’s like Paul Simon and Patti Smith and Lou Reed and Mos Def and Jessica Lange and Robin Williams, and s**t man, just to be amongst them is pretty cool. To be sandwiched in today at rehearsals between Robin Williams and Mos Def and Nanci Griffith, you know, that’s pretty exciting.”

As a privileged white man, Gyllenhaal said he almost never faces limitations on his own freedom of speech, except in rare cases. “Especially in a situation like this, you say one thing, and then you get, sometimes, little pieces of it are used for a whole other thing.” (Who would do that?) But Jake wasn’t there for himself, he said, but to speak for those less empowered. “And then also ‘cause my mom would kick my ass if I didn’t show up tonight. She’s been an ACLU member for like 25 years.”

Jake thinks the Bill of Rights and the First Amendment are sexy, and that’s why he’s involved in organizations like Rock the Vote and the ACLU. “Like I think buying porno & smoking cigarettes, as exciting as it may be to kids, I think voting should be just as exciting, if not more exciting.”