Since the 1920's the red neon sign which lords over West 63rd Street from its perch atop the Empire Hotel has been a silent witness to the comings and goings of a number of notables. When the fall television season begins the retreat where New York City's elite meet-- which was recently the setting for MTV's Summer's Hottest A-Z-- will be a star in its own right, as cameras rolled at Dante Park across the street from the famous facade on July 27, 2009 for a scene featuring Leighton Meester and Ed Westwick from the third season of the CW hit Gossip Girl.
Already accustomed to taking on the mantle of a character from a novel, the actor who brought Cecily von Ziegesar's resident anti-hero to life on the small screen will soon transform from heartbreaker to heartbroken as Ed Westwick steps into the shoes of tortured soul Heathcliff in an upcoming adaptation of Emily Bronte's classic, Wuthering Heights.
As the Empire Hotel is located just one block from Central Park, Leighton Meester didn't have far to travel when she filmed a scene with co-star Blake Lively at the urban oasis the same day (see photo below).
"Gossip Girl" Star Ed Westwick at Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel
The placid surface of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel's pool has reflected a number of famous faces over the expanse of time. Sunbathing on the diving board, a young Marilyn Monroe once smiled for the camera in a commercial which captured her innocence for posterity before her plunge into the shark-filled waters of Tinseltown.
Rumor states that her ethereal image lingers on in a mirror hanging in the hotel lobby-- leaving the pool for the paparazzi magnets of today to enjoy.
Remodeled since the days of the silver screen icon, the latest luminaries to bask in the glow of their romance as they soaked up the sun at the landmark hotel are Gossip Girl stars Ed Westwick and Jessica Szohr. According to People magazine, the small screen lovebirds stayed after dark by the palm-laden pool.
Prime time heartthrob Westwick also embarked on an epicurean adventure while in the City of Angels. The actor was spotted mulling over the menu at Bossa Nova Restaurant in West Hollywood (seen in the following photos,) where the CW star could watch the world go by as he enjoyed an al fresco lunch of burgers and fries with friends.
20709: Leighton Meester and Chace Crawford Filming in Central Park
The kisses of a rekindled relationship may have been smoldering enough to melt the surrounding snow, but it was all for the sake of the camera as actors Leighton Meester and Chace Crawford filmed an upcoming scene for the CW hit Gossip Girl. Stepping into their roles as Blair Waldorf and Nate Archibald, the pair locked lips in Central Park-- the site of over 200 silver screen love stories, from An Affair To Remember to When Harry Met Sally.
While Leighton Meester and Chace Crawford enjoyed the falling flakes, cameras captured a scene involving their small screen cast mates Blake Lively and Taylor Momsen on Madison Avenue on the evening of February 3, 2009. The dedicated followers of fashion were filmed mulling over Missoni's stylish silhouettes.
The CW is set to celebrate the small screen ceremony of the year as Lily van der Woodsen (portrayed by Kelly Rutherford) and Bart Bass (played by actor Robert John Burke) exchange vows during the season finale of Gossip Girl, which airs May 19, 2008. All the "I do" drama takes place at the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, an early 20th century architectural treasure located on Manhattan's Museum Mile. Once the abode of Andrew Carnegie, today the venue welcomes those interested in the preservation of design history. Its doors, which currently lead visitors to an exhibition featuring Rococo era wonders, are open seven days a week.
While the public can promenade through the museum's garden entrance on 90th Street annually from May through September, in late April the verdant area was transformed into an Upper East Side utopia for the cast and crew of the teen drama, complete with floral finery from the proprietor of Doro's Annex, florist Sung Jung, who also provided botanical beauty when Charlotte York (Kristin Davis) exchanged vows with Harry Goldenblatt (Evan Handler) in Sex and the City . As cameras rolled, actress Blake Lively (Serena) looked like a ray of sunshine in her butter yellow print Ralph Lauren maid of honor gown,its multi-tiered ruffles fluttering in the light spring breeze as she walked down the aisle ahead of her onscreen mother Kelly Rutherford (Lily van der Woodsen), who wore bridal attire created by designer to the stars Vera Wang.
Get a behind the scenes glimpse at the wedding preparations in the following CW clip:
Stealing smooches under the sun, Gossip Girl co-stars Blake Lively and Penn Badgley gave fans something to talk about during their recent romantic rendezvous on Mexico's Mayan Riviera. According to Peoplemagazine online, the canoodling couple spent their stay at Paraiso de la Bonita, a boutique hotel deemed "One of the Coolest Places To Stay" by Conde Nast Traveller. Patrons of the hideaway, which is located a short distance from Cancun, can unwind with a hot stone holistic massage or a Janzu Tibetan therapy at the resort's Thalasso Center & Spa, skim across sea waters on a 48-foot catamaran or simply soak up some rays by an infinity pool.
Returning to reality after their getaway weekend, The CW's "Serena van der Woodsen" showed off her newly-acquired sun-kissed complexion in a Dolce & Gabbana dress on May 13, 2008 during the network's upfronts party at The Bowery Hotel in New York City.
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