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November 2004
November was a
month for mixing business with pleasure for "Newlyweds"
Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey. Fresh from
celebrating their second wedding anniversary in a luxury cottage
at Carneros Inn in Napa Valley, Jessica immersed herself in
the role of Daisy Duke for the big screen version of "The
Dukes of Hazzard", which is currently in production in
Baton Rouge, Louisiana. America's favorite couple refused
to let the miles separate them for long, however, and in early
November Jessica was by her husband's side for a birthday
bash at The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
The Hard Rock Hotel was also visited by the angels of Victoria's
Secret, including top models Tyra Banks, Heidi Klum
and Leonardo DiCaprio's on-again, off-again love interest,
Gisele Bunchen, who graced the establishment with memorablia
before traveling on to the Palms Hotel.
The Palms Hotel and Casino was also the scene for actor Josh
Duhamel's 32nd birthday. The star of TV's "Las Vegas"
painted Sin City red alongside his latest love, singer Fergie
of The Black Eyed Peas.
Where did the stars spend their Thanksgiving holiday? Like
most close-knit families, the aforementioned Jessica Simpson
wanted a festive feast surrounded by kith and kin, so the
singer, along with husband Nick Lachey, returned to
the famous blonde's hometown of Waco, Texas. Fellow Texas
native Benjamin McKenzie, the resident heartthrob on
the smash series "The O.C.", flew home to the state
capital of Austin, where the star reportedly spent his free
time watching football on TV. Will wedding bells ring out
for actress Katie Holmes and Chris Klein in
the coming year? Only time will tell, but on this festive
day the "Dawson's Creek" star and her "American
Pie" fiance gave thanks for each other in Katie's home
town in Ohio, where the two feasted with the family of the
actress. Thanksgiving was a working day for singer Josh
Groban, who performed in Johannesburg and Sun City during
the holiday weekend. Many celebrities, thankful for their
own good fortune throughout the year, chose to spend the day
in service to others. Mariah Carey helped to prepare
dinner for hundreds at the True Worship Church in Brooklyn,
New York while across the country in California stars such
as Jennifer Love Hewitt and
Melissa Joan Hart did the same for the homeless at
the Los Angeles mission.
Mariah Carey
was also on hand to help rapper/fashion designer P Diddy celebrate
his birthday in style at the Cipriani ballroom in Manhattan.
Among the glitterati who attended the swank soiree were Janet
Jackson and her long-time beau Jermaine Dupree,
Jay-Z, Star
Jones and party princesses Paris Hilton and
Tara Reid.
The City of Light glows even brighter during the holidays,
as actress Monica Bellucci was awarded the priviledge
of illuminating the Champs-Elysees to officially begin the
Christmas season. Meanwhile, actress Emma Watson, better
known by both muggles and wizards as Hermione in the Harry
Potter string of movies, added to London's festive mood when
she lit the display of Christmas lights on Oxford Street.
Star couple Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Philippe
were spotted enjoying a romantic repast in New Orleans' French
Quarter at Petunias, where the two dined on Cajun cuisine.
The actress was in town to visit her husband, currently working
on the movie "Five Fingers", before jetting off
to San Francisco to begin work on her latest project, "If
Only It Were True", alongside actor Mark Ruffalo.
In royal news, a crowd numbering over 4,000, and composed
mainly of adolescent girls, gathered outside Chester Cathedral
in early November, not to see the bride and groom but rather
to catch a glimpse of the dapper duo acting as ushers for
the occasion-- none other than Princes William and Harry.
Later in the month Prince Harry spent time on a ranch near
Buenos Aires, indulging his love of polo. The Argentinian
vacation will be the last for the third in line to the throne
for a long time to come, as the young royal is due to begin
his military career at the start of the new year. Meanwhile,
Norway's Crown Prince Haakon and Princess Mette-Marit
embarked on an exotic excursion to Bangkok, Thailand, where
the couple toured The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which
houses a sacred jadeite figure of the deity. Crown Prince
Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium were recently on
an adventure of their own, exploring the mysteries of Beijing's
Forbidden City.
Priscilla Presley
may be the former wife of The King of Rock and Roll, but in
mid-November the King's consort attended the London stage
production "We Will Rock You", honoring the music
of rock royalty, Queen. Also spotted in the audience was actress
Demi Moore, who is in the city filming her latest movie.
Sydney, Australia
played host to two of the word's most photographed women recently.
Everyone's favorite singleton Renee Zellweger was visiting
the city in order to promote her latest romantic comedy, Bridget
Jones: The Edge of Reason, while model turned actress Elizabeth
Hurley made an appearance at a charity function held at
the Park Hyatt Hotel. The former face of Estee Lauder was
also spotted dining at The Sydney Opera House and cruising
the waters of Sydney harbor at the side of fiance Arun Nazar.
Tom Cruise was spotted in the stands at Bernabeu Stadium
in Madrid, Spain alongside
David Beckham and his pop star/fashion designer
wife, Victoria
Beckham, cheering on to victory the temporarily sidelined
soccer star's team, Real Madrid.
U2's latest single may be called "Vertigo", but
it was the rides at Disneyland that caused lead singer Bono's
head to spin. Before the launch of his band's most recent
effort the musician/activist spent a leisurely day enjoying
the many attractions at the famous theme park, which included
spinning around inside a teacup on the Mad Tea Party ride.
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