"GOSSIP GIRL" STAR KELLY RUTHERFORD LOVES THOR ESPRESSO BAR

Kelly Rowan & Kelly Rutherford in Toronto - February 2012

Taking a quick break from filming Gossip Girl, which just celebrated its 100th episode, Actress Kelly Rutherford spent her weekend in Toronto doing a bit of shopping on Bloor Street yesterday and it would even appear that she has found herself a favourite Coffee spot in our City!  

Rutherford took to Twitter to espresso her love for Thor, situated just south of the Thompson Hotel.  She Tweeted, "In Toronto... Best coffee at Thor! Yum!". On that note, Rutherford also had Dinner last night with her good Friend - another famous Kelly, of the Rowan variety. Rowan, known best for her work on The O.C., happens to be engaged to the 16th richest Man in the World and richest in Canada, David Thomson.  No relation to the Hotel, of course.

Rutherford currently resides in New York City, last visiting Toronto back in May for an appearance on The Marilyn Denis Show.

(Photo credit: Kelly Rutherford)

LEIGHTON MEESTER CONFIRMS TIFF 2011 VISIT

Leighton Meester Tweet

So it's confirmed! Gossip Girl Leighton Meester will be coming to Toronto for TIFF in September for her Film, The Oranges!  Meester (@itsmelighton) Tweets a Fan, @Miss_S_Liss a confirmation yesterday and like us, the Singer/Actress seems thrilled to visit our City.  She last came to Toronto for for Herbal Essences in August 2010.

Co-star Blake Lively likely will be here for her Film Hick during the Festival also considering she is the Film's Star. Perhaps they'll be lending each other a bit of support provided the timing is right?

MONTE CARLO - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from Monte Carlo

Although it might go over the heads of Selena Gomez's main demographic of young Fans, The Family Stone Director Thomas Bezucha delivers a genuinely fun Girls' Night Out with Monte Carlo. Upon graduating from High School, Best Friends Grace (Gomez) and Emma (Katie Cassidy) at last set out for their long-awaited trip to Paris, when at the last moment Grace's Stepsister Maggie (Leighton Meester) is to join along. Matters are complicated when we learn of Grace and Maggie's strained past.

Soon after arriving in Paris, the Girls find themselves disappointed. One rainy night however, they cross paths with an Heiress named Cordelia Winthrop Scott (Gomez) who bears a striking resemblance to Grace. In a case of mistaken identity, Grace, Emma and Maggie find themselves swept-off to Monte Carlo on a glamorous adventure they never had bargained for with Grace being forced to fill the shoes of a spoiled and demanding Cordelia.

While pretending to be Cordelia, Grace is finds herself in possession of a magnificent Bulgari Necklace worth millions of dollars, to be auctioned-off in the name of under-privileged children. She finds herself falling for Theo (Pierre Boulanger) who works for the Charity, and he too falls for her thinking that she in fact is the Heiress. Meanwhile, Emma finds herself contemplating her relationship with impulsive Boyfriend Owen (Cory Monteith) who proposes to her before her trip without a ring. Also, Maggie loses herself in a passionate romance with Australian Tourist Riley (Luke Bracey) who she meets in a chance encounter on the trip.  How will love unfold for each of these three young ladies? And more pressingly, what will become of the three Girls when Cordelia uncovers that Grace has been impersonating her?

TAYLOR MOMSEN & THE PRETTY RECKLESS IN TORONTO | SIGNED PHOTO GIVEAWAY

Taylor Momsen & Mr. Will-W.

Although her days on CW Network's Gossip Girl are numbered now, Taylor Momsen is making her mark musically with her Band, The Pretty Reckless. Momsen, who many of us know as Jenny Humphrey on Gossip Girl, has taken on a number of lucrative offers since seeing her star rise on that Show, including signing on as Spokesmodel for Madonna and Daughter Lourdes' Fashion line, Material Girl. Her Band was also signed to Interscope Records, distributed through Universal Music, in March 2009.

Now promoting debut Disc Light Me Up, featuring a sound surprisingly edgy and sophisticated for that of a 17 year-old Frontwoman, Momsen's repertoire is all co-written by her and last year she described it as being "death, love, rock and roll, sex, drugs and religion".  Band Mate Ben Phillips could be heard on a Cigarette break describing The Pretty Reckless' sound earlier today to someone curious.  "I hate it when people compare Taylor to Avril Lavigne.  She's nothing like her".  He also mentioned a review of the Disc which was scathing from an popular American Magazine recently, refuting "I don't care about reviews, but to get covered on that Magazine in itself is a pretty big deal.  All that matters is that the people who get her are supporting us".  Anyone who listens to the Album can hear that the substance definitely is there and Momsen actually is a wonderful Vocalist.

Momsen entered Toronto's Tattoo Rock Parlour after a Gig last night in Niagara Falls, which saw her trek here along with her Band Mates by Bus this morning.  For most of the day, she rested in her vehicle before finally coming out at 6:00 PM to greet a small group of lucky Fans with VIP Meet & Greet Passes inside the venue.  Despite presenting herself in a cool, carefree manner donning Sunglasses (it was a dim, candle-lit room) and a tight black number which revealed her endless legs, Momsen was all smiles off-camera for Fans.  One part Cherie Currie of The Runaways, one part Brigitte Bardot - two times more risqué.

Watch this Video Clip of Momsen from earlier this evening:

THE CAST OF "PRETTY LITTLE LIARS" IN TORONTO

Ashley Benson, Mr. Will-W. & Lucy Hale

It's like Desperate Housewives for Teens. Or like a slightly less glamorous, but equally scandalous Cousin to Gossip Girl. ABC Family Series Pretty Little Liars in its first Season has become an international phenomena and its popularity only continues to spread among Women, ranking in its debut last June as the number one-rated Scripted Show for that demographic, ranging ages 18-49.  It is now seen around the World in the U.K., Philippines, Australia and Spain.

The Series takes place in a fictional town called Rosewood where four popular girls at Rosewood High School begin receiving mysterious messages from someone identified only with the initial "A", a year after their former Queen Bee Alison disappears. "A" threatens to uncover their deepest, darkest secrets. The Principal Cast members of the Show including up-and-coming Actresses Lucy Hale, Ashley Benson, Troian Bellisario and Canadian Shay Mitchell, have just arrived in Toronto for a few days of Promotion for the Series, which has been a ratings hit for MuchMusic.

I caught up with Cast Members Benson and Hale, who were wonderfully gracious and sweet to Fans-in-waiting earlier this evening at their Hotel. Having lots of fun, we bantered back-and-forth about our favourite subject, Movies. Hale, who can be seen in the upcoming fourth installment of the Scream franchise, was fascinated that I got to review new Anthony Hopkins Horror Flick The Rite earlier this evening (check back Friday for a review), telling me she's been wanting to see it for a while. Benson admitted to me she can't stand Horrors and is more of a Romantic Comedy kind of Girl. We then chat about Natalie Portman and we all agree that we love her and Hale revealed to us that she just saw her new flick No Strings Attached last night. The Girls were really excited to see the City and let me know that their follow Cast Mates Mitchell and Belissario would be arriving soon, although they weren't sure when. It turns out though that Mitchell's flight from  New York City was cancelled last night unfortunately.