hich big name stars passed through Toronto recently? A better question is who didn't? A whole slew of celebrities were here to promote, promote and promote.

Woody Allen  The biggest shocker was hearing that Woody Allen was here. The normally reclusive filmmaker came to hype his latest film Hollywood Ending. This was not only Woody Allen's first trip to Toronto; it also marked his first visit to Canada. The filmmaker told Tribute that he would have loved to do some sightseeing, rather than just sit in a hotel room talking to the media. He also said that he half expected to see a moose wandering around the hotel lobby. Now here's a man who needs to get out more often.

  Val Kilmer was here to promote his latest offering The Salton Sea. One never knows what to expect when interviewing the temperamental movie star, but this time out he was in great spirits. Perhaps it's because the actor was getting rave reviews for his performance. We hear he also got a few stares from fellow patrons when he lunched at Sassafraz.

  Also in town were Nicolas Cage, Canadian actor Adam Beach and director John Woo. They were talking up their new war film Windtalkers.
  Indigo Books was the place to be to catch a glimpse of one of TV's hottest hosts. Jamie Oliver of Naked Chef fame was promoting a new cookbook. Those who patiently waited for hours in line were rewarded with an autograph.

Omar Epps  These days you are almost guaranteed to run into someone famous in downtown Toronto. That's because a whole bunch of movie stars are spending serious time in the city shooting their latest flicks. Meg Ryan kept a low profile working on Against The Ropes. On the other hand, her co-stars Omar Epps and Tim Daly have reportedly been eating well at some of Toronto's finest restaurants.

  Some of the other famous folk spotted around town were Jeanne Cooper (The Young and the Restless), rocker Tommy Lee, Jason Priestley and Norman Jewison. Faye Dunaway and Star Jones were here to guest star in an episode of the TV series Soul Food.

  Matthew Broderick had to endure being apart from his pregnant wife Sarah Jessica Parker while in town working on the feature The Music Man with co-star Molly Shannon.

Hayden Christensen  Kudos to Canadian actor Hayden Christensen. Not only does he play the lead in the new Star Wars sequel, the hunky actor also landed himself a spot in People magazine's "50 most beautiful people" issue. So how is Hayden handling the pressures of Hollywood stardom? Well, he was seen in Toronto taking in a Leafs playoff game at the Air Canada Centre before his film's release.

  Christopher Lambert is here for the long haul to shoot the supernatural thriller Absolon. Also shooting in Toronto is the movie The Yeltsin Project starring Jeff Goldblum and Anthony LaPaglia. Set in Moscow, it will be interesting to see how Toronto will fair doubling for the Russian city.

  The artist formerly known as Prince, (or is he just plain Prince again?) now calls Toronto home. The singer/composer reportedly bought a house in T.O. with his Canadian wife. He keeps a low profile while staying in his uptown estate, although our snoops tell us that he frequents a certain lounge in the Adelaide St. area. The exact whereabouts of the secret location will remain hush hush.

- Ola Sturik


herry blossoms and liquid sunshine aren't the only things floating through the West Coast atmosphere these days. If all the cooing and billing is any indication, love is also in the air.

  Elijah Wood and Franka Potente, the stars of Try Seventeen, a teenage romantic comedy being filmed in Vancouver, are turning up everywhere in town. The couple may not have matching ages - Potente, the German star of Run Lola Run is seven years older than Wood, 20, who's hot off the success of playing Frodo in The Lord of the Rings. But age is just a number, isn't it? They've been spotted cuddling at hockey games and rock concerts and canoodling over romantic dinners.

Scott Speedman  Toronto-bred actor Scott Speedman shot Duets in Vancouver with Gwyneth Paltrow a couple of years ago, so his presence on see-and-be-seen Robson Street didn't shock celebrity-jaded shoppers. What did turn heads was his positively glowing skin and his intense conversation with on-again, off-again girlfriend and Keri RussellFelicity co-star Keri Russell. Dressed down in jeans and sweaters for their Sunday stroll, the cozy couple was so intent on each other that they didn't notice the stares caused by their stunning good looks.  Oh, to be breathtakingly beautiful, and in love on a gorgeous spring day.

  One actor can't wait to move to L.A with her loved one. A.J. Cook, the Oshawa-born star of Final Destination 2, a teen horror movie shooting in Vancouver, lives in Salt Lake City but spends most of her time working in her homeland. Cook and her snowboarding/surfer dude husband are re-locating to sunny California once FD2 wraps.

- Valerie Gregory