Luda News

LUDACRIS & GOSSIP GIRL

June 27, 2008 - What do Grammy-winner Ludacris, socialite Tinsley Mortimer and the cast of television's "Gossip Girl" have in common? All were filming this week at a five-acre Upper Brookville estate formerly owned by convicted chop-shop king Michael Pescatore.

After Pescatore was forced to relinquish the property, the Internal Revenue Service auctioned the estate for $8.3 million. Current owners Kim Greenberg of Roslyn, who owns and operates a laser vision correction center in the Bronx, and her fiance, real estate developer Fred Rudd of Manhattan, plan to marry at their new home in September.

Greenberg says Ludacris will star in an AT&T ad. A slightly larger shoot of a "white party" for next season's "Gossip Girl" also took place. Greenberg says 120 "extras," plus "all the key stars" from the cast were there, including Blake Lively, Chace Crawford and Taylor Momsen. Greenberg says that Mortimer also made an appearance.

Location scout Patti Brashears helped set up the shoot. "The crew was incredibly mindful of the neighbors, even renting parking off-site," Greenberg says, adding, "The cast was so gracious, taking photos with the neighborhood kids. It's brought a lot of excitement and pride to the neighborhood."

LUDACRIS NEW RESTAURANT

January 21, 2008 - Grammy-award winning rapper Ludacris is adding the title of restaurateur to his resume. In April 2007, he will launch his latest business venture, Straits Atlanta, bringing Singaporean cuisine to the artist’s hometown.   The restaurant is the fourth of it’s kind: Ludacris’ partner in the venture, Chef Chris Yeo owns three other restaurants in the Straits brand in San Francisco, San Jose and Burlingame, California.   Named for the Straits of Malacca