Celebrity Sightings – Page 11

February 19, 2008February 13, 2009

On the Red Carpet – Oscar Weekend Stalking, Part I

If you have only one weekend a year to go star stalking in LA, then Oscar Weekend is it! Los Angeles comes alive during the few days before Hollywood’s Golden Boy is given out, and you are virtually guaranteed a star sighting – that is, if you know where to look. So, it’s a good thing you’ve found me. 🙂

Last February, on the Saturday before the Oscars, I dragged my boyfriend to the famed Kodak Theatre at the Hollywood and Highland Center, which is home to the awards ceremony to end all awards ceremonies. The nondescript Hollywood and Highland Mall turns into a virtual sea of red and gold the day before the Oscars – and anyone is allowed to walk right up and witness it all first hand! Although, unfortunately, most of the red carpet is roped off to the general public, there is a small area where the celeb obsessed are allowed to walk right on it. Even though it was covered in plastic at the time, I got goose bumps while standing on it all the same! It was pretty unbelievable to be standing there on the most famous carpet in the world!

Being the stalker that I am, I even found a part of the carpet where a piece of the plastic had been peeled back, so I just had to step on it. 🙂

After my stroll down the red carpet, we made our way to the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, where media crews were filming Oscar press junkets. While walking around the conference room area of the hotel – hoping for a star sighting – we ran into Jay Manuel from America’s Next Top Model ! Jay was extremely nice, shook my hand, and even posed for a picture.

Stay tuned for Oscar Weekend Stalking – Part II tomorrow! 🙂

Until next time, Happy Stalking! 🙂

Stalk It: For Oscar weekend stalking, your first stop should definitely be the Hollywood and Highland Center in downtown Hollywood. The red carpet starts right at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue. From Highland, you can make your way down Hollywood Boulevard to the entrance of the Kodak Theatre for more great behind-the-scenes Oscar viewing. After your red carpet adventure, visit the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel (7000 Hollywood Blvd.) and the Hollywood Renaissance Hotel (1755 N. Highland Ave. – also accessible via the third floor of the Hollywood and Highland Center), which both hold star studded press junkets and media events the day before the Oscars.

February 16, 2008February 13, 2009

Where Music and Passion Are Always the Fashion

I can now die a happy woman because on Valentine’s Day I got to hear “Copacabana” sung live and in person by none other than Barry Manilow himself!! My boss had Valentine’s Day tickets to Barry’s “An Evening of Music and Passion” at the Staples Center in Downtown LA, but his wife ended up getting sick so he gave the tickets to me. I was absolutely floored as my dad is a huge Barry fan and I grew up listening to the man who “writes the songs that make the whole world sing.” What I didn’t realize was that my boss had luxury BOX seats for the show and my boyfriend and I were treated like VIP’s all night! It was the perfect way to spend Valentine’s Day!

I have lived in Los Angeles for almost 8 years now, but this was actually my very first trip to the Staples Center. And what a way to get introduced to it!! Having box seats, we didn’t have to wait in the massive lines at the main entrance; instead we were whisked through a separate VIP entrance. We had separate elevators, separate bathrooms, and even a VIP bar complete with an actual carving station serving up every kind of meat you could ever want. In the middle of the show, they even brought around an enormous Valentine dessert tray to all of the boxes.

To top it off, our seats were incredible!!!! The box was huge and luxurious, with leather seats and a huge plasma TV and we were practically sitting right on top of the stage. Barry was, as always, the perfect showman and the concert was spectacular! He sung all of his greatest hits, including “I Write the Songs”, “Mandy” -which was made complete with a sparkling white grand piano that was raised up onto the stage – and, my personal favorite, a 10 minute encore of “Copacabana.” It was one of those occasions that made me wish I knew how to whistle! I cannot think of a better way to have spent Valentine’s Day.

Until next time, Happy Stalking! 🙂

Stalk It:You can see Barry Manilow live and in person at the Las Vegas Hilton where he is headlining with his show “Manilow: Music and Passion.” Tickets can be purchased here. The Las Vegas Hilton is located at 3000 Paradise Road, just off The Strip. Staples Center is located at 1111 S. Figueroa Street in Downtown LA. If you have the means, I definitely recommend getting box seats – it’s the only way to concert! 🙂

February 13, 2008February 13, 2009

Where the Stars Shop!

While Rodeo Drive is the most widely known shopping mecca for the rich and famous, there is another lesser known shopping street in West Hollywood that the celebs swarm to in droves for their version of retail therapy. That street is called Robertson Boulevard and it is home to a little store named Kitson. Kitson is a celeb favorite – the boutique for all things trendy – and has remained so for the past few years. On any given day, you might spot Lindsay Lohan, Paris and Nikki Hilton, Nicole Richie, Eva Longoria, Jessica Simpson, Drew Barrymore, or Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. It is the Les Deux of shopping.

Kitson always carries the latest and greatest, but – be prepared – it can be pricey. Kitson was the very first shop to come out with the “Team” t-shirts that have become ever so popular. Starting with “Team Aniston” (YAY!) vs. “Team Jolie”, Kitson then branched out into “Team Paris” vs. “Team Nicole” and “Team Lauren” vs. “Team Heidi.” They sell everything from Kabbalah bracelets to Hudson Jeans to Victoria Beckham’s new book– which is (surprisingly) fantastic, by the way! Lauren Conrad’s line of clothing and purses can also be purchased at Kitson.

Kitson is not the only celeb magnet on Robertson. You might remember the Lisa Klein store from an early episode of Newlyweds –it’s the shop where the salespeople had to drop down a special black-out curtain to stop the paparazzi from watching Jessica Simpson shop. Lindsay Lohan got into one of her many car accidents on Robertson Blvd. and she ended up running into Hideaway House Antiques to hide from the paparazzi. The most popular celeb restaurant of them all – The Ivy – can also be found on Robertson. The Ivy is the place to “do lunch” and be seen in Hollywood. Tom and Katie went there on one of their first dates, John Travolta dined there in the movie Get Shorty and Lindsay Lohan is a regular.

Until next time, Happy Stalking! 🙂

Stalk It: Robertson Boulevard is located north of the 10 Freeway in West Hollywood. Kitson can be found at 115 S. Robertson – but if you can’t make it out to West Hollywood, you can shop Kitson from the comfort of your own home at www.shopkitson.com. The Ivy is located at 113 N. Robertson – keep your eyes peeled for the paparazzi who usually wait for the celebs with cameras poised directly across the street. While shopping on Robertson, be sure to hit up the MAC Cosmetics Pro Store, located at 133 N. Robertson – it’s by far my favorite MAC store in all of LA.

February 3, 2008February 13, 2009

The Producers’ Guild Awards!

Last night my boyfriend and I set out to have a drink at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills and ended up walking into a stalker’s paradise! The Producers’ Guild Awards were being held in the International Ballroom of the hotel, and producers, movie stars and paparazzi were everywhere! We had a great view of the red carpet from the front of the hotel, until hotel security made us move. We ended up eating dinner and hanging out in the lobby bar, which was the perfect vantage point for the red carpet area of the event. We got to see Kathy Griffin (who is super tiny in person!), Teri Polo, and Christina Applegate. Ali Larter and Ellen Page were also there, but unfortunately I missed them. 🙁 While eating, I made friends with an editor for a photography company, who happened to be sitting at the table next to us. He was uploading pictures in real time as they were wirelessly sent to him from the photographers stationed on the red carpet a few feet away. It was very interesting to watch.

Apparently the Beverly Hilton Hotel is home to over 200 star-studded red carpet events each year! The hotel also holds a special place in my heart as it was the location of one of my very first on-camera experiences. When I first moved to Los Angeles, I joined Central Casting, the premiere extras casting agency in LA. One of my very first jobs as an extra was playing the part of a guest at Donna and David’s wedding on the very last episode of Beverly Hills, 90210. Their reception took place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel! 🙂 As obsessed as I was with 90210 in high school, it was a pretty incredible experience to be a part of Donna and David’s wedding. 🙂

Me on the red carpet! Unfortunately, the cameramen had already left. 🙁

Until next time, Happy Stalking! 🙂

Stalk It: The Beverly Hilton Hotel is located at 9876 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. Within walking distance of Rodeo Drive, the hotel is the perfect place to stay for out of town visitors who want to be in the heart of Beverly Hills. The hotel lobby bar is a fun place to sit and have a drink, but apparently the pool bar is where all the action is, with live entertainment and dancing nightly. Donna and David’s wedding reception on 90210 took place in the former “Coconut Club,” which, unfortunately, was shut down in 2002. The “Coconut Club” is now a conference room called the “Beverly Hills Ballroom.”

January 26, 2008February 17, 2009

Go Team Kristen!

Ever since Laguna Beach: The Real O.C. first came on the air, I have been a HUGE fan of Kristin Cavallari. So LOVE her!!! And tonight I actually got to meet her!!! I am still pinching myself! My boyfriend and I headed to Hollywood today because I was completely intent on going to celeb hot spot the Tropicana Bar at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel Pool for a drink. This is the very same bar and pool where all the stars go to get their drink on and their swim on. The episode of The Hills, when Brodi tells Lauren that Spencer “broke up” with him, was filmed at the pool, along with countless other productions.

Due to the rain the Tropicana Bar was pretty much empty, except for a group of three girls sitting in a corner. We ended up sitting fairly close to them and I almost fell out of my lounge chair when I realized one of them was Kristin Cavallari. She got up to leave right as we were ordering our drinks and I knew I just had to say something to her. I mean I own a “Team Kristin” shirt for God’s sake! I couldn’t let the opportunity pass me by! So I went up to her and (dork that I am) blurted out “I love you!” LOL! Kristin could not have been sweeter! She shook my hand and told me that she “really appreciates” that I took the time to come up to her and “it means a lot” that I am such a fan. She was completely genuine and nice and I am an even bigger fan now than I was before! Sadly I did not get a picture as my boyfriend, who was absolutely convinced it wasn’t really her, stayed behind with the camera while I went to talk to her.

Stalk It: The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel is located at 7000 Hollywood Blvd., at the corner of Hollywood and N. Orange Drive. The Tropicana Bar and hotel pool is located directly off the lobby. Even after it started pouring rain, and we had to move to the covered part of the bar, it was still a really nice place to sit and have a drink. But, while the Tropicana Bar has some great food, if you are hungry, I would actually recommend going to the restaurant Twenty-Five Degrees, also located in the hotel, for a bite to eat instead. They make amazing burgers and hot-dogs and don’t even get me started on the fries! While the restaurant is pricey, it is well worth it! And if you happen to see a celeb while you are out and about in Hollywood, go up and tell them what a fan you are! You only live once, and I have found that, way more often than not, they sincerely appreciate meeting their fans.

January 20, 2008February 13, 2009

Celebrity Fit Club!

If you happen to be a member of a Hollywood area gym, be sure to keep your eyes open for famous people – the person on the treadmill next to you just might be Britney Spears! Or her judge! The buzz around my gym lately is that the judge in the Britney Spears custody battle, Scott Gordon, is a gym member. As I was running on the treadmill Thursday night, it turns out I was running right next to him! And he just happened to be on the phone (while running!?!) asking for a change of courtrooms for his next day’s case. Anyway, I was way excited and I just had to snap a pic of him! 🙂

Until next time, Happy Stalking! 🙂

January 7, 2008February 14, 2009

Everybody Loves A Stalker!

This weekend I dragged my boyfriend to the Beverly Hills Hotel on the pretense of having a drink at one of our favorite bars – The Polo Lounge – but the real reason for our outing was so that I could pick up the 2008 version of my favorite LA star map – the “Movie Star Homes and Crime Scenes” Map – from the gift shop of the BH Hotel. I find it amusing that I always get asked where I am visiting from when I purchase these maps. 🙂

We had a nice drink at the Polo Lounge and then headed off to Hakata Sushi on Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica for dinner. While there, I couldn’t help but pull out my star map for a look at what new items had been published since the 2007 version. Well, the sushi chefs went absolutely crazy over the map and begged to see it. I gladly handed it over and they could not take their eyes off of it – so much so that the manager of the restaurant came over and made them put it away! This just goes to show that everybody loves a stalker! 🙂

Until next time, Happy Stalking!

Stalk It: The Polo Lounge in the Beverly Hills Hotel is a great place to grab a drink and do some serious star stalking. During my many visits to the Polo Lounge, I have seen Paris Hilton, Reese Witherspoon, Elle MacPherson and Kirk Kevorkian – just to name a few. I hear Jen Aniston is a regular, but I have yet to see her there. 🙁 The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows is located in Beverly Hills at 9641 Sunset Blvd. You can purchase new star maps yearly in the gift shop of the hotel. Hakata Sushi is located at 2830 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica and is something of a celeb hangout, as well. Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Charlie Sheen have all frequented the restaurant. They have great food and a fun atmosphere.

Me with Paris Hilton in the BH Hotel gift shop. Notice Vanity Fair columnist and celebrity journalist Dominick Dunne in the background.

January 2, 2008March 3, 2009

Ringing in the New Year with the Real Housewives of Orange County (or at least one of their offspring!)

I spent my New Year’s 2008 at the Happiest Place on Earth – Disneyland – with my boyfriend, my good friend Nat and Kara Keogh! While in line for California Screamin’, the roller coaster at Disneyland’s California Adventure, my boyfriend happened to notice Kara, the daughter of Jeana Keogh from the Real Housewives of Orange County, standing a few yards behind us. I was super excited as Jeana and Kara are the only two people on Real Housewives that I like – they are the only two people on that show with half a brain.

I managed to snap a pic of Kara while in line, but I guess I wasn’t very subtle about it because after that she kept staring at me and smiling and laughing. She actually seemed totally cool about it and not at all peeved about running into a stalker at the Happiest Place on Earth. At one point she totally started waving at me when I looked at her – but I think she was actually making fun of me, not just being friendly.

My friend Nat said I should have bought the picture of Kara that Disney took while she was on California Screamin’ , but I thought that might just be crossing the line a little bit! 🙂

Until next time, Happy Stalking!

December 22, 2007February 13, 2009

What Not To Shear – Nick Arrojo’s Studio in New York

I guess I come by my obsessions naturally – the apple does not fall too far from the tree as they say, because my mom has been completely obsessed with the show What Not To Wear for years now. She is especially obsessed with Nick Arrojo, the hairstylist from the TLC makeover show. She had been chattering for over two years about how much she wanted Nick to cut her hair – so this year for her birthday we surprised her with a haircut from Nick which we scheduled during our New York vacation. Needless to say my mom was SUPER EXCITED! She cried for about ten minutes after she found out.

Finding Nick’s salon was easy – I just did a Google search of Nick Arrojo and What Not To Wear, and his website – www.arrojostudio.com – popped up. Then I called and simply made an appointment. It was that easy.

Flash forward six weeks to our trip in New York – my mom was so excited she could hardly talk! I was a little nervous, as the receptionist had told me when I made the appointment that my mom would get 45 minutes with Nick. That didn’t seem like very much time and I was worried that the whole appointment would be rushed and my mom wouldn’t get the special attention I wanted her to have. I could not have been more wrong! We were at Nick’s studio for over 3 hours and my mom was made to feel like she was queen for the day. The appointment was not rushed in any way, shape or form, and Nick could not have been any more humble or down to earth. His assistant, Nicole, was fabulous, as well.

Overall, it was a perfect day for my mom, and an even more perfect birthday present. If you are a fan of Nick, I highly recommend saving your pennies and booking a haircut – you will not regret it.

Oh and my mom’s hair turned out FABULOUS! She loves it -everyone loves it. The only downside is that now that we are back in LA she has no idea how she is going to find a stylist to maintain it. Guess we’ll just have to head back to New York!

Stalk It: Nick’s studio is located at 180 Varick Street in SoHo, New York. Their telephone number is (212)242-7786. I would recommend calling for an appointment at least a month in advance. A haircut from Nick will run you $500, but it is worth every penny! If you would like a less expensive haircut, you can get sheared by one of his trained stylists for a fraction of the cost.

December 17, 2007February 13, 2009

Maddox’s School

Even though I am 100 percent on Team Aniston, while I was in New York, one of my obsessions was finding Maddox’s school. I was really hoping Brad and Angie would be in town and I could just park myself in front of the school and wait for a sighting. 🙂 But, for this stalker, it was not to be.

Maddox’s school wasn’t hard to find at all – I just did a Google search for “Maddox school New York” on my trusty Blackberry and up it came – Lycee Francais on East 75th Street. I knew it had to be somewhere on the exclusive Upper East Side and sure enough, it was.

When we got there, I immediately recognized the metal and glass doors from the hundreds of paparazzi photos taken of Maddox’s comings and goings from the school. When I posed in front of the doors to take a picture, a guy inside gave me a pretty dirty look. Lycee Francais must not be very stalker friendly.

Until next time, Happy Stalking!

Stalk It: Lycee Francais is located at 505 W. 75th Street – pretty much on the corner of 75th and York – on the Upper East Side. After checking out Maddox’s alma mater, journey just a few blocks west to Via Quadronno at 25 E. 73rd Street for an Upper East Side breakfast of awesome cappuccinos and the best croissants you will ever eat!