Star-gazing in L.A.: Where to spot celebrities

By Lena Katz

The #1 most-asked question in Los Angeles:

"So, what do you do?"

The #2:

"Excuse me, don’t I know you from somewhere?"

After you’ve been in L.A. a while, though, you learn to keep that one in your head, at least till after you’ve taken a good, long look at the person in question. Because chances are, you don’t actually know them; you’ve just seen their face before on a cell phone commercial or in a movie. Celebrity sightings are a standard perk of living in Los Angeles -– and you don’t just see them at Spago. Here are a few places where my loyal scouts have had close encounters with famous kind within the past few weeks:

The farmers market deserves first mention. And it doesn’t even necessarily matter which one: Brentwood denizens report recent Calista Flockhart and Marcia Cross sightings; Jennifer Garner mingles with L.A.’s star chefs in Santa Monica; and the Grove in Hollywood gets everyone from Vince Vaughn to Victoria Beckham.

Crown Bar in West Hollywood is getting lots of attention for its celeb-studded Wednesdays, which draw all kinds of stars: Dave Navarro, Christina Aguilera, Joel Madden and the list goes on.

Earning a special distinction for being one of the only celeb party spots that literally became too hot to handle is Tropicana Bar in the Hollywood Roosevelt. In 2007 the hotel had to put the kibosh on its own pool bar because the action was overshadowing the hotel itself. It’s back in action now, and insiders tell us the weekdays are the best times to find everyone from Colin Farrell to Bruce Willis.

STK steakhouse in Beverly Hills draws a steady stream of stars, producers and R-listers (reality TV celebri-lites) to its elegant modern dining room. Recent sightings include Kate Beckinsale, American Idol alum Chris Daughtry and Mr. and Mrs. Tori Spelling.

Allof the various Beverly Hills hotels see their fair share of celebs … either on a red carpet, drinking with their agent at the bar, or taking over an entire restaurant for a quiet lunch. The Beverly Hilton is regularly closed off for some flashbulb-powered event, which, depending on the day, might draw everyone from this year’s Guess! model crop to Women in Film honorees like Renee Zellweger. Year-round Weinstein sightings are guaranteed at the Peninsula, while at Oscar time, every other A-lister you can imagine is a possibility. And then, of course, there’s the Beverly Hills Hotel: posh perennial haven for every tormented star from James Woods to Brit Brit.

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Lena Katz lives on the Left Coast and writes about
tropical islands, beach clubs and food, but her heart belongs to NYC.

Tagged: California