What would a trip to Hollywood be like if you didn’t see one of its citizens? His scrapbook just wouldn’t be complete without him. From the point of view of a normal person who has no connection, what are the logical things I can do to improve my chances of seeing a celebrity? Get your pen and papers because some of these tips may require planning ahead.
This tip is almost foolproof but, as I mentioned earlier, it will require a bit of planning ahead and maybe standing in line and spending half the day there. Go to the studio. These talk shows need a live audience that can laugh and clap. Book months in advance if you want any chance of getting a ticket and when you get there make sure you have two or three bars of chocolate and maybe a small bottle of water in your pocket. You don’t want to lose your place in line or have to get out of your seat during a recording because you really need to eat something. They will also need to verify your identity before letting you in, so bring photo ID. One issued by the government would be better just so that the validity is not questioned.
The next thing on our list of places to go is proof that stars are just like us too. They also look up to other celebrities although these come in the form of athletes. If you can get tickets to a Lakers game at the Staples Center while you’re in Los Angeles, some stars love to watch and cheer on the home team, so you might see them there.
Another logical place would be restaurants. Be careful though this technique can be a bit expensive as you don’t want to sit in a restaurant without ordering. Try the restaurants near the studios, French 75 in Burbank or the restaurants across the street from Paramount may have stars taking their lunch break. The streets of Beverly Hills will, of course, have actors and actresses awake and going about their daily business, so keep your eyes peeled. The Beverly Hills Farm on Beverly Boulevard is the stars’ favorite lunch destination.
If you’re going to do some shopping, you might as well try to meet an actress or two there. Places where they are known to shop are Westfield Market Town in Century City, Montana Avenue in Santa Monica, and Fred Segal on Melrose Avenue.
Going from one nightclub to another is also an activity that you can try to see a celebrity or two. Try Joseph’s Café, 1775 N Ivar Avenue or at the Roosevelt Hotel’s Tropicana Bar. The challenge there would be getting past the doorman who would have a guest list that would not have our names on it. Also, don’t get too excited, as most celebrities have a VIP area that you can’t go to. Favorite nightspots also change very quickly, so what’s on today may not be the bar of choice tomorrow.
Lastly, and a bit of a surprise is that with all this fitness drive that Hollywood stars are getting into, there is a good percentage where you could see them jogging or walking their way to the hills. Fryman Canyon is one of the stars’ favorite running trails, offering spectacular views of the San Fernando Valley. Another place to try is the 3.2-mile waterfront walk near Lake Hollywood Reservoir. Remember not to go here after dark and never walk alone.
Happy celebrity sightseeing!