Easy to find LA celeb hangouts during Oscar season

By Solvej Schou, AP
Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Easy to find LA celeb hangouts during Oscar season

LOS ANGELES — Look, there’s Oscar winner Warren Beatty at the Beverly Hills Hotel, lounging in a restaurant booth. Or Drew Barrymore huffing it up a trail in the Hollywood Hills.

With the 82nd annual Academy Awards just weeks away, on March 7, Los Angeles becomes even more fertile terrain for celebrity sightings.

Here’s a selection of places to eat, shop, sweat (as in exercise!) and schmooze alongside the stars:

SHOP:

—THE GROVE/FARMERS MARKET, 189 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles: This outdoor retail mecca can be considered an all-in-one stop, where you can catch a celebrity shopping at Nordstrom’s, walking the main drag or noshing on gourmet pizza or Mexican food at the historic Farmers Market next door.

Rihanna, Lindsay Lohan, Janet Jackson and Oscar winners Jack Nicholson and Reese Witherspoon have all been spotted there.

—SUNSET JUNCTION, www.sunsetjunction.org: An eastside stretch of Sunset Boulevard in the trendy area of Silver Lake, Sunset Junction is a favorite hangout strip for celebrity hipsters. Recent Golden Globe winner Chloe Sevigny trolls for dresses at one-room vintage boutique Ragg Mopp. Musician and “Whip It” star Landon Pigg is a regular at coffee and tea shop Intelligentsia.

EAT:

—POLO LOUNGE, 9641 Sunset Blvd., Beverly Hills: A-list stars for generations have frequented the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel before, during and after the Oscars, either while staying at the ritzy, pale pink hotel, attending Oscar parties there or just gathering for lunch, brunch, dinner and even afternoon tea.

Fans of the place include Beatty, Jennifer Aniston, Jack Black and Oscar winner Michael Douglas. Dishes range from classic French onion soup and tuna tartare to chilled Maine lobster salad.

—URTH CAFFE, 8565 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood: This schmoozy, West Hollywood eatery is the original of a Los Angeles chain that specializes in organic coffee blends with names such as “World Peace” and “Rainforest.”

Starlets including Katy Perry, Hayden Panettiere and Jessica Alba are drawn to the cafe’s outdoor patio and cozy weekend brunch. Customers and celebrities alike can feast on veggie omelets and healthy egg white and spinach breakfast paninis.

SWEAT (EXERCISE):

—RUNYON CANYON: By now it’s a cliche to see stars hiking or walking their dogs on trails winding through Hollywood Hills nature park Runyon Canyon, but there they are: Drew Barrymore, Zac Efron, Justin Timberlake, Jessica Biel, Mandy Moore.

Reach the top, and you can see broad views of L.A., plus sweaty stars. Just be sure to sidestep any dog droppings.

—CRUNCH, 8000 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood: Situated next to an art house movie theater, and across the street from mega-celebrity haunt Greenblatt’s Deli (Oscar winner Halle Berry gets food delivered from there), this work-out haven boasts a juice bar, boxing ring and live DJs.

The long list of celebrities who used to or still sweat it out at the West Hollywood gym include newly engaged Brit comedian Russell Brand, Jeff Goldblum and Eva Longoria Parker.

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