On the red carpet, Los Angeles
Step Two: See It Live
Step Three: Peek Behind the Curtain
Step Four: Break Bread
Step Five: Play the Game
We can’t all be jet-setting millionaires, self-promoting heiresses or gifted athletes burdened only by the weight of our endorsement contracts. But in LA, we can all live the celebrity lifestyle. All it takes is a little ingenuity, some insider knowledge and a willingness to have fun. Mix the three and follow the easy steps outlined below and you’ve got the makings for a grand celebrity-style trip to LA.
If paparazzi treat their celebrity subjects like animals on an African safari, then living like a star means transforming yourself into one of the hunted. You'll need to dress like a celebrity. But can you really get access to Brangelina’s closet and “borrow” their haute couture? Don’t even think about it. Instead, check out the Wardrobe Department store at Universal Studios HollywoodSM and browse their collection of clothes used while filming movies and TV shows — they all come with a certificate of authenticity. You'll find the perfect outfit for your own red carpet walk in no time.
Not content to just look like a celebrity? Go to a TV taping. Getting into a TV show taping isn’t all that difficult; you just need the patience to wait in line and a little advance planning. The easiest way to get in is to contact the studio directly or work with a ticket provider such as On Camera Audiences.
Visit a studio and take a behind-the-scenes tour. Even if you don’t get to see Tom Hanks in the act of filming, it’s still a thrill to see the backlots, the sound stages, the town square façades and the pyrotechnic displays that go into making movie magic. A tour of one of LA’s movie studios (try Warner Bros. Studios – VIP Tours, Sony Pictures Studios or Universal Studios HollywoodSM) might make it a bit harder to suspend your disbelief the next time you watch a movie, but it’ll definitely make it easier to enjoy the magic of the celebrity lifestyle.
Have lunch at Pizzeria Mozza, Osteria Mozza or one of LA’s other star-studded restaurants, like Craft, Nobu Los Angeles or Spago. You’ll feel famous just being there, and you might even catch a glimpse of a real celebrity at a choice table just yards away. These are the kinds of places where the vibe is deliciously decadent and everyone from A-listers to wannabes is there to either see or be seen. For more celebrity dining spots, try The Standard Downtown Rooftop Bar or Sofitel Hotel’s Stone Rose Lounge.
If sitting in the studio audience doesn’t register on your glitz meter, it might be time to crash the velvet rope and enjoy some of LA’s hottest nightclubs. Getting into Hyde Lounge or Les Deux is easier said than done when you’re not a celebrity, but don’t worry; where there’s a will, there’s a way. You just have to plan in advance. If you’re female, young and beautiful, your chances of getting into the club are always pretty good (not so good if you’re a group of guys). But if you’re one of the favored few on the guest list, none of that matters — and that’s where your hotel concierge can be tremendously helpful. Having money to spend never hurts, either. If you call the club in advance and reserve a table with bottle service, you’ll be able to skip the lines and avoid the guest list hassle altogether. If all else fails, just be beautiful — you’ll get in.
