2. Kitson
3. The Ivy Restaurant
4. The Sunset Strip
5. Carbon Beach
6. Barneys New York
7. Studio City Farmers Market
8. Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
9. Malibu Country Mart
10. Chris McMillan, the salon
11. The Grove
12. Fred Segal
13. Off-N-Running Tours
Like swarms of bees searching for nectar, packs of celebrity-seeking paparazzi travel across Los Angeles every hour of the day in search of that next buzzworthy shot. The encounter might be as ordinary as “Grey’s Anatomy” star Katherine Hegel buying groceries, or as extraordinary as Reese Witherspoon having a romantic date at the beach. Witnessing the paparazzi portion of the star-making cycle is an authentic LA experience.
The famous (and infamous) may go to great lengths to protect their privacy, but the paparazzi have uncovered their favorite public haunts. If you’re eager for a celebrity sighting, check out some of the best paparazzi star-stalking spots in the city.
www.lawa.org
If it weren’t for the arrivals terminals at LAX, the celebrity-gotcha show TMZ wouldn’t have a broadcast. While many stars hide in private airline clubs pre-flight, they must mingle with the public post-flight at the baggage terminals. If you don’t happen upon an encounter, then head to Terminal 3 on the lower/arrivals level, where public art shows are often staged.
www.shopkitson.com
Paparazzi are regularly camped out in front of the nine-year-old Robertson Boulevard store, a regular haunt of celebrities who like its eclectic assortment of T-shirts, gifts and “it” bags and shoes. Now almost as famous as its celebrity clientele, the store has added three additional Kitson shops on the street, including Kitson Men, Kitson Studio and Kitson Kids.
www.ivyrestaurantgroup.com
Two doors down from Kitson, that charming cottage is The Ivy, a cozy restaurant that’s one of LA's best celebrity dining scenes, though not for the food. The attention-hungry frequently sit on the front patio, where only a white picket fence separates them from prying lenses. The paps snap their full-length shots of everyone from Luke Wilson to Kim Kardashian as they wait curbside for valet parking attendants to retrieve their expensive wheels. Passers-by have been known to snag autographs from both Jennifer Aniston and George Clooney.
The 1 ½-mile section of clubs, boutiques and restaurants between Crescent Heights and Doheny Drive on the west, is regularly packed with stars cavorting day and night. Paparazzi packs can snag celebrities dining at Il Sole or getting wild at the famous nightclub, the Roxy. The Strip has become a favorite haunt of the famous because many live in the Hollywood Hills and Laurel Canyon, two exclusive enclaves above Sunset Boulevard.
www.barneys.com
The valet parking stand behind the tony Barneys New York store provides the paparazzi an exquisite, picture-taking opportunity. Unshielded from the street, the valet parking area is well within camera range, and better, many of the famous would rather valet publicly than self-park privately in the underground garage. Now if only our X-ray goggles could see into their black Barneys shopping bags?
The irresistible combination of celebrities plus their celebrity babies attracts many long lenses to the action at the Studio City Farmers Market. The Sunday morning market is the preferred choice of stars who live and work near the area’s film studios. Those with families can often be seen taking their children to the market’s petting zoo and pony ride.
www.manntheatres.com/chinese
Not every paparazzo earns a paycheck with the kind of candid shots that wind up in gossipy tabloids. Many make a living along the sidelines of red carpets that crop up at restaurant openings, fundraisers and especially, film premiers. When stars have a new movie to promote, they’re happy to pose along the red carpet at their movie premieres. Grauman’s Chinese Theatre remains one of the most popular locations for such events in Los Angeles and one of the best spots where the public – and the paparazzi – can catch a glimpse of film stars such as Sacha Baron Cohen, who arrived at his “Bruno” premiere astride the gun turret of his mirrored army tank.
www.malibucountrymart.com
When the famous want to shop somewhere relaxed and casual, they slip into jeans and flip-flops and head to this outdoor shopping center with 65 boutiques, galleries and restaurants. While Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan or Minnie Driver pick up toys, designer jeans and jewelry, locals buy their coffee, cosmetics and everyday (but pricey) clothes. At the sandy playground and picnic area, Malibu moms and surfer dudes alike discuss neighborhood news. Located near Pepperdine University, the Malibu Pier and mega-million dollar mansions of the nearby rich, the mall is Malibu’s defacto downtown.
www.chrismcmillansalon.com
There’s a reason Chris McMillan is called a “celebrity hairstylist.” Not only is he responsible for Jennifer Aniston’s “Rachel” haircut that inspired a nation of followers, but he is also a celeb, appearing as himself on ABC’s 2003 series “Extreme Makeover.” The stars keep on coming to his airy Beverly Hills salon, and the paparazzi keep on following them.
www.thegrovela.com
With a dancing fountain, a vintage trolley car and dozens of stores, restaurants and movie screens, The Grove is shopping as fantasy entertainment. Maybe it’s the concierge service that attracts stars to the outdoor mall, or perhaps it’s the valet parking. Or maybe it’s the chance to slide next door to the Farmers Market, a funky warren of open-air restaurants and stalls that’s as steadfastly authentic as The Grove is glossy. And yes, that’s Paris Hilton chowing down with her BFFs.
www.fredsegal.com
For more than 40 years, the ivy-covered building at the corner of Melrose Avenue and Crescent Heights Boulevard has been destination shopping for the trend-obsessed. Like a deconstructed department store, the cluster of individual boutiques is one-stop star shopping. There are entire boutiques offering the necessities of the famous: sunglasses, beauty products, lingerie and wildly original home décor. The open parking lot is equally enticing to the stars and the paparazzi alike; the stars like that it’s steps from the door, while the photographers like that the stars have to traverse the lot, giving them great access.
www.offnrunningtours.com
"Running from the Paparazzi" invites you to experience an exciting mile run from Wilshire Boulevard to glamorous Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, through Hollywood and past electric shops on Robertson Boulevard. Grace the streets of Beverly Hills in record time, doing some quick window-shopping and celeb-watching, while avoiding the forever-flashing paparazzi! This popular tour is becoming famous, so book your time and date. Don't be left out of the headlines!
