In search of... Stars in Hollywood

Which hot spot will most of the stars be attending?

Which hot spot will most of the stars be attending?

Vanity Fair will again be hosting the most coveted invite of the night at Morton's Restaurant, 8764 Melrose Avenue (001 310 276 5205), where you are guaranteed to see stellar nominees such as Nicole Kidman, Best Actress for The Hours, and Jack Nicholson, Best Actor for About Schmidt, along with Renée Zellweger, Best Actress for Chicago.

But that's not the only party, is it?

You're so right. Last year's other hot celebrity-filled parties were at Maple Drive Restaurant, 345 North Maple Drive (001 310 274 9800), Elton John's Aids Foundation bash at Moomba, now closed, and the Night of 100 Stars at the Beverly Hills Hotel, 9641 Sunset Boulevard (001 310 276 2251).

Get real. I'm not going to be able to blag my way into any of these parties, so what should I do?

The simple strategy for stargazing and wannabe paparazzi is to get there early and stand on the pavement until the limos pull up. It's guaranteed to be quite a scene with flashes popping and everyone screaming for Daniel Day-Lewis, nominated for Best Actor in Gangs of New York, and Julianne Moore, nominated for Best Actress in Far From Heaven, to turn around. And often they do – especially if they've got one of those shiny golden statues in their manicured hands.

What about the Oscar ceremony itself? Where is that held?

Today, and for the second year running, the awards will be held at their new permanent home, The Kodak Theatre, 6801 Hollywood Boulevard (001 323 308 6300). The Kodak is a grand, lavish affair, purpose built to house the Oscars but is used for other performances and concerts throughout the year. Oscar-themed tours are conducted daily and tickets cost $15 (£10). Steve Martin is hosting tonight's ceremony and this year's presenters will include nominees Zellweger, Moore and Salma Hayek, Best Actress nominee for Frida, along with Jim Carrey, Jennifer Garner, Meg Ryan, Will Smith and last year's winners Halle Berry, Denzel Washington and Jennifer Connelly. The streets and pavements around the theatre are closed to traffic on Oscar day and night. Normally the stretch limos start arriving around 3.30pm so that the stars have plenty of time to stroll around the world's most famous red carpet in all their designer finery. But this year, because of the war in Iraq, the organisers have decided to make the affair more low-key and not have the stars stopping for photographs and interviews.

Anywhere else I should be going?

Join the mere LA mortals who are usually found in the groovy downtown sports and lobby bars where all the monitors are tuned to the live telecast. Fab and fun places to watch include the Millennium Biltmore's Sports Bar, 506 South Grand Avenue (001 213 624 1011), Moody's at the LA Marriott Downtown, 333 Figueroa Street (001 213 617 1133) and the Hyatt Regency Lobby Bar, 711 South Hope Street (001 213 683 1234). Fans of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (up for no fewer than six gongs) can cheer on their Tolkien heroes outside The Two Towers – One Party celebration at the Hollywood Athletic Club, 6525 Sunset Boulevard (www.theonering.net) from 4.30pm.

But in Tinseltown, seeing stars is not just restricted to Oscar time, is it?

No way, baby. The stars come out to play all year round in LA, making it a cinch to do a lot of celeb spotting. But that's spotting, not stalking, OK?

Yes, all right. So where should I hang out to guarantee the maximum star-spot potential?

Try the Chateau Marmont, 8221 Sunset Boulevard (001 323 656 1010), the hotel in which John Belushi famously died of an overdose, and where the guest list reads like a Who's Who of Hollywood élite. You are guaranteed to be the only person that nobody recognises sitting around the divine oval-shaped pool – and the only person who is not reading a script. Lazing around in this thoroughly private palm-fringed paradise is heaven on earth. And on one of the days I spent posing there I spotted not one but two of the Baldwin brothers and Sandra Bullock to boot. Another safe bet is the Bar Marmont, 8171 Sunset Boulevard (001 323 650 0575), an über-hip watering hole favoured by the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp.

Anywhere else?

Other hotels to cruise include Mondrian, 8440 Sunset Boulevard (001 323 650 8999), The Standard, 550 South Flower Street (001 213892 8080) and the Hotel Bel-Air, 701 Stone Canyon Road (001 310 472 1211).

What if I can't afford the room rates or get turfed out for loitering?

Come on slowcoach, keep up. Even skinny celebs have to eat and are always dining out. Good joints for spotting them are Spago, 176 North Canon Drive (001 310 385 0880), Les Deux Cafés, 1638 North Las Palma Avenue (001 323 465 0509) and The Sunset Room, 1430 North Cahuenga Boulevard (001 323 463 0004).

Any other hot tips?

Walk along Malibu beach where many of the A-listers have homes. Look nonchalant and stroll below the high tide line – above the high tide line is strictly private celebrity territory. Indulge in retail therapy at The Beverly Centre, 8500 Beverly Boulevard, and rub shoulders with Nicolas Cage, Drew Barrymore and Angelina Jolie who have shopped here recently. Workout at Crunch Gym, 8000 Sunset Boulevard (001 323 654 4550), where Jennifer Aniston joins in the cardio striptease classes. Get a new hairdo at Billy Yamaguchi's Spa Mystique Salon at the Century Plaza Hotel, 2025 Avenue of the Stars (001 310 551 3251), which specialises in feng shui haircuts favoured by Minnie Driver and Mel Gibson.

So how do I get there?

Bon Voyage (0800 316 0194; www.bon-voyage.co.uk) offers a three-night break at Chateau Marmont from £699 per person, including return flights with American Airlines from Heathrow or Manchester and room-only accommodation. The same deal at The Mondrian costs £565 per person. For further information, contact the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Bureau, LA Inc (020-7318 9555; www.visitlanow.com).

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