My college age daughter and I will be visiting LA during the Academy Awards. She wants to hang out by hotels or restauraunts where the after-award-show parties are in hopes of spotting celebrities. I have a feeling we will not get close to these restaurants and it will be a big waste of time. Wish we had entered the lottery last September to sit by the red carpet and but hadn't made plans for LA then. Anyone have any comments or ideas?

Same question is raised on the following post:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34729327

Any 5 star hotels and their restaurants/bars like the Peninsula, Four Seasons, Beverly Hills Hotel, might have good people watching.
The Ivy, or Wolfgang Puck's Spago, or maybe the Standard's restaurant would be another good spot. Alsok the Roosevelt has a very hot bar, but seeing celebs is all very hit or miss...

I am ashamed to admit it, but one year I did join the crowd waiting between the two big after-Oscar parties in West Hollywood (the Vanity Fair event at Morton's and the Elton John/In Style event at Pagani's-- it won't be there this year). I saw great gobs of celebs (and by the way, Angelina Jolie is much more beautiful in person than on-screen or in photos-- she takes your breath away in person). I'm ashamed, because I constantly preach about Leaving Movie Actors in Peace at All Times Unless They Approach You (a bit like large dogs). Yet there I was-- "Ooh! Bridget Fonda (by the way-- getting more beautiful with age)!" "Kevin Spacey!" "Nicole Kidman and that midget jerk she's married to (told you it was a few years ago)!" Since you stand between barricades, celeb interaction is minimal (unless the stars recognize someone in the crowd, as Angelina did-- and she went over to chat with said friend). NOTE: It looks like Elton John's party will be at the huge Pacific Design Center

You might see people zooming in and out of the Governor's Ball at the Kodak Theatre.

Esquire is holding a viewing party at the Abbey in West Hollywood, which is kind of weird, since Esquire is a man's magazine and the Abbey is basically a gay watering hole (but straight-friendly, I guess). You might see some B- to D-list celebrities there; you never know.

The Night of 100 Stars party will be held at the Beverly Hills Hotel, and there is a Celebration of Artistic Freedom party at Pearl, a supper club on Robertson.

You might have some luck hanging around the lobby of the Peninsula or the Beverly Hills Hotel or maybe (for younger, hipper out-of-town actors) the Standard in WH that weekend.

See if you can get a reservation at Orso restaurant

Susan, did you see anyone????
My college age daughter and I love to celebrity spot while in LA, too!