I've lived and worked in the city for nearly 25 years and only occasionally see - or notice - celebrities.

Some years ago Robert Redford was right next to me at a fruit stand - we were both buying peaches. I didn't realize who he was at first but just noticed this really good looking guy next to me and I was kinda' giving him the eye.
When he felt me looking at him he turned and faced me (then I recognized him). He looked me right in the eye as if to say, "Please, please don't say anything to me".
I wouldn't have said anything anyway and wouldn't even had flirted if I'd recognized him at first, but his look was so desperate I just went back to picking peaches!

" wouldn't even had flirted".

Oops. "wouldn't even have flirted".

My favorite celebrity sighting was John Waters in the vacuum cleaner store on 14th Street.

In June I was walking by the playground at Houston and 6th and there was Mario Batali playing football with his kid and 6 other boys . . .

I've seen De Niro lunching at Da Silvano several times . . . Gywneth Paltrow hailing a cab on 7th Avenue South . . . Susan Sarandon walking to the gym by 15th and 6th . . . . Julianne Moore in Chelsea Market . . . Mike Myers on West Broadway . . .. so I guess downtown is the answer.

Loved the scene in this past week's repeated episode of The Office (Valentine's Day ep.) Michael is in NYC, and he pesters someone who he mistakes for Tina Fey. He finds out it's not her, and while pouting about it, totally misses Conan O'Brien walking past.

Our son's school was on 84th between Park and Madison. When my nursery school-age daughter and I would pick him up we would often head over to Central Park via 84th and then up Fifth. We often saw Jackie Onassis walking along this route, too, in the opposite direction, as she was headed towards St. Ignatius Loyola RC church. She was always gracious, giving the children a hello and a smile. We never spoke to her, of course, but once when we had the baby in his carriage covered with mosquito netting she peeked in to see him. She was a very lovely lady.

Well the OP hasn't been back. And I have a sneaking suspicion that the celebs they're looking for are Britney and her gigolo hubbie or Paris Hilton or someone - people who don;t really live in NYC anyway.

You can see them anywhere - yesterday I found out I share a vet with Kevin Kline - but they may not consider him a celeb.

Too true, NYtraveler.

So I guess most of them live in LA? OK, thanks!

A number of celebrities shop in the Whole Foods Market in Chelsea

Unfortunately, if you're that obsessed pick up the most recent issue of New York magazine -- there's a "Map 'O Stars" a la L.A. So sad; so cheesy.

They go where they won't be pestered.

For lunch I would go to Freds in Barney's Department Store or Michael's in Midtown.

For dinner, I think the best bets would be Da Silvano, Nobu, Babbo, and maybe Mr. Chow downtown. The lobby of the Mercer Hotel is also a good place for celeb spotting.

As people say, it is random, but these are the places that I myself have seen the most celebs (eating at least).

in today's USA today, go to this link and click to the last page of the article for a map! http://nymetro.com/news/people/18842/

joelst -

Most celebs have more than one residence - where depending on what type of celeb they are - movie, TV, theater, music, etc. But - if you're looking for the Britney/Paris type - no typically they don;t live in NYC.

You have still given us no info on who you're looking for.

If they're the people I;ve named - you can see them on TV - or in the supermarket rags - or possibly if you spend weeks hanging out in hotel lobbies in NYC (for a 30-second glimpse - through the bodyguards). Is that what you're looking for?

Purely in jest, so don't get your drawers in a knot, but do you ever read some of these thread titles, and say "who really cares?" For me, this one applies to that category.

Britney Spears became a international pop culture Icon immediately after launching her recording career. Rolling Stone magazine wrote: "One of the most controversial and successful female vocalists of the 21st century," http://how-much-does-britney-spears-weigh.com In reality, artists who have won the award have gone on to further success at least as often as not. Those who have had successful careers after winning the award include

???

This is a 2006 post.

>>

Even if it was a 2009 post......????

Yeah, you definitely have a point, sf7307. That post is really out of left field!!!

Celebrities go to old Fodor's topics to see where tourists are looking for them, so they can go elsewhere. Personally I have seen many celebs on trip Advisor on the North Dakota baord.