Thank heavens for the stars! They’re still out pumping some serious green into the U.S. economy just when it needs it the most. Here’s who we’ve spotted out and about on recent spending sprees (or just hanging out) in L.A.
Rod Stewart, Danny DeVito and Tim Allen all were seen doing their part to fuel the local economy in Beverly Hills, which like most tourism centers has been suffering a major slowdown (making it easier than ever to spot celebrity shoppers there, though).
Pop princess Britney Spears pulled into downtown Beverly Hills driving a brand-new silver Mercedes convertible before popping into the Ron Herman boutique on Beverly Drive for an afternoon of power shopping. And while she may be a “Slave for You,” she was also a slave to fashion, wearing the very latest in hip-hugging athletic-style warm-up pants, a blue mesh tank top with white stripes and silver sunglasses.
Meanwhile, the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson, was also spied on Rodeo Drive, browsing jeweler Harry Winston’s diamond-studded displays with his two tykes Paris and Prince in tow.
From king to knight: Whenever Sir Elton John‘s in town, you can be sure he’ll stop by Beverly Hills’ edgy Gianni Versace boutique, where he recently slipped in the secret VIP entrance and did some serious purchasing of the Italian design house’s finery. The singer and Versace are so closely associated, even a prominent female Elton impersonator shops there.
Instead of shopping, Al Pacino and his paramour Beverly D’Angelo were spotted playing with their two twin babies in a Beverly Hills public park.
Songbird Mariah Carey was sighted sashaying through Beverly Hills with a girlfriend. A few days prior, the Glitter-y glamour girl enjoyed dinner at Santa Monica’s scenic Shutters on the Beach.
Others who’ve stopped into Shutters recently include Felicity’s Keri Russell, now enrolled in her series’ senior year, and Reba McEntire, fresh off big ratings for her eponymous WB sitcom.
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At the Four Seasons Beverly Hills, West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin slipped into the cocktail lounge with a thick book in one hand and a gorgeous blonde in the other, walking in just as most of his fellow loungers were offering opinions about the special non-continuity, terrorism-themed episode he wrote for his series that aired just a day earlier.
Gearing up for a celebrity autograph and memorabilia show, Emmy winner and sitcom veteran Don Knotts, looking jaunty in a blue blazer and baggy cap, ducked into a limo outside the Four Seasons.
Mr. Chow’s, the artistically minded Asian eatery, remains one of L.A.’s prime celebrity noshing spots, recently serving former SNL superstars Mike Myers and Chris Rock, power couple Jamie Lee Curtis and Christopher Guest, Dennis Quaid, retired hoopster Ervin “Magic” Johnson, studio bigwig Alan Ladd Jr and uber-babe Claudia Schiffer.
The Century City Shopping Center is almost as much a magnet for stars as the streets of Beverly Hills. In one night, we spotted Entertainment Tonight’s perennial pixie Mary Hart looking for a place to park her gold Lexus SUV (celebrating that new $25 million contract, Mary?); ex-Alley McBeal roomie Lisa Nicole Carson shopping in a killer denim ensemble that (for once) downplayed her ample curves; the “Kid” of Kid and Play, actor/hip-hop artist Christopher Reid, at Houston’s restaurant; and character actor Rob Moran (most Farrelly Brothers films)–husband of another ET hostess, Julie Moran–taking in a screening of The Last Castle.
Slender, swan-like Dominique Swain was spotted smiling coyly for snapshots and agreeably inking autographs as she un-valeted her car after a night out at West Hollywood’s hoppin’ Latin Lounge. Next door at the enduring steakhouse and watering hole Dan Tana’s, slinky Gina Gershon was seen dishing with a date over appetizers.
Meanwhile, there’s a reason why enduring screen goddess Raquel Welch is still so fabulous–we caught her working out on the Stairmaster at an L.A. 24 Hour Fitness (in sunglasses, no less, but we still couldn’t miss you, Ms, Welch). Downstairs, her buff husband Richie Palmer, owner of two nearby pizza shops, stayed fit lifting weights. You’d never know these two are surrounded by mozzarella and pizza dough all day.
OBSCURE-BUT-COOL-SIGHTING OF THE MOMENT: With apologies to Michelle Pfeiffer, for many of us Julie Newmar will always be the ultimate Catwoman, thanks to her purr-fectly feline portrayal in the 1960s Batman TV series (she also inspired the title of the Patrick Swayze–Wesley Snipes starrer To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar). The impossibly tall (5’11”), leggy and still-stunning Newmar was spotted browsing the bookshelves of the Century City Brentano’s with her young son. From those of us who will forever have catsuit fetishes: Thanks for everything, Ms. Newmar.
