star search!

February 17, 2008 4:42 PM

Star sightings in NYC: This will be my second trip to NY. We will be in town March 4-5 staying near times square. Where's the best place to catch the celeb's? We probably won't be hitting any clubs mostly restaurants. I have prowled around the green looking for this but most of the questions I found just had to do with the touristy must do's.

Is there anything in that area that we must do during that time of week? Thank you Mefites!

posted by meeshell to Travel & Transportation around New York, NY (14 answers total)

Best answer: dinner at the spotted pig in greenwich village. generally, any stroll around soho will net you at least one celeb spotting.
posted by thinkingwoman at 4:52 PM on February 17, 2008

yes, definitely stroll around soho and the east village. I have seen Claire Danes, Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman, Winona Ryder, several Project Runway people...
posted by sweetkid at 5:01 PM on February 17, 2008

Response by poster: Soho is def on the list. We prowled around there a bit last time but it was late and raining so there weren't that many people out.
posted by meeshell at 5:02 PM on February 17, 2008

You can always check out the various major network morning show schedules, and perhaps go find a spot in the crowd in the background. At worse, you see some of the anchors, at best, you get to see a celeb or two who are scheduled to show. It would amount to a couple hours at most out of a morning. NBC seems to like people to stay outside, ABC seems to invite some folks inside depending on the segment, and I've not a clue what CBS does.
posted by Atreides at 5:06 PM on February 17, 2008

Many stage stars (and some movie stars doing plays) hang out after their shows are over and sign autographs for clusters of rabid fans at the backstage doors of their Broadway theatres.
Mostly hit and miss, often a crazy scene, but fun for a couple of minutes if you target exactly who you're looking for...
posted by Dizzy at 5:19 PM on February 17, 2008

I suppose it depends on if you want to meet them or just see them. In NYC, which you may know, we like to pretend like the celebs aren't celebs...we don't go up and talk to them or anything. We watch them walk by and then flip out with our friends once the famous ones are out of earshot. If you do want to meet them and go fan crazy, then go with the stage door route, for sure.
posted by sweetkid at 5:24 PM on February 17, 2008

Best answer: If you're doing the restaurant thing, check out the Chelsea Market and far West Chelsea. Chelsea Market is the home of the Food Network, and I've seen Alton Brown, Al Roker, and Emiril there. The weekdays are good, because that's when they are filming shows. You've also got Morimoto's there (who I saw Friday night walking down 10th to go to work) and Del Posto, one of Mario Batali's places just across the street. I've run into Mario Batali so many times in and around that area, it's no longer a thrill.
posted by kimdog at 5:34 PM on February 17, 2008

Response by poster: Oh I dont necessarily want to meet one. I have met a couple of B-listers like Lavar Burton aka Geordi from Star Trek and kept my cool....I would think they wouldn't like it when people flip out over them. Just be in the right place to see one. Last year was my first time in NY and being from a small town and having never been anywhere like that I wasn't brave enough to go to the morning shows by myself, I did get my nerve up and explored 5th Ave and the Diamond district during the day when the SO was at meetings. I never did get brave enough to take the subway by myself so I only went as far as I could walk during the day. This past year I have spent 3 weeks in Boston near Harvard and got braver about the subways. I'm really excited to be going back. Thanks for all the suggestions so far.
posted by meeshell at 5:37 PM on February 17, 2008

Seconding The Spotted Pig- last time Bookhouse and I went there we saw Charlie Rose (I know, exciting right?) Other safe bets (if you can swing a reservation)- Babo, The Rose Bar at the Gramercy Park Hotel, and Butter (which is technically a restaurant, but feels way more like a club at night).

Besides the customary celebs, Babo and The Spotted Pig are just great restaurants. So even if you only see a room full of nobodies, you'll have a great meal.
posted by Thin Lizzy at 5:37 PM on February 17, 2008

Best answer: http://gawker.com/stalker/
posted by AmbroseChapel at 5:39 PM on February 17, 2008 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Check out Gawker Stalker for a list of the most recent celebrity sightings. The map is helpful too. Some places look more popular than others.

Have a great time!
posted by NoraCharles at 5:41 PM on February 17, 2008

I saw Julianne Moore outside of Spotted Pig over Christmas. It's a cool restaurant and has good beer too.
posted by pombe at 7:31 PM on February 17, 2008

Best answer: Welcome back to New York! I hope you decide to try the subway by yourself -- it's our fastest, cheapest and easiest way to get around. If you want to eat at the Spotted Pig, or just people-watch in the Village, you're staying in the perfect neighborhood for trying out a short subway ride.

At the Times Square subway station (42nd St at Broadway), you could get on a downtown 1 train (there will be clear signs in the station saying which train goes downtown), and take it just six stops to Christopher Street. The ride would take less than 10 minutes and there would be lots of people around at all times because those are very busy stops. Christopher Street is right in the heart of the West Village.

(If you miss the Christopher stop for some reason, no worries: the next stop is Houston Street and you would just walk north from Houston into the Village.)
posted by lorimer at 10:59 AM on February 18, 2008

Response by poster: thanks for all the great tips I will update when I get back... and thank you lorimer for the directions I will try and get my nerve up to take the subway alone :)
posted by meeshell at 3:43 PM on February 18, 2008