If you’re headed to the “City of Angels” whether it be as part of the Elon LA program or simply for a nice vacay, you don’t have to go all the way back to North Carolina if you’re missing your “oak” filled campus home…and you definitely don’t have to do a hop-on hop-off bus tour to see your fav celebs. Instead, check out this list of celebrity spotting hotspots that you can hit throughout your normal day-to-day shenanigans, including an Elon favorite: the Oaks Gourmet Market & Cafe. So if you’re looking for somewhere to dance on elevated surfaces with influencers or are just longing to try the same green juice as someone like Leonardo Dicaprio, then fret no further; we’ve got you covered.

FOOD/GROCERY:

The Oaks Gourmet Market & Cafe

At Elon, the “oaks'” refer to the picturesque spot on campus where all first-year students truly become one with the school community by receiving their acorn at convocation, but in LA, The OAKS refers to a celebrity-frequented organic market cafe. Deemed an Elon Los Angeles student favorite for finding celebrities by none other than program leader Jay Mcmerty himself, the Oaks Gourmet Market & Cafe is a small shop that sells a wide variety of different wines and craft beets, upmarket groceries, sandwiches and top-notch smoothies. While no actual oak trees were involved in the making of this student favorite cafe, it is still a great place to get some work done while keeping a close eye on the door for a glimpse of a recognizable face. Located on N Bronson Ave at the base of Hollywood Hills, celebrities such as Ashley Benson, Amanda Seyfried, Kaia Gerber and Austin Butler have all been spotted at this Franklin Village hidden gem.

Birds

Just a few doors down from the Oaks, Birds is a lunch spot that's famous for its swanky Alfred Hitchcock theme. This Franklin Village fav is an upbeat, creative-frequented neighborhood hangout that has superb rotisserie chicken and happy hour. Commonly used as a business lunch meeting place for screenwriters, producers, directors, etc., many celebs have also been spotted around the delicious dive. This past summer, Elon Los Angeles students spotted famed director Paul Thomas Anderson nearby and just a month prior, other students saw Stranger Things star Joe Keery in the close vicinity of the restaurant.

Craig’s

A fancy and rather pricey place for dinner; Craig’s on Melrose is the perfect place for a dressy meal out with your besties. With framed photos of celebrities like Harry Styles upon entry, Craig’s has become a major fav of the famous because of its balance of both public and private access. The restaurant offers the perfect location for reliable and flattering photo ops for celebrities as well as a stellar menu. If you check out Craig’s, definitely try the pigs in a blanket; they’re to die for! Some celebs that have been spotted at Craig’s include Hannah Ann from the Bachelor, Lizzo, Kim Kardashian and Olivia Jade.

SHOPPING:

Melrose Trading Post

Some of the best vintage shopping in LA, Melrose Trading Post is a Sunday open-air market where a large array of vendors can sell antiques, vintage goods, artwork and collectibles. An Elon LA favorite, each week a new celebrity always seems to pop up at the fresh shopping site. During the summer program, students spotted podcaster/barstool celeb Brianna ChickenFry and her partner-in-comedy-crime O’Malley at the market, as well as a large line-up of internet stars. In the past, former Dance Moms darling Maddie Ziegler has been cited as saying that Melrose Trading was one of her favorite places to shop and there truly is a never-ending selection to choose from. Many of the vendors rotate in and out, so even for locals this market is always a brand new experience. Located on the grounds of Fairfax High School on Melrose Ave, this market also features food trucks, seating areas and occasionally live music, so you can really make a whole day out of it.

The Grove

One of Los Angeles’s favorite dining and retail locations, this entertainment complex is home to luxury shopping, high-end restaurants and the historic farmer’s market. With plenty of stores for all your shopping needs, the Grove is one of the only locations to feature the Brandy Melville Cafe, Chill Since ‘93. Commonly frequented by Hollywood starlets due to its proximity to many major studios, Pete Davidson, Gigi Hadid, Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber have all been spotted shopping/dining there in recent months.

A NIGHT OUT:

Bootsy Bellows

An exclusive vaudeville-inspired nightclub in West Hollywood, Bootsy Bellows is a celebrity-frequented party and performance hotspot. While it's extremely hard to get into the club without a promoter, if you can connect to one, it is definitely worth it to see some great performances and rub shoulders with some of Hollywood’s majorly elite. Some celebs spotted at this club include Jason Derulo, Justin Bieber, Marlon Wayans and Kate Beckinsdale.

The Comedy Store

Check out some of your favorite celebrity comics trying out material at this 21+ comedy club, and perhaps even see some of them seated among you in the audience. In 2022, celebrities including Chris Rock, Jim Carey and John Stamos were all spotted at the popular club. And, if you are looking for a career in comedy you can even look into potentially performing here with some time spent schmoozing the booker—probably by working as a bouncer on the door for a little while.

Stay tuned for more city-specific content and if you spot a celebrity, let us know at @theedgemag!

Under the OAKS