Posts Tagged ‘erin darling’

Actress Carey Mulligan is cute as a button, and we all fell in love with her a little more when she confessed her love for Best Western to People Magazine, “I don’t know why people are so down on the Best Western. They have the best sweet potato fries I’ve ever had.”

Although the Hollywood Best Western may have been her temporary home post-split from boyfriend Shia LaBeouf, it looks like she may have been cheating on Best Western with a new love! Mulligan was spotted at Le Montrose Suite Hotel in West Hollywood.

Le Montrose, 900 Hammond St. West Hollywood, CA 90069

It’s a beautiful hotel with a rooftop pool overlooking all of Los Angeles, but she may have to go back to the Best Western for the famous french fries! Although Le Montrose does offer a cajun spiced version, nothing beats the real thing.

Dubbed as one of the best-kept Industry secrets in Hollywood, this edgy and elegant hot spot will definitely have you spotting a celebrity, or just feeling like one.  From the exclusive Privato Lounge and rooftop pool to the urban suites, this cozy hotel is just steps away from the nonstop motion of the famous Sunset Strip.

Rates are very reasonable, given the location and decor. Check out http://www.lemontrose.com for all the scoop, and be sure to check back often for more celebrity hot spots by Erin Darling right here on Positively Celebrity

Yes, even stars have to pick up their prescriptions! Actress Elisha Cuthbert was spotted in a West Hollywood Rite Aid, looking just as gorgeous in person as she does on the cover of your “The Girl Next Door” DVD.

Rite Aid. 7900 W. Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90046

As far as convenience stores go, this Rite Aid ranks low. Not only is it frequently visited by shady Hollywood characters but it’s also a favorite destination among local panhandlers who will ask you for your spare change.

That said, it’s also a great place to spot the stars. It’s location, just south of the Hollywood Hills, makes it an easy stop for anyone heading past Sunset and Fairfax on their way to their lavish homes.

Rapping legend and entrepreneur Master P was spotted at the Malibu Country Mart for the Malibu Music Awards this past weekend.

Malibu Country Mart. 3835 Cross Creek Rd. Malibu, CA 90265

The Malibu Country Mart, an upscale shopping and dining center, was transformed from a laid back hangout to the location of an elaborate show for the Malibu Music Awards, on Saturday September 25.

Many Los Angeles and Malibu residents flocked to this event to watch local students, teachers and music acts receive recognition for their hard work and dedication to the field of music. Master P was briefly spotted here to accept an honorary award, before heading out to enjoy the rest of his Saturday night.

Anytime a celebrity slims down, rumors run rampant about how they lost the weight. You can barely watch the local news, let alone open a magazine, that doesn’t have information on a new diet trend.

But with this great influx of information, how are we supposed to know which diets are legitimate and which are simply as strange and gimmicky as they sound? Sari Greaves, RD spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association and Nutrition Director at Step Ahead Weight Loss Center in Bedminster, New Jersey helps shed some light on the subject of some of the popular celebrity diets we’ve seen in the media.

Remember, it’s best to consult your doctor before embarking on any diet, inspired by a svelte celebrity, or not.

The Master Cleanse

Also known as the “Lemonade Diet,” The Master Cleanse is a diet that claims to cleanse your body through drinking a homemade lemonade comprised of maple syrup, cayenne pepper and lemon juice mixed with water. If you think that sounds terrible, it actually gets worse. This lemonade is meant to be all you consume for at least 10 days, if you can follow it for that long, supplemented only by brackish water and laxative tea to help stimulate bowel movements.

According to Stanley Burroughs, the creator of the diet, The Master Cleanse is meant to rid the body of toxins, increase energy levels and aid in weight loss. Singer and actress Beyonce Knowles famously lost 20 pounds in less than two weeks on this stringent diet to slim down for her role in “Dreamgirls” and model Naomi Campbell said that she also does The Master Cleanse when she last appeared on Oprah.

So does it work? According to Greaves, the answer is yes, if your goal is to see a lower number on the scale. “The diet is only 600 to 1200 calories per day,” she explains. “No one should dip below 1200 calories per day for weight loss without professional supervision, which is one reason why The Master Cleanse may be dangerous. Essentially, this regimen is a fast and puts the body into a state of starvation. During starvation your fat cells are burned for energy, but your body also breaks down muscle to provide enough fuel to vital organs such as the brain and heart.”

This type of starvation slows the dieter’s metabolism, making any weight loss extremely difficult to maintain once you return to a normal eating routine. But that’s not the only downside to The Master Cleanse, according to Greaves. “More importantly, starving your body of vital nutrients for a prolonged period can wreak havoc on your system. Risks include frequent liquid bowel movements, vitamin deficiency, muscle breakdown, weakened immune system, hair loss, pallid complexion and even brain damage. The bottom line is that there are definitely much safer and more sustainable ways to lose weight that do not incur long-term health risks.”

The Baby Food Diet

What’s the fastest way to get a new fad diet in the news? Ask the hottest trainer in Los Angeles what she and her A-list clients are doing to stay slim.

The latest diet buzz has been surrounding The Baby Food Cleanse, which is a diet based on eating pureed food, whipping your meals to a consistency similar to the contents of a Gerber jar. This is a new type of cleanse that celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson developed for her clients which include Jennifer Aniston and Madonna. Anderson told Hollyscoop that this type of diet is cleansing, yet still allows you to eat, technically.

“It calls for a daily 14 servings of pureed fruits, vegetables, grains and meat. In other words, baby food from your local supermarket followed by a healthy adult dinner,” says Greaves. “The 14 servings throughout the day deliver 1,000 calories and the calories included in the nightly meal depend on your own math.”

So should we all be making a mad dash to the baby food aisle in the grocery store? Not yet, says Greaves. “There’s no study saying whether this diet really works. Possibly because it’s so new that researchers haven’t had time for a thorough examination. It’s also important to point out that The Baby Food Diet doesn’t have any solid guidelines to follow or an exercise component, which is essential for leading an overall healthy lifestyle, not matter what you’re eating.”

Raw Food Diet

Read any celebrity gossip magazine and you’ll see that there are many interpretations of what qualifies as a “raw food” diet, but in most cases, this eating plan encourages followers to stay away from processed foods, and bread. This basically means fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds. However, true raw foodists don’t let anything pass through their lips that is cooked at a temperature over 116 degrees in order to avoid breaking down important enzymes.

“A raw food diet is just what it sounds like- you only eat raw food. As in at least 75 percent of your meals and snacks are not heated above 116 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature is chosen because the diet’s creators believe that the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables wither away when cooked at high heats,” explains Greaves.

Actress Demi Moore has been said to be a longtime fan of a raw diet. But younger ingenue, Amanda Seyfried, sounded more reluctant to embrace this diet although she also goes raw, telling Esquire that it’s “awful” and that her lunch consisted of “spinach and some seeds.” ”While on a raw diet you can expect to eat vegetarian or most likely vegan. That means no meat, no dairy, no eggs, no animal ingredients and most importantly, no processed foods,” says Greaves.

Does going raw do a body good? Definitely when you eliminate processed foods from your diet, Greaves says. “Research has linked eating processed foods to obesity, diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. Plus, they’re rather high in sugars and empty calories and low in essential vitamins. Almost all meals in a raw food diet are based on the same key ingredients including: fresh fruit and vegetables, sprouts, seeds, nuts, grains, beans, dried fruit, and seaweed. All of these foods are high in essential vitamins and lack trans and saturated fats.”

An added benefit? Eating more fruits and vegetables aid in digestion, reduce risk of heart disease, increase energy levels, result in clearer skin and, weight loss. However, before you jump on the raw food bandwagon, Greaves suggests you do your research and make sure you know how to eat balanced meals while going raw. “Doctors have seen raw foodists experience calcium, iron, zinc and B12 deficiencies. And a recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that a raw food diet increased levels of homocysteine – an amino acid in the blood linked to heart disease- due to vitamin B-12 deficiency.

Switching to a raw food diet might not be the best choice for children, pregnant or nursing women and people with anemia or at risk for osteoporosis, since research has found that people on the raw food diet often have lower bone mass than those who do not follow a raw diet.”

Although we usually see him in scrubs, actor Donald Faison was spotted in jeans getting his shop on at the Beverly Center last week.

Beverly Center. 8500 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles, CA. 90048

Despite the gawkers and people staring outside of Coffee Bean, Faison kept his cool as he exited Bloomingdale’s and casually waved to fans as he strolled through the rest of the mall.

Although Los Angeles is chock-full of popular shopping destinations, The Beverly Center is LA’s consummate indoor shopping mall. Complete with everything from high end designer boutiques like Gucci and Burberry to massive department stores like Macy’s, The Beverly Center is a centrally-located collection of clothing stores, restaurants and home furnishings.

If you want to knock all your shopping out in a matter of hours, bring your list here and check off items off one by one as your peruse through all The Beverly Center has to offer!

And be sure to check out more celebrity hot-spots from Erin Darling right here at Positively Celebrity!

Although we remember her as a “Cheetah Girl” and member of girl-group 3LW, Kiely Williams is all grown up now! She was recently spotted at a pizza joint in the San Fernando Valley.

Robano’s. 10057 Riverside Dr. Toluca Lake, CA. 91602

Robano’s isn’t exactly a swanky place, but rather a relaxed restaurant with a menu stocked with pizza, pasta and salads. Located off the Hollywood Freeway, Robano’s boasts a quiet patio, comfortable couches, and free parking…a Los Angeles anomaly!

Although it’s not your typical “hotspot,” Robano’s seems to be a local favorite amongst valley residents and celebrities. Also recently spotted here, Grace of Grace Potter And The Nocturnals.

Be sure to check out more celebrity hot-spots and star sightings every week from Erin Darling right here at Positively Celebrity!

The Dolores Huerta Foundation’s mission is to inspire people to organize sustainable communities to attain social justice. Last Friday, they did that by bringing Zack de la Rocha and Carlos Santana to the Greek Theater.

Greek Theater. 2700 N. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90027

How do you celebrate your birthday when you’re an iconic human rights activist? Throw a huge benefit concert, if you’re Dolores Huerta. Weaving Movements Together was one of the most politically charged party I’ve attended this year. This star-studded concert benefited the Dolores Huerta Foundation, giving attendees the opportunity to listen to some of their favorite music acts while supporting their community.

The line up included Pete Escovedo, Lila Downs, the aforementioned Zack de la Rocha of Rage Against The Machine, and the original guitar hero, Carlos Santana. Danny Glover, Martin Sheen and Benjamin Bratt also spoke at the event, addressing the crowd with powerful and emotionally-charged speeches about the recent Arizona immigration legislation.

Dolores Huerta is a respected activist who has spent her life promoting human rights. Her resume includes working with Cesar Chavez to organize and run the labor union, United Farm Workers. For years, she’s been fighting on the frontlines for the rights of minorities, women, immigrants, and the gay community. Weaving Movements Together was not only a celebration, but another opportunity to raise funds and awareness for social justice.

Be sure to check out more posts from our Hot-spots editor Erin Darling right here at Positively Celebrity!

Pink’s is an LA landmark famous for its hot dogs and infamous for its ridiculously long lines. Although this hot dog shack may be home to the greasy kind of food you’d like to stuff your face with after a long night of partying, the queue is an automatic deterrent for the inebriated and sober alike. But nevertheless, we still love Pink’s and this is why…

Pink’s. 709 North La Brea Ave. Los Angeles, CA. 90038

Pink’s is a family owned hot dog business that has had the same location on La Brea  since 1939 and boasts the world’s best chili dog. More than a stand, but too small to be deemed a restaurant, Pink’s has perfected the art of the hot dog and offers a menu full of different varieties.  Sour cream, tomatoes, guacamole, onions and cheese are just a few of the toppings that customize the dogs here.

Many celebrities have visited Pink’s, autographed photos and headshots line the walls, and menu items are often named after stars. Ever wondered what Rosie O’Donnell would taste like if she were reincarnated as a hot dog? Apparently a 10-inch stretch dog, topped with mustard, onions, chili and sauerkraut, according to Pink’s.

Is Pink’s all it’s cracked up to be?

Definitely not, in my humble opinion, but if you’re wandering the streets of Los Angeles craving a hot dog I can’t think of a better place to get one.

If hot dogs aren’t your cup of tea, the menu is still stocked with fast food alternatives like nachos, french fries, burritos and burgers. To avoid standing in a line that can easily put you an hour away from your delicious hot dog, visit Pink’s for lunch instead of dinner (arrive at 11:30 AM on a weekday, and you’re golden).

Be sure to get the scoop on more celebrity hot-spots from Erin Darling right here at Positively Celebrity!

The newest LA nightclubs attract their fair share of celebs who want to go to the most exclusive places when they take a night off. This week, it was The Colony.

The Colony. 1743 N. Cahuenga Blvd. Hollywood CA 90028

NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens was spotted at LA hot spot, The Colony. This Hampton’s themed nightclub opened this summer, bringing a little bit of the East Coast straight to Hollywood. A night at The Colony is a perfect weekend activity for the bi-coastal who miss home, or the Angelenos who just want to experience the elite Summer escape for New Yorkers, without the pricey plane ticket.

Everything from the worn-looking wood exterior, to the nautically decorated interior screams breezy and beachy.

Although Southern California temperatures are constantly enviable compared to colder climates, Angelenos are soaking up the sun and spending their time enjoying summer activities. Whether it’s enjoying a relaxing evening at the bars, or checking out local outdoor festivals, here’s where the stars were seen this past week.

Q’s Billiard Club & Restaurant. 11835 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90025

If you’re single, a student, or a sports-fanatic, Q’s is probably your bar of choice on the Westside. Here you can grab some grub, watch sports on one of their 30 television screens, or shoot some pool with your friends. Usually known for being a laidback, local hangout for UCLA students, patrons were surprised to see actor Cuba Gooding Jr. stop by last week.

Sunset Gower Studios. 1438 N. Gower St. Hollywood, CA 90028

The Sunset Gower Studio lot is an important Hollywood landmark, originally founded in 1921 by Columbia Pictures Studios mogul Harry Cohn. Many films and television shows have been filmed on the premises, but this past Saturday it was home to The Saban Free Clinic’s Extravaganza For The Senses, a charity event featuring booths with food from LA’s hottest restaurants, wine tasting, a live DJ and (of course) a VIP lounge. Fans of Bravo’s Top Chef enjoyed seeing current contestant Alex Reznik at this event.