Ever hang with a Hilton?

Rub elbows with celebrities at these star-struck spots

By Ellen Fox

Metromix.com

November 10 2003

Want to test your knowledge of the eating and drinking habits of the rich and famous?
See if you can guess where these celebrities surfaced in Chicago:

Lawry's The Prime Rib
Why was the trendy Paris Hilton seen teetering into this decidedly unhip eat-and-potatoes joint? She was meeting up with her parents, who were finishing dinner by the time the accidental home-movie star joined them. Sporting high-heels and short pants, Hilton passed on the prime rib (surprise!) and nibbled on a side salad and shared some banana cream pie with the 'rents. Also recently spotted here:
Anthony Hopkins, in town for the Chicago International Film Festival.

Crobar
Which bald-headed local celebrity had the honor of spinning at this newly revamped club's preview party? Billy Corgan. The skullcap- and scarf-sporting ex-Zwan frontman deejayd for a stint up in the Suite, the club's VIP room, and sipped nothing more
potent than bottled water with pal and Metro-owner Joe Shanahan.

Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
What possibly could spoil a Gwyneth Paltrow-Chris Martin dinner date? Bringing all of Coldplay along! The melancholy babes, in town for the filming of "Proof," stopped into this tony local outpost of a Miami fave twice recently; once for a secluded dinner a
deux, during which they sipped tea and split a signature stone crab, then for a repeat performance with the whole band.

La Sardine
Where does indie film queen Parker Posey park it in Chicago? The "Mighty Wind" star dined with five friends recently at this West Side French spot. The gang shared a couple of bottles of red wine, while Posey ordered mussels steamed in white wine and cream sauce and roast rack of lamb.

Moda
Which founding father of grunge was spotted hanging out with fashion slaves? Chris Cornell, clad simply in a black tank and jeans, recently sipped Red Bull in a VIP booth at this fashion-conscious River North nightclub. When R&B crooner Brian McKnight
stopped in on a different night, however, he stood by the bar, choosing to mingle with the masses rather than sequester himself in a VIP booth. His drink of choice? Martell Cordon Bleu cognac.

Joe's Bar
Which way does Aerosmith's Steven Tyler walk? Straight through the front door of this monster sports bar. Tyler showed up here after a recent concert gig, acting the "perfect gentleman" as he was greeted by fans. The teetotaling Tyler eventually made his way to the VIP area, where he and his formerly freewheeling posse kept their noses clean, indulging in nothing more dangerous than bottled water and non-alcoholic
beer.

Pane Caldo
Who'd close down a whole Gold Coast restaurant just for dinner with her gang? Mariah Carey's party of 10 commandeered this Italian fave until 2 a.m. (the kitchen usually closes at 10 p.m.), ordering $2,500 worth of food like lamb carpaccio, shrimp ravioli
and, for Mariah, lobster risotto and white wine.

Ellen Fox is a metromix special contributor.


Copyright 2004 Metromix.com