The Grove

TAYLOR SWIFT CLOSED DOWN THE GROVE, BUT TRAVIS IS STILL IN THE PICTURE!

THIS is a first! Today The Grove outdoor mall in Los Angeles is closed ALL DAY for the first time since it open 20 years ago, for the world premier of Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour concert movie! Taylor’s new boyfriend, football player Travis Kelce won’t be able to join her on the red carpet, so he sent a lavish $2500 floral arrangement to her at the Beverly Hills hotel where she’s staying. Travis  originally planned to make his official debut with Taylor tonight on the red carpet, but his grueling football schedule didn’t allow him to miss practices before the upcoming game. Our source says that he wrote a VERY gushy card to go along with the gorgeous floral display and that Taylor IS expected to meet up with him again at his next game. (BTW, we have to congratulate Rick Caruso for paying off all his Grove retail tenants for the closure – this will put his mall on the map…

Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA

ANGELINA JOLIE BRAVES THE GROVE ON A WEEKEND

Sunday afternoon at The Grove – especially before Christmas – is usually a mob scene, so imagine how surprised shoppers were to see Angelina Jolie and three of her six kids bouncing from store to store together! Heads turned, but the Jolie-Pitts weren’t really bothered by fans. Usually JUST out of camera range is the watchful bodyguard – but he occasionally stepped up to retrieve and carry the family’s accumulated shopping bags.

Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA

HEIDI KLUM AND KIDS HAVE A MODERN CHRISTMAS

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This is how we celebrate Christmas in Hollywood. Heidi Klum took her four kids – Leni, Henry, Johan, and Lou – to The Grove to visit Santa Claus in his little house. Then they stopped at the pond to watch the water show. Every once in awhile, man-made snow falls on the crowd of shoppers. Heidi’s mother Erna (behind them) keeps an eye on the proceedings. Heidi’s boyfriend Vito Schnabel is nowhere in sight, but we predict he soon will be – at least by New Year’s Eve.

Photo Credit: AKM-GSI

LITTLE GIA TAMED HER PLAYBOY DADDY MARIO LOPEZ


Photo Credit: Pacific Coast News

Extra host Mario Lopez had surprise visitors on the set at The Grove – his fiancee Courtney Mazza and their little girl Gia, who’s one and a half. Happy bachelor Mario enjoys being a dad but until recently he didn’t want to commit to being a husband too. He decided he wants Gia’s mom to have the same last name so they plan to wed sometime this year in Mexico.

KATY PERRY: CLANG, CLANG, CLANG, GOES THE TROLLEY!

Photo Credit: Pacific Coast News

We just returned from The Grove where we saw the new Sherlock Holmes movie, and noticed the mall was unusually packed with shoppers, security people, and velvet ropes. And it wasn’t just to see Santa. Katy Perry had been there for a few hours promoting her new fragrance “Meow” that is on sale at Nordstrom. She made a spectacular arrival on the trolley and looked adorable in pink, but rather normal. (We guess she’s giving her overprocessed hair a rest.)

VICTORIA BECKHAM AND HER LITTLE GIRL HARPER FINALLY GO SHOPPING

It takes practice to walk in flats if you’ve been wearing stilettos for years, so Victoria Beckham is getting used to feeling short at The Grove with her kids. Apparently her back problem is improving, but ballet flats are still the prescribed footwear. She took 8 week old Harper to a fancy children’s store for some shopping, then she and Harper and the boys went to a movie. Hopefully Harper behaved and they didn’t get kicked out of the theater.

FAYE DUNAWAY TAKES CHARGE AT J CREW

The young clerks behind the counter at J Crew in The Grove were startled when a blonde woman stormed up and grandly announced “I’m Faye Dunaway and I need to use the restroom. And I don’t want to be bothered by ANYONE!” The shaken salespeople just STARED – they didn’t know who she was, and they didn’t really allow customers to use the bathroom. But she was so intimidating that they made an exception and led her to the back room. Later Faye was looking at some cardigan sweaters and her terrified young salesman was nervously trying to help fold the garments. She looked at him and scowled “Can you NOT MANHANDLE my sweaters, please!” They will not soon forget the visit from Ms Dunaway.

PATRICK SCHWARZENEGGER HAS A SUMMER JOB AT THE GROVE


Photo Credit: Pacific Coast News

It’s the first day of Patrick Schwarzenegger’s summer job and his father came to visit. Arnold is at The Grove, shaking the hand of Rick Caruso, the developer of the popular shopping mall. Rick hired Arnold’s teenage son Patrick as an intern in his office for the summer. Presumably Patrick will absorb some business know-how. It’s nice to see a rich kid working in summer even if daddy pulled some strings. Patrick is dressed up in his work clothes wearing a nametag that simply says “Patrick S.”

JOSH GROBAN AND SELMA BLAIR TRIED TO BE ALONE

Photo Credit: Buzz Foto

We love it when a paparazzi manages to catch a new couple on a date and follows them around all evening! Josh Groban and Selma Blair had little chance of privacy when a smart photographer spotted them trying to be low-key at The Grove. The couple had a sip of something at a cozy table at the French wine bar Monsieur Marcel at the farmer’s market. Afterward they went to the movies and caught the 9:35 showing of “Salt” – this week’s big date movie. Josh loves the Grove – we’ve seen him more than once at The Farm restaurant with a date.