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| 3/19/2008 11:21:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| Locales used for Mike Judge’s “Office Space” appear in the new Austin Star Map of celebrity homes and hangouts. |
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Where Peter was a bad, bad man
New map tracks down ‘hangouts, homes’ of local celebrities
MARCIAL GUAJARDO
Managing Editor
The stars were in Central Texas last week as South by Southwest churned to a feverish pitch, but not all of them have left.
From Lance Armstrong to President George W. Bush to Jessica Simpson, this area has long had ties to the rich and famous. But for stargazers hoping to discover where those stars have hung out or might be, resources have been few and often unreliable.
Those thoughts occurred to Ame Shillington shortly after her sister, who Shillington described as a "celebrity gossip junkie," moved to Central Texas. Asked by her sister to lead her on a celebrity homes tour of Austin, Shillington found the going rough because of a lack of reliable information.
That launched a business venture leading to Austin Star Map, billed as a "guide to the homes, hangouts and hotspots of Austin celebrities."
To Shillington, now vice-president in charge of celebrity tourism development for Austin Star Map, the venture filled an obvious niche.
"Everybody we talk to about this say they can't believe this hasn't been around for a long time," she said.
Available only since Feb. 1, the maps contain a list of downtown locales where celebrities have been spotted, or - in the case of Jason Patric - were arrested.
The downtown walking tour of Austin includes:
• The Driskill Hotel (a favorite for visiting dignitaries),
• Six Lounge (owned by Tour de France winner and Austin favorite Armstrong),
• Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant (used by MTV for its "Real World Austin" reality series) and
• the site on Colorado Street where Patric, in town filming "The Alamo" in 2004, was arrested for public intoxication and resisting arrest (the charges were later dropped).
The driving tour includes the homes of Round Rock-based Dell Inc. head Michael Dell, actor Dennis Quaid and golfer Tom Kite.
The map for the downtown and driving sites are to be used on self-guided tours. No information on guided tours has yet been included.
Film buffs will also enjoy tracking down sites used for Mike Judge's 1999 comedy classic, "Office Space." The Great Hills apartments - used for Peter and Lawrence's apartments - and the Alligator Grill - site of "Chotchkie's" in the movie - are listed.
"We do get a lot of people interested in Lance Armstrong, but 'Office Space' is also very popular," Shillington said. "Each person has their own personal favorite."
Shillington admitted there was initially some concerns about privacy issues by some, but noted home addresses are public record. And one movie director was troubled about being listed, but has since changed his tune, after Austin Star Map aided with publicity for his new movie.
There is also a list of tourist stops, including the Warehouse District, Sixth Street and Mount Bonnell, as well as a list of likely places to spot visiting celebrities.
The map, which sells for $9.95, is available at austinstarmap.com and in locations throughout Austin.
Contact Marcial Guajardo at 255-5827 or by e-mail at marcial@rrleader.com .
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