Where to spot celebrities during NBA All-Star Weekend in Toronto

Where to spot celebrities during NBA All-Star Weekend in Toronto

(Image: Renée Suen)

This weekend’s NBA All-Star Game will bring an almost absurd number of famous faces to Toronto: people like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, Kyle Lowry, Jason Sudeikis, Win Butler, Shaq, Blac Chyna—and, of course, Drake. Here, our guide to the best places to spot these celebs without the aid of a Jumbotron.

Drake and company

Fring’s, 455 King St. W.
Drake’s foray into the restaurant business with Susur Lee and sons will likely be an OVO hub for the weekend. Young Aubrey is rumoured to have visited the spot with Rihanna last week, just before the pair shot a music video together, and he has also visited on at least one occasion for some after-hours ping-pong (see above). If reservations are still available, make one immediately.

Shaq and Snoop Dogg

Muzik, 15 Saskatchewan Rd.
The nightclub, located right next to another fabled Exhibition Place hotspot, is best known for three things: being the site of some of Rob Ford’s many, many, many shenanigans; hosting Drake’s OVO Fest after-party; and being tragedy-free for six months. It’s a good bet you’ll see some famous people there on Friday, when Shaq will be hosting Maxim’s All-Star Party, with a guest DJ set by Snoop Dogg.

Multiple NBA All-Stars and Jason Sudeikis

The Thompson Hotel, 550 Wellington St. W.
The Thompson is in the process of stocking up on giant-sized bathrobes and super-expensive champagne ahead of its debut as the NBA’s official lodging for All-Star Weekend. It’s fair to assume that there will be plenty of NBA-ers walking in and out of the lobby throughout the event. It may also be worth keeping an eye on the entrance to Colette Grand Café, the hotel’s luxe restaurant. Jason Sudeikis, who’s playing in the Celebrity All-Star Game, was spotted there with fiancée Olivia Wilde back when the space was still home to Scarpetta.

Win Butler

Rhum Corner, 926 Dundas St. W.
Win Butler is playing on Canada’s team in the All-Star Celebrity Game. He also happens to be tight with Toronto restaurateur Jen Agg, who runs Rhum Corner and the Black Hoof. (In fact, she and Butler are set to open a Haitian restaurant together in Montreal.) It wouldn’t be surprising if someone caught a glimpse of the Arcade Fire frontman at either eatery this weekend.

The Moniker
(Image: Dave Gillespie)
Multiple NBA All-Stars and Drake

Sher Club, 40 Bay St.
This Drake-endorsed lounge at the Air Canada Centre is open only to a handful of high-rolling members and their guests, meaning the average fan probably can’t hope to get anywhere near the door—let alone the holy-of-holies Champagne Room where Drake is said to hang out when he’s not courtside. Anyone lucky (or wealthy, or connected) enough to be inside the ACC on the night of the All-Star Game might manage to catch a glimpse of Drake and his coterie on the club’s balcony, which overlooks Gate 1.

Kevin Hart

Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St.
Funnyman Kevin Hart, who’s coaching Team USA in the All-Star Celebrity Game, will host an after-party on Friday in the lobby of the giant concert hall. Ticket prices range from $166 to $580, but the really deep-pocketed basketball fan may want to check out Hart’s Players’ Ball the following night at the Carlu, where admission will cost anywhere from $2,100 to $10,600.

Dwyane Wade

Ugly Dukling, 4 Edward St.
Miami Heat player Dwyane Wade will launch a new sneaker on Friday at Ugly Dukling’s Yonge-Dundas Square Location. It’s not clear whether any of Wade’s famous friends will be in attendance, but Kobe Bryant is a well-known sneakerhead, so who knows?

Andrew Wiggins, Marcus Stroman, Aaron Sanchez and Kelly Olynyk

First Canadian Place, 100 King St. W.
Andrew Wiggins, the 2015 NBA Rookie of the Year and a Toronto native, will host a BioSteel-sponsored All-Star kick-off party on the 68th floor of First Canadian Place on Thursday. Also set to appear: Blue Jays pitchers Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez, and Boston Celtics forward Kelly Olynyk. The event is invite-only, but fans can probably catch a glimpse of the sports stars if they camp out on King Street—or better yet, by the elevators.

Blac Chyna and Amber Rose

Stadium, 102 Peter St.
The two Kardashian hangers-on will be making a very special appearance at a club event on Friday night with music from a few different DJs. VIP entry costs $3500, but the merely curious can get in for the bargain price of $50 a head.

Masai Ujiri, Kyle Lowry, Hakeem Olajuwon, John Tory and Drake

TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W.
Also on Thursday, Toronto Raptors president and general manager Masai Ujiri will host a sneak preview of his upcoming documentary film, Giants of Africa, at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. The guest list includes Kyle Lowry, Hakeem Olajuwon, supermodel Grace Mahary, Mayor John Tory and Drake, most of whom are expected to walk the red carpet between 7:30 and 8:30. Don’t be surprised to find TIFF-level throngs of fans (and enough security to keep said fans at a safe distance).