It's that time of year again to go Oscar-party hopping in Hollywood, if one has an invitation to the balls. While most are invitation-only, crowds still form outside these famous venues to watch the stars arrive and leave. Here is a virtual tour of the most high-profile Oscar parties coming up on Academy Award weekend.
Friday, Feb. 24
4:00 p.m. Our first stop will be the residence of British Consul-General Dame Barbara Hay at her historic home in Hancock Park. Here we'll toast the British nominees Gary Oldman, Kenneth Brannagh, and perhaps a classmate or two from the "Harry Potter" series.
5:00 p.m. Next we'll stop by the annual Women in Film Pre-Oscar Cocktail Party at Cecconi's to toast the women in this heavily male-dominated company town. Cecconi's is on the site of Morton's restaurant at 8764 Melrose Ave., where the Vanity Fair Oscar night mega-bash used to take place.
6:00 p.m. Heading north to 9200 Sunset Blvd., we'll walk up to the top two floors of the private members' club Soho House and attend the Warner Bros. Pre-Oscar Party.
7:00 p.m. We'll cap off the evening with Martin Scorsese at the Film Foundation's Cocktails and Hors d'Oeuvres party on The Lawn at the Hotel Bel-Air. This historic hotel is located at 701 Stone Canyon Road.
Saturday, Feb. 25
6:30 p.m. After a good night's rest, we will head out on Oscar eve to ABC's Pre-Oscar Reception and Dinner at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills at 465 S. La Cienega Blvd. The Academy Awards will be televised on ABC this year.
7:30 p.m. Slipping out early, we next make our way to the Chanel Pre-Oscar Dinner at Madeo. This chic dinner party, held at the restaurant where the heavy-hitters of Hollywood hang out, takes place at 8897 Beverly Blvd. All the very best-dressed stars will be at this party.
8:00 p.m. The next don't-miss event is a fundraiser: the Motion Picture and Television Fund "Night Before" Party, held at the Beverly Hills Hotel at 9876 Wilshire Blvd. All the A-list stars will be at this event.
9:00 p.m. Finally, we'll stop in at The Weinstein Company Pre-Academy Awards Party at the Soho House on those two top floors on Sunset Boulevard.
Sunday, Feb. 26
4:00 p.m. We'll begin the night of the Oscars with the Red Carpet Dinner: the "Night of 100 Stars" Oscar Party at the Beverly Hills Hotel. This traditional black-tie, sit-down gala and viewing party is famous for attracting past Oscar nominees and winners.
4:00 p.m. At some time during the evening, everyone who is anyone will drop by the Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar Viewing and After Party at the Pacific Design Center at 8687 Melrose Ave.
4:30 p.m. For the younger Hollywood set, the In Style Viewing Party at Boa Steakhouse, located on the ground floor at 9200 Sunset Blvd., is the place to be. A big dance floor fills up at this venue during commercial breaks.
5:00 p.m.: A smaller affair than in past years, the Vanity Fair Oscar Viewing and After Party is still the place where the Hollywood bigwigs meet with East Coast investors. It takes place at the Sunset Tower Hotel at 8730 West Sunset Blvd.
The last stop of the evening is the Academy's Governor's Ball, where the stars go directly after the Academy Awards ceremony at Hollywood and Highland to schmooze. When we're rested, we'll circle back to those viewing parties and say hello to Sir Elton.
Check out coverage of the 84th Academy Awards on Yahoo! Movies