Oscar time brings closures

Unless your name is Clooney or Blanchett and you’re looking for a red carpet, starting today it’s probably best to avoid parts of Hollywood Boulevard.

Preparations have begun for the 80th annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Kodak Theatre on Feb. 24, and organizers announced a slew of road and sidewalk closures.

From 10 tonight until 6 a.m. Monday, the boulevard will be closed from Orange Drive to Highland Avenue. The same stretch will be closed from 10 p.m. Monday until the early morning of Feb 26.

If you’re on foot, it won’t be much easier to get around. From Monday night until Feb. 26, the sidewalk on the north side of Hollywood will be entirely off limits. Better to stay on the south side, where most of the sidewalk will be closed starting tonight, but a pedestrian through-way will remain open.

For a complete list of restrictions for everyone not wearing a tuxedo or a gown, go to www.oscars.org/closures