Since Late Night, every non-City, non-China, non-France, non-Egipt world (that is, riverview, sunset valley, barnacle bay, twinbrook and any custom world that isn't flagged as any of the above things) gets a little "suburb" icon on the main menu.
As for celebrities, the game will eventually spawn some.. or should. Other than that, gaining skills or promotions should get you your first star, after that, any of the normal ways of getting celebrity points should start happening and spread the stardom. This includes being children of celebrity sims, which, from your description, seem to happen at age-up.