In Sunday Funday, The people of Los Angeles tell us play by play of their ideal Sunday in the city. Find ideas and inspiration on where to go, what to eat and how to enjoy life on the weekends.
You might not expect one of television's hippest and most recognizable interior designers to admit to being a fan of the Valley (that's right, the San Fernando Valley), but that's part of the reason why Bobby Berk of “Queer Eye ” moved from New York to Los Angeles.
“One of the things I love about Los Angeles is how focused it is on the outdoors,” Berk says. “The weather allows you to be outside as much as possible. I was in New York for 14 years and that was not my experience.”
As creative director, interior designer, and TV host of the Emmy-nominated Netflix series, Berk has always tried to make home decor accessible to everyone. “I want to democratize design,” says the 42-year-old designer and author of “Right at Home: How Good Design Is Good for the Mind,” which will be published September 12.
“My book is about the intersection of mental health and home design,” Berk says. “The book delves into not only how to make your space beautiful, but also how to discover what makes you happy. What is your favorite clothing? Vacation? You should incorporate those things into your home because they will make you happy. Your home is like your phone charger. If you don’t charge it, your phone won’t last the day and will die.”
When she's not traveling the country for “Queer Eye” or her inaugural book tour (she'll sign her book at Barnes & Noble at the Grove in Los Angeles on Sept. 15), Berk likes to relax in Los Angeles spending time with her husband . Dewey Do and his mini Labradoodle, Bimini.
Berk Sundays typically begin at the Studio City gym and end with dinner at home with Do and friends like comedian Atsuko Okatsuka. Here, she shares how she typically enjoys Sundays in Los Angeles.
Berk, a member of SAG-AFTRA, was recently nominated for an Emmy for his work as host of “Queer Eye.” This interview was conducted before the SAG-AFTRA strike.
7 a.m.: Lake Hollywood Bimini Ride
The first thing we do when we wake up is feed our mini Labradoodle, Bimini. So [my husband and I] Typically you walk around Lake Hollywood or hike one of the trails leading to the Hollywood sign. We are obsessed with taking our steps.
8:30 am: Spinning class in the Valley
I have to force myself to go to the gym. If I don't book a class, I'll take calls or read emails and then not go. If I commit to something, I will do it. So I'll take a spin class at Heimat in La Brea (it's like SoHo House and Equinox had a baby) or book a class at Equinox at the Shops at Sportsmen's Lodge in Studio City. The funny thing is that before I moved to Los Angeles I thought: “The Valley? Ewww!” But now you have to twist my arm to get me to go to Los Angeles.
I go to Sherman Oaks and Studio City for everything. The Shops at Sportsmen's Lodge has an Equinox, Erewhon, Fred Segal, Kismet, and there is parking! I usually work out after spin class, so if I took a class at 10, I wouldn't leave until noon or 1.
10:30 am: Grab coffee in Burbank
After going to the gym, I usually grab coffee at Coffee Commissary in Burbank.
I love supporting smaller coffee shops. Don't get me wrong, when I'm out of town for work, I go to Starbucks because I know what to expect, but I prefer to support small businesses when I'm home.
Noon: Shop at the Rose Bowl Flea Market
If it's the second Sunday of the month, I'll go to the Rose Bowl Flea Market. If I'm looking for something specific, I'll go early, but I usually just buy the regular ticket. For me, it's more about having fun. My advice is not to go in with expectations. If I find something, I find something.
Whenever I look for something specific I can't find it. After all, it is a flea market, everything is unique. But if I go for fun, I find the most amazing things, like a beautiful mid-century modern sideboard that I've kept for years and years. I'm constantly changing things but I've kept them in three different houses. You can always call Task Rabbit if you need a truck to pick you up.
2 pm: Lunch at Silver Lake
Our dog accompanies us everywhere, so we go to places where we can all sit outside.
We like to have lunch at Bacari in Silver Lake. It was beautiful when it was Cliff's Edge, but they've made it even more beautiful. And the food is great.
3:30 pm Ice Cream in Los Feliz
We love ice cream, especially the salty and sweet flavors, and I love Jeni's. I usually buy the Everything Bagel. [sweet cream ice cream schmeared with sesame, poppy seeds, onions and garlic], which is my favorite. I became obsessed with Jeni when we filmed the first season of “Queer Eye,” and there was one next door to where we were staying in Atlanta. There is usually a queue, but you don't have to wait if you buy a pint. My advice: buy a lot more ice cream than you need so you don't have to wait in line.
4:30 pm: Relax and play fetch with Bimini
One of my favorite things about living in Los Angeles is how quiet it is. By the way, I laugh at myself when I say that. When I lived in New York, a good friend and I once rented a house in the Hamptons, and when my best friend and business partner was out with her husband, they kept talking about how “quiet” Los Angeles was. As a New Yorker who was definitely not chill, he started shaking every time they said the word “chill.” But now I also say it: we like it cool at home and play fetch with the dog on Sunday afternoons.
6 pm: Dinner outdoors on the terrace with family and friends.
On Sunday nights, we catch up on our shows and have dinner on our terrace, often with my comedian friend Atsuko Okatsuka and her husband, Ryan Harper Gray.
Hosting a small dinner at my house with friends is my favorite thing to do on a Sunday night. At home we eat mainly vegan and Pescatarian, and my husband cooks. I can cook but I don't like it, so Dewey cooks. And we all clean together. Our friends are good at cleaning. Dewey loves to cook and experiment. He doesn't have a signature dish because each meal is different.
8:30 pm Catch up on TV shows.
I love science fiction, which is why we enjoy television shows like “Silo” or “Foundation”, which just launched a second season. “High Desert” is something we've also been watching.
“Stars on Mars” is very stupid, but I love it. It's basically a “Big Brother” on Mars. Celebrity contestants are sent to the Australian outback, which has been designed to simulate Mars. Our friends [Olympic figure skater] Adam Rippon and comedian Natasha Leggero are at it. William Shatner is the host. I'm usually not a big fan of reality TV, but every time my friends are on a show, I have to watch it.
