When actor Andy Garcia arrived in Los Angeles seeking a career in entertainment, he had no idea he would end up becoming a longtime resident.
“I moved to Los Angeles in 1978 looking for work as an actor,” García says. “I lived in Hollywood in an apartment across from a store on Sycamore and Fountain. I lived there for a couple of years, moved away, and have been in Los Angeles ever since.”
In Sunday Funday, the people of Los Angeles tell us step by step 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.
The first few years were difficult, with Garcia working various jobs, including stints as a “professional waiter, primarily at the Beverly Hilton, and loading trucks for Roadway at its distribution docks in the City of Commerce,” he says.
Today, the actor is known for his roles in “The Godfather Part III,” which earned him an Academy Award nomination for supporting actor; “Ocean's Eleven” and its sequels; and the lead role in the 2022 remake of “Father of the Bride.” He currently stars in the Paramount+ drama “Landman,” playing dangerous cartel boss Gallino, who occupies a powerful position alongside fixer Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton) in the oil industry and the show's cartel feud.
Los Angeles is also the setting for “Diamond,” a film written and directed by García, which pays homage to Los Angeles of the 1940s. history of contemporary film noirwhich just wrapped production, stars Garcia as a private detective who operates like a 1940s Raymond Chandleresque detective in present-day Los Angeles.
“Los Angeles has been our home for many years,” says Garcia. “I never thought it would be my home for so long, but it has been. I'm lucky to have all my family living nearby.” The actor's ideal Sundays are based around family, watching football games on television, eating Italian food or a good steak and finding time to play golf at Lakeside Golf Club.
7 am: First coffee, then Pilates
I always get up at 7am, anyway. After I wake up, I do Pilates at home with a Gratz reformer. But not before coffee! Then comes breakfast at home and time for football.
10:00: Golf with a stop at the drinks bar
We usually prepare for football on the East Coast on Sundays, like watching the Miami Dolphins, which kicks off at 10am. If there's no game, I'd play a little golf at Lakeside Golf Club in Burbank, where I am a member. It is a great route to walk. Membership is a great trick. It's very familiar. There are always many children on Sundays and weekends. There is a shack in the middle of the field that serves sandwiches, beer, cocktails, soft drinks, etc. After several holes, if you want to stop, you can have a snack or a drink there. For me it's to have a drink.
2 pm: Late lunch
It's a four-hour round and since breakfast was at home, lunch would be at the clubhouse. I recommend the Cobb salad, which comes in very large portions, so you don't need anything else. They also have a junior cheeseburger. It's somewhere between a large burger and a slider. It's quite delicious. If I want to go a little on the unhealthy side, that would be my go-to.
3:30 p.m.: Return home for family plans
Then I headed home to watch more baseball games on TV. The grandchildren are there. We just hung out at home and decided what to do that night. Either we cook at home or, if we feel like taking a road trip, we choose one of the restaurants we like.
7 pm: Gnocchi dinner or ribeye
We usually eat dinner early, so if we're going out, we head to one of our favorite restaurants. In the Beverly Hills area, we like to go to Via Alloro because our friend Tanino Drago runs the place. Tanino is the chef and owner, and is an old friend of ours. In fact, he organized my daughter's wedding here at the house. I usually always order their spinach gnocchi bolognese, as part of the table arrangement. The menus change but they always have it or normal gnocchi. We have known the Drago family for years and it is a place that many of our friends frequent. We love Tanino and his way of cooking, the atmosphere. It's like going to a place that is like a family.
Another favorite is Osteria Angelini on Beverly Boulevard. Gino Angelini, the chef there, is a neighbor, so we go there a lot. When the family goes, it's my wife and I, four children, the children have two husbands and a partner, and three grandchildren, so there are 12 of us around the table.
We also love going to Musso & Frank Grill in hollywood We tried to order the ribeye steak. It's a limited supply, so sometimes they run out. For me, it's a martini and a steak. As soon as I could afford to go out to dinner, in the early 80s, I started going to Musso. It's easy to get to. The parking lot is right behind the restaurant and they are great people. I love the history of the place and the food is great. It's a classic steakhouse.
9 p.m.: a drink and some piano music.
After dinner we go home. I would have a drink to sleep. Sometimes it's a little bourbon or an Italian digestif like Amaro Averna. Then I would play the piano a little. I play original material because I don't read music. That's how I learned the instrument, so they are themes that I have developed, or improvisation. I started as a percussionist when I was very young. I play all the Afro-Cuban percussion instruments that are inherent to Cuban music. I started playing piano at age 30 for a film I directed called “The Lost City,” for which I wrote the original music. I was always interested in the piano. My aunt played classical piano and always called me.
11:00 p.m.: To bed
I go to bed before 11 at night. My ideal Sunday is always being with family. What are we doing today? Are the children coming? Are we cooking? Do you want to go out to dinner? It's always about bringing the clan together.
