Ask Bryan Fuller about his idea of a perfect Sunday in Los Angeles, and he'll quickly conjure up an art-filled itinerary that includes stops at famous horror movie locations, much like scenes from his TV shows “Pushing Daisies” and “Hannibal.”
“If I'm feeling ambitious, I'll drive to South Pasadena and revisit the sets of the original 'Halloween' movie, which serve as a beautiful reminder of Los Angeles' film history,” Fuller says. “Michael Myers' childhood home is near the train tracks. Walk two blocks to Laurie Strode's house, where Jamie Lee Curtis' character lived, and about a block down the road is the hardware store where Michael Myers took his famous mask and several other murder instruments. That's my idea of a Sunday adventure.”
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.
Known for his imaginative stories and bold visuals in series such as “Wonderfalls” and “American Gods,” Fuller recently directed the film “Dust Bunny,” about a 10-year-old girl who hires a hitman to kill a monster under her bed. With this creative energy in mind, it's no surprise that some of his favorite places in Los Angeles revolve around art and architecture, including the Broad and the Los Angeles Athletic Club. “There are a lot of things happening downtown that I love,” he adds.
But before any Sunday adventure, Fuller always starts the day with his dogs at his home in Silver Lake. “If I had an ideal day, I would start with a lot of time for the dogs,” he says. “It's always a pleasure to see them. We have elderly dogs that need care and it's nice to take care of them.”
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for length and clarity.
8 am: Dogs and breakfast at a bar.
It's about the dogs first thing in the morning. There are three in the house: Louise, an 18-year-old puggle; Henry, a 13-year-old Chihuahua terrier, and Lily, a 1.5-year-old chug. We used to take Louise on very long walks, but now I follow her around the yard and look for coyotes.
Depending on the day, we will make pancakes at home or go to Unforgiving Beer and Spirits Brewing in Águila Rock. It's a breakfast bar and they have the best ube French toast that will make your love very, very sweet, and you will be glad that it does. It has just the right level of sweetness and does not attack those with a sweet tooth.
10am: Get lost in a hall of infinity mirrors on Broad
As a big fan of downtown events, I love it the wide. It is a perfectly curated museum that is digestible. The Broad's focus is on mass pop culture appeal, but it also has a deep history of contemporary art that seems accessible to the public. Some of their exhibits are wonderful to see, from Jeff Koons' “Balloon Dog” to new exhibits by indigenous artists. They lure you in with pop art and then offer you more. It feels like a tasty treat with nutritional value.
Noon: Swim at a historic site.
I enjoy swimming in it Los Angeles Athletic Club. The pool is on the sixth floor and is surrounded by windows, so you can see beautiful Los Angeles buildings from the early 20th century. The tiled pool has a romantic air, as if it were from another era.
1:30 p.m.: Lunch at KazuNori
After swimming, I always visit KazuNori: the original manual roll bar on the main street. I get two orders of albacore sashimi and drink water, so I feel like Aquaman. I am eating from the sea and I feel good at that moment. It's the perfect refueling after swimming.
2 pm: Visit a classic horror movie location.
If I spent my ideal day downtown, I would visit what it is now East West Players — I highly recommend seeing one of his works, which used to be Union Church. The church was the filming location for “Prince of Darkness,” one of my favorite John Carpenter movies from 1987. It reminds me of when I worked at a movie theater in high school and we played it all the time. My manager thought I was a devil worshiper because I saw him a lot. The church is important in the film and being outside brings back memories and makes me feel grateful to be in Los Angeles, telling stories and appreciating the city's cinematic history. It's a little bittersweet since filming in Los Angeles is rare these days.
3 p.m.: Catch a movie at Alamo Drafthouse
If I feel like watching a movie, then I would go to the Alamo Draft. It's a fantastic movie theater that shows great art films that you can't find anywhere else. Furthermore, it strictly imposes behaviors that other theaters have forgotten. I have had many bad experiences at other theaters with people talking on the phone. I miss the ArcLight days. There's nothing like the threats of Sasquatch walking into the movie theater, stuffing you into a sleeping bag, and slamming you against a tree in one of his Don't Talk PSAs to discourage you from using your phone.
5 p.m.: Buy vintage glasses that Elvis would appreciate
I love buying vintage glasses at Gentleman's breakfast In Echo Park. They have incredible glasses from all over the 20th century. I even found gold frames from the same brand Elvis wore on his 1972 tour. They have great options from Gucci and Dior, as well as military releases from the '40s and '50s and cufflinks. The store is actually in a garage and the owner opens the door to create a little speakeasy where you can drink bourbon, smoke cigars and hang out.
7 pm: Dinner at San Laurel at Conrad Los Angeles
I love him Saint Laurel restaurant in Conrado Los Angeles. It has a fantastic patio with beautiful views of the Broad, Disney Hall and the Music Center. There are all kinds of reasons to go, but the main one is the great food. The salads are amazing. I usually buy a bunch of salads and crab and fennel soup. I also want to support chef José Andrés, who is doing wonderful things in the world, one meal at a time. I was very lucky to work with him as a culinary consultant on “Hannibal.” I was very excited to propose different ways of cooking to people.
9:00 p.m.: dog hugs and science fiction reruns
After dinner, I like to end the day on the couch with the dogs, even if it's just watching an hour of an old TV show. I enjoy having their heads in my lap and my hands on their bellies. Right now we're rewatching the 1978 TV series “Battlestar Galactica.” Many of the episodes surprisingly hold up.
