Although he officially retired from competition more than two decades ago, skateboarding legend and entrepreneur Tony Hawk seems to be everywhere these days.
If you’re an avid video gamer, you can watch (or even help) him defy gravity in a long-running series. If you watch TV, you might see him tossing Qunol turmeric gummies. If you’re a fan of podcasts, perhaps you’ve heard his weekly show “Hawk v. Wolf” (with Jason Ellis). If you live in an underprivileged community, you might see the Skatepark Project (formerly the Tony Hawk Foundation) working to fund your neighborhood skate park. And, if you tuned into the 2024 Paris Olympics over the summer, you might have seen the 56-year-old, who’s close to Snoop, during the skateboarding finals. (His skate company, Birdhouse, is a sponsor of Team USA’s Tom Schaar, who took home a silver medal.)
On Sunday Funday, Angelenos share step-by-step instructions on what their ideal Sunday in the city would look like. Find ideas and inspiration on where to go, what to eat, and how to enjoy life on the weekends.
And, although he lives in San Diego (where he was born and raised), you might also spot the Birdman in Los Angeles, where he's found himself quite often. When I caught up with him recently, Hawk not only had a perfect, activity-packed Sunday in Southern California to share, but he also had suggestions for special spots that snowboarders from beyond our borders might consider seeking out when they finally get here to compete in the 2028 Games: the “iconic” handrail at Hollywood High School (“There are actually two, but one is bigger, and that is a testing ground.”) and Car wash at sunsetwhich is now impossible to skate, but “lives in infamy” after some daring skaters jumped from the awning at the top and rolled down the sloping embankment. “Only a few people ever got the chance to do it,” Hawk said. “The first one was over 20 years ago, John Cardiel. And then Mark Gonzales, who is a famous skater, tried it right behind him and crashed. And later Milton Martinez did a kickflip, which was unheard of.”
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for brevity and clarity.
7 am: Heading north from North County
I would probably try to leave at 7am to get to the Venice/Santa Monica area by 8:30 because that's when the freeway works as it should.
8:30 am: Dive into a donut
I would probably start with Donuts with holes —There's one in Santa Monica. My favorite is the regular glazed one, which is a staple, but all of their flavors are good. They also have really good coffee, so I'd order a donut and a cup of coffee.
9am: Visit Venice Beach Skate Park
He Venice [Beach] Skate park It's so iconic, I would start there early in the morning before it gets crowded. In fact, I say that for any skatepark, especially for beginners. I tell parents that if they want to take their kids to the skatepark, they should show up early in the morning, at sunrise if they can, because that's when the older skaters like me are there or the beginners. And there's a lot more respect and a lot more freedom. By mid-morning, the best skaters start showing up and you're in the way. And the thing about Venice is that it can be intimidating because it's like a fish tank. If you're there after 10 in the morning, be prepared to be the center of attention. But the whole Venice thing, Dogtown, Z-Boys, it's there, so I feel an affinity with the area.
11 am Stop by the Santa Monica Pier
I could go to the Santa Monica Pier and just be a tourist and ride the roller coaster. The pier is pretty iconic. We put it in a video game. [“Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland”] About 20 years ago. A funny story: My son Keegan [Hawk]who is now 23, asked me to take him to the Santa Monica Pier when he was about 7 because it was in the game. I remember him pointing out all these different landmarks that were in the game but I had never noticed.
Midday: Enjoy a spectacular burger
For lunch, I would go to She wrote hamburger which just opened on the Strand in Venice and they offer you a double cheeseburger with fries. The menu is pretty basic but they also have an Oklahoma burger that is a little smoky. A skater opened the shop and I became an investor at the end of the game. They closed the Los Feliz location to open this one.
3:00 p.m.: Visit to the deceased
I like to go to Latin American Association of Masters in Business Administration and Management (LACMA)Sure. They have great exhibitions. There was one about 10 years ago, the James Turrell retrospective, which was amazing. Or you could go to the Hollywood Forever CemeteryWhich I think is great. I wouldn't visit any particular gravesites. I would just walk around and check it out. I think it's a beautiful area and I love that they do concerts and movies there.
16:30 h: We pass through Sapasi
One of my sons, Miles Goodman, owns a skate shop in West Hollywood called Sapasi — on North Robertson Boulevard near Melrose Avenue — so I would stop by if it’s there. (Editor’s note: Sapasi is not currently open on Sundays.) And we walk around that area a lot. There are good shops; Palace [Skateboards] It's there, and there are also some clothing stores.
18:00 hours: Depart by car to Matsuhisa.
I'm older, so I eat early, and this is the time I would probably go to dinner. My favorite dish is Matsuhisa on La Cienega Boulevard, so I would go there and get the omakase. Either that or I would go to the Marmont Castle and order their spaghetti bolognese. It's one of those two. If I went to Matsuhisa for omakase, it would probably take me an hour and a half or two hours, so if I left around 8, I'd be home around 9:30.
21:30: Watching TV with a whiskey
On Sundays, my wife and I catch up on whatever shows we’re watching, like “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” or “House of the Dragon.” And I love good whiskey, so I’ll probably pour myself a glass of Hakusha 12 Years Old, which is my favorite right now.
10pm: Aim for an early night
I get up really early these days, especially on Mondays, so if it's a true Sunday night, I'm usually in bed by 10. My daughter just got her driver's license, but it's still a chore to get her out of the house on time, so I know my morning will start early, with her yelling at me in her room.
