How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Alex Edelman

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In “The Paper,” a highly anticipated mockumentary spinoff to “The Office,” Alex Edelman portrays Adam Cooper, a tenacious accountant/reporter who’s part of the team aiming to rejuvenate the local newspaper “The Toledo Truth-Teller.” Edelman, who was also a writer and consulting producer for the series, shares that this project provided him with something scarcely found in Los Angeles: a consistent schedule. The show premieres on Peacock on Sept. 4 with all 10 episodes.

“It was a really wonderful routine,” he adds.

Surely, old patterns need to be broken and fresh patterns established. Following his success in “Just For Us,” a stand-up show that earned him an Obie, a Special Tony, and later transformed into the HBO special for which he received an Emmy, Alex Edelman is once again touring and expanding the schedule for his latest performance, titled “What Are You Going to Do.” In his leisure moments, he’s also working on a nonfiction book entitled “I Don’t Belong Here.

For Edelman, an ideal Sunday often varies yet retains a sense of familiarity. He often refers to himself as a “recommendation machine,” which seems fitting. A hike, social gatherings with friends, good food, and plenty of laughter are constants. However, novelty also plays a significant role. In his words, “Sunday is the day to explore new experiences.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for length and clarity.

On the weekends, I often take a leisurely coffee-themed stroll. It seems like our weekends are filled with visiting various coffee shops – quite the amusing routine! I prefer espresso drinks and this is one of my quirks. I wander from coffee shop to coffee shop, much like a traveler moving between oases. I’ll stop at All Time, ponder whether to get coffee here or keep going to Maru. After reaching Maru, the question arises again – should I get a coffee here or move on to Camel? Now known as Handles, when I reach Camel, I wonder if I should get a coffee there or continue to Dinosaur. Then, the dilemma is whether to have coffee at Dinosaur or go to Tartine, Lalo in Silver Lake, or Lamill – all located in Silver Lake. This walk usually lasts about an hour.

I might have breakfast too. Among things I enjoy, I prefer Telegrama or Friends and Family – olives in eggs is a favorite of mine there. I often spend my cash at All Time. They have this item called “the B.O.A.T.” I’m not quite sure what it is, but it tastes fantastic.

This paraphrase attempts to maintain the original meaning and style while using different phrasing and sentence structure for a more natural flow of language.

8 a.m.: Find a cozy spot at either Telegrama or Maru for some focused writing

8 a.m.: Settle into a comfy nook at either Telegrama or Maru to do some writing

Or:
8 a.m.: I take a seat in a quiet corner at either Telegrama or Maru, ready for some writing work.

At 10 a.m., embark on an exhilarating hiking adventure with good company: Every weekend during the pandemic, I’ve been going for hikes with my friends Jenji Kohan (a TV writer), Rebecca, and Morgan. We share the hardships and joys of hiking together, making it an enjoyable experience filled with camaraderie and laughter.

Los Angeles has some truly beautiful hiking trails that I frequently track using AllTrails. We occasionally venture out of the city for hikes, heading either up to Santa Barbara or down into Orange County for beach hikes with a challenging terrain. Hikes featuring “Punchbowl” in their names also catch our interest. After a day of hiking, we usually head to Charlie Brown Farms.

In this version, I attempted to maintain the original meaning and tone while using more straightforward language and avoiding colloquialisms or slang that might be confusing to some readers.

As a cinema enthusiast and wandering soul, I’m always on the hunt for unique experiences. Using Atlas Obscura as my guide, I venture out to discover hidden gems, like a peculiar store where a craftsman repurposes pop tabs into artworks.

One of my passions lies in admiring midcentury modern architecture, a style I can never afford to live in. I find immense joy in glimpsing houses designed by Lautner, Neutra, or Frank Lloyd Wright whenever possible, even if it’s just from the street.

On one such adventure, I stumbled upon an old Paul Williams house during a hike in Malibu named Solstice. It now stands as a picturesque ruin, offering a glimpse into the past, much like a relic of a bygone era.

1 p.m.: It’s Lunchtime:

We often head towards the San Gabriel Valley and dine at places such as Chengdu Taste in Alhambra or Bistro Na’s. As I can’t consume pork or shellfish, I stick to items that don’t cross my religious dietary restrictions. When we embark on a journey south for a hike, we usually stop by Pho 79 in the Anaheim vicinity, or perhaps Garden Grove. There, I opt for vegetarian, chicken, or similar dishes.

Around 2:30 p.m., we plan to go thrift shopping in Pasadena. These stores are fantastic! We usually take a detour to the old mochi place downtown, Fugetsu-Do. They’ve been around for an astonishing 117 years, since 1903! On Sundays, there might be a long queue, but it’s definitely worth the wait. I personally enjoy their traditional rainbow-colored, strawberry-stained mochi. Being Jewish, I opt for fruit and candy flavors over gelatin-based ones.

4 p.m.: Diving into the pages of history at my favorite haunt, The Last Bookstore – an oldie but goodie! The sunlight streaming through Skylight’s expansive windows always seems to bring out the charm in each and every worn cover. As a cinephile, I can’t resist the allure of a used bookstore, where stories from the past lie waiting to be discovered.

On Sundays, I enjoy immersing myself in both music and reading. For a period, I was carefully preserving my friend Taffy Akner’s last book, “Long Island Compromise.” I would read a few sections each Sunday until I finished it. Recently, I purchased a couple of plays by Kimberly Bellflower and Noah Haidle, which I am currently reading. Additionally, I am engrossed in Carrie Courogen’s “Miss May Does Not Exist” that delves into the life of Elaine May, whom I deeply admire and had the pleasure of meeting once at a friend’s house.

7 p.m.: Movie Night and Pizza at Phil’s (where Phil serves his beloved Mozza-style pizza from his little oven while we enjoy films projected onto a screen)

Around evening time, my preferred activity is watching stand-up comedy. There are numerous excellent venues for this in Los Angeles. So I’d usually perform at The Comedy Store, The Lyric Hyperion, Laugh Factory, or Dynasty Typewriter late in the night.

At 11 p.m., it’s quite late in Los Angeles and finding a place to have dinner can be challenging, especially if you don’t want to travel far. However, there are a few options worth mentioning. For instance, you could explore Koreatown where Dan Sung Sa is located. If you’re up for venturing out, this could be a great choice. Another option is Canter’s, which stays open until 11:30 p.m. on Sundays. And if you’re in the mood for Thai food, Same Same Thai on Sunset Boulevard remains open until 11 p.m., and they offer a special dish called khao soi that is not easy to find elsewhere. So, when I’m craving a late-night meal, this is where I often end up.

12 am: Browsing, reading, perhaps a couple of phone conversations…

I’m wide awake at night, so I might as well browse through my feeds and lose myself in the vast digital world. It’s not ideal to stay up this late, but sometimes I can’t resist the temptation of calling my comedian friends in London, who are just starting their day. My dear friend Josie Long is often in Glasgow, and there are times when I call her for a chat, or I catch Isobel, my composer friend, who seems to be always jet-setting across Europe.

In an ideal world, though, I’d be fast asleep by 1 am. Instead, I indulge myself with Lizzy Goodman’s book “Meet Me in the Bathroom” or listen to PJ Vogt’s podcast “Search Engine,” letting the words lull me into a peaceful slumber.

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2025-08-29 13:32