How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Kyle Mooney

In my humble opinion, Kyle Mooney‘s life is a beautiful blend of simplicity and excitement. He seems to have found the perfect balance between family time and personal pursuits, making every day an adventure. His love for food, movies, and baseball is evident, and it’s quite refreshing to see a man so passionate about the little things in life.

Ever since becoming a father, Kyle Mooney, formerly of “Saturday Night Live,” has found himself largely confined within a specific Los Angeles area, unless he absolutely needs to venture further. And truth be told, he’s quite content with this new lifestyle. The comedian spends the majority of his days in Pasadena, Glendale, Highland Park, and particularly Eagle Rock, where he resides with his wife and their newborn daughter. “I felt a strong connection to its artistic vibe,” Mooney shares, elaborating on what drew him to the neighborhood. “Highland Park has a certain charm that reminds me of what Silver Lake was like when I was in my twenties, but it’s Eagle Rock that truly captured our hearts. It’s unique and charming in an exceptional way.

Recently, Mooney has been delving into the past, both on stage and off it. The actor-comedian recently stepped into the director’s chair for the first time with “Y2K,” a horror film set in the early 2000s that explores a scenario where machines do indeed revolt against humans as was feared at the dawn of the new millennium. This movie is currently playing in theaters and will be available for home viewing on December 24.

In his free time, Mooney has been reminiscing about the past. He’s rekindled his affection for baseball, a passion that began during his youthful days playing Little League. “It might seem geeky, but it somehow resonates with me. It’s like a unique stimulus that tickles my brain,” he muses.

Mooney cherishes Sundays with baseball trivia, spicy hot sauces, and numerous strolls around the neighborhood. “Sundays hold a special place in my heart, as they were my only day off during my time on ‘SNL’,” he explained. “So we would make the most of it by packing as much enjoyable activities as we could.

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

How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Kyle Mooney

8:30 a.m.: “Late” morning wake up

During my twenties, I often slept in as long as I could, aiming to wake up around 4 PM so that I would only have to pay for an evening meal. While working on “SNL”, the work schedule is designed for late nights, making it common to sleep in as late as possible and prepare for working into the early hours of the morning.

Currently, our daily routine centers largely on taking care of the baby. My spouse and I take turns every couple of days to wake up with her. Normally, she wakes up between 6:00-6:30 a.m., but occasionally it’s as early as 5:30 a.m. If I could sleep until 9:00 a.m. or 9:30 a.m., that would be fantastic.

8:35 a.m.: Baseball trivia games in bed

Every morning, I start my day by playing a mobile game named Immaculate Grid, which is all about baseball stats. Essentially, it involves reminiscing over statistics of various players and delving into the rich history of baseball. During baseball season, I have three friends who also play this game, and we share our scores with each other. After that gaming session, I spend time with my baby.

As a youngster, I developed a deep affection for baseball. My fascination extended to gathering baseball cards and learning about its rich history. A Ken Burns documentary on the sport was available, and they published an extensive book that my father used to read to me at bedtime when I was around nine or ten years old.

Over the past couple of years, I’ve rekindled my love for baseball, being a resident of San Diego and a devoted Padres fan. It was an unusual sensation during the Dodgers’ World Series run, donning a San Diego baseball cap. Prior to this, I never experienced feeling like the villain. For the first time this year, I found myself thinking, “You know, I think I won’t sport my hat in public.

10 a.m.: Me-time while baby naps

I make an effort to visit the gym whenever possible, though if that’s not feasible, I enjoy running in my local area instead. Accomplishing a mile or even a mile and a half run leaves me feeling quite accomplished.

During my daily run, I often play music and occasionally tweak the playlist. It’s something that helps me unwind. Recently, as we celebrated our joint birthday, there was a lot of planning involved in creating the playlist. At around the same time, while jogging, I was adding songs to an extensive playlist that stretched over 14 hours and then trimming it down until it became approximately six hours of music suitable for a DJ to select from. My favorite genres for party settings are ’80s R&B, funk, Italo disco, and yacht rock.

11 a.m.: Venture outdoors for brunch and margaritas

As a dedicated movie buff, let me share my enthusiasm for a local spot just around the corner – it’s named Relentless, and it truly lives up to its name! The margaritas they serve are outstanding, and we usually can’t resist ordering their delicious cauliflower wings. What really sets them apart is their selection of natural wines, which happens to be a favorite of mine and my spouse.

As a movie buff, I can’t help but share my fondness for two fantastic spots when it comes to unwinding and satisfying my cravings. One of them is the cozy haven known as Hermosillo in Highland Park. This place serves up some mouthwatering treats like their cheeseburger, hot dog, and crispy fried pickles that never disappoint. The outdoor space is perfect for family gatherings, offering a friendly atmosphere where kids can play around without disturbing others. It’s always great to find such a welcoming environment for families!

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11 a.m.: Alternate plan? Have a burning meal

On occasion, we visit The Greyhound, a bar and eatery located in Highland Park and Glendale. At present, they offer an impressive variety of wings and sauces. Last time I dared to try the hottest one available. I always seek out the “fire,” “extreme danger,” or “high voltage” wing, particularly when exploring a new establishment. When we opt for takeout, especially with Indian or Thai cuisine, I usually request they make it as spicy as possible. The spiciest dish I’ve ever tasted was from Jitlada, and they even host a competition for it. On that particular occasion, I could barely manage four to five bites before realizing I just couldn’t handle it anymore. This has only happened a handful of times in my life where I’ve felt completely defeated.

I did a Hot Ones Versus recently with Fred Durst, who’s in our movie. He was suffering. They claim we had their spiciest wing. I was grabbing them when I didn’t even have to, just enjoying them. I’m like “it’s not that spicy” but I looked like a clown with a big red ring around my lips.

3 p.m.: Second walk of the day

During both mornings and evenings, we’ll include the whole family in our walks – I strap the baby into a Baby Bjorn carrier and we stroll around the neighborhood together, spotting birds, dogs, and squirrels along the way. Eagle Rock is filled with friendly people, so we often run into acquaintances and neighbors. It’s also a great opportunity for my wife and me to chat about the latest news if we feel like it.

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4:30 p.m.: Dinnertime

Twice a day, we dine out, a habit that’s not frequent but special when we do. Our favorite spot is Colombo’s, conveniently located near our home. It’s an easy walk, but given the steep terrain, we usually drive. Colombo’s is a place dear to us, and we’ve perfected our order: I always go for the sausage and peppers, steak, or fried mozzarella. My wife prefers a custom pasta with angel hair, garlic, and butter. If I feel up to it, I indulge in a cocktail martini.

6 p.m.: Gradual wind-down back home

I sure hope the baby had dinner, if not, we’ll whip up a small meal for her. Later, we might indulge in some TV time together, especially since she enjoys shows like “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” and “Ms. Rachel.” After that, we’ll get her ready for bed, read some books, and sing a few tunes. If we still have energy left, we might invite friends over for a game of Quiplash or something similar.

Typically, we prefer streaming movies on-demand rather than renting them, but we rarely manage to finish them in a single sitting. More often than not, it takes us two days to complete a film, which occasionally means we end up paying for the same movie twice.

At the moment, we’re in the festive spirit of Christmas, and it seems like the perfect time to revisit some timeless holiday classics! One movie that stands out is “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” an animated film from the ’70s by Rankin/Bass. It centers around a peculiar broken clock. I also have a soft spot for “A Garfield Christmas.” I’m quite fond of “Love, Actually” as well. To add some variety, we often seek out black-and-white Christmas movies that are new to us, even if they were produced decades ago.

8 p.m.: YouTube rabbit hole before bed

In the evening, I enjoy taking a shower and occasionally delve into baseballreference.com to expand my knowledge about different baseball players. It’s all part of my ongoing research to keep up with my friends in our friendly competition.

I can spend numerous hours browsing the internet, particularly on YouTube where I recently searched for “80’s Christmas specials.” I’m fascinated by the notion that many of these shows, which were broadcast on TV, have essentially disappeared, not available on DVD or streaming platforms. One such show is “Flash Beagle,” a Charlie Brown cartoon from the early 80’s that was a parody of the movie “Flash Dance.” In this cartoon, Snoopy wears a headband and dances, and for some reason, I find myself fixated on it.

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