How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Paul W. Downs

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Paul W. Downs, co-creator and showrunner of the HBO comedy “Hacks,” finds it hard to fully disconnect from the show, even when he’s not working. He also plays a character on the show and has become close to the cast, so he often spends his free time revisiting filming locations or socializing with his co-stars. The fifth and final season of “Hacks” recently premiered.

In 2011, Downs relocated to Los Angeles, but he and Aniello quickly landed a writing and acting job on the New York-based show “Broad City,” which meant they spent several years living and working on the East Coast. They now reside in Los Feliz with their young son, and are enjoying life there.

Downs enjoys living in Los Feliz because it feels like a genuine community with plenty of dining and nightlife options, while still being near the natural beauty of Griffith Park. It’s also conveniently located for connecting with friends on the Eastside and colleagues in the Westside.

If he were forced to live in a mall, similar to Ava Daniels in season three of “Hacks,” which one would he pick?

“It would be the Americana, obviously.”

Here’s how he’d spend a perfect day in L.A.

10 a.m.: A late rise and a li’l barista

Ideally, I’d love to sleep in until 10 a.m., but having a toddler makes that impossible. It would be amazing if I could, though!

I usually make coffee at home, and my four-year-old loves to help! He used to want assistance, but now he’s eager to do it himself. I still keep an eye on him, but he manages most of the process.

I make coffee using a batch brewer. Right now, I’m using Verve Coffee beans, which I grind fresh, and I brew about four cups to get me going. I used to have a Moccamaster, but I recently switched to a Simply Good Coffee brewer. I like that it’s made entirely of glass and metal, with no plastic.

Food

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11 a.m.: Chocolate croissants for everyone

We’re heading to Pasadena and stopping by CAR, which, in my opinion, has the best chocolate croissants anywhere – even better than those in Paris! I’m going with my wife and child to enjoy some coffee and pastries. We’re getting three chocolate croissants, but each of us is just having one.

11:45 a.m.: The family business

We’re heading to Fair Oaks in Pasadena, specifically to a place called T.L. Gurley. We actually filmed the show “Hacks” there – both in the first season and, surprisingly, again in the fifth! We plan to wander around and browse antiques. My child is excited about playing a vintage pinball machine, and I’m hoping we’ll find a small piece of art for the house. I’m not really searching for anything, just looking for a relaxing day to unwind and take a break from work.

My son is a real people magnet, and we’re teaching him to understand value from a young age. It’s in our blood – my parents and grandmother both dealt in antiques, so it’s always been a bit of a family tradition.

1:30 pm.: Baguettes and books

We’re heading to Larchmont to grab a sandwich at Larchmont Village Wine, Spirits & Cheese. I’m getting one with prosciutto, mozzarella, and basil on a baguette.

Next, we’re heading to Chevalier’s Books. I usually go there for research or inspiration – things related to my interests, writing projects, or even potential auditions. But we also pick up Little Golden Books for my son; he absolutely loves them! We try to limit screen time, so we make a point of encouraging him to read.

2:30 p.m.: Cast pool party

We’re spending the day having fun in the pool with family, and we’ll be here until it gets dark. We often have guests over. My sister-in-law lives in New York, but she works as a writer for TV shows, including last season’s “The Rooster,” and she’s frequently in L.A., so she visits often and usually brings friends. It might sound like a publicity announcement, but we’re expecting Hannah Einbinder and possibly Mark Indelicato from “Hacks” to come over and swim. Our “Hacks” co-creator, Jen, will be here too.

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6:00 p.m.: Family dinner

We often get pizza delivered from Grá, a great place in Echo Park known for its sourdough crust. If we don’t order in, we love having an early dinner at All Time on Hillhurst in Los Feliz. We always get the ceviche, and my son insists on eating it all himself!

8:45 p.m.: A thrilling ending to the day

Once our child is asleep, my wife and I like to relax and watch a movie or show together. We have a running list of things we want to see – either old favorites or brand new titles – but honestly, we haven’t managed to do this in a while.

We don’t often watch comedies. We prefer something like a suspenseful spy thriller – it’s a nice escape from our work.

We often enjoy watching things we admire, like movies and TV shows. As fans, we love to break down how they’re made and discuss the creative choices, but usually it’s more about highlighting what we enjoyed than offering criticism. We tend to focus on appreciating the details rather than finding flaws.

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2026-04-17 13:36