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Although she hails from New York City, actor and comedian Hannah Pilkes<\/a> confesses that living in Los Angeles has won her over. \u201cI adored the comedy scene in New York, but the allure of L.A. is undeniable,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Pilkes, who portrays Leanne Morgan\u2019s daughter in the new Netflix comedy<\/a> \u201cLeanne,\u201d is enamored with the year-round outdoor lifestyle that L.A. offers. \u201cI just love Pasadena,\u201d she says. \u201cThe ability to be outside on the patio all year is chef\u2019s kiss.\u201d<\/p>\n In Sunday Funday, L.A. people give us a play-by-play of their ideal Sunday around town. Find ideas and inspiration on where to go, what to eat and how to enjoy life on the weekends.<\/p>\n When she\u2019s not opening for comedians like Meg Stalter<\/a> and Paul F. Tompkins<\/a> or making appearances on popular podcasts like \u201cComedy Bang Bang<\/a>\u201d and Chloe Fineman\u2019s Audible series<\/a>, \u201cExcessive,\u201d Pilkes is often found immersing herself in L.A.\u2019s vibrant art scene<\/a>.<\/p>\n The 32-year-old admits she could easily spend an entire day in Pasadena, whether it\u2019s admiring the Edgar Degas paintings at the Norton Simon Museum<\/a> or strolling through the charming Arlington Garden<\/a> with her husband, Gregory Nussen<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019m captivated by L.A.\u2019s status as an art hub,\u201d she says. \u201cThere are so many places where there is whimsy and magic because there are so many artists here who are trying to find ways to express themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n Just don\u2019t expect to find her playing tennis at Pasadena\u2019s Rose Bowl Tennis Center<\/a>. \u201cGreg and I attempted to play tennis four days a week as our New Year\u2019s resolution,\u201d she says, laughing. \u201cThey got me a racket, and when I wasn\u2019t good at it immediately, I had a meltdown. I love to run around the Rose Bowl, and my parents swim there. But we realized that if we want to keep the love alive, maybe we shouldn\u2019t play tennis together. Perhaps we should invest in lessons instead.\u201d<\/p>\n This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.<\/p>\n 8 a.m.: Coffee and garden stroll in Pasadena <\/b><\/p>\n I like to start my day with an iced morning bun latte from Tartine<\/a> on Green Street. I have a toddler\u2019s palate, so I prefer a sweet coffee drink. Or I\u2019ll walk across the street to Ideology<\/a> because the baristas there are heaven on earth. I could talk to them for hours. <\/p>\n I\u2019m a big garden enthusiast. The Huntington gardens<\/a> receive a lot of credit, which they deserve, but there are so many hidden gems in Los Angeles. I love Arlington Garden<\/a>, a small, tucked-away garden with cool topiaries, sculptures and a rustic feel. I love to bring my journal there. Some days, I\u2019ll bring lunch and have a picnic there with my friends. It\u2019s such a charming area.<\/p>\n 10 a.m.: Visit a jungle-like nursery in Sylmar <\/b><\/p>\n Staying on the garden kick: There is a nursery called Earth Force Nursery in Sylmar that\u2019s just gorgeous. When you get there, you will suddenly feel like you\u2019re in a jungle. On Saturdays and Sundays, their caf\u00e9, Caf\u00e9 Escondido<\/a>, is open, serving delicious coffee drinks, Mexican food and margaritas. While you are there, you feel like time and space cease to exist, and you\u2019re on vacation for just a few hours.<\/p>\n Noon<\/b>: Shop for used books in DTLA <\/b><\/p>\n I love the Last Bookstore<\/a>. I haven\u2019t visited the new one in Studio City, but the art direction at the downtown location is so good. I love anywhere that you can get $2 books. I love the smell of them. I love that I can buy plays there. For my wedding at Nestldown<\/a>, my aesthetic was stately and whimsical gnomes. I wanted to feel like a professor in the woods, so we purchased a bunch of used books from the Last Bookstore<\/a> and stacked them along a winding pathway and then covered them with moss. I like to feel like I\u2019m in a Jim Henson film at all times.<\/p>\n 2 p.m.: Lunch … Take your pick <\/b><\/p>\n Descanso Gardens has a new restaurant, Farmhouse<\/a>, that features repurposed wood. It\u2019s really dramatic and woodsy, and I had one of the best salads ever there. I also like Kismet Rotisserie<\/a>, Crossroads Kitchen<\/a> on Melrose, My Vegan<\/a> and Malibu Seafood<\/a>, which is such a magical lunch spot. R\u00e9publique<\/a> is so pricey, but they have such yummy pastries and quiches. I had a delicious shakshouka<\/a> for lunch and the best oysters I\u2019ve had by far in Southern California. It reminds me of Sea Ranch<\/a>, my favorite place in the world, where I\u2019ll eat oysters and drink white wine and watch the sunset.<\/p>\n 4 p.m.: Scrolling on Facebook Marketplace <\/b><\/p>\n My ideal day is sitting on a patio while scouring Facebook Marketplace for precious mementos. I just moved into a 1895 Craftsman apartment, and when we first moved in, I didn\u2019t have a single piece of furniture. When I got the job on \u201cLeanne,\u201d I decided to treat myself and indulge in some furniture, but I\u2019m particular about it. I like to rent my clothes, and I appreciate upcycled furniture. I purchased my dining room table at Sunbeam Vintage<\/a> in Highland Park. If there is a dent or a scratch, to me, it\u2019s character. I want to imagine the journey the furniture had before it got to me. I enjoy bringing old memories into my new space. <\/p>\n 6 p.m.: Drinks at Checker Hall <\/b><\/p>\n My favorite bar in all of L.A. is Checker Hall<\/a>. It has the best cocktails and it almost feels like you\u2019re in New Orleans when you step inside. It has a beautiful patio overlooking Highland Park. The decor is funky and kitschy, yet classy; it\u2019s magical. Their Mediterranean bites are amazing. Next door is the Lodge Room<\/a>, which is my favorite venue for variety in all of L.A. I saw Elijah Fox there, and I performed in \u201cVarietopia\u201d there. The audiences are always jovial and electric. I love that you can do your comedy show and then congregate at the bar afterwards \u2014 just like in New York. I love the Elysian<\/a> in Echo Park too. They have an area where you can enjoy drinks. I\u2019m all for chatting after the show \u2014 like, let\u2019s talk about that weird thing we just did on stage! People often don\u2019t recognize me because I often wear wigs.<\/p>\n If we don\u2019t go to Checker Hall, we\u2019ll hit Edwin Mills by Equator<\/a> in Pasadena at the end of the night. They have an amazing happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m., and I love their lychee martinis. On the nights they have live jazz, there are people dancing from all walks of life \u2014 older people, even my 4-year-old nephew loves to dance there, and there are dogs. It feels so communal, and everyone claps at the end. It\u2019s very wholesome and sweet.<\/p>\n 10 p.m.: Bad reality TV and impressions <\/b><\/p>\n Realistically, my husband and I would probably end the day by binge-watching bad reality TV to decompress and disassociate for a little bit \u2014 something like \u201cLove Island<\/a>.\u201d I\u2019m usually the hungriest really late at night, so I might order something against my better judgment like the hippy vegan ramen from Tatstu<\/a>. We\u2019ll devour \u201cLove Island\u201d and then do impressions for each other. Thank God I married someone who is a performer. Life is interesting with them. It\u2019s very, very fun.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n
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