Pete Holmes understands the art of conversation, especially how to get people to talk about their secret kinky tendencies.
It's what has helped Holmes, known for his youthful pastoral aesthetic and wholesome jokes, build his more than 20-year comedy career (his next show is Jan. 21 at Largo in Corona) and create his own semi-autographic HBO series”Crash”
On Sunday Funday, Los Angeles residents tell us about their perfect Sunday afternoon in the city. Find ideas and inspiration on where to go, what to eat and how to enjoy life on the weekend.
In 2011 Holmes launched “You made it weird“, an interview-style podcast that delves into topics like the meaning of life, mental health, art and everything in between. More than 1,000 episodes later, it's celebrating the show's 14th anniversary and recently signed a deal with the podcast network. Lemonada Media (which also includes Wiser Than Me, The Sarah Silverman Podcast, and Hassan Minhaj Doesn't Know by Julia Louis-Dreyfus).
“I didn't think for a second about stopping, which is a good sign that you're doing what you're supposed to do,” says Holmes, whose guests have included John Mulaney, Maya Rudolph, Anna Kendrick, Kenan Thompson and Henry Winkler. Holmes co-hosts the show once a week with his wife of eight years, Valerie Cheney.
His nervous system also assures him that he has found the right project. Although Holmes says he feels “tense” before stand-up routines, he feels comfortable sitting face-to-face with someone and just talking. “When I do my podcast, especially in person, the pressure is very, very low,” he says. “I’ve found that in show business that’s what irritates me, to say the least.”
Here's how Holmes would spend a perfect Sunday in Los Angeles with Chaney and their 7-year-old daughter Lila.
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for length and clarity.
8am: visit. A coffee shop with a sense of humor
My daughter and I are both morning people and this really works because her mom is not a morning person. So we get up early and color and make breakfast and stuff like that. But if we all got up together – which is what my wife would like, even though she doesn't like it – we would go to Bru in Los Feliz. I like to recommend Brew to people because he's in the “I Think You Should Leave” skit. Tim Robinson leaves his interview and pulls the door, but it has to be pushed, and he doesn't want to look stupid, so he keeps pulling it. They actually have small sign up, which says something cool about it without being too obvious. I like to drink espresso on its own, Val likes an oat milk latte, and Lila prefers steamed milk because she wants to feel like an adult. This is very nice.
10am: Read at least seven children's books at Skylight.
After that we will go to Books about enlightenmentwhat's nearby. I can tell you from experience that they are incredibly generous, allowing you to read seven books to your kids without any hassle. Basically, I'll buy at least one book on the way home because that's what people are talking about when they say, “Buy local.”
11am: Drink terrible dark green juice.
Then we'll go to punch bowl and I'll get that horrible dark green juice that no one wants and that will make the goat go blind. I love it because I'm 46 years old and now I eat almost exclusively to feel good. So it's very uncool, but that's what I do. My wife and daughter are going to buy a smoothie called “Honey Bee”, it is very sweet and delicious.
Noon: Pancake on the table in the Kitchen Mouse
We would go to Kitchen mouse in Highland Park. It's really fashionable. Last time I was there I encountered Phoebe Bridgers. Kitchen Mouse is literally rock stars and has a little kids area where my daughter can play with like a faux burger and a baby she just met. Every time I get the same thing: a sandwich for breakfast and snickerdoodle pancakes for the table. If you and I went to breakfast together, I would never ask: “Do you want a pancake for the table?” because I don't need you to be my accomplice. I know you want pancakes on the table because guess who wants pancakes? Every. This will change the juice I had before, but it's worth it.
2:00 pm Enjoy an Angry Samoa donut in the park.
We have friends who live in Highland Park, so we visited them and walked Donut Friendand eat donuts in a small park nearby. The park has giant bugs and a slide. When you're 46 and have kids, sitting is your heroin. Not to mention vegan, but Donut Friend has some really good vegan donuts. You should get Angry SamoaGirl Scout cookies.
I went to Donut Friend one day while on LSD and it was the funniest thing that ever happened to me. I think it might have been my birthday and I was coming down. I'm not crazy. I just couldn't believe there was another person standing there with all the donuts in the world. It was such an overwhelming feeling of love that they asked, “What donut can I give you?” I was simply amazed by the generosity. I was probably showing off, laughing hippie style. Not drunk, but like a benevolent alien who couldn't believe there were donuts on this planet. They gave me one and I would like to see myself eat it. My wife was there. She doesn't do psychedelics, so she was just watching me, keeping an eye on me, to be honest. While I was eating the donut, she laughed so hard at how happy I was. I wouldn't do this on a normal Sunday. This is a rarity for me, but this is a true story about donut friends.
16:00: Feel stylish That Huntington
The greatest trick in raising children is… That Huntington. Speaking of Phoebe Bridgers, she mentions in her track “Garden Song” jump over the fence [at the Huntington]which I always think is a nice detail. I think Beverly Hills Ninja was filmed there in the Japanese Garden. One of my favorite things to do in Los Angeles is white glove tea service. It's not that expensive and it just feels chic. We will also focus on Chinese [garden] and buy noodles there, because at every step you are constantly eating.
19:00: Vegan food done right
If it was just Valerie and I, I'd like to go to Crossroads [Kitchen]. I love this to death. When the pandemic happened, they wrote to us and asked if we were okay and if we needed food. We were like, “What do you have?” and the manager brought it. If anyone is wondering if this looks like the famous thing, I don't think so. I really think they do serve the community because I'm not that famous. [laughs]. We've been there enough, we've had enough conversations, and this is a real product for us.
This is a vegan restaurant, and my meat-eating friends said carbonara was their favorite. This is not one of those vegan places that tries to scam you or deep fry you. They actually just make you eat really tasty things that look like artichokes. I've had so many birthdays there and you can tell this is where people go when they're looking for the best food in Los Angeles.
9:00 p.m.: See everything playing at Largo.
My favorite thing to do once a month is Largo in Corona. One day I literally dreamed of a magical place where you feel safe, the crowd is always good, and you just feel warm. It's as if the twinkling lights have become the venue for the event. This is Largo. This is the one place where if anyone is coming to LA, I would suggest just going to Largo. It doesn't matter who is speaking. One night it could be me, the next night it could be Chris Fleming, and then it could be Sarah Silverman. Then it could be an improvised Shakespeare, or maybe a live podcast. It doesn't matter. If Flanny [Mark Flanagan] booked, it's exceptional. He's from Belfast and he's kind of a myth.
23:00: Have lunch at Norms.
Norms is literally one block from Largo, and if Val and I were really going to spend the night without the kids, she, Flannie and I would go there to celebrate our holiday. Judd Apatow is a regular on the show and loves to eat, so he'll be there too. You get a milkshake or fries, but it's open 24 hours. I think Los Angeles gets a bad reputation for lack of visitors. Of course, in New York they are everywhere.
Midnight: Enjoy “blue sofa time”
No matter what time we get home, we definitely need to watch at least one episode of something. “30 Rock” or right now we are watching “Black Rabbit”, but this is not the best show for winding down. Our couch is blue, so we call it “blue couch time” and it's a ritual we just don't miss. It doesn't even matter what we watch. We just want to be on that couch, even if it's just for 12 minutes. I can't go from the car to the bed. I want to go from the car somewhere else, then to bed. This is why houses have hallways or hallways. There must be a threshold over which you need to step, take off your coat and shoes. You are entering a new space. For us it's a blue sofa.
