Sunday Funday: Jaren Lewison of Netflix’s ‘Never Have I Ever’
In Sunday Funday, L.A. individuals give us a play-by-play of their ideally suited Sunday round city. Discover concepts and inspiration on the place to go, what to eat and find out how to get pleasure from life on the weekends.
Many know Jaren Lewison as nerdy high-schooler Ben, whose relationship with classmate Devi went from frenemies to lovers on Netflix’s “By no means Have I Ever.” However off-screen, Lewison is a latest graduate of USC who likes to bake, play video video games, hit the gymnasium, eat like a king and wander round nostalgic locations.
“Typically you turn into barely desensitized to how magical [L.A.] can really feel,” mentioned Lewison, who nonetheless lives in South Central close to the USC campus after ending college a 12 months early.
With “By no means Have I Ever” returning for its fourth and closing season this week, Lewison takes us by way of a few of the spots he’s loved together with his buddies and the present’s forged and crew. Right here’s how he’d spend an ideal Sunday in L.A.
9:30 a.m.: Pop off the bed
My alarm is at 9:30 a.m. day by day. My household says now we have the Lewison curse, which implies you simply by no means sleep. I’m additionally the kind of individual the place my alarm goes off and I’m off the bed 30 seconds later, brushing my enamel.
9:45 a.m.: Head to the gymnasium
I seize a protein bar and stroll to the USC Lyon Recreation Heart, which is the place I work out. I’m about to maneuver, however for the final 4 years — my total time being out in L.A. — I’ve lived and gone to high school at USC. I graduated a 12 months in the past, however I’m nonetheless kind of residing the school life. All my buddies are nonetheless right here and lots of them are from out of state, so I used to be like, what? I’ll spend yet another 12 months with my buddies.
12 p.m.: Snack time
Then I’ll come dwelling, bathe and I’ll make one of the best protein shake of all time. I exploit this protein powder that’s chocolate-flavored, the model is Dymatize. I get two scoops of peanut butter in there after which some oat milk. I’m telling you, it tastes like a chocolate milkshake. Then, in an ideal world, I’m gonna make some Oreo cookie brownie bars to get pleasure from after dinner. I’m a giant baker. I’ve a large candy tooth.
1 p.m.: Get lunch on the Authentic Farmers Market
I’m going to the farmers market at the Grove. Once I was a child, I’d come to L.A. for pilot season and I’d eat on the farmers market with my mother after which drive to an audition.
Lunch is gonna be with my roommates, who’re my finest buddies. I may need a corned beef sandwich at one of many deli spots. I’d do the kebab stand. I’d do the fried rooster place. I wish to eat, so it may very well be that I’m going get a pickle from the little pickle man stand, or no less than a pattern. I’d in all probability get a contemporary squeezed lemonade. I want to say I can management myself, however I in all probability can’t.
2 p.m.: Pick a brand new e book
Then I’m in all probability strolling round Barnes & Noble. I used to be by no means a reader rising up however after school, I used to be like, I need to learn. I actually like reasonable fiction or sci-fi. Rising up, “Ender’s Recreation” was like the one factor I ever learn in addition to Percy Jackson and like “The Starvation Video games” and “Divergent” — no matter was in style. However lately, I learn all of Sally Rooney’s books. And I actually favored these — I’m an enormous fan of “Regular Individuals.” Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal, their performances [in “Daisy Jones & the Six”] are mind-boggling to me and that’s one among my favourite restricted collection. So proper now, I’m studying “Daisy Jones & the Six.” I suppose if it will get tailored right into a TV present, I’m like, oh, I ought to do it.
2:30 p.m.: Wander round a museum
It is perhaps the Broad. It is perhaps the Academy Museum of Movement Photos. I’ve been eager to go to the Petersen Automotive Museum, so I’m in all probability gonna go there with my buddies. I’ve a dream of proudly owning a raven black Thunderbird, like a 1957 with chrome, pink inside, and it’s a convertible.
It’s a really foolish imaginative and prescient, however in my thoughts, after I’ve made it, I’ve acquired that automobile, I’m in a black go well with with a black costume shirt with Ray-Ban sun shades. The highest is down and I’m driving down PCH to “The Satan Wears a Go well with and Tie.” So I believe that the Petersen Automotive Museum is perhaps the closest I ever get to sitting in that automobile and driving on PCH whereas that track performs, however we’ll see, you by no means know.
4:30 p.m.: Get a day cone
My household has a convention: we used to do 3 o’clock ice cream on holidays. I’m going to McConnell’s High-quality Ice Lotions and as darkish chocolate as it might get, that’s what I need. My household is in Dallas, however I’ll ship them an image in our household group chat.
5 p.m.: Head dwelling to play Rocket League
My little group of seven will in all probability have a few drinks and we wish to play Rocket League. That’s a giant one in my home, we do some tournaments. My Rocket League accomplice, Dan, is one among my finest buddies. We’ve positively found out find out how to get some chemistry happening the Rocket League area.
7:15 p.m.: Eat as a lot meat as humanly attainable
We’re going to Ok-City. I like Korean barbecue, I’m in all probability consuming my face off. We’re gonna have some beer, we’re gonna have all of the meat, perhaps a few of the fixings, however positively lots of meat. I’ll in all probability be the grill grasp.
The primary [Korean barbecue joint] that I used to be ever uncovered to was Gyu-Kaku, which is basically stable. However there are a few gems in Ok-town. Each time I’m going, I attempt a brand new place. Quarters Korean BBQ is basically, actually good. I truly went there with the “By no means Have I Ever” crew and forged.
9:30 p.m.: Select an journey
There are just a few choices now. We may do karaoke in Ok-town. I’m a Texas boy. I’m not a singer, however I believe I can sing a rustic track and be all proper. I believe it’s gonna be “Wagon Wheel” by Darius Rucker. One time, my roommate and I went up for karaoke and sang “My Approach” by Frank Sinatra, and I do assume that introduced the home down.
Or maybe an escape room. Or we’re going again to my home, and it’s a sport night time. My home is a Settlers of Catan home. We even have a chalkboard wall and now we have a winner’s standings column that will get up to date after each sport.
12 a.m.: Seize a midnight snack at Canter’s
At this level, it is perhaps time to go to Canter’s Deli. I’m an enormous Jewish deli individual and Canter’s is open 24 hours, so I’m gonna milk the hell out of that.
