Well Enough Alone
Jim Hahn, mayor of Los Angeles: “I like to walk my dog around my neighborhood.”
Catherine Dent, star of the TV series “The Shield”: “My absolute favorite alone time activity is to go to any artists’ retrospective. It really doesn’t matter who it is, as long as their work and life cover a good significant couple of years. I get the curator’s comments on tape, strap on the earphones and can go for a few hours. And I have to go alone, because I want to look at all the artists’ work at my own speed. I love seeing another person’s process.
“I also like to get a venti nonfat, no-foam, extra-hot, extra-shot caffe latte, go to the Barnes & Noble, get a stack of decorating magazines and sit in the back of the store and read for a few hours.”
Jill Giegerich, artist: “I go hiking alone in Rustic Canyon quite a lot. There’s all these relics down there, a hotel, houses, a horse corral, but it’s all been abandoned. It greatly appeals to my post-apocalypse-nature-rejuvenation fantasy. It’s really wild, and I find that restorative.”
Roger White, architect: “I like to go to a coffee shop and scour the paper. I think the corner cafe is a civilized thing. If you do some kind of creative work, the process is nonlinear. So you need time alone to let it stew and come to you in some way that has a beginning and end.”
CCH Pounder, film and TV actress: “Art openings are my favorite one-woman event in Los Angeles. Usually I like to go on that certain Thursday in the month when there are several openings and you can roam from one to the other. For most people, it’s a time to socialize, take in the free drinks and hors d’oeuvres and completely ignore the art after the first 10 minutes.
“I like to be alone in the crowd and visit the art without a curator following me from one piece to the next (they are too busy on opening night) and I can pay full attention to the work that’s presented.”
Elizabeth Paige Smith, furniture designer: “I’d rather spend time alone creating things than be with people or in bars. The bookstore is the No. 1 thing I like to do for fun and inspiration and general catching up with the world, researching new materials and processes. That and surfing--even when you’re with people you’re really alone in your own world.”
Jaime Sichler, director of operations for the DVD program BOOMtv: “About the only thing I get to do by myself in L.A. is my biweekly pedicure. And also yoga, it’s really my favorite hour of the week.”
Sarah Silverman, actress in TV’s “Greg the Bunny”: “Listening stations. I like to go to the Virgin Megastore or Tower or Amoeba and listen to all the new music.
Megyn Price, actress in “Grounded for Life”: “I love going to restaurants by myself, because I can read without having to feel guilty for ignoring my dinner companion. In my job, I have to be ‘on’ and sparkly all of the time, so I love the chance to just be a nerd. I can just keep to myself and enjoy my meal.”
Natalie Fuller, clothing designer of the Natalie Anne line: “If I’m on a mission to go shopping, then I go alone. That’s when I get what I want. If I’m with someone else, I end up helping the other person, standing around while they try things on, and it becomes slower and slower. The problem is that you want to concentrate on your own look, but you don’t want to be rude. You have to be selfish at some point, otherwise you end up buying something boring.”
Nancy O’Dell, co-anchor of “Access Hollywood”: “Some of my most valuable alone time is on airplanes. I take a CD player and put headphones on because I prefer not to talk on airplanes. Flying is a great time to relax, think or read something I haven’t had the chance to. I also like to go to Barnes & Noble alone and listen to various CDs for sale--it is a great way to discover new music.
“One of my favorite things to do to get away from it all is to take a long, hot bubble bath with scented candles and incredible, relaxing music in the background. This is one of the few indulgences I’ll allow myself quite often.”