Craving post-show creature comforts

One of the musicians who makes “The Lion King” roar, herds of antelope leap and imitates the fluttering of birds in flight is percussionist Eric McKain. During the musical’s extended Southland engagement, the Angeleno has been enjoying all of the comforts of home.

Exotic weekend

Traveling to someplace beautiful, relaxing and romantic, that’s my ideal weekend -- to go to the Caribbean, preferably the Bahamas, Jamaica or St. Martin’s, that’s the best.

Closer to home

But a weekend isn’t enough time for that. So when I’m not traveling or touring I love going to the beach. I have this spot up near the Channel Islands and I sit on this particular rock. The seals swim there, you see the kelp. Look at the islands.... Sometimes I’ll go to Catalina -- take the boat to the island, have dinner and come back.

I really enjoy driving. I take my car, we go up the coast on the 101 to the Malibu Fish market. There I’ll have fish and chips outdoors and look at that beautiful view. .

Shaping up

I work out mornings; I’ll take a five-mile walk through Pan Pacific Park, around the tar pits. I’ll do that maybe five times a week. I like racquetball; an in-law, one of the Pointer Sisters, has a court in her house -- or I go to the YMCA. If I feel really energetic, I’ll hike up the trail to Mt. Hollywood.

The dinner hour

I do love a good steak -- for that I go to Ernie Morton’s on La Cienega. Oh, and I like Yamashiro in Hollywood; there you can have an intimate conversation, the atmosphere’s really soothing and the view is awesome. For Thai food, it’s Chan Dara. Tidal Wave in Gower Gulch on Sunset, their jambalaya is killer.

Keeping time

On days off I might sit in with friends -- other musicians that’re playing somewhere, or I’ll stop by the Professional Drum Shop across from the musicians’ union in Hollywood. I like checking out what’s new, talking with guys that are knowledgeable about the business -- I’ll even try out some of the instruments. You know, just experiment with the sounds.

After dark

For nightlife, I like dancing to, you know, the old stuff -- ‘70s and ‘60s music. For that we go to Little J’s in downtown L.A., then there’s the old Club House in Ladera Heights playing the funk hipster stuff. And we like to salsa dance at El Floridita Cuban restaurant on Fountain and Vine. There we can eat -- fried rice, black beans, fried plantains, a garlic sauce dip that’s happening -- then we dance.

Cheers

Cocktails? I head to the top of the Bonaventure -- it rotates, and you can see views around the city. The Kibbitz Room in Cantor’s is my local bar, and at Farmers Market, they’ve got a wine and beer bar; all my friends hang out there and people from CBS, writers and producers, janitors, street people. It’s not a racial thing, it’s just a great crowd. And then there’s the infamous Frolic Room right next to the Pantages. The Frolic has so much Hollywood history -- all of old Hollywood drank there. Can’t forget Jumbo’s Clown Room -- that’s a strip club -- but the drinks are good, really!

-- Carolyn Patricia Scott