He’s happy to be beached in Venice

Leave it to an Easterner to appreciate the good life in California: the eerie stillness of the Venice boardwalk at dawn, an unobstructed sunset from Santa Monica Pier. He may hail from Connecticut, but the actor sounds like a native talking about his favorite hangouts. From Surf Dogs at Surf Liquor to the latest releases at Benway Records, Mann has everything he needs to enjoy a weekend at home in Venice. Recently featured in “The Bourne Identity” and “The Life of David Gale,” he stars opposite Joaquin Phoenix next in Miramax’s film “Buffalo Soldiers,” opening Friday.

Endless summer

I’m from Connecticut, so I really appreciate living at the beach. I’m just a big beach bum. The weekend starts very early in the morning with a walk along Venice Beach before all the vendors set up. I love the eerie quality that it has about it and the light. After that I’ll head over to Main Street in Santa Monica, where there’s a great newsstand. I’ve gotten to know the guys that work there, so I’ll hang out with them and discuss whatever is in the news that day. There’s always good people-watching on the corner of Abbot Kinney and California. You can get a cup of coffee and sit and watch people go by. It’s a blast.

Good vibrations

Joe’s Diner on Main Street in Santa Monica was the first restaurant that I went to when I moved to L.A. They have the best milkshakes and ranch dressing that I’ve ever tasted anywhere in the country -- I could take a bath in that stuff. It’s really casual, and the people that work there are so nice. I usually get chicken pasta salad. But they also have the best pancakes and really good omelets with chicken and avocado and bacon. Down the street, Surf Liquor sells the best hot dogs, which they call Surf Dogs. Any way you want it. My personal favorite is the sauerkraut and mustard.

Music fanatic

I’m a music fanatic, so I’m always in the mood to see what’s out there. There’s this really great indie record store called Benway Records on Pacific in Venice. I’ll go over there and pick up some CDs -- they always have great indie titles. The clerks are always up on the latest bands. I also like to catch indie films at the NuWilshire. I skip all the big multiplex stuff. There have been a lot of great documentaries this summer: “Winged Migration” and “Capturing the Friedmans.”

Surf’s up

For me, a perfect weekend is not leaving the beach. I like to body surf. Just keeping my body flat on a wave makes me happy. I’m happy not to have to stand up on a surfboard. I like my Santa Monica and Venice beaches. I visit friends in Malibu, but I always come back to Venice. After a day at the beach, I’ll probably just crash and order takeout Thai food from Thai Beer.

Sunsets

My perfect weekend would wrap up with watching the sunset from the Santa Monica Pier. If you walk past the carousel to the end of the pier, you’ll find bleachers. Sit at the very top -- you have an unobstructed view. It will make your jaw drop.

-- Lisa Boone