Coziest in L.A.’s hidden corners

As the clumsy chef Sookie St. James on “Gilmore Girls,” Melissa McCarthy adds comic relief to the long-running family drama. No stretch for someone who previously performed stand-up at New York’s Improv while taking classes at the Actors Studio. Since moving to Los Angeles and landing roles on “The Life of David Gale,” “White Oleander” and other films, McCarthy continues to refine her comedic skills -- she currently appears in “The Completely Different Late Show,” Fridays at 10 p.m. at the Groundlings Theatre.

Groundlings gig

I’m in the main company at Groundlings and many months it’s where I spend the majority of my weekend nights. But gladly so -- it’s what keeps my sanity. There are written shows with some improv and then the Friday show at 10 is all improvised. The writing section of the runs is what’s hardest. There’s a lot of hit and miss. It’s the strangest group of people talent-wise. Those are all my friends and probably some of the funniest people in the business. I find it bizarre that they’re all under this one little roof on Melrose.

Go downtown

I tend to be downtown-obsessed. Any excuse I can think of to go downtown, I’ll go. I go to the Flower Mart -- there’s something crazy about being down there really early. I have a whole system where I get my car washed while I go into the market -- it’s on the corner of Maple [and Wall Street]. I love dim sum at Ocean Seafood. It’s the one place where 15 of us can get together, wait 15 minutes and get a huge table and eat. I tend to stay away from the gelatinous things. I love the crazy seafood salad. I don’t know exactly what it is. I’m the ugly American pointing at things.

Scrounging

I go to the garment district a few times a week, or at least once a weekend. I’ll shop for whatever I’m working on, as I seem to be obsessed with making everything. I made a headboard, some leather ottomans. If I quit acting maybe I’ll go into carpentry. I love the scrounging around. There are a million little bitty fabric stores. I’m always hoping to find a better deal or something that someone else doesn’t have. It’s the rooting around that I love. It reminds me of the garment district in New York.

Vermont haunts

I love Vermont [restaurant, on Vermont Avenue]. Their little bar is excellent and really cozy. I like that it doesn’t have a scene going on. And I love Blue Palms in West Hollywood. It has really nice owners and good food. Those are my two favorites. I love that whole strip along Vermont -- it’s my neighborhood. Everything on the east side of town is so much more interesting to me. I love Lost and Found, it’s a little self-run store on Yucca. It’s this really cool collection of great T-shirts and good books. I bought an old plastic German camera there. The owner has a really great eye and she picks things out that together make sense.

Tennis anyone?

If I have any time, I’ll play tennis at Griffith Park. Its amazing to me that I’ll be playing in the middle of this beautiful environment and I didn’t have to wait eight hours to get a court. I can’t believe no one uses the courts. I’m there when I can be.

-- Lisa Boone