Even a big ape needs time for monkey business

WHO’S the biggest star in Hollywood? These days, Andy Serkis is filmdom’s 8,000-pound gorilla. With his computer graphics-enhanced title role in “King Kong,” the 41-year-old British actor has made a name for himself, if not exactly a face. His likewise virtual performance as Gollum in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy put him on the blockbuster block, but more traditional turns in “13 Going on 30” and “Topsy-Turvy” also raised his profile.

Serkis’ film work has led him to consider L.A. as his second home away from London, and along with his wife, Lorraine, and their children, Ruby, Sonny and Louis, he’s fashioned a weekend fit for a king.

A magical start

On a Friday night, I’d love to spend the evening at the Magic Castle in the Hollywood Hills. It’s such an amazing place -- there’s nothing like it in the U.K. I had some friends who are members there get me in, and I just loved the whole experience, especially the little parlor with the close-up magic. They’ve got some terrific acts there.

After that, we might go to a club or two like the House of Blues or the Viper Room. I’m not much for dancing anymore, but I still love to listen to music. Or maybe we’d stop by the Skybar in the Mondrian Hotel, which is always quite a scene.

Enjoying a classic

On Saturday morning it’s something of a tradition for me to gather up some friends in the area and go to Musso & Frank for breakfast. That’s a great old place, and I love the pancakes and fried potatoes there.

Even though I love being in the city, I might head out of town for a bit with the family and drive to Joshua Tree, where I’d spend the afternoon just walking around that amazing park. We would probably spend the night in Twentynine Palms.

If not, we’d come back home and rest up and maybe go to the Chateau Marmont for drinks before dinner at Sushi Roku in West Hollywood, where I’d order any kind of their great sashimi. Then maybe we’d catch a late movie at the ArcLight Cinerama Dome, which is absolutely my favorite place to watch a film.

Keep it simple

On Sunday morning I’d go to the Farmers Market for breakfast -- we’d probably order lox and bagels, orange juice and coffee. Then we’d hang around the Grove a bit and maybe go to the great Apple computer store there, where it’s pretty easy to kill a couple of hours.

There’s also this fabulous bookstore on Robertson called Storyopolis, which my kids just love, and it’s fun for me too. We’d look around there for a while and then we might drive up the coast to Malibu and have some seafood at the Paradise Cove restaurant and have a look around afterward.

Later, I’d come back and do some shopping on Melrose or 3rd Street, just checking out all the shops. In the evening, I love the diners you have here in this country, and one of my favorites is Mel’s Drive-In on Sunset. I’m quite partial to the tuna melt and fries there. It’s the simple things in life, right?

-- Mark Sachs