At 79, comedian still keeps up with the best of them

HE used to run with the Rat Pack and drive muscle cars with Steve McQueen, so life has understandably slowed down just a bit for comedian Mort Sahl, now 79 and residing in Tarzana with wife Kenslea. Yet he’s still up for taking potshots at today’s newsmakers, and he’ll do so at a rare club appearance Saturday at McCabe’s. Here’s how he gets locked and loaded with ammunition.

Meat, potatoes guy

On a Friday, I like to go out to dinner at Carmine’s in West L.A. It’s still a Sinatra-style Italian joint, but it’s impeccable, it’s animated and it’s a real good hangout. Not too many places like that anymore; they’re all franchised and packaged now. The people I take always order Italian, but I’d get the butterflied New York steak and French fries. After dinner I like to walk around the beach in Marina del Rey, look around for a bookstore and maybe jump on Ann Coulter’s book.

Coffee and clothes

On Saturday, I’ll go to Il Tramezzino on Canon, a little place where you can have cafe latte and orange juice. It’s real nice, and the guy makes great coffee. Or I’ll go to the Starbucks at Beverly Glen Circle and then go down to Carroll & Co. on Canon, a store where everybody in show business used to go to buy clothes, before all the agents started buying Armani. It’s a men’s haberdashery, in the very traditional sense. I first went there in 1958.

Then I’d head down Beverly Drive to Al’s Newsstand -- right next to Ruth’s Chris Steak House, also a great joint -- and scoop up everything, from the Economist to Motor Trend.

Maybe I’d get a bite to eat at the A Little Taste of Hoboken on Westwood Boulevard. I’d get the chopped salad. I invented the one at La Scala, you know. They used to have my picture over it on the wall. You get very daring when you know Frank Sinatra.

All that jazz

I’ll go listen to some music at Charlie O’s at Victory and Woodman. It’s what the musicians call “a hang.” All the best jazz players in L.A. are there.

Or sometimes I go to the Vibrato on Beverly Glen, Herb Alpert’s very beautiful club. I also like the Musicians Union on Vine Street to hear the big bands rehearse. I’ve got a real kinship with that crowd.

After that, I’d go by Hugh Hefner’s place to see old movies. I’ve known him since ’55. I’m trying to help him find happiness.

Hanging with geeks

On Sunday I’ll drive down to the Sherman Oaks Newsstand at Beverly Glen and Van Nuys and pick up the Sunday newspapers, then go to Starbucks and drink a lot of coffee and read the papers in depth. After that, I’d maybe look around at the bookstores along Sawtelle.

I’d get something to eat at El Paso BBQ in Tarzana. I’m a big barbecue fan, and the guy makes great ribs.

Later, I might find a wild movie down at the Royal on Santa Monica. I’d go to the last show when there’s no one there but the geeks with the headphones. I think they call themselves filmmakers.

*

-- Mark Sachs