He’s a good sport when it comes to enjoying his time off

WATCHING football on TV, Omari Hardwick sometimes wonders what might have been. An injury cut short the former Georgia Bulldog’s NFL dreams, but it also let him to focus on another passion -- acting -- and this year has helped erase any misgivings. Besides roles in Top 10 films “The Guardian” and “Gridiron Gang,” the 32-year-old single Venice resident costarred in the TNT series “Saved.”

Chilling out

A really good Friday would start with dinner at Hal’s on Abbot Kinney. I like that it’s a black-owned business, which you don’t see too much of in L.A., and they have a jazz band and a blues band that play on alternate nights. Friday is the jazz band. There’s also a bar inside, and they have TVs if you just want to chill out in the lounge. The restaurant has these incredible Jackson Pollock-type paintings and also a great 3-D picture of the owner. They serve upper-echelon Southern cuisine. I usually get the salmon plate and steamed vegetables, and they have incredible mashed potatoes.

After dinner I might pick up a show, either at the Greenway Court Theatre in the Fairfax district or the Ahmanson downtown. I recently saw John Patrick Shanley’s “Doubt” at the Ahmanson and it was phenomenal. Then I’d go to a really cool cafe like the Otherroom in Venice, where they have music playing but it’s not too clubby, just a really cool vibe.

On the ball court

On Saturday morning I’ll go to the Hollywood YMCA with my brother-manager Jamil and play at least two hours of basketball. I’ve busted up my knees at that Y. Then we’ll go to a breakfast spot on Doheny near Santa Monica, a French cafe called La Conversation. Their pumpkin pancakes are probably the top thing, but they also have great orange muffins and serve any kind of omelets you want.

I might go to a sports bar and watch some football, probably either Georgia or USC. Then I’d head home and rest up before going out to dinner at Toi on Sunset. It’s an Asian bistro, and they have a little bit of everything, but for me it’s the Thai food. Later, I’ll go to Les Deux; it’s not as pretentious as the usual L.A. nightlife, and my brother loves it. Les Deux helps us stay young and hip and know what to wear.

Time for meditation

On Sunday morning I’ll drive up Pacific Coast Highway to Temescal Canyon. I’ll go to a lookout area there and meditate for an hour or two. I’ve taken everyone who’s ever mattered to me up there at some point. I’ll drive back and go to Agape International Spiritual Center in Culver City. That’s the perfect Sunday morning.

Then I’ll go running in Runyon Canyon. Some people don’t like all the dogs, but I’m a dog fanatic, so it’s all good.

In the evening I’ll get together with the same friends I’ve had since I moved out here, and the five of us will go to my favorite place besides Venice, which is Pasadena. I love the town and the homes and families walking up to Old Town. We’ll go to dinner at the Melting Pot, the fondue place. It’s a perfect ending after the earlier mind-body experiences. I don’t always have the time to do all these things on a weekend, but they are the things that matter to me.