Making a good time appear

Penn Jillette, the loquacious half of the comedy-magic duo Penn & Teller, says even he can’t believe they’ve been together for 35 years.

“It’s a long way to go without talent, isn’t it?” he said with a laugh. “We’re coming up on eight years at the Rio in Las Vegas, and on June 25 we begin our seventh season on Showtime with ‘Bull . . . !’ I guess we’re celebrating in 2009 by just doing more of the same and trying to get to 36 years.”

Jillette, who has a daughter (Moxie Crimefighter, 4) and son (Zolten Penn, 3) with wife Emily, will entertain at the Writers Guild in L.A. Thursday with Teller. For an idea of how he keeps himself otherwise occupied while he’s here in town, read on.

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Walking in L.A.

Whenever I’m in L.A., I stay at the Four Seasons and I never rent a car. I’ll rent a car in any other city, but not in L.A. I just think it’s a funny thing to do. Call it performance art; I have my friends drive me around. But there’s a great French-style restaurant within walking distance called La Conversation, and it’s great for breakfast. You have yourself some eggs and a croissant and you’re very happy. And then you can walk to Orso for dinner and have that excellent pizza bread that’s like a cracker covered with garlic.

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Hard-core ‘80s

Coreyoke is a nutty show with a live band. I think it’s actually on Wednesdays at the Happy Ending bar and restaurant on Sunset, but let’s just say it’s on the weekends. The band’s all dressed like Coreys from the ‘80s -- you know, Haim, Feldman, Hart -- and they bring audience members up to sing karaoke. It’s a lot of fun.

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Combo platter

A place I have to mention is Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles. Growing up in western Massachusetts, that was a food combination we never considered, and when I first saw the sign, I laughed. Then after a good plate of fried chicken and waffles, I was laughing out of the other side of my mouth. It’s the greatest food in the world, though it’s hard to get your wife who orders salad with dressing on the side to go there. But when you’re 6-foot-7 and 290 like me, it’s hard to find a place that can give you the kind of caloric load you need.

I was there once and Lou Diamond Phillips came over, who I had never met. He said, “They have a ‘one celebrity at a time’ rule here, so I’m leaving. But eat up, because in 45 minutes Kiefer Sutherland will be here.” He shook my hand and walked out.

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No waiting

Since we’re talking Southern California, you have to throw in Disneyland. I was only there once as a child, but after appearing on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars,” they tell you, “You’re part of the Disney family now,” and that doesn’t mean you’re dead and frozen, it means you can go to Disneyland with a VIP guide. It’s the coolest thing in the world. You don’t even know there are lines -- there are whole other ways to get into the rides. And seeing Disneyland with your children is a totally cool experience.”

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Hustling to Sunset

For a nice juxtaposition with Disneyland, my favorite thing to do in L.A. is to go with about a half-dozen of my very funny friends to the Hustler Hollywood coffee shop, which is right next door to the sex store. I’ll sit there and order decaf espresso -- which is as bitter as a jazz musician at 4 a.m. -- and make jokes with my friends. I’ve never had a drop of alcohol in my life and I’ve never done dope or anything, so decaf espresso is as hard-core as I get.

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A day on the Farm

I love the Farmers Market. I’ll go there with my friend, Eddie Gorodetsky, a writer on “Two and a Half Men,” and we always wander over to the Mexican food place in the middle there [Loteria], and then we’ll go have a soda at the Refresher, maybe a sarsaparilla from North Carolina. Then we’ll finish up with a piece of pie at Du-par’s. By then a whole day’s shot.

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mark.sachs@latimes.com