#AllCoopedUp with Paul W. Downs and Lucia Aniello, Writers
Hanging out and talking houses and design with Paul Downs and Lucia Aniello is a job perk. Finding them the perfect house with the right bones and the right vibe was an adventure for all of us. Let’s just say there was a lot of laughter along the way but luckily the the result of our search is a seriously great Hollywood Hills Hideaway that has since been published in AD. Paul is an actor, writer, and director best known for playing the trainer everybody loves to hate, Trey Pucker, on the Comedy Central series Broad City. Lucia is a director, writer, and producer who helmed one of our family’s favorite movies, Rough Night, as well as a slew of Broad City episodes. I have to assume that their quarantine routine comes with plenty of high style, good eats and a refreshingly funny point of view. - Jenna
What’s your profession, and what does your day-to-day work experience look like now?
We are writers/directors/actors/producers — typical slashies like literally everyone else in Los Angeles. Our springtime production has been on hold, so we're mostly writing at home or Zoom writing with collaborators. It’s not as fun, but at least you don't have to wear pants and nobody calls out your morning breath.
Are there objects or spaces in your house that you are newly appreciating? Or are there objects and spaces you have come to loathe?
We're spending a lot more time in our kitchen — turns out cooking and cleaning all your own meals takes up about 20 hours a day? We are almost completely covered in cuts and burns. We've also been spending time on our patio to get some LA sun.
Describe your at-home quarantine uniform.
Lucia's pretty obsessed with putting on a cute outfit every day (comfy cute!) and lightly peer pressures me to do the same. If she didn't, I'd only be in a speedo on our patio pretending we're quarantined in Italy. Now that's just 80% of the time.
Who are you quarantining with? Do you feel the need to “get away”? How do you make it happen?
Just each other. We don't want to go anywhere — we really feel Los Angeles is the best place on earth to be right now (I mean, Bora Bora is probably better, but we like LA.)
What’s the last thing you purchased online? Regret or obsessed?
Cecilie Bahnsen x Suicoke sandals — it was pre-Corona, but they make me excited to go out again one day. Paul bought wine from The Wine House (they do contact-less pick up and put it right in your car!) and a case of Honey Mamas from their online store. He's addicted and it's really getting him through.
Tell us the best shows, podcasts, or books you’re loving right now.
I Am Not Okay With This and Sex Education on Netflix, the podcast Ask Ronna (& Bryan), and re-reading Stephen King's On Writing. Also we just got into The Amazing Race, a quick 19 years after it premiered. And the movie Extra Ordinary is definitely worth a stream - we loved it.
Do you have any new quarantine activities or rituals?
Drinking wine starting at 6 pm every day. That's not new for Paul, but it is new for me.
What is your favorite quarantine snack? What restaurants are you ordering takeout from?
Our fave lunch is tuna, roasted brussel sprouts, and cannellini beans. We are getting produce and groceries from All Time and Imperfect Foods. We've also been making pizza with dough from La Mora, in keeping with Paul's Italian quarantine vibe.
What is the one item you’re glad you stocked up on? What do you wish you’d stocked up on?
We went to Costco early, so thankfully we have toilet paper, but I wish we bought more AUSSIE BITES! We also didn't get enough olive oil. Turns out we go through EVOO way faster than anything else.
Describe your biggest quarantine indulgence.
Butter.
If you have kids, how are you maintaining some kind of schedule for them?
We got rid of the kids - seems like too much during this trying time.
What are you doing for exercise?
Near-constant lovemaking.
Are you sharing recipes with friends?
We are. Our Instagram close friends feed is mostly all meals and recipes at the moment. And we like it.
When this is over I cannot wait to ___________.
Kiss every person I know on the mouth deeply.
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