On his latest project “Sinbad: It’s Just Family,” the 54-year-old comedian/actor takes a stab at reality television, letting the WE TV cameras into his home to record life in his household. The stars of the show include wife Meredith Fuller and their two grown children.
Born in Benton Harbor, Mich., and currently a resident of Los Angeles, Sinbad (whose real name is David Adkins) said he isn’t a picky traveler. “Honestly, I love going anywhere,” he said. “I can’t remember a place where I didn’t enjoy at least some aspects of it. I’m not a huge planner. I like to just go and see what turns up. That makes a vacation a real adventure.”
Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?
A: I went to Europe with my family and had a great time. But one of my most fun trips was taking a houseboat around California. Redding is so beautiful. It was relaxing and really fun. That’s my favorite type of vacation.
Q: Where are your favorite weekend getaways?
A: I usually work on weekends, but during some free time, it’s always nice to travel around California and go to the Bay Area or San Diego. I love the Midwest, too, and enjoy visiting Chicago and Detroit. Spending a few days in New York, Philly or Miami is also a lot of fun.
Q: What city has the best comedy clubs?
A: Birmingham, Ala. For some strange reason, I always have the most wonderful time there. The fans are wonderful and have been really supportive of me, even before anyone knew who I was. I have never had a bad audience in Birmingham. They get me.
Q: You’re a huge music fan. What are some of your favorite jazz clubs?
A: Yoshi’s Jazz Club and Japanese Restaurant (yoshis.com/oakland/jazzclub) in Oakland, Jazz Alley (www.jazzalley.com) in Seattle and the Birdland Jazz Club (birdlandjazz.com) in New York City.
Q: What are your favorite hotels?
A: I love the W Hotel chain (starwoodhotels.com/whotels/index.html). I’ve always loved the London Hotel (thelondonnyc.com) in New York. It used to be the RIHGA Royal Hotel, and the people who hung out there were always so cool. Everything you wanted to find in New York was there. And it’s fairly economical, as much as a New York hotel can be anyhow.
Q: What are your favorite restaurants?
A: Megu (megurestaurants.com), this sushi place in New York City; Dooky Chase in New Orleans; Ben’s Chili Bowl (benschilibowl.com/ordereze/default.aspx) in Washington, D.C.
Q: Where have you been to that needs a repeat visit or two?
A: I would love to go to Amsterdam to check out the North Sea Jazz Festival and would also love to check out the Montreal Jazz Fest. I’m big into music and love to check out different music festivals all over. Also, I would love to go back to Japan, specifically Tokyo.
For more from the reporter, visit jaehakim.com.
