Category Archives: Go Metro Weekends

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Go Metro Weekends, March 23-25

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Going to see “The Hunger Games” will be the highlight of my weekend – to those of you who went to midnight showings, I hope you had fun! – but there are a few other events worth checking out too.

Strawberry donut from The Donut Man. Photo by Space Pirate Queen via Flickr

Swing by Echo Park Film Center on Friday to watch the screening of The ADD Channel’s “The Virtual Zone,” a hilarious and sometimes offensive web series featuring real online classified ads acted out by brilliant actors. A few episodes of season one will be shown and the screening is free. Seating is limited so make sure to RSVP. The screening starts at 8 p.m. (Metro Bus 2 or Metro Rapid 704 to Sunset/Alvarado.)

Prepare to pig out the rest of the weekend because For Your Art is offering free donuts for 24 hours. They are setting up a pop-up doughnut shop across from LACMA and giving away donuts from 12 p.m. Saturday until 12 p.m. Sunday. The menu will rotate throughout the day; some of the donuts being offered are UMAMIcatessen’s Tres Leches donut, The Donut Man’s Strawberry donut and Nickle Diner’s Maple Bacon donut. The schedule will tell you which donut is being offered when, but make sure to get there early because the good ones (and they’re all good) will run out fast. The event coincides with the 24-hour screening of “The Clock” at LACMA. (Metro Bus 20 to Wilshire/Spaulding, DASH Fairfax to Wilshire/Spaulding, please note DASH Fairfax does not run on Sunday.)

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Go Metro Weekends, March 16-18

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Photo from Casey's Irish Pub Facebook Page.

Get ready to party this weekend. St. Patrick’s Day is Saturday and that’s just one of many events in the area.

Escape on Friday to the all-new Infusion Lounge at Universal CityWalk. Happy hour runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and special guest DJ HEM will be providing the dance beats. The lounge enforces a dress code so wear something nice. By the way, if you visit CityWalk on Saturday you’ll be able to meet Dr. Seuss’ Lorax! (Metro Red Line to Universal City Station or Metro Bus 156 to Cahuenga/Universal Studios and take the free shuttle up to CityWalk.)

For those of you who want nothing more from this Saturday other than green beer, you have plenty of options to get it from. Discover L.A.has put together a St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl with Metro guide, featuring some of L.A.’s best Irish pubs that are accessible by Metro. My personal pick is Casey’s Irish Pub. The festivities, which takes over two city blocks, start at 6 a.m. and features live music and great food until 2 a.m. The outdoor area will be tented so there’s no need to worry about bad weather. Admission is free. Don’t get there too late or you’ll be waiting in line for awhile. (Metro Red/Purple Line to 7th/Metro Station, walk east down 7th Street and turn left on Grand. Metro Bus 14, 96 to Grand/6th.)

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Go Metro Weekends, March 9-11

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The star this weekend is once again Pasadena. Head to ArtNight on Friday and enjoy a free evening of art, music and entertainment. Twelve of Pasadena’s most prominent arts and cultural institutions will open their doors from 6 to 10 p.m. ArtNight also features pop-up galleries, paint-spewing army ducks and food trucks, including ice cream sandwich truck Cool Haus (try the balsamic fig & mascarpone ice cream with an oatmeal cookie, weird but delicious!). Free shuttles will loop the area throughout the evening with stops at each venue, and a bike tour is available as well. Show your valid Metro ticket or pass at participating venues and receive special discounts, including 10 percent off store merchandise at the Pasadena Museum of California Art or 10 percent off exhibition catalogs at the Armory Center for the Arts. (Metro Gold Line to Memorial Park Station, depending on which venue you’d like to visit first different buses will serve your needs, check Metro Trip Planner.)

If you’re into acoustic music, visit the Last Bookstore in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday. String Theory, an all day acoustic music event, starts at 11 a.m. The event features musicians and dancers who put on a unique show using invented instruments and large-scale performance installations. Over 30 artists and special guests will be taking the stage. (Metro Red Line to Pershing Square Station, walk east on 5th St. to Spring St. Metro Bus Lines 16, 55, 62 to 5th/Spring.)

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Go Metro weekends, March 2-4

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It’s been a pretty cold week by Angeleno standards, but it’s supposed to warm up this weekend. This is good news for those who believe in weather forecasts and want to get out and about.

If you haven’t gone to see “Three Year Swim Club” yet, you should! The play, put on by East West Players at the David Henry Hwang Theatre, has been getting great reviews. “Three Year Swim Club” is inspired by the true life story of Soichi Sakamoto, an assistant coach of the U.S. Olympic Swim Team from 1952 to 1956. The Friday night showing starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are available online or can be purchased two hours before show time at the box office. Check the website for pricing and see if you qualify for any discounts. (Metro Gold Line to Little Tokyo/Arts District Station, Metro Bus Lines 30, 42 to Judge John Aiso/1st St. The theatre is at 120 Judge John Aiso.) Continue reading →

Go Metro Weekends, February 24-26

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It’s Oscar weekend, and if you’re like me, you’ll probably be avoiding Hollywood like the plague. For those of you not busy watching all those Oscar-nominated movies before Sunday, here are a few activities around town.

Inside of The Last Bookstore, from their Facebook page

The Last Bookstore, a used book buyer/seller located in downtown’s Historic Core, is hosting The Rattling Wall, a semi-annual literary journal. The Rattling Wall will be presenting the second issue of their lit mag and will have some of the authors on hand to read their essays, poems and short fiction. A signing will follow, and then feel free to browse the bookstore. Make sure to check out the record section or grab a coffee from the café. This Friday night event is free and starts at 7 p.m. (Metro Red Line to Pershing Square Station, walk east on 5th St. to Spring St. Metro Bus Lines 16, 55, 62 to 5th/Spring.)

Put on your glitter, feathers and dancing shoes for the Brazilian Carnaval Exotica on Saturday. Turning Club Nokia into a multi-level dance floor, the event features an all-star Brazilian Carnaval band, samba and capoeira dancers, Brazilian food and drink and a 200-piece drum corp. Attendees will also have the chance to enter a drawing for a free trip to Brazil. Doors open at 8 p.m. and tickets are $75 at the door. Check online to see if cheaper pre-sale tickets are still available. (Metro Blue Line to Pico Station, Metro Bus Line 81, 460 to Figueroa/11th.)

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Go Metro Weekends, February 17-19

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Everyone loves a three-day weekend, and here are some ideas for you to get started on yours.

Head to the El Rey for Wizard Rock Fest. Photo by Пероша, via Flickr Creative Commons

Downtown Independent, a small theatre located near downtown’s Old Bank District, is hosting LAconic Fest on Friday. This short film festival will be premiering three independent local films – Altair, Gabriel’s Kiss and Time Becomes You – and will screen various other acclaimed indie shorts. The event is free and doors open at 7 p.m. for drinks and snacks; the show begins at 8 p.m. Once the movies are over, the venue for the after party will be announced, and it will be within walking distance of the theatre. Classy attire is required, so break out the suits and cocktail dresses for a fun night out.  (Metro Bus Line 92 to Main/3rd.)

Harry Potter fans can celebrate J.K. Rowling and the wizarding world this Friday at Wizard Rock Fest. Los Angeles is said to be the home of wizard rock, a musical genre that is indie inspired with a whimsical spin. Head to the El Rey with your robes and wands and rock out in honor of the boy who lived. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $15, special offers may be available online. (Metro Bus Line 20 to Wilshire/Dunsmuir.)

 

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Go Metro Weekends, February 10-12

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Lots of people are ready to get their Valentine’s Day on this weekend, but there are plenty of events happening that don’t require you to partake in that particular holiday.

No one minds a little PDA when it comes to cute ocean critters. Photo by K Chen, via Flickr Creative Commons

Art, music and fish collide at Aquarium of the Pacific’s Night Dive on Friday night. Night Dive features DJs, musical performances and live art, as well as guest speakers who will talk about bizarre animal mating rituals. The soiree is for those 18 and up and starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $14.95. However, everyone is welcome free of charge to visit the food trucks that will be outside the Aquarium. Food trucks that have already RSVP’d include the Grilled Cheese Truck and Tornado Potato, and they will start cooking at 4 p.m. (Metro Blue Line or Metro Bus Line 232 to Transit Mall Station.)

Saturday morning, head outdoors and do some bird watching with the San Fernando Valley Audubon Society. Their monthly Bird Walk starts at the southeast entrance of the Wildlife Area in Woodley Park. Go by yourself, in pairs or with your family and get back to nature. A bird expert will be guiding the walk and imparting knowledge about the feathered residents in the area. The walk starts at 9 a.m. and lasts about two hours. (Metro Orange Line to Woodley Station, Metro Bus Line 164, 236 to Woodley/Victory.)

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Go Metro Weekends, February 3-5

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Admit it, you went "awwww!" Photo by K's GLIMPSES, via Flickr Creative Commons

Most of you are probably gearing up for a weekend of fried food, cold drinks and football on TV. (For the record, I’m more a fan of the Puppy Bowl than the Super Bowl.) But whether you’re ready to get your game on or want to ignore it altogether, here are some other Metro-able things for you to do this weekend.

Munky King on Melrose is hosting a pop-up shop for I Heart Guts until February 14. The full line-up of all your favorite internal organs in plush toy form is available in-store, along with T-shirts and other merchandise. Pick up an Appendix Plush for someone who’s had their appendix taken out, or grab a Humongous Heart in preparation for Valentine’s Day. 10% from each purchase goes to benefit the Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic.

While you’re on Melrose loving guts, check out The Groundlings. This theatre and acting school is putting on Groundlings Zombie Apocalypse on Friday and Saturday nights all through the month. Enjoy an evening of original sketches and hilarious improvisations – some of them might even be about zombies! Tickets are $20, and shows are for those ages 16 and up. (To Munky King and The Groundlings: Metro Bus Line 10 to Melrose/Poinsettia, Bus 212/312 to Melrose/La Brea and walk about four blocks west on Melrose.)

KCET has come out with a field guide to Highland Park, Los Angeles’ first suburb. From food, nature, art to family activities, the guide’s got you covered. Take the opportunity this weekend to get out there and explore. You can take Metro Gold Line to Highland Park Station, and Bus Line 83 runs right through the area, but still check Trip Planner to find the best way to get to your chosen destination.

Redondo Beach and Pier. Photo by Kevin, via Flickr Creative Commons

Don’t feel like staying in all Sunday? Head to Redondo Beach for the 34th Annual Super Bowl Sunday 10K/5K Run. Run, walk or stroll to see sights that include the Redondo Beach Historic Pier, the Marina in King Harbor and the Pacific Ocean. There’s also a Baby Buggy 10K for those who want to include their kids, and a costume contest. Food and beverages will be available on site and all racers will get a custom shirt. Entry fees now start at $35 and registration opens at 6 a.m. the day of the event, or you can register online. The run starts at 8 a.m. and you’ll be done in plenty of time to get home and watch the Super Bowl. (Metro Bus Line 130 to Beryl/Harbor.)

Go Metro Weekends, January 27-29

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The Lockheed A-12 outside the California Science Center, one of the many area museums offering free admission this weekend. More info below. Photo by Ron McDonald, via Flickr creative commons.

Whether you’d like to sit in an air-conditioned theater this weekend, treat yourself to some fine dining or get out and hit the museums, Metro has you covered.

Start your Friday off with Taste at the Palisades. The restaurant is participating in Dine LA, a bi-annual event that showcases restaurants in the Los Angeles area — and their menu is fantastic. Go for the white truffle oil cremini mushroom mac’n’cheese and stay for the sticky toffee pudding. At just $16 for lunch and $26 for dinner, you won’t be breaking the bank to fill your stomach either. Reservations are recommended. If you can’t make Friday, you can always try again on Sunday! (Metro Bus Lines 2 or 302 to Sunset/Palisades.)

Saturday, head to Hollywood and learn how to be a wine snob. The Renaissance Hotel is hosting the International Wine Festival from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets are $60 and once you’re in, you’ll be able to sample dozens of wines from around the world while nibbling on delectable cheeses, chocolates, olives and more. Enjoy the festival without having to worry about driving after. (Metro Bus Line 156 to Highland/Franklin, Metro Rapid 780 to Hollywood/Highland, Metro Red Line to Hollywood/Highland Station.)

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Go Metro Weekends, January 20-22

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Image from Zombie Joe's Underground's Facebook page

Living in downtown Los Angeles in the Historic Core means there’s no shortage of things to do. This weekend, I’ve managed to narrow it down to three choices.

Learn to move in a whole new way at “A Taste of Los Angeles Belly Dance” on Saturday. The event, hosted by the Blankenship Ballet and the Middle Eastern Cultural and Dance Association, will be held at the Blankenship Ballet Room, located on the second floor of the Alexandria Hotel (501 S. Spring St.) in downtown L.A. Starting at noon, there will be three free 15-minute belly dance workshops, followed by two 1-hour workshops. Afterwards, enjoy meeting vendors and watching some performances by true professionals. Workshop tickets will be available at the door for $25/MECDA members, $30/non-MECDA members. (Red and Purple Line to Pershing Square, Metro Bus Lines 16, 460 and Rapid 728 to 5th and Spring.)

The 17th annual L.A. Art Show and Los Angeles Fine Art Show have taken over the Los Angeles Convention Center. Historical and traditional fine art as well as modern and contemporary pieces will be showcased throughout the weekend. The shows began on Sunday and run through Sunday and there’s still plenty left to see and do. From January 19 to January 22, general admission for one day is $15 online and $20 at the door. Additional ticket options and online purchasing are available here. Ticket purchases benefit the Art of Elysium and the J. Paul Getty Museum education department’s bus transportation program. (Metro Red and Purple Lines to 7th Street / Metro Center Station and walk south on Figueroa or Blue Line to Pico Station.)

As always, make sure to check Metro Trip Planner to find the best travel options, and have a great weekend!