Category Archives: Metro Lifestyle

Visit cowboy Chatsworth via the Orange Line or a horse

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In the latest edition of Metro Motion, the Metro Orange Line extension is off to a great start, improving mobility through the San Fernando Valley and bringing faster travel times, improved bus and rail connections and a chance to discover the rich history and beautiful scenery of Chatsworth. Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, the Lone Ranger and Hopalong Cassidy all filmed there. But it’s not all Hollywood pretend. If we take a trip to Chatsworth via the Metro Orange Line we can find out what real live horses have to do with it.

In another segment, Metro Motion takes a ride up the Gold Line to Pasadena to experience some of the area’s finest eats, coolest beats and tastiest treats. And now we can stay for overtime with Metro’s extended late-night weekend service.

In another story we’re reminded that school’s back in session. (As if increased traffic didn’t tell us.) Maybe it’s time to go back to school for a brush up on our driving skills. Who better to teach us than Metro’s Div. 15 bus operators who collectively log thousands of miles on L.A.’s streets each year. We caught up with several operators who shared tips for safer trips … whether by car or by bus.

Metro Motion runs quarterly on cable stations throughout Los Angeles County.

Go Metro to live music: Crystal Castles

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Crystal Castles (ft. Robert Smith) – “I’m Not In Love”

Noticing a trend yet? Thanks to two conveniently located subway stations and a handful of Rapid and local bus lines running on main thoroughfares like Hollywood, Sunset and Santa Monica Boulevards, it’s easy to take Metro to the vast array of music venues in Hollywood. Case in point: Go Metro this Saturday night to see Crystal Castles performing live at The Hollywood Palladium! The venue is located on Sunset Boulevard, an easy two block walk from the Red Line Hollywood / Vine Station and is served directly by Metro Local 2.

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Art of Transit, Mission 26 edition

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The Endeavour crossing a Carmageddon-like empty 405 freeway late Friday night. Photo by Steve Hymon.

Go Metro to see the Space Shuttle Endeavour being moved to the California Science Center today! Please see this earlier post and remember the Expo Line delivers you next door to the California Science Center, the Endeavour’s new home.

And remember that many bus detours remain in effect for much of the day. The full list is after the jump.

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Destination Discounts for this weekend

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Recent Spanish Cinema XVIII Oct. 11-14, 2012

Show your valid TAP card at the Egyptian Theatre box office and receive $1 off admission.

For details on the Destination Discount, click here. 

ArtNight in Pasadena, Friday, Oct. 12, 2012

Show your valid TAP card to receive special discounts on store merchandise and memberships at the Pasadena Museum of History, the Pacific Asia Museum and many other venues.

For details on the Destination Discount, click here. 

San Fernando Valley Tennis Day, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012

Show your valid TAP card at the registration table to receive a Metro Welcome Package that includes an insulated tote, sunglasses, a children’s book, and a promotional tennis ball. You must pre-register to receive package, while supplies last.

For details on the Destination Discount, click here.

UCLA students learn the ropes of L.A.'s transit system

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Here’s a nice, short video from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, which each fall provides an “L.A. Transit Tour” to incoming students to help them get a better handle on the lay of the land here. Take a look. The video includes footage of former Source writer Carter Rubin preaching the gospel (of transit) while aboard Metro Rail.

Go Metro to the Space Shuttle Endeavour's last ride

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The Endeavour on the move early this morning. Photo by Juan Ocampo for Metro.


View Mission 26: The Big Endeavour in a larger map

The space shuttle is currently parked in a lot at La Tijera and Sepulveda and is scheduled to be underway again within a couple of hours. It’s basically the big transportation story of the next couple of days and I know many of you, including yours truly, will be heading out to see the shuttle. As neat as it was to see it in the air last month, this is much more unique — there are few chances in life to see a space shuttle roll down a Southland boulevard in front of a McDonald’s.

As you’ve surely heard, access to much of the route will be tight because of safety concerns. It’s going to be a tight squeeze for the shuttle on some streets. I followed the shuttle’s route on Crenshaw Boulevard earlier this week and it’s certainly going to be interesting. Yes, it’s a big and wide street — but big spacecraft wide? We’ll soon see!

The above map from the California Science Center — the shuttle’s soon-to-be permanent home — shows the viewing areas available to the public the next couple of days. The area all around Exposition Boulevard is, of course, easily accessed by the new Expo Line. Also, the viewing area at Crenshaw and Martin Luther King Boulevard is about a mile walk south from the Expo Line’s Crenshaw station (a very short and flat bike ride). Keep in mind that the bus lines that normally run on Crenshaw will be detoured and running on Western Avenue (more below on detours).

Also, from our earlier post:

Expo Park will be the only mass viewing area for the shuttle. Endeavour fans should gather around 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13 along Bill Robertson Lane. And make sure to ride the Expo Line there as no cars will be allowed into the park. Both the Expo/Vermont Station and Expo Park/USC Station will drop you off a short walk from the official shuttle route.

The Expo Line will run at 6 minute headways from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, and the Red, Purple and Gold lines will also run enhanced service. To make the trip easier on yourself, load up your TAP card before Endeavour starts to move. For more information on TAP cards — Metro’s re-usable fare cards — please click here.

After the jump is a list of bus detours in effect for the next two days.

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Go Metro Weekends, Oct 12 – 14

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If you run in to Woody at Union Station, you’ll know it’s time for Ben&Jerry’s! Photo by Kim Upton

Don’t forget to swing by Ben&Jerry’s at Union Station tonight or tomorrow evening. Go between the hours of 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. and score some free scoops.

Afterwards, head into Pasadena for the Old Town Haunt. Descend into the basement of the historic Union Savings Bank Building (20 N. Raymond Ave.) and prepare for a scare! The Old Town Haunt is open from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. General admission is $15 and a portion of the proceeds goes to charity. (Metro Gold Line to Memorial Park Station)

This Saturday is Endeavour’s big move. Get to Expo Park early to stake out your viewing spot! Metro will be running enhanced rail service on the Gold, Red, Purple and Expo lines from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. to accomodate shuttle fans.

Attend the Taste of Italy on Saturday at the Italian American Museum in downtown L.A. Enjoy Italian cuisine and live performances. General admission is $50 online, $60 at the door and gets you 10 tasting tickets. The event starts at 5 p.m. (Metro Gold, Red or Purple Line to Union Station, Metro Bus 40 to Alameda/Los Angeles)

Not enough terror this weekend? Drop by Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios. This Sunday is one of the Killer Deal Nights, buy tickets online and save $15. Horror Night starts at 7 p.m. (Metro Red Line to Universal City Station, Metro Bus 224 to Lankershim/Universal Hollywood, transfer to free shuttle)

Go Metro to Mission 26: The Big Endeavour

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Photo by Luis Inzunza

Hankering for some more Space Shuttle Endeavour? Head to Expo Park this Saturday evening to be a part of its last mission ever and welcome the space shuttle home.

Expo Park will be the only mass viewing area for the shuttle. Endeavour fans should gather around 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13 along Bill Robertson Lane. And make sure to ride the Expo Line there as no cars will be allowed into the park. Both the Expo/Vermont Station and Expo Park/USC Station will drop you off a short walk from the official shuttle route.

The Expo Line will run at 6 minute headways from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, and the Red, Purple and Gold lines will also run enhanced service. To make the trip easier on yourself, load up your TAP card before Endeavour starts to move.

Bus service in the areas along the shuttle route will experience disruptions during the Endeavour trip. Service detours are planned along Manchester Boulevard on Friday night and Crenshaw Boulevard and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard on Saturday. For the most up-to-date service alerts, visit Metro’s website, follow @metroLAalerts on Twitter or check back here on the Source. We’ll be posting more on Endeavour bus detours in a day or so.

Other places to catch the shuttle on Saturday are The Forum in Inglewood and the intersection in front of the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza.

Are you a Ben or Jerry?

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Photo from Ben&Jerry’s Official Facebook

Ben&Jerry’s opened at Union Station this July and provided some sweet, sweet relief during the hot days of summer. Now that the store’s settled in, it’s time for its official grand opening!

Swing by Union Station this Thursday, Friday or Saturday any time between 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. to celebrate ice cream.

On Thursday you’ll be able to meet co-founder Ben Cohen, and if you can prove your name is is Ben or Jerry (IDs please!) you can get a free scoop of ice cream. Friday, buy one scoop of frozen Greek yogurt during the allotted time and get one scoop free. On Saturday there will be face painting for kids and a free scoop for anyone in tie-dye. Woody the Ben&Jerry’s Cow will be there all three days for photos.

Union Station can be reached by Amtrak, Metrolink, Metro Rail and numerous bus lines. Ben&Jerry’s is located ajacent to the Amtrak ticket windows.