Category Archives: Metro Lifestyle

Take Metrolink to the Los Angeles County Fair

Posted by

Here's the news release from Metrolink, the regional commuter rail agency funded in part by Metro:

LOS ANGELES – For the 20th consecutive year, Metrolink will offer safe, affordable service directly to the Los Angeles County Fair. On Saturdays and Sundays throughout the month of September, Metrolink's San Bernardino Line trains will add a special stop at the Pomona Fairplex after 9:30 a.m. A free shuttle will transport passengers to the main entrance.

Metrolink riders with a monthly pass can ride all Metrolink trains at no additional cost on the weekends. Others can take advantage of the $10 Weekend Pass, which allows them to ride Metrolink trains all weekend long for one low fare. Riders can transfer to and from other Metrolink lines, as well as Metro rail and most buses with the $10 Weekend Pass. The Weekend Pass is valid from 7 p.m. on Friday until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday for system-wide travel. The weekend pass can be purchased at Metrolink ticket vending machines after 7 p.m. on Friday.

Continue reading →

Meet Me @Metro III recap

Posted by

Watts Village Theatre Company’s artist director Guillermo Aviles-Rodriguez sets up for the show.

Photos by Gary Leonard

If you missed Meet Me @Metro this past weekend, you have four more chances left to catch the traveling theatre spectacular. There are shows at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. on both Saturday, September 1 and Sunday, September 2. Tickets are $20 (or whatever amount you can pay for the Saturday 12 p.m. show) and include a Metro day pass and a bag lunch. The journey takes about 3 ½ hours and it’s well worth your time.

Check in or buy your ticket at the East Portal at Union Station. You’ll get a colored wristband assigning you to a group (so you don’t get lost or left behind) and a gold star if you ask for the vegetarian lunch option. You’ll also get a bingo card to play along the trip.

Continue reading →

New joint timetable available for regional commuter rail and Amtrak

Posted by

As you may know, there are a variety of passenger trains rolling throughout Southern California: Metrolink in the L.A. metro area, the Coaster and Sprinter in San Diego County and Amtrak, the national railroad connecting cities in California to the rest of the U.S.

The four different railroads have historically each maintained their own timetables, making it tricky for Jane Citizen to quickly figure out what might be the quickest or most convenient way to take a train from here-to-there.

To remedy that issue, the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo Rail Corridors Agency has created a timetable that covers all four railroads. Neat idea, people! Outside of transit circles, the agency is a bit obscure but their core mission is easy to understand: improve regional rail service.

Here’s the new timetable (pdf download here) with a hat tip to Dana Gabbard at L.A. Streetsblog:

Joint Timetable

Go Metro Weekends, Aug 24 – 26

Posted by

 

Get down and dance on Friday with Boogie Nights, showing at the Mosaic in the downtown Arts District. In addition to the movie, there will be a costume contest, trivia, free drinks and sweet treats. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the movie begins at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door. (Metro Gold Line to Little Tokyo/Arts District Station, walk south on Alameda toward 3rd Street)

On Saturday, don’t miss the H2O Festival at the Los Angeles State Historic Park. The outdoor concert features two stages and a mix of musicians, including Snoop Dogg, Paulina Rubio and Ozomatli. There will be cash-only food trucks and vendors on site. Tickets start at $25 and are available online. The event opens at 3 p.m. and lasts until 12:30 a.m. Don’t spend money you could be spending on merchandise to park your car, go Metro – the late-night rail service makes it an easy choice. (Metro Gold Line to Chinatown Station)

Sunday is the last concert of the Sounds of Summer series. Dwight Trible will be performing at the Craft and Folk Art Museum courtyard at 6 p.m. The concert is free, but reservations are recommended. (Metro Bus 20 to Wilshire/Curson)

Come meet me at Metro

Posted by

 

Instead of riding Metro to see a show, let the journey itself be the spectacle! Watts Village Theater Company is putting on their third annual Meet Me @Metro, a traveling theatre event that will be held along the Gold Line on the next two weekends.

Audience members will gather at Union Station in the East Portal, then be guided en masse toward East L.A. Civic Center. Six performances, designed to showcase the history of L.A. culture and art, will be held at four separate stops along the way. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and clothing because audience participation is encouraged!

Meet Me @Metro will take place on the following days and times:

  • Saturday, Aug. 25, 11 a.m. and 12 p.m.
  • Sunday, Aug. 26, 11 a.m. and 12 p.m.
  • Saturday, Sept.1, 11 a.m. and 12 p.m.
  • Sunday, Sept. 2, 11 a.m. and 12 p.m.

Tickets are $20 and include a Metro day pass, which means after the show is over you can go explore more of L.A. by Metro. For those on a tighter budget, there are two pay-what-you-will shows: Sunday, Aug. 26 at noon and Saturday, Sept. 1 at noon. Each trip will take approximately 3.5 hours and all ages are welcome.

Get ready to experience the Gold Line in a whole new way! I’ll be attending the very first show on August 25 for those who may be interested in playing “Spot the Metro-ette.”

Go Metro Weekends, Aug 17 – 19

Posted by

Long Beach Funkfest 2011. Photo from LB Funkfest official Facebook

This Friday, get your hula on at the East L.A. Civic Center amphitheatre. The Kilohana Performing Arts Company will be there to teach the art of hula during this week’s J.A.M. Session. The free dance lesson starts at 6 p.m. and is open to all ages. A free outdoor movie screening follows at 8:30 p.m. (Metro Gold Line to East L.A. Civic Center Station, Metro Bus 258 to Mednik/3rd)

The Long Beach Funkfest takes place on Saturday from noon to 11 p.m. The free event features dancers, vendors, a kids’ zone and live performances. Learn how to sustain your future through funk and enjoy a day out with the family. Go Metro and receive a 10% discount on festival merchandise. The festival takes place on the intersection of Pine and East Broadway in downtown Long Beach. (Metro Blue Line to Long Beach Transit Mall Station, check Trip Planner for connections to Long Beach Transit buses)

This year’s Grand Performances are winding down, so make sure to catch a show before they close up shop. This Sunday, visit California Plaza and to see The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs on stage at 8 p.m. The “monologue” will be read by Chinese, Mexican, Korean and Japanese American performers, emphasizing the influence of one man on the global marketplace. The event is free, and free bike valet is offered for those who ride to attend. (Metro Red/Purple Line to Pershing Square Station, exit 4th/Hill, Metro Bus 84 to 4th/Hill)

Silver Line late-night service starts Friday, Aug. 17

Posted by

Photo by Waltarrrr, via Flickr creative commons.

When Metro rolled out expanded late-night service on Metro Rail and the Orange Line last month, many of you wondered “what about the Silver Line?” Well wonder no more good readers, late-night weekend service for the Silver Line begins this Friday.

On Friday and Saturday nights, the Silver Line will run past 2 a.m. The last bus from Artesia Transit Center departs at 1:56 a.m. and the last bus from El Monte Bus Station departs at 2 a.m. The schedule of additional trips can be seen here.

Metro added extended service to the Silver Line due to the jump in late-night ridership since Metro Rail and the Orange Line began operating until 2 a.m. Keep these numbers up and we may one day end up with late-night service seven days a week!

If you didn't Go Metro to Jack White at Mariachi Plaza this afternoon, here are a few pics

Posted by

[UPDATED Aug 13, 4:00pm] Two videos added after the jump. Enjoy!

Much to everyone’s surprise, Jack White played an impromptu 20-minute show at Mariachi Plaza — above the Gold Line station — on this sweltering Friday afternoon. Here are some pics, courtesy of Mark Clifford:

Continue reading →

Go Metro to live music: Fun.

Posted by

Fun – “Some Nights”

Go Metro to see one of the summer’s hottest bands, Fun., performing live at the historic Wiltern Theatre on three consecutive nights beginning Friday, August 17th! It’s the perfect event to use Metro — the Wiltern is across the street from the Wilshire/Western Purple Line station and adjacent to the Metro Rapid 720 stop.

Continue reading →