Category Archives: Metro Lifestyle

Destination Discounts Weekly Picks

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Sure, riding Metro saves you from the stress of traffic, reduces your environmental impact and lowers your monthly transportation costs – but did you know it also entitles you to a bunch of great deals around L.A.? That’s what Destination Discounts is all about – and The Source is here to make sure you don’t miss out.  Every week we’ll highlight our favorite deals from Metro’s local partners – destinations, sporting events, concerts, museums, theme parks, shops and more – and provide all the info you need to take advantage of these offers.

This week in Arts/Entertainment:

And don’t forget to check out the 20 participating restaurants offering discounts to Metro riders in our Destination Discounts Dining Map.

Details after the jump. Continue reading →

Why You Don't Ride: Gregory E. Kay, Los Angeles

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Why You Ride (or Don't)‘Why You Ride (or Don’t Ride)‘ is a series where you, our faithful readers, share your transportation routines in L.A. and your thoughts on how to make things better – read more about the concept here.

Want to share your story? Take the survey here if you ride transit regularly, or take this one if you don’t ride.

Who You Are:

Name: Gregory E. Kay
Occupation: Designer
Location: Los Angeles

Your Transportation Routine:

How often do you drive and for what purpose?

Every day, for work and pleasure.

Where are you typically traveling from and going to?

From my house to work, to the grocery store, to the subway station (to get to school).

How many vehicles do you or your family have?

1

How long does your commute typically take?

10 minutes

Briefly, how would you describe your typical driving experience? Love it, deal with it, or hate it?

I deal with it.

On average, what do you spend each month on transportation?

$100 – $300

Do you use any forms of alternative transportation?

I ride my bike when it is safe.

Why do you drive?

I drive because I often transport bulky materials.  When I am not transporting bulky materials, I usually need to be somewhere in a reasonable amount of time.  A two hour bus ride each way is not reasonable.

Continue reading →

Why You Ride: K, Windsor Hills

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Why You Ride (or Don't)‘Why You Ride (or Don’t Ride)‘ is a series where you, our faithful readers, share your transportation routines in L.A. and your thoughts on how to make things better – read more about the concept here.

Want to share your story? Take the survey here if you ride transit regularly, or take this one if you don’t ride.

Who You Are:

Name: K
Occupation: Quality Assurance Tester
Location: Windsor Hills

Your Transit Routine:

How often do you take transit and for what purpose?

Every day, to get to and from work, or to get wherever I need to go on the weekends.

Where are you typically traveling from and going to?

From Windsor Hills to El Segundo, or from Windsor Hills to Santa Monica.

What lines/routes do you take?

Metro 108, Culver City 6, Metro 232, Torrance 8

How long does it typically take?

On a good day, it takes about an hour for me to travel the eight miles from my home to my office, and vice versa.

Briefly, how would you describe your typical transit experience? Love it, deal with it, or hate it?

I deal with it.

On average, what do you spend each month on transportation?

Less than $50

Why do you take transit?

No other options. Even if I did not have a phobia about driving, I cannot afford a car.

Continue reading →

Metro launches 'Where Does Metro Take You?' contest

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Metro would like to know how you Go Metro to get around L.A. County. Here’s your chance to answer in a new contest. Those who enter will be eligible for a chance to win a pass to ride Metro Local, Metro Rapid and Metro Rail for five days. This contest is separate from The Source feature called “Why You Ride (or don’t Ride).”

All you have to do is fill out an online entry form and share how, why and where you ride, how transit helps you and reasons why others should try it. The interactive features of the contest site include an option to create and view your trip in Google maps as well as the ability to vote on the best Metro itineraries.

Metro welcomes all suggestions but entries should fit into one of the following categories: Cultural, Dining, Entertainment, Neighborhood, Shopping and Work. Keep submissions to no more than 150 words.

For contest details go to metro.net/ride. Your entry will be posted on the web for everyone to see, rate and vote for popularity. So … where does Metro take you?


Metro foodies continue to fill in the blanks on the Go Metro Dining Map

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The Go Metro Dining Map – featured without shame on our sidebar – continues to grow as you, our Metro readers, riders and diners share your suggestions for great meals along the lines.

A couple great tips came in over the weekend, and for a nice change of pace they’re recommendations that you’ll need to hop on a bus to get to.

First up is an L.A. institution, The Farmers Market at 3rd and Fairfax. Reader Ciacci says of it, “If you love food or history or celebrity spotting and you’re in the Los Angeles area, you must go to Farmer’s Market. It includes all of the above, with delicious food from all around the planet (you will NOT go hungry).” And what do you know, it’s accessible by five Metro bus lines (16, 217, 218, 316 and 720) and the LADOT DASH.

Vicente A. digs deep into L.A.’s collection of ethnic eateries (and deep into the San Fernando Valley) to suggest Springbok South African Bar & Grill, located steps away from the Orange Line Woodley Station. What’s exactly is served at Springbok? According to Vicente, “A great mix of South African food (Indian curry, Biltong, boerewors, peri peri, etc) and burgers/fries/salads. Plus a full bar and sports games (rugby, soccer, etc) on big screens.”

We’re eager for more suggestions so send in your recommendations for lunch, dinner, late night munchies… whatever. Check out the Go Metro Dining Map (click the icon on the sidebar) and fill out the quick form — it’s the best way to get us the info or emails us at sourcemetro@gmail.com. Write RESTAURANT in the topic field and please include a sentence or two about why you recommend a particular restaurant.

Go Metro Weekends, October 1-3

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The first weekend of October is shaping up to be a big one for transit accessible fun. Here’s one suggested itinerary: check out some free 3D films in just off the Red Line in Hollywood, take a bus to Eagle Rock for the Eagle Rock Music Festival and hop on the Silver Line to check out some Reptiles and Amphibians at the Natural History Museum.

Have an event you’d like us to include? Shoot us an email at thesource@metro.net. Time and space constraints limit us from listing every accessible event in this city, but this curated list represents what we think is cool and easy to get to.

To plan your trip and to check all other transit options, please consult Google Transit or the Metro Trip Planner.

Go Metro Weekends, October 1-3 Legend: Blue pin (Friday), Red pin (Saturday), Green pin (Sunday).

Friday, October 1

AltCar Expo 2010
AltCar Expo is the most extensive alternative energy and transportation event on the West Coast. Learn more about Metro’s participation in this post.
Website: http://www.altcarexpo.com
When: 10am-5pm, October 1-2
Price: FREE
Where: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 1855 Main Street
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Ocean/Pico (20, 33) Colorado/4th (534, 720) Ocean/Colorado (20, 33, 534, 720, 733, 920)

Long Beach Harvest Festival Original Art & Craft Show
The best craft show around featuring American, handmade arts and crafts in hundreds of booths.
Website: http://www.harvestfestival.com/visitors/shows/longbeach/
When: 10am-6pm Friday/Saturday, 10am-5pm Sunday
Price: $9
Where: Long Beach Convention, 300 E. Ocean Blvd.
Nearby Rail: Blue Line 1st Street Station

3D Film Festival
Ten 3D films. Ten 3D shorts. Ten awesome parties.
Website: http://3dff.org
When: Various times, Friday-Sunday
Price: FREE (must follow 3D Festival on Facebook or Twitter to get tickets)
Where: Los Angeles Film School, 6363 Sunset Blvd.
Nearby Metro Rail: Red Line Hollywood/Vine Station
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Sunset/Vine (2/302, 210)

Yoko Ono: We Are Plastic Ono Band at the Orpheum Theatre
With Special Guests: Nels Cline, Iggy Pop, Mike Watt, Cornelius, Perry Farrell, Carrie Fisher, Vincent Gallo, Yuka Honda, Sean Lennon, RZA, Harper Simon, Tune-Yards.
Website: http://www.laorpheum.com/
When: 8pm Friday/Saturday
Price: $60-150
Where: Orpheum Theatre, 842 S. Broadway
Nearby Metro Rail: Red/Purple/Blue Line 7th Street Metro Center Station
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Broadway/8th (2/302, 4, 10/48, 30, 35/335, 38, 40, 42, 45, 66, 30, 730, 740, 745) Broadway/9th (10/48, 38, 66)

Beatles Documentary Triple Feature at Egyptian Theatre
Three ultra-rare Beatles documentaries.
Website: http://americancinematheque.com/
When: 7:30pm
Price: $11
Where: Egyptian Theater, 6712 Hollywood Boulevard
Nearby Metro Rail: Red Line Hollywood/Highland Station
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Hollywood/Las Palmas (212/312, 222, 217), Hollywood/Highland (212/312, 222, 217, 780, 156/656)

Friday Night Fright Flicks at Pershing Square
The Friday Night Fright Flicks program is presented on a 40 x 20 foot outdoor screen, complimented with a professiona sound system. This week, “Carrie”.
Website: http://laparks.org/pershingsquare/
When: 8-10pm
Price: FREE
Where: Pershing Square
Nearby Metro Rail: Red/Purple Line Pershing Square Station
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Olive/5th (14/37, 70, 71, 76, 78/79/378, 714, 770, Silver Streak) Hill/5th (2/302, 4, 10/48, 68/84, 81, 83, 90/91, 94, 794, 728)

The rest of this weekend’s events – including the Eagle Rock Music Festival, the opening of the new Resnick Pavilion at LACMA and Belle & Sebastian in Hollywood – after the jump. Continue reading →

Riders with good taste

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Go Metro Dining Map. You are clearly an adventuresome lot that likes to eat. Great restaurant suggestions for a whole bunch of cuisines keep rolling in to the Go Metro Dining Map.

Like this one from Eric Jimenez for the Good Girl Dinette near the Gold Line Highland Park Station. His simple comment: “Delicious Vietnamese food” combined with a look at the menu on their website, certainly makes it sound like a find.

And then there’s Life Food Organic, which is a “Groovy food stop for the crunch vegan/raw palette,” according to Ana Haase-Reed. It’s near the Red Line Hollywood/Vine Station.

The debate continues on Cole’s vs. Philippe’s for best French Dip sandwich in L.A. (David Saw votes Cole’s; Kyle Jonathan Chang votes Philippe’s.) Cole’s is accessible from the Red and Purple lines and Philippe’s from the Gold — and is close to Union Station.

Pattiy Knox says she heads to the TAO Food Truck for lunch on Tuesdays when it’s parked two blocks from the Metro Red Line North Hollywood Station. (Find the daily sked on their website.) And at La Carreta near the Blue Line Vernon Station Matt Mason has found that “The quesadillas are the best, and the fish tacos are very good. The salsa bar is great, too. Augustus Hawkins Wetlands Park, one of the best parks in the city, is nearby, as well.”

We’re eager for more suggestions so send in your recommendations for lunch, dinner, cupcakes … whatever. Check out the Go Metro Dining Map (click the icon on the sidebar) and fill out the quick form — it’s the best way to get us the info or emails us at sourcemetro@gmail.com. Write RESTAURANT in the topic field and please include a sentence or two about why you recommend a particular restaurant.

Come visit Metro at the AltCar Expo in Santa Monica this weekend

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Woman In Red Car

This Friday and Saturday (Oct. 1-2) is the 5th Annual AltCar Expo, taking place at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.

What’s AltCar Expo all about? From the promoters:

AltCar Expo is the most extensive alternative energy and transportation event on the West Coast with alternative technology vehicles, alternative transportation, urban planning, energy efficiency and carbon footprint reduction educational choices.

Metro is one of the event’s sponsors and will have a booth and an articulated bus on site. In addition there will be an hour-long panel on Saturday starting at 11:15am entitled, “What will it take to get you on a bus?” Included on the panel of speakers is Metro’s own Conan Cheung, Deputy Executive Officer of Service Planning and Scheduling

The event is free of charge and accessible by Metro and Santa Monica Big Blue Bus. If you’re driving, parking is available for $9.

AltCar Expo 2010
Website: http://www.altcarexpo.com
When: 10am-5pm, October 1-2
Price: FREE
Where: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 1855 Main Street
Nearby Metro Bus Stops: Ocean/Pico (20, 33) Colorado/4th (534, 720) Ocean/Colorado (20, 33, 534, 720, 733, 920)

Why You Don't Ride: Carol, Westwood

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Why You Ride (or Don't)‘Why You Ride (or Don’t Ride)‘ is a series where you, our faithful readers, share your transportation routines in L.A. and your thoughts on how to make things better – read more about the concept here.

Want to share your story? Take the survey here if you ride transit regularly, or take this one if you don’t ride.

Who You Are:

Name: Carol
Occupation: Retired
Location: Westwood

Your Transportation Routine:

How often do you drive and for what purpose?

I drive locally – to the grocery store, hardware store, Westside Pavillion, Century City, fabric shop, into the Village for lunch, to Beverly Hills for shopping and doctor appts. I also go to the Pacific Paliasides, Santa Monica and Malibu to visit friends.

I take friends to Hollywood for shows and museums and up to the Hollywood Sign. I go when and where I want.

All places where there is no adequate Metro transportation without transferring many times.  And Metro is not planning any easy solution in the future.

Where are you typically traveling from and going to?

My home that is located within 300 feet of a bus stop that will take me to Santa Clarita or downtown Los Angeles but nothing in between.

How many vehicles do you or your family have?

I have one vehicle.

How long does your commute typically take?

Less than 10 minutes by car.  It could take up to an hour or longer by Metro.

Briefly, how would you describe your typical driving experience? Love it, deal with it, or hate it?

I love it!

On average, what do you spend each month on transportation?

$50 – $100

Do you use any forms of alternative transportation?

To old to learn how to ride a bicycle. No one has the same schedule or destination that I have.

Why do you drive?

Convenient, fast and comfortable – also safe if driving late at night.

Continue reading →

Why You Ride: John Moss, Santa Monica

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Why You Ride (or Don't)‘Why You Ride (or Don’t Ride)‘ is a series where you, our faithful readers, share your transportation routines in L.A. and your thoughts on how to make things better – read more about the concept here.

Want to share your story? Take the survey here if you ride transit regularly, or take this one if you don’t ride.

Who You Are:

Name: John Moss
Occupation: Unemployed
Location: Santa Monica

Your Transit Routine:

How often do you take transit and for what purpose?

Daily. For job hunting, medical appointments, social outings, shopping – pretty much everything.

Where are you typically traveling from and going to?

Between Hollywood and Santa Monica. Occasionally other parts of the county.

What lines/routes do you take?

Metro: 704, 4, 720, 920, 217, 780, Red Line, 305, 2

Santa Monica Big Blue Bus: 1, 5, 10

How long does it typically take?

30-45 minutes depending on traffic.

Briefly, how would you describe your typical transit experience? Love it, deal with it, or hate it?

I deal with it.

On average, what do you spend each month on transportation?

$50 – $100

Why do you take transit?

Don’t have a car, and even if I did, driving in LA is too stressful. It’s far cheaper to take transit, and despite its flaws, it gets me where I need to go.

Continue reading →