Tag Archives: Los Angeles Convention Center

Go Metro to LA Times Travel Show and save $3 on tickets

Posted by
Photo from LA Times Travel Show Official Facebook

Photo from LA Times Travel Show Official Facebook

Don’t miss L.A.’s biggest and best travel event at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The L.A. Times Travel Show takes place on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 23 and 24 from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. both days. Attendees will be able to get travel tips, learn about exciting destinations, enter in trip giveaways and more.

Go Metro and receive a $3 discount on general admission. Present a valid TAP card or L.A.County employee ID at the box office the day of the event to get the discount.

The L.A. Convention Center can be reached from Pico Station off the Metro Blue or Expo lines, as well as by the Metro Silver Line and numerous other Metro buses. For more route options and connections, use Trip Planner.

Go Metro Weekends, Nov 30 – Dec 2

Posted by

Jakarta at night. Get a taste of it at the Enjoy Jakarta Festival this Sunday. Photo by kaybee07 via Flickr Creative Commons

The LA Auto Show is now in town at the LA Convention Center. Go and check out the fun, fancy cars of the future. General admission tickets are $12. The show is open on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Metro Expo/Blue Line to Pico Station, Metro Silver Line, Bus 30 or 81 to Figueroa/Pico)

Get started on holiday shopping at Unique LA, taking place this weekend at the California Market Center in the Fashion District. Meet and buy from over 350 local designers and artists, attend free DIY craft workshops and snack on unique treats. Tickets are $10 and gets you in for both Saturday and Sunday. Unique LA will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. (Metro Bus 66 to Main/9th)

Get a taste of Indonesia at the Enjoy Jakarta Festival this Sunday. The free event takes place at Hollywood & Highland Center from noon to 5 p.m. and features Indonesian food tasting, music, dance performances and more. (Metro Red Line to Hollywood/Highland Station)

Go Metro to get green

Posted by

Mayor Villaraigosa with some student volunteers at last year’s Green Festival in Los Angeles. Photo by Carla Finnerman

Green Festival is coming to the L.A. Convention Center next weekend to show Angelenos the latest and greatest in sustainable products. The event features over 300 eco-friendly businesses, renowned speakers, workshops, yoga classes and more.

Go Metro to Green Festival and get a free 1-day pass. Just show your valid TAP card at the box office for a free ticket. Those with a Metro employee ID or L.A. County employee ID can also get a free ticket. In addition, the first 200 people to present a TAP card or L.A. County employee ID at the festival store can also get a 50% discount on Green Festival T-shirts.

Green Festival will be on Saturday, Nov. 17 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 18 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Regular admission is $10 for one day and $20 for the whole weekend if purchased online, or $15 and $25 at the door. Discounted admission is available to seniors over 65 and students with student IDs.

Free admission is also offered to those who bike to the event and park with the bike valet. If you live too far away to bike all the way to the convention center, let Metro take you part way there. Bikes are welcome on all Metro buses and trains.

The L.A. Convention Center is located near the Pico Station off the Blue and Expo lines. The Metro Silver Line also stops in front of the convention center. Check Trip Planner for more routes and connections.

Go Metro Weekends, Sept 14 – 16

Posted by

 

Celebrate bicycles at Tour de Fat! From Tour de Fat Official Facebook page

Start the weekend with some laughter at the Orpheum Theatre. Aziz Ansari, star of TV show Parks and Recreation, will be there to tickle your funny bone. The show starts at 7 p.m. and tickets range from $25 – $45. (Metro Red or Purple Line to Pershing Square Station, walk four blocks south on Broadway, Metro Bus 30 or 40 to Broadway/8th)

On Saturday, give up driving for riding at the L.A. stop of Tour de Fat. The bicycle celebration takes place at the Los Angeles State Historic Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and includes live performances, a bike parade, food, general merriment and good times. It’s free to attend, but you do need to register if you want to participate in the bike parade. Bikes are allowed on all Metro buses and trains, so if it’s a little far for you to bike all the way to the park, let Metro get you part way there. (Metro Gold Line to Chinatown Station, Metro Bus 76 to Chinatown Station)

Stan Lee’s Comikaze Expo takes over the Los Angeles Convention Center this weekend. Over 200 vendors will be on site for all comic book, pop culture and gaming enthusiasts. Go meet Felicia Day, Norman Reedus and other celebrities, or participate in the zombie apocalypse (finally, all my training will pay off!) Tickets are required for the zombie apocalypse and start at $30. A one-day pass to the expo starts at $20. Comikaze goes from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days. (Metro Blue or Expo Line to Pico Station, Metro Bus 30 or 81 to Figueroa/Pico)

On Sunday, take the family to the Japanese American National Museum and enjoy Umai 2012. Nine participating restaurants, including Torihei and Meiji Tofu, will be serving up delicious dishes, and the event includes entertainment for all. Tickets for adults are $25 online and $30 at the door. Entry also includes vouchers for all nine restaurants as well as admission to the museum. (Metro Bus 30 or 40 to Judge John Aiso/1st, Metro Gold Line to Little Tokyo/Arts District Station)

Go Metro to X Games and Anime Expo

Posted by

And that’s just a few of the attendees at AX! Photo via Anime Expo Facebook

This year, Anime Expo and the X Games - both events that bring thousands to downtown Los Angeles – overlap for three days. Anime Expo takes place June 29 to July 2 at the L.A. Convention Center and the X Games take place June 29 to July 1 at L.A. LIVE and Staples Center. This means there will be tons of cosplayers, skaters, bikers and fans of all ages converging in downtown this upcoming weekend, not to mention street closures around the L.A. LIVE area to accomodate the outdoor ramps and bleachers.

Grab some big air right next door to AX. Photo via X Games Facebook.

To avoid traffic and parking frustration, why not take public transportation to both events? Plus, if you go Metro to the X Games you can pick up a free tote bag from the NAVY booth.

• The new Expo Line runs from Culver City to 7th/Metro Center at the intersection of Figueroa and 7th streets, with a stop at Pico — two short blocks from the L.A. Convention Center, L.A. LIVE and Staples Center. There is free parking available at the Metro garage at La Cienega/Jefferson, Crenshaw station and at the Culver City Station, as well as many paid parking options at Exposition Park.

• The Red Line subway runs from North Hollywood to Union Station. There is free parking at the North Hollywood Station, Universal City Station and numerous paid parking lots around stations in Hollywood. There is also paid parking at Union Station — it’s $6 for the day.

Continue reading →

Metro at Abilities Expo

Posted by

Note the straps for easy securement on buses.

The Abilities Expo got underway today at the L.A. Convention Center West Hall and will continue through the weekend. Booths and vendors abound, showcasing the latest products and services to help make life easier for those with disabilities, and there are free workshops, events and activities for everyone.

Wheelchair expert Willie Boyd shows a wheelchair securement strap.

Metro is participating with a booth offering information. Americans Disability Act (ADA) Ambassador bus operators can answer any questions you may have, and wheelchair experts are on hand to attach straps and pre-mark wheelchairs for bus securement. This service is free of charge.

Continue reading →

Go Metro Weekends, January 20-22

Posted by

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!

Destination Discounts: Start 2012 by saving some $s while having fun

Posted by

Feeling some post-holiday blues? Don’t worry – with the new year finally underway, there are plenty of things to look forward to in 2012. Let Metro take you to these destinations and save yourself some money as part of the agency’s Destination Discounts program.

For those of you who want to keep celebrating the new year, head to L.A.’s Chinatown for the Lunar New Year Festival. The Year of the Dragon kicks off the weekend of January 28-29 with the 113th Annual Golden Dragon Parade on Saturday. Cultural performances will abound and there will be plenty of food, including 1,000 cupcakes from Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars” TV show.

Photo by julialat34, via Flickr

Although the festival is free, those who get there by Metro and can prove it will receive a free gift at the Chinatown BID event info booth. Take the Gold Line and hop off at Chinatown Station to get into the middle of the action, or jump on the Metro Local Bus 76 or Metro Rapid 794.

If you’ve decided that 2012 is the year you’re going to see the world, you’ll want to hit up the Los Angeles Times Travel Show from January 27 to 29 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. A slew of celebrity speakers and exhibitors will clue you in on the best travel destinations and attractions. The Travel Show also has three new areas, so whether you want to travel in luxury, go on wild adventures or schedule some family fun, you’re sure to find something to suit your desires. Go Metro and avoid paying for parking, then show your valid Metro pass or ticket and save $3 on each admission ticket purchased at the box office on the day of the event.

The Convention Center can be reached by several Metro buses, including the Metro Rapid 720 and Rapid 728, and the Blue Line. Visit Trip Planner at Metro.net to find the easiest way to get there.

For a destination that’s a little closer to home, take the Blue Line or Metro Local Bus 232 to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, a short walk from Metro Rail’s Transit Mall Station.

Photo by Mustafa Sayed, via Flickr

Learn about over 10,000 animals and have a close encounter at Shark Lagoon. Show your valid Metro pass or ticket and get $2 off adult admission and $1 off child admission.  With trains on the Blue Line running every ten minutes in the evenings, getting home by rail after a long day of exploring should be a snap.

L.A. City Council committee to discuss Farmers Field transportation plan

Posted by

The L.A. City Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on Downtown Stadium and Convention Center Renovation is holding a special hearing next Monday at 8:30 a.m.

In particular, the committee will be receiving a “presentation by AEG concerning the environmental impact report (EIR) for the Event Center and New Hall, with a focus on transportation, traffic, and circulation issues,” according to an official notice [PDF]. Readers may recall that AEG has pledged to make Farmers Field the most transit-attended stadium in the country.

My thought: The proposed location in South Park has immense potential for transit use on game day, given its location in the transit heart of Southern California. However, the city and AEG will need to take proactive measures to maximize transit usage; it won’t just magically happen.

For those who plan to attend, the hearing will take place in City Hall Room 1010 at 200 North Spring Street, Los Angeles, California 90012.

Update: LA Streetsblog will be live-tweeting the hearing @LAStreetsblog.