Go Metro Weekends is The Source’s weekly guide to having a great weekend in L.A. without a car. All events are easily accessible (within a half mile walk) by Metro bus and rail lines. 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.

This weekend there’s a lot of great freebies including a Mary J. Blige mini concert, a book signing with famed burlesque star Dita Von Teese and a free screening of the holiday film The Polar Express.

Friday, December 18th

Mary J. Blige Outdoor Mini Concert
The singer performs in Hollywood for Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Website: http://tiny.cc/maryjblige
Type: Music
When: 6:45 p.m.
Price: FREE, tickets must be reserved by RSVP online
Where: El Capitan Outdoor Stage, 6840 Hollywood Boulevard
Nearby Rail: Red Line Hollywood/Highland Station
Metro Access Map:

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

Dita von Teese Book Signing
Hennessy + Ingalls bookstore presents the famous burlesque star as she promotes her new book “Dita: Striptease”.
Website: http://www.space15twenty.com/
Type: Literary
When: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (followed by a cocktail hour)
Price: FREE
Where: Space 15 Twenty, 1520 North Cahuenga Boulevard
Nearby Rail: Red Line Hollywood/Vine Station
Metro Access Map:

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

My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done
Premiere screening of new film from acclaimed director Werner Herzog. The director will be there to introduce the film.
Website: http://www.downtownindependent.com/
Type: Film
When: 9:00 p.m.
Price: $12, buy tickets online
Where: Downtown Independent, 251 South Main Street
Nearby Rail: Red/Purple Line Civic Center Station, Red/Purple Line Pershing Square Station, Gold Line Little Tokyo/Arts District Station
Metro Access Map:

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

Las Posadas on Olvera Street
Traditional Mexican Christmas celebration. Continues daily through Dec. 24th.
Website: http://www.olvera-street.com/html/las_posadas.html
Type: Cultural
When: 5:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Price: FREE
Where: Olvera Street, 845 North Alameda Street
Nearby Rail: Red/Purple Line Union Station, Gold Line Union Station, Metrolink Union Station, Amtrak Union Station
Metro Access Map:

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

Saturday, December 19th

Pasadena Playhouse District 3rd Annual Merry Merry Movie – The Polar Express
Free screening of 2004’s animated holiday film The Polar Express followed by an outdoor holiday concert.
Website: http://playhousedistrict.org/merrymerrymovie/
Type: Film
When: 10:30 a.m.
Price: FREE
Where: Laemmle’s Playhouse 7 Theatres, 673 East Colorado Boulevard
Nearby Rail: Gold Line Memorial Park Station, Gold Line Lake Station
Metro Access Map:

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

X with Calexico
L.A. punk rockers and Calexico celebrate Christmas at the Wiltern
Website: http://tiny.cc/xwcalexico
Type: Music
When: 8:00 p.m.
Price: $25.50
Where: The Wiltern, 3790 Wilshire Boulevard
Nearby Rail: Purple Line Wilshire/Western Station
Metro Access Map:

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

Musical Explorations: Ozomatli
Ozomatli hosts an educational and fun show for children.
Website: http://tiny.cc/ozomatli
Type: Music
When: 12:00 p.m.
Price: $10
Where: The GRAMMY Museum, 800 West Olympic Boulevard
Nearby Rail: Blue Line Pico Station, Red/Purple Line 7th Street Metro Center Station
Metro Access Map:

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

Sunday, December 20th

Charles Phoenix’s Retro Holiday Slide Show
L.A.’s “king of retro” celebrates the holidays with a nostalgic slide show.
Website: http://www.charlesphoenix.com/charles-phoenixs-retro-holiday-slide-show/
Type: Film
When: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Price: $25, buy tickets online
Where: Egyptian Theater, 6712 Hollywood Boulevard
Nearby Rail: Red Line Hollywood/Highland Station
Metro Access Map:

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