Metro Presents—Metro’s program of free arts and cultural events at the iconic Union Station—turns one year old this month! Everyone is invited to experience this stunningly beautiful LA landmark through art, architecture, music, dance and more.

In the coming days and weeks we’ll bring you some tremendous talent, including contemporary jazz by Mark de Clive-Lowe’s CHURCH TONIGHT (7-9pm, Fred Harvey Room), and swing and ragtime by The California Feetwarmers on Friday 8/8 (4-6pm, Waiting Room). And hey, why not come via train, bus or bike? You can even pick up a commemorative Union Station 75th anniversary TAP card!

From music and dance to film screenings and beyond, Metro Presents programs were conceived as a way to creatively activate the station for existing customers, and also as a way to encourage people to try out transit.

We’re so thankful to all the awesome artists, musicians and organizations we’ve had the pleasure of working with* (scroll down for full list). See photos below for a sampling of events we hosted with them over the past year……..

Our very first event took place in the historic ticketing hall—a screening of the neo-noir “Chinatown,” a partnership with the Downtown Film Festival Los Angeles. Photo: LA Observed

G.G. NineNet filled the grand waiting room space with jazz

We returned to film with an outdoor screening of the classic Strangers on a Train (how could we resist?!), a co-presentation with Echo Park Film Center.

Atabey performed traditional Puerto Rican “bomba” music and dance.

With artist Sarah Williams, we hosted “Thanksgivvukah Café,” a dessert giveaway celebrating the rare convergence of Thanksgiving and Hanukkah in the former Fred Harvey restaurant, a gorgeous space that’s usually closed to the public.

Part of the Independent Shakespeare Co., Dr. Pinch and the Pinchtones performed 1940s era swing music.

Dancers got down to classic salsa performed by LA Picante

Most recently, we partnered with Film Independent and Dance Camera West to present a dance-a-long and screening of La Bamba as part of the annual LA Film Fest. Director Luis Valdez and actors Lou Diamond Phillips and Esai Morales participated in a Q&A session before the screening.

Metro Presents also contributed over a dozen arts and cultural performances for Union Station’s 75th anniversary celebration on May 3, 2014. If you missed the festivities, check out some photos here.

For more information about the series and upcoming events, visit metro.net/unionstation and click on Events. Or follow us on Facebook.

*Partner organizations:
Colburn School
Dance Camera West
Downtown Film Festival Los Angeles
Echo Park Film Center
Film Independent/LA Film Fest
Independent Shakespeare Co.
Road Theatre Company