Atlas Obscura is Slate magazine’s collaborative blog devoted to the strange, fascinating, little-known wonders of our world. This Saturday, May 30, the blog is hosting Obscura Day 2015, a global event of more than 150 happenings in 39 states and 25 countries, celebrating the globe’s most curious and awe-inspiring places.
Many of Los Angeles’ own “unique” institutions are participating, with special hours, programs, discounts and more in honor of Obscura Day. The full list runs the gamut from the Bunny Museum in Altadena to the abandoned Rancho Los Amigos hospital in Downey. But of course, we’re most interested in the destinations you can easily Go Metro to, including:
- The Valley Relics Museum: Located at 21630 Marilla Street, Chatsworth, the museum is a 12-minute walk from the Metro Orange Line Chatsworth Station.
- Jeepny Tour of Historic Filipinotown: Led by the Pilipino Workers’ Center, the tour meets at 153 Glendale Boulevard, 5 minutes away from our Bus 14/37 stop at Beverly/Belmont.
- Backstage at Bob Baker Marionette Theater: Also a short walk from our Bus 14/37 Beverly/Vermont stop.
- Bhagavad-gita Museum: Located at 3764 Watseka Avenue, Culver City; about a 10-minute walk from the Metro Expo Line Culver City Station. Or, take Rapid 733 or Bus 33 to Venice/Hughes.
- Obscura Day Celebration at Vista Hermosa Park: Arrive via Bus 14/37 to Beverly/Belmont, or, if you’re a walker, it’s about 20 minutes from the Metro Red/Purple Line Civic Center/Grand Park Station.
Please note, all of the above events (with the exception of the party in the park) require advanced tickets to participate, so if you’re interested, be sure to reserve your spot ASAP!
Not intrigued by any of the Obscura Day sites? Here are a few more transit-accessible destinations in the same funky vein. (BTW, additions are more than welcome in the comments section!)
- Gold Bug: 22 East Union Street, Pasadena. This cabinet-of-wonders style retail store is great for window shopping. (Metro Gold Line to Memorial Park Station.)
- Watts Towers and Arts Center: 1761-1765 East 107th Street, Watts. Italian immigrant Sam Rodia spent years constructing the “dream-like complex of openwork towers… encrusted with sparkling mosaic,” which he called Nuestro Pueblo. (Metro Blue Line to 103rd Street/Watts Towers Station.)
- Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum: 6933 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood. Because wax statues are the creepiest… and you can save 25% on admission with valid TAP card! (Metro Red Line to Hollywood/Highland Station.)
- Museum of Jurassic Technology: 9341 Venice Boulevard, Culver City. The ultimate weird and wonderful Los Angeles treasure. You have to see it to believe it (or not), and even then, you can’t describe it. Yes, I realize that’s as cryptic as it sounds… (Metro Expo Line to Culver City Station.)
Finally, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention these additional events happening near Metro this weekend. They may not fall into the “wacky” category, but they’re definitely just as fun:
- Mariachi Under the Stars at Plaza de Cultura y Artes: this Saturday, May 30 at Olvera Street (Metro Gold, Red/Purple or Silver Line to Union Station).
- Dwell on Design: this weekend at the Los Angeles Convention Center (Metro Expo Line to Pico Station).
- Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical: premiers this Friday through Sunday at the Ahmanson Theatre (Metro Red/Purple Line to Civic Center/Grand Park).
Some handy links to help you navigate our system:
- Metro trip planner
- Google Maps transit directions
- All Metro bus and rail maps and timetables
- Metro system map
- Metro Rail and transitway interactive map
- Fares and TAP card info
- How to Ride
- Nextrip real-time bus and train arrivals
Now go have an adventure everyone! And for those of you who take our buses and trains to do so–we appreciate you Going Metro.
Categories: Go Metro
The Watts Towers, constructed by Angeleno Simon Rodia, is the finest art work in all Los Angeles! Eat your paint brushes Getty, MOCA and LACMA!