Go Metro Weekends, Pasadena Open Figure Skating Championships

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Major figure skating competitions are headed to the Southland where over 530 local, international and Olympian skaters will begin competing this Saturday. The 37th Annual Pasadena Open is the first of three competitions happening at Pasadena’s Ice Skating Center and the final Pasadena Skating Club contest in the Southern California Inter-Club Championship. Contenders in this weekend’s Open will compete for medals and to qualify in the SCICA Series Invitational taking place in Paramount, Iceland.

If you’ve ever tried figure skating, you know it’s no easy sport. As a kid, my sister and I would repeatedly fall on our faces while attempting to glide across the ice — that’s why we prefer letting the pros show us how it’s done!

Along with top skaters from Pasadena, Burbank, Glendale and other neighboring regions, Olympic medalist Gracie Gold and NHK Trophy Champion Daisuke Murakami of Japan have announced they will also be competing at the open.

From Oct. 7 to 8 the Pasadena Skating Center will host Skate SWP, a non-qualifying championship, followed by the Southwest Pacific Regional Championship from Oct 10 to 13. Finalists in the Southwest Pacific contest will advance in the “Race to Nationals,” better known as the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, to be held in 2017.

Of course, we can’t reference the skating center without mentioning how close it is to Metro Rail stations and several stores and restaurants that offer deals and freebies just for riding Metro! Get to the rink by taking the Metro Gold Line to Del Mar or Memorial Park Station. From either station, it’s about a 10-minute walk.  Also be sure to check out our Destination Discounts partners in the area.

Photo: Iwan Baan/The Broad Museum website.

Photo: Iwan Baan/The Broad Museum website.

One other event of note: The Broad opens to the public this Sunday! If you’ve already reserved your free tickets, consider taking Metro for easy access. The museum is .3 miles from the Metro Red/Purple Line’s Civic Center/Grand Park Station. Exit on the 1st Street Side of the Station (toward the front of the train if coming from Union Station, the back of the train if coming from all other stations), walk uphill on 1st Street, turn left on Grand Avenue and walk past Disney Hall to the museum.

Several Metro Bus lines also serve Grand Avenue and stop at Grand and 3rd, one block from the Broad. Those lines include the 14, the 70, 71, 76, 78/79/378, 96, 442, the 770 Rapid Bus and the southbound Silver Line. The northbound Silver Line stops on Olive Street near 2nd Street. Walk uphill on Second Street to reach the Broad.

If neither headlining event suits your interest, here’s a round up of other Metro-accessible events happening this weekend:

  1. Be afraid, be very afraid! Universal Studios is celebrating the scare season early with new haunted attractions to Halloween Horror Nights starting this Friday. (Metro Red Line to Universal/Studio City Station)
  2. Ambulante Documentary Film Festival is showing free films across L.A. starting this Saturday through Oct 4. Find the closest screening near you. Plus, Metro riders save 15% on their bill at select dining locations.
  3. The Long Beach Folk Revival Festival returns this Saturday at Rainbow Lagoon Park with Indie Rock and Blue grass bands, pie-eating contests and more! (Metro Blue Line to Downtown Long Beach)
  4. Attend the Rock 4 PEF Battle of the Bands this Sunday at Pasadena’s Levitt Pavilion. Go Metro and receive a free t-shirt and save $5 on tickets to Rock 4 REF at Farnsworth Park on Oct 4. (Metro Gold Line to Memorial Park Station)

Plus more links to help you get the most out of Metro!

Categories: Go Metro

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