Go Metro Weekends, caffeinated insomniacs' edition

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Go Metro to Sleepless this Friday, Nov 6 via the Metro Red or Purple Line.
The cappuccino gets its name from the Capuchin friars, referring to the color of their habits. Photo by May Wong via Flickr/CC.

Another Friday, another edition of Go Metro Weekends, our post dedicated to weekend fun you don’t have to drive to!

A former bodybuilder/governor/terminator once said: “Milk is for babies.” This weekend, sleep is for babies too, because Friday night is Sleepless: The Music Center After Hours and this Sunday is… National Cappuccino Day.

With Sleepless, the Music Center in collaboration with Dublab “invites all Angelenos to wake up the senses and experience the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion late into the night with DJs, music performances, video installations and sonic sculptures.” That includes dancing in the 18th-century-style Founders Room to disco/house beats; a special music and scent experience by The Institute of Art and Olfaction; and on-site silk screening–to list just a few activities from the lineup.

The evening starts at 11:30 p.m. and wraps up at 3 a.m. Admission is free, but you skip the line with a $20 donation and get a drink ticket with $30. Going Metro is easy: take the Red or Purple Line to Civic Center/Grand Park Station, and the Dorthy Chandler Pavilion is just steps away at 135 N. Grand Avenue. Just be aware, if you arrive via Metro Rail and plan on staying until the very end, our trains stop running around 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday night.

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Yeah… none of this amateur stuff please…

For National Cappuccino Day: though we’re generally a fan of at-home hacks, in the case of this heavenly, foamy, deceptively-NOT-simple beverage, might we suggest seeking the help of a professional? Below, a list of Metro Rail-adjacent coffee shops, vetted by Metro staff, where the baristas will surely be happy to help you not commit wrongdoing to the cappuccino on this, its special day. This list is by no means exhaustive, so we’d be happy to hear your recommendations in the comments! 

  1. Of course, we have to start with Barista Society, as its friendly staff and delicious coffee for purists are just steps away from Metro headquarters in Union Station.  Plus, customers with valid TAP cards receive 10% off espresso drinks.
  2. In Pasadena, there’s Copa Vida and Jones Coffee Roasters, located a short walk from the Gold Line’s Del Mar and Fillmore stops, respectively.
  3. Continuing south on the Gold Line, there’s Tierra Mia steps from Highland Park Station. They also have a location on Spring Street in downtown L.A. (accessible via various buses and the Metro Red/Purple Line to Pershing Square Station) and they make a mean Horchata Latte.
  4.  Antigua Coffee House in Cypress Park is adjacent to Heritage Square/Arroyo Station. And in East L.A., there’s Primera Taza next to Mariachi Plaza.
  5. Take the Expo Line to Culver City or La Cienega/Jefferson Station to try out Cognoscenti Coffee, located at 6114 Washington Boulevard about equidistant from the two stations.
  6. In Hollywood, Tiago Coffee Bar and Kitchen is a block from the Red Line Hollywood/Highland Station at Hollywood/La Brea.
  7. A little further north, in NoHo, top off your caffeine buzz with a slice of pie at Republic of Pie (a short walk from the Red and Orange Line North Hollywood Station).
  8. Philz Coffee near Red/Purple Line 7th Street/Metro Center Station is a staff favorite for their specialty drinks, including a Mint Mojito iced coffee and Ginger Snap iced coffee.
  9. Off the Purple Line at Wilshire/Western Station, there’s Document Coffee Bar, which offers Metro riders a 10% discount.
  10. Last but not least, in Plaza Mexico, off the Green Line’s Long Beach Boulevard stop, Cafe Canela specializes in coffee that recalls the traditional flavors of the Mexican-style cafeteria, including cafe de olla and champurrado. Save 15% off your entire bill by showing your TAP card.

And finally, a few helpful links for navigating our system:

Categories: Go Metro

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1 reply ›

  1. G&B Coffee in Grand Central Market, home base for two U.S. Barista Champions, is right next to the Pershing Square station on the Red/Purple Lines (4th and Hill exit).