Metro Alert: New TAP card; Don’t miss that stop

Last Saturday, my husband and I climbed aboard the Metro Blue Line at Willow Street station. We were headed to Hollywood and Highland to see a movie screening and since it was “Carmagedon 2” weekend, opted to stay off of the freeways and take the faster, easier way. It’s been a while since I’ve been on the Metro, so I was a bit surprised by the new Tap card requirements. My husband did warn me that the Metro was moving toward gating their trains and that the Tap card was a step in that direction.

If Norm hadn’t been there, it would have taken me a while to figure out the new requirements. To help you out, here are a few suggestions:

• Everyone must now carry a TAP card. They are available at Metro Customer Centers, online (taptogo.net), from TAP vending machines at each station,  and on Metro Buses (http://www.metro.net/riding/fares/get-tap-card/). A TAP card costs $1.00 but you can keep it forever.
• Once you get your TAP card, you can reload it whenever you need to ride the Metro or, if you’re using the system a lot, reload the card with a fixed amount ($20.00, $50.00, etc.) (http://www.metro.net/riding/fares/load-tap-card/)
• Once it’s loaded, “TAP” your card at the farebox TAP target. You’ll see them at every station. For stations with turnstiles, TAP your card to activate the turnstile. You’re also suppose to TAP your card when you change trains.
• Carry your card with you at all times when you’re on the train. The Metro security checks periodically to make sure everyone has paid their fare.

TAP information and an online help file are available at the Metro website (http://www.metro.net/riding/fares/tap/)

Sign Alert

On the Metro Blue Line, the Rosa Parks exit is now the Willowbrook station. I’m not sure when they changed this, but all of the signage on the trains themselves has not been updated. So if you’re looking at the Blue Line stops on the train, and are waiting for them to call “IMPERIAL-WILMINGTON ROSA PARKS”, you will probably miss your stop. Please be aware that the station name is now “WILLOWBROOK”. This station is the transfer point for the Metro Green Line.

Metro Gold Line: Best Tacos Ever – King Taco

The first time I visited King Taco was with a friend of mine who lived in East LA.” Vicky and I worked together and she was always trying to broaden my horizon and give me glimpses  into her world. So at lunchtime, a bunch of us climbed into her car and headed to East LA and King Taco. The place was hopping with lunch guests with lines out to the street. The tacos I got that day were some of the best I’d ever had. I talked about the place to everyone but I could never remember where it was located (this of course was pre-internet).

So imagine my surprise when my friend Ariel told me that I could get to King Taco on the Metro! Granted, it wasn’t the same one we visited years ago, but it was still King Taco. With this new information in mind, Norm and I headed out on one of our metro jaunts. Norm’s quest was to ride all of the Metro lines so that day, we road to the end of the Gold Line, with, as it turned out, lunch at King Taco.

If you’re a taco fan, you’ll love the food here. The tacos are “street” tacos, not the ones you get at Taco Bell, not hard and crunchy but soft and yummy. Basically, they consist of your meat of choice, cilantro and onions on a small corn tortilla.

That day, I had the chicken and the carne asada tacos. Norm had a chicken burrito and a chicken taco. They also have tamales, rotisserie chicken, quesadillas, and soup. But they’re famous for those wonderful tacos. When we were there, the line was pretty extensive, but it moved quickly and we both got our food before we passed out from hunger.

If you’re in the neighborhood, or just want to make a special trip, the food is worth it. King Taco has other locations around the city and I also see them every year at the Los Angeles County Fair.

King Taco is located at 4504 3^rd Street, LA, CA 90022
Exit the Metro Gold Line at the Maravilla stop. Walk across the street and you’re there. You can’t miss it!

Metro Gold Line Maravilla stop - King Taco is across the street

Hollywood and Highland Stop: Where’s the Beef? (Part 3)

If you’re anything like me, food is king. I like finding new places to eat, eating off of food trucks, going back to my old favorite restaurants, and generally just filling my face with good eats. At some point in any trip, I’ll need to eat. You’ll have nothing to worry about at the Hollywood and Highland stop. There are tons of places to nosh, from inexpensive to out of my price range.

Hollywood and Highland Center

When you exit the station, make a right and you can’t miss the Hollywood and Highland Center. This shopping center was part of the restoration project designed to bring people back to the Hollywood area. It’s a beautiful mall with tons of restaurants, a hotel (the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel and Spa), a beautiful theater (Kodak Theater), a movie house (The Chinese Theater), a bowling alley (Lucky Strike Lanes), and a nightclub (Level 3). But let’s talk food. The Hollywood and Highland center has a small but nice food court, which is nice if:

• You’re there with a group and can’t settle on one type of food.
• You don’t have tons of money to spend on a restaurant.
• You have kids that like running around a lot (you may want to consider the Disney Soda Fountain at the El Capitan if you have kids and money, see below).

The Food Court is located on the 3^rd Level. I’ve eaten at a few places there, but we usually end up at Sun Taco or Hollywood Pizzeria Express. Both are passably good fast food. Not the best or worst I’ve had, but very quick eats.

If you want a sit-down restaurant, they have quite a few choices ranging from relatively inexpensive to outrageous. Here are a few I’ve visited. Walk around to check out the other restaurants in the center, there’s a place for every taste and price level.

• Hard Rock Café: I’ve never eaten at this location, but the Hard Rocks I’ve been to have been yummy. Basically burgers and American entrees. If you’re cheap like me, it can be a bit pricey but it’s good food.
• Johnny Rockets: Good burgers, nicely priced, but usually very busy.
• California Pizza Kitchen: Yummy salads, pizza, soup, and appetizers. Always a good place if you can’t decide what to eat.

Disney Soda Shop at the El Capitan

Kids love this place and whenever I’m in the area, this soda shop is packed. Of course it’s all about the Disney experience so the food is decent and the shakes are good. The menu is small and the prices are fairly reasonable. This is a great place to take the kids after a movie at the El Capitan. But bring your charge card because next door is a Disney Store with tons of things your kids really, really, really want you to buy.

25 Degrees at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel

Even if you don’t eat at this tasty hamburger place, visit the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. It was named after Theodore Roosevelt and opened in 1927 and was the location of the 1^st Academy Awards in 1929 (in the Blossom Ballroom). Rumor has it that this hotel is haunted by the spirits of Marilyn Monroe and Montgomery Cliff. The hotel was renovated in 2005.

25 Degrees was recommended to me by a friend because he knows I love good burgers. This place has good, juicy burgers and a nice bar. But be warned, it’s not cheap. By normal human standards, it would be a mid-priced restaurant. By my standards, it’s expensive, but worth it as a treat. The décor is very “smoking room leather” comfortable and it’s a nice, intimate place. The service was good when we were there! The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, and 25 Degrees are located across the street (one block west) of the Hollywood and Highland Stop (Hollywood Blvd & N. Orange Dr.)

Musso and Frank Grill

Musso and Franks is a Hollywood institution and has been on the boulevard since 1919. Historically, it was known to be the place to see actors, directors, and writers. I’m not sure if it’s still a good place for star watching, but it’s a great place to get good old-fashioned “grill” food and experience a bit of Hollywood history. To get there, turn left out of the Hollywood and Highland stop, and walk 2 blocks. It’s located between N. Las Palmas Ave. and N. Cherokee Ave.

Juicy Burger

This contribution was provided by Norm after attending Cinecon 47 at the Egyptian Theater. He and a few friends walked down to Juicy Burger during their lunch break and he was very impressed. This burger joint is closer to the Hollywood and Vine Metro stop; however, if you love to walk and want to explore more of the quirky shops along Hollywood Blvd., this would be a good place to catch your breath, sit, and have a great lunch. Juicy Burger is located at 6340 Hollywood Blvd, between Ivar and Vine.

Obviously there are tons of places that I’ve missed or haven’t visited. If you have any suggestions for good eats in and around the Hollywood and Highland stop, let us know. We’re always open to suggestions and love trying new places.

Hollywood and Highland Stop: Classic Movie Palaces (Part 2)

Once you step outside of the Hollywood and Highland stop, look around you. To your right, a few steps down the street, is the great Grauman’s Chinese Theater, home to the “Forecourt to the Stars,” the location of hundreds of celebrity signatures, handprints, and footprints. Across the street is the El Capitan Theatre, “Hollywood’s First Home of Spoken Drama.” If you turn left out of the station and walk two blocks, you’ll find the Egyptian Theatre, Sid Grauman’s first Hollywood theater. This article will provide you with a bit of information on these beautiful movie palaces so that you’ll visit and enjoy them.

Egyptian Theater

Sid Grauman’s Egyptian Theater opened October 18, 1922 with the premier of Robin Hood starring Douglas Fairbanks, the very first Hollywood Premier, a “happening” that we all now take for granted. The spectacular entrance of the theater was built in Egyptian revival style, with four massive columns beckoning you in. Over the years, the theater fell into disrepair, but was successfully restored by the American Cinematheque, which uses the restored theater as a venue for their programs. The newly restored Egyptian Theatre was re-opened to the public on December 4, 1998 and now contains two theaters, the Lloyd E. Rigler Theater (a 616 seat auditorium), and the smaller Steven Spielberg Theater (a 77 seat auditorium). If you have the time, I highly recommend catching a movie here. The annual Cinecon classic film festival is held here over the Labor Day weekend. The American Cinemateque shows classic movies all year, so if you’re a cinephile, check out their schedule and give it a go.

El Capitan Theatre

What can I say about the El Capitan Theater? This marvel of Disney magnificence was once another Sid Grumman theater. The El Capitan opened on May 3, 1926 and was “Hollywood’s First Home of Spoken Drama.” In other words, the El Capitan housed live theater. The theater was styled with a Spanish Colonial exterior, with a beautifully done East Indian interior. Between 1926 and 1936, 120 live plays were performed on the stage at the El Capitan. In 1989, the Disney Company, along with Pacific Theaters, restored the aging theater over a two-year period. The result ia a very active movie theater. In the restoration, a mighty Wurlitzer was added. The beautiful theater-quality 4/37 organ has four keyboards and 37 ranks of pipe. Take in a Disney movie here and you’ll probably hear this magnificent instrument before the show starts.

The Chinese Theater

The most famous of the Hollywood movie houses is Grauman’s Chinese Theater. Although the name has changed over the years (from Grauman’s Chinese, to Mann’s Chinese, and now just “The Chinese”), the edifice remains the same. On it’s inaugural day, May 18, 1927, The Chinese hosted the most spectacular movie premier in motion picture history with the opening of Cecil B. DeMille’s King of Kings. Over the years, stars have visited the forecourt and left behind movie history, depositing their handprints, footprints, and signatures in concrete. Nearly 200 celebrities have contributed to Grauman’s forecourt and it’s fun to just wander around and see how small some of those feet really were.

The theater itself was built at a cost of 2 million dollars and took 18 months to build. The building contains temple bells, pagodas, stone Heaven Dogs, and other artifacts imported from China, and is protected by 40-foot high curved walls and copper-topped turrets. And that’s just the outside of the building. The Chinese is still active and you can catch current releases inside this restored movie palace any day of the week.

Next up? Where can you eat in this neighborhood?

Hollywood and Highland Stop: Hollywood at its Best (Part 1)

The Chinese Theatre. The El Capitan Theatre. The Hollywood Walk of Fame . So much history is within your reach from the Hollywood/Highland stop of the of the Red Line. This subway trip is a wonderful destination for a day of fun. There’s so much within walking distance of this stop that you won’t be bored. And don’t forget to bring your camera, you just may catch a glimpse of Batman, Michael Jackson, or Charlie Chaplin.

The Hollywood/Highland Station

The Hollywood/ Highland Station is one of the many underground stations within the system.  Since it’s not a transfer station, it’s pretty easy to navigate. Look around while you’re there because, as with most stations, there is commissioned art around you. This station has two:

• Underground Girl, 2000
  
• You Are/ Are Not Here, 2010
  

Take the long ride up the escalator or walk the stairs if you’re brave and in good shape.  Exit the station and you’ll find yourself on Hollywood Blvd, near Highland Avenue.

You’ll See Stars, Just Look Down

When you leave the Hollywood/Highland station, look down.  You’re now standing on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  For approximately 15 blocks on Hollywood Blvd and 3 blocks on Vine, 5-pointed terrazo and brass stars are embedded in the sidewalk. These stars contain the names of the famous and lesser known members of the entertainment industry. Each star has the name of the recipient and an icon for the area of the industry for which they were best known.  The icons represent 5 areas:

Motion Pictures

Television

Recording or Music

Broadcast Radio

Theatre or Live Performance

For a really good description of the Walk of Fame, check out Wikipedia  There’s also a really good search if you want to locate a specific star on the walk at the official Walk of Fame website.

My next post will get into the other interesting and fun things you can do around the Hollywood/Highland stop.

First Things First – Getting Around on the LA Metro

I know that some of you are old hands at riding the urban rails.  How hard could it be, right?  You just grab a ticket, jump on, and then push your way off at your stop.  Well, for some of us, it’s just not that easy.  Where do you get the tickets?  How much is it? How do I know which way to go?  Should I sit next to that homeless guy or slowly walk away?  I ask myself all of these questions whenever I ride a new subway system.  It can be scary the first few times you get on a subway.

Hours of Operation

• Always check the metro timetable, but, in general, the metro runs 22 hours a day; closed from 2:00am – 4:00am.

Finding a Train

• You may want to look at a map for this, since, unlike New York, there aren’t entrances on every corner. However, here are a few clues.  There are signs on the street directing you to each station.
• Here’s a really nice interactive map for all lines (http://www.metro.net/interactives/go_metro/)

Fares and Ticketing

• Tickets aren’t that expensive ($1.50 per boarding; $5.00 for a day pass).  All stations have a ticket machine that takes cash or credit card. Keep in mind that the $1.50 ticket
  is not

  valid for a transfer, so if you’re making a round-trip and are changing lines somewhere along the route, buy a day pass…it’s worth it.

• Monthly and yearly (TAP cards) passes are also available from the Metro ticket machine.
• As of this posting, the LA Metro Rail operates on the ‘proof-of-payment’ system. This means that, unlike New York, Paris, or London, you can actually walk onto the train without walking through turnstiles*. It can be tempting to ride without purchasing a ticket; however, I wouldn’t recommend it because the Metro performs random ticket checks. About 30% of the times I’ve been on the train, a deputy has come by and asked to see my ticket. I have noticed that this usually occurs during peak travel times, but you never know. And there are undercover deputies, too.

Lines

There are currently 5 metro rail lines:

• Red Line: The Red Line runs from Union Station (downtown) to North Hollywood (Lankershim Bl/Chandler Bl)
• Gold Line: The Gold Line runs from the Sierra Madre Villa (149 N Halstead, Pasadena) to Atlantic (5150 E Pomona Bl, East Los Angeles), with a connection at Union Station.
• Purple Line: The Purple Line runs from Union Station (downtown) to Wilshire and Western (3775 Wilshire Bl, Mid Wilshire Los Angeles).
• Blue Line: The Blue Line runs from 7th Street Metro Center (downtown) to Pacific (498 Pacific Av, Long Beach), crossing the Green Line at Imperial Station. 
• Green Line: The Green Line runs from Norwalk (12901 Hoxie Av, Norwalk) to Redondo Beach (2406 Marine Av/5301 Marine Av, Redondo Beach), crossing the Blue Line at Imperial Station.

There are additional lines that use buses, but are still fast and pretty cool:

• Silver Line: The Silver Line runs from the El Monte station ( 3501 Santa Anita Av, El Monte) to Artesia Transit Center (731 W 182nd Street, Gardena).
• Orange Line:  The Orange Line runs from North Hollywood (Chandler Blvd. / Lankershim Blvd) to Warner Center (Owensmouth Ave. / Promenade Mall Drive).

How Long Does it Take?

This is the question everyone asks when riding the LA Metro Rail.  Because Los Angeles is soooooo big, it can take hours to get from one end of town to another, especially if you have to switch trains.  So how do you estimate your time?  Your best bet is to use the Metro Trip Planner.  You enter where you’d like to go, then it will tell you what trains, buses, etc., to take and approximately how long it should take to get where you want to go.

It takes me about 50-60 minutes to go from the Blue Line Wardlow Station to the Red Line Hollywood & Highland Station (1 transfer). I allow 2 hours to go from Wardlow to the Gold Line Lake Avenue Station (2 transfers), but sometimes it’s as fast as 1.5 hours if the connections are good.

Which Way Do I Go?

OK, here is Subway 101.  Your train will indicate the line (e.g., Red Line, Blue Line) and the end-point for the train.  So, let’s say you want to take the Blue Line to 1st Street Station in Long Beach from the Pico Station in Downtown Los Angeles.  You look for the Blue Line train (pretty easy at the Pico stop since it’s the only line at this stop), then look for the train that says Long Beach.  Coming home, you’d look for the train that says 7th St./Metro Ctr or Los Angeles.

To Sit or Not To Sit

By all means, grab a seat!  If there’s an open seat, take it, but remember to be polite. If there’s a nice old lady with a cane standing next to you while you’re lounging in the comfy seat, please stand up and let her sit first. Be nice; it always pays off in the end. You never know, she might have a cute son/daughter she can set you up with.

Be Polite

Remember these tips to have a safe and happy ride:

• Wait for passengers to get off of the train before you get on.  Really, you have plenty of time to board.
• If you have a bike, move toward the center of the car (for Blue, Green, and Gold Lines) and toward the end of the car (for Red and Purple Lines).
• Don’t take up more than one seat when the train is crowded.  Sitting next to someone probably won’t kill you.
• Don’t smoke, eat, talk loudly, play music, sing, or otherwise bother your fellow passengers.

Remember, Always Be Safe

• Stay behind the yellow line.  Human pancakes are not that tasty.
• Don’t flaunt your cash unless you want to share it with everyone on the train.  This is just common sense.
• If at any point you feel threatened, use the emergency intercom available at all stations and on the trains.  Better safe than sorry.
• Remember what your mom told you…be polite.

* This system has been up for debate the past few years and some stations now have turnstiles that may or may not be in working order.

Los Angeles by Rail

One of the first things I remember as a child was being on a train.  My family moved from Ohio to California when i was about 3 or 4.  I remember the sleeper car with two bunk beds, all of us stacked on top of each other as the train moved across the country and the fun we had waiting for the porter to bring us orange juice.  I remember the clickity-clack of the train as it moved past cities and corn fields toward the west.

Since then, I’ve visited many cities, been on may subway systems and enjoyed them all.  There is something special about crowding onto a tub and speeding across a city. I’ve always found that it’s a great way to see the people and places that most tourists miss.  So when I heard that Los Angeles was to build a metropolitan train system I was excited.  It’s true, Los Angeles doesn’t have the extensive systems of New York, Paris, or London, but we’re adding routes every year and one day, perhaps it will even get us directly to the Airport!

Why did I start this blog?  Mostly to document the special places I’ve seen along the Los Angeles Metro Rail system and to get the word out that we can ride the rails here in Los Angeles and get to fun places without sitting in freeway traffic.  From time to time, I’ll jump on a train and randomly pick a stop, just to see what I can see.  I’ll take pictures and point to you a good restaurant, or maybe a little shop that has cool merchandise or good deals.  Mostly I’ll try to get you to ride the train.  It’s an adventure!  It’s great for people watching.  It’s a good form of transportation.  It’s the rails in LA.