LA got a little bit smaller
Posted on June 30, 2008 - Filed Under Business |
Admittedly I am the worst California resident. Upon approaching my 10 year anniversary of immigrating to this state I still find myself stumbling over the locations of various cities or museums or even roads. Part of this does lie with the fact that I’m particularly not interested in LA. When it comes to Paris, restaurants, metro stops, museums, historic boulevards are more known to me than Universal City or the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
On occasion I have made the voyage up to Los Angeles. In some aspects it is nearly as foreign to me as Vietnam or Thailand. Granted the geographic comparison between Saigon and Sunset Boulevard is night and day. But by the end of a grueling two hour bumper to bumper drive, the airline flight may sound like the better option. Once you do arrive, you then get to pay $20 to park your car.
Lately this incredible itch has driven me to get out and explore. Not wanting to drive I decided to done my bullet proof vest and ride the metro.
Between Amtrak Surfliner and the Metro, all of LA has opened up to me. I’m amazed at how easily it is to get around, without a car. If you’re stunned to learn LA even has a metro, join the club. I had only learned of this a few years ago and thought it was reserved for criminals and mullets. Not so.
This last weekend, I took the Redline up to Universal City. Next to me sat a tourist from Boston. I asked him if he had ever eaten at Phillipe’s. Phillipes is to Los Angeles what Plymouth Rock is to Massachusetts. A true landmark. Years has passed since I had experienced a whole roast beef sandwich dipped into the best “au jus” sauce which is illegal in 12 states. My stomach craves this tasty morsel and if it was easily accessible by train I may just go.
Of course the bostonian had eaten there. It’s only a two block walk from the beautiful Union Station. Score!
I am dying to try the best hot dog in Los Angeles, compliment of Pink’s. Someone told me Chef Bobby Flay recommends it. Since Flay carries the same level of respect as warm dog pooh, I instinctively wanted to boycott it. Then Tony Bourdain gave it a thumbs up and that’s good enough for me. But drive two hours for a hot dog? Probably not. Take the metro? Oh yeah. Hook a brother up.
As far as safety is concerned: I removed my bullet proof vest after five minutes. Not only did I look silly but it clashed with my shoes. Can’t have that.
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5 Responses to “LA got a little bit smaller”
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I always thought that LA was more pedestrian friendly than many US cities. It’s density of population is higher than any taken metro area wide. I used to visit a lot. I’ve travelled by bus in LA, but never took the train. Trouble with the bus is unless you are only going a few miles it takes too long.
mooms last blog post.."Gurus" Lose Even More Money
@moom: A friend of mine told me the bus is a great way to travel around LA as long as you’re not in a hurry.
It’s too bad the metro system doesn’t extend out to Santa Monica. Then all the major spots in LA would be accessible.
I was at Pink’s two weeks ago. I waited about 90 min at 11pm for the Martha Stewart Dog, onion rings, and an orange crush. It was worth the wait. It was a nice contrast to a day at the Getty.
Ahhhh… Riding the rails…
One of my other brother-in-laws is making the move out here to New York and will be living in Brooklyn. He and his girlfriend are learning the public transit system out here as well. A definate must… They are selling their vehicles in Cleveland as parking is fairly non-existant for the new comer.
Luckily their new apartment is a block from the subway. We happen to live at the end of the Long Island Rail Road so it’s an easy trip for them to escape the city for a while or us to visit the city.
Cliff, when are you planning on making a trip out here to NY?
My husband and I take the metro to Union Station quite often. It’s great! So much better than driving there. We like to go to a little mexican restaurant at La Placita called “La Luz Del Dia”.