Box Office Review: American Teens Are Morons
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Books for L.A. Nerds: Saints of California
Map of the Day: Outdoor Skating Rinks in Los Angeles
Shag's New Show 'Autumn's Come Undone' at the Corey Helford Gallery
Tickets for 89.9 KCRW's presentation of Sigur Rós on October 2nd at The Greek go on sale Saturday at 10:00 a.m. Lucky for you, LAist running a contest giving you a chance to win a pair of tickets to the show before tickets go on sale.
For past contests related to the Greek, we've asked you what to do in Los Feliz and what's so great about Griffith Park. In light of high gas prices and a public transportation surge, we're asking for your best Los Angeles related transportation tip outside the realm of cars. Whether it is walking, biking, taking the bus or train, tell us what you do to make traveling in this city work when car-less.
Here's how the contest works:
- Enter the contest by making a comment on this post (below). Comments must fit the criteria, stated below.
- The criteria of the comment/entry must be your best Los Angeles related transportation tip outside the realm of cars. Whether it is walking, biking, taking the bus or train, tell us what you do to make traveling in this city work when car-less. If you don't know the subject well, use the Internet.
- You may only enter once.
- The contest closes at 11:59:59 p.m. on Friday, June 27, 2008.
- Two winners will be selected at random to receive a pair of tickets and will be notified via the e-mail connected to their LAist.com login. They must confirm the receipt of the e-mail by 5:00 p.m., Monday, June 30, 2008 or the tickets will be released to another winner.
Good luck!
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In light of the high gas prices (and current brutal heat) I've been finding that having a plethora of good wine on hand combined with having good friends and some select family members over is a good way to get by!
Thanks for the chance.
aW
I just learned how to ride a bike so I could get around without my car! I bought a basket and put cup holders in it. It rules.
biking is great. is faster than walking and is some good exercise too
I live in Santa Monica and enjoy hiking the Temescal Canyon loop. Instead of driving there I've started biking via the beach path to Temescal Canyon Rd. (a tough 1 mile incline) and into the park. There aren't bike racks but I lock my bike near the water fountain at the base of the trails across from the store.
From the Cloverfield & Santa Monica Blvd. area the bike ride + the hike should only take 2.5-3 hours including a few short breaks.
If you don't live in Santa Monica I'd recommend taking the Wilshire bus to Ocean then hitting the bike path on the beach.
I'd like to eventually start a group ride/hike.
If you bike and talk on the phone you can crahs into an opening car door on the street....SOOOOO Biking to and from work gives me the chance to be alone for an hour and a half!
-d
Living in NoHo, I love using the Metro to head down to Hollywood - much better than driving, dealing with traffic, gas, and parking - love it!
Thanks!
BIking is the way to go.
Strap a mini-umbrella to your helmet to block the vicious heat.
And put some ice packs in a back pack to both cool your body and keep your alcohol at a good temperature.
The alcohol will make the journey possible by giving you strength and endurance. Nifty camel packs work nicely too.
Five simple words:
BRING
BACK
THE
MOTHAF@&%*N'
RAZOR
They teach those Metro Rapid bus drivers to drive fast and without fear. By far the most rewarding leg of my bus journey each day - highly recommended!
i live in Silverlake, and i reserve a couple hours during the weekend to walk around the neighborhood and run errands at the same time. in one afternoon, i can go to the bank, pick up a gift at Wacko's, and stop by Barnsall Art Park.
on the westside, it's easy as pie to ride your bike to the grocery store (with a basket) and don't forget to bring your own tote bags! also, you can ride your bike or walk to KC's crepes for some delicious crepes and boba. or catch the big blue bus to santa monica for evening/weekend adventures.
yay sigur ros!
In the flat areas of LA, nearly all of the major arterials, which are fairly scary to ride on, have a nice and quiet residential street just a couple of blocks away. Instead of 3rd or Wilshire, take 4th. When Sunset loses it's bike lane, take Fountain. And when it's working, bikemetro.com is great for routing and elevation information.
I can ride my skateboard but my GF can't... oh well. It's prolly for the best.
Party on dudes!
I recently acquired a beat up but smooth running bicycle. I only use my car if absolutely necessary. I've been in L.A. for a couple of years but have never felt as in touch with the city and its many hidden and interesting places as I do now that I get around on a bike. You miss so much when you're speeding around (or stuck in traffic) in your car. Sure it's hot... but the breeze is proportional to the speed of your pedaling!
Step 1: Acquire a mid to large sized dog.
Step 2: Attach a leash to said dog.
Step 3: Get into a sweet pair of rollerblades or onto a skateboard.
Step 4: ???????
Step 5: Profit.
At least that is how I got around best during my childhood.
Speeder Bikes are great on the pocket. Especially since they dont take republic credits out here.
If riding a bike at night, reflectors are not enough. You must have lights. Some of my friends have been ticketed for this.
First and foremost, I prohibit all unnecessary trips to the Westside. Then, I try to take the DASH around downtown. Next, I request piggy back rides from all my friends, which has the unexpected, but fortunate effect of throwing the friend's back out, causing said friend to stay at home and recover, which in turn causes less pollution as friend is one less driver on the road.
While two wheels will get it done, I am partial towards the four wheel luxury. Skateboarding is the way to go, no need to lock anything up or deal with flat tires. Just kick push and off you go. Plus you can just pick it up and walk into a store no problem. Although, tougher to go super far, it is definitely choice for the short haul.
This may be super obvious - but always make sure you have proper change for the Metro (or any bus line).
I live and work on the Westside so the Big Blue Bus or the Culver City Bus is sufficient for getting around town. Another option is to ask my boyfriend, who owns two motorcycles, to give me a ride to wherever I need to go. A motorcycle counts, right? It's not a car! Or I'll have my boyfriend pick me up on his motorcycle and take me to his house so that I can borrow one of his three bicycles :)
Pick me! Pick me!
Step 1: Purchase a motorcycle that gets 50+ mpg (basically any bike that isn't a super sport or Harley)
Step 2: Fill up tank for $15
Step 3: Ride for 200+ miles, while being able to split lanes and park easily.
after initial hesitation, i have been riding metro and blue bus since may 2005. financially it has been a blessing and also does wonders for my patience while on the road. highly recommended for anyone feeling the gas $$ crunch
The 720 bus kicks ass. Until the Subway to the Sea becomes a reality, the 720 bus seems like the best bet. If you are heading east toward downtown, consider jumping on the subway at Western and Wilshire. The 720 stops near everything downtown - The Standard, Disney Hall, Gallery Row...its perfect!
Also - don't forget about the Park & Ride bus for Hollywood Bowl events!
http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/visit/laphil_presents_events.cfm
The DASH buses are usually well maintained, have working A/C, are cheap to ride and don't smell nearly as bad as Metro buses.
Use metro.net/mobile
rapidbus.net
socaltransport.org
and commutesmart.info
as much as possible when planning trips, carpools, vanpools, etc. Get a ZipCar membership like me because it is easily accessible for a UCLA student such as myself. Try to get your hands on a GoMetro, TAP pass, or a FlashPass if you can from anyone UCLA-affiliated. I can't wait until some type of bike rental service sort of like ZipCar comes to LA like I saw in a Current pod in Paris! Sigur Ros FTW! geekin' out
I work for my father and our offices used to be an 45 min car drive away from where we live.
When an office space opened up across the street from my parents house I convinced my dad to move his office there to save on gas during the commute.
Now our mode of transportation 5 days a week is just to walk across the street to go to work and leaving our cars at home.
Cedars-Sinai employees who carpool get free parking @ work... vanpoolers don't need parking at all!
The 920 is the world's best bus line. It's super express, so you must check to see that it stops near your Wilshire destination.
But really, does anything say "SoCal summer" like roller skates and short shorts?
Like many others I'm getting to know the bus systems...green ones, blue ones, orange ones - I'll ride them all!
It's all about Skate Buds Strap On Roller Skates w/ multiple LED's in the wheels that light up in multi-colors!!!
They fit on any shoe - for any occasion.
buy a ticket to ride to metrolink from OC to union station and your ticket is good for a free ride on the red line!
The only way to stay sane in L.A. is move close enough to work that you can walk/bike.
witches broom
My co-worker and I both live about four miles from work. On one day, she drives and I walk home and the next day I drive and she walks home. It takes about 50 minutes to walk, which isn't too bad 2-3 times per week.
Go to mta.net and use the trip planner. I wouldn't have been able to use the bus system in this town without it.
Living in Los Feliz I find everything within walking distance. Boutiques, good eats, yoga & pilates, groceries, liquor stores and bars. No worries about cars trying to run you off the road (as in biking) and best of all...no DUI's!!!!
I ride my bicycle to the post office and the store when I need only a few items. Otherwise, it's my motorcycle for all commuting. I don't understand how people can sit in traffic for hours and hours? It still runs on gas, but I get there in a fraction of the time, and insurance is like $40 a year!
Who says nobody walks in L.A.? Walking in L.A. is one of the best ways of exploring your surroundings. I've come across some great places I would have passed up being in a car. Biking is good as well. Great bike paths along the L.A. river.
I recently started riding the Metro everywhere. It is so much better than driving and sitting in traffic, plus I have read so many books while commuting! A tip: if you're catching the red or purple line from Union Station, make sure you get on the right one! I've gotten on the wrong one a couple of times and you have to backtrack.
My favorite is to go hiking up the San Gabriel Mtns. I like going up the Mt. Lowe Railway Loop and hanging out at the historical inn site. Nice view of the city.
I recently discovered that I can actually take the Metro to work in virtually the same amount of time that I can drive to work! My new commute will cost me $3 a day and will be SO much more relaxing.
lacing up your sneakers is looking to be the wave of the future as gas prices soar. invest in a good pair; walk as much as possible!
The Big Blue Bus/Culver City Bus FlashPass for UCLA-affiliated folks (faculty, staff, students) is a killer deal - $22.50 for the pass per *quarter* allows you to ride for 'free' simply by showing the pass and your UCLA ID card.
Think a combo of both public transportation (be it by bus or the metroline) and biking would be the best! Best for the environment(greener), best for the individual (economical), and best for those plp dating those individuals who are biking (alway a plus to date someon who's in shape- yeay!*wink*).
We are thinking of moving a half a block from our work. This would save us untold dollars and keep our car off the road, not to mention being able to have lunch at home!
take the DASH from chinatown to downtown!
I'm all for traveling by bike-- gang style. find other sigur ros bike nerds, and ride up together. get sigur ros on a boom box, attach it to your bike and pray for some tail winds riding up to the greek.
i highly recommend downtown living. you can walk to restaurants, museums, galleries, and also explore places rarely traversed by angelinos on foot...l.a. river bridges for a start. weekends in the arts district are sublime.
Pretend like LA is San Francisco or any other major city and walk. There's bound to be a grocery store within a couple miles of your home, so grab a couple Trader Joe's awesome velcro reusable bags and go!
Rollerblading - and a backpack! Instead of doing one big shopping trip to the grocery store, i blade over and buy just a day or two worth of stuff, pop it in the backpack and zip home!
I go more often, but its fun and I don't have to go to the gym!
Comfortable shoes can promote more walking and a more healthful lifestyle! Go to your local New Balance store and support an American company that believes in manufacturing in our own country (and, thus, less gas used for distribution)! They also offer shoes in a variety of lengths and widths!
Explore your own neighborhood, even if at first glance it doesn't seem to have what you need. Instead of driving to Target, see what you can get at the discount store around the corner. Stop in at the ethnic markets to replace a trip to Trader Joe's. Try out nearby mom & pop shops instead of heading across town for something more familiar.
Roller blades are making a comeback, once referred to as fruit boots. Great exercise and very stylish. Just always have to remember to bring your shoes!!
I take it back... as of 2006, NB no longer believes in manufacturing in the USA. :(
Well, the shoes are still very comfortable.
For UCLA students / staff, the best public transit deal is the BruinGo Flash Pass - it costs $22.50 per quarter and allows unlimited rides on the Big Blue Bus and the Culver City Bus. I use it for work, the weekly softball game, and drinking on the weekends.
After my gas guzzling car didn't start last morning, I decided to get online and check out metro.net for a way to get to work. It's quite simple: Just enter your starting address and your destination and it'll tell you what choices you have. My tip: Busdrivers don't carry change, so the best way to pay your $ 1.25 fare is to bring a dollar bill and a quarter! I think I'm going to take the metro every day now!
I needed to get to a Kings game one evening and, having no car to rely on, finally had to settle on a cab or public transportation. After years of reluctance in regards to Los Angeles' public transportation system, I decided to take public transportation downtown.
The Dash is a great system for someone going in and around downtown. Even as gas prices grow incessantly, the Dash is still only a quarter!!
If looking for a good place to eat in LA, however, I've always advocated for walking around your neighborhood and discovering the little eateries dabbled around your place. You never know if you'll pass a neighborhood taco cart and get a truly authentic Mexican dinner (maybe a glass Coke bottle as well) for less than 4 bucks.
if you live in the south bay area, you can bike ride on the strand from redondo beach to venice instead of taking the 405. beats road rage.
Hey, if you live in Burbank near or around the Equestrian Center, (and your workplace has a place to hitch up your horse, of course), you could always ride your horse to work! ;)
I hear the equestrian look is coming back into fashion, anyways, so it's a win/win situation!
I ride my bike to work just about everyday. It takes only about 5 minutes so I can walk as well. I sorta wish I had a longer bike commute so that I can enjoy passing people stuck in their cars.
For those that live in West LA, say around Santa Monica blvd, west of 405, I highly recommend biking it. I was stuck there in gridlock in my car yesterday and I was extremely jealous of the biker that zoomed past and was out of sight in less than a minute.
Use the ARTS bus in the Pasadena area. You take the gold line to get to Pasadena and then a mere 25 cents will take you almost anywhere in the area. Old town, hiking trails, art center, anywhere.
25 CENTS!
Toben - I love NB's, but they definitely use cheap labor in Asia for at least some of their shoes.
My tip: For those drunken nights on Sunset - the 2 bus goes from West Hollywood all the way to downtown, a large part of it down the Sunset strip. Comes every 20 minutes during the day, and after 1AM every 30 minutes.
i am a fan of bike-commuting. i ride about 80% of my week (which is typically around an 80hr work week.)
i ride 8 miles from hermosa beach to torrance. my best advice is to use google maps/gmap pedometer. what may seem like a horrible traffic, car-heavy route to your work may be made much more bike-friendly by hopping one block over into residential areas. or, if you're lucky like me, one block up may have well-marked bike lanes the entire way. :)
It is LA and it is summer time so I have two tips.
1) Skipping is way underrated and has the amazing ability to make people stuck in traffic very angry that they cant skip with you.
2) Piggyback rides- requires a partner, so if you are single stick with option #1
the bus system is surprisingly competent and reliable. the key is this website:
http://www.metro.net/default.asp
it is like a mapquest for the public transit system here in LA, only better. it lists the exact times and costs, and even compares different routes you can take. it is indispensable, as far as i'm concerned. if not for that site, taking the bus would be incredibly difficult as the buses themselves have virtually no information, and the stops rarely have anything at all.
once you get the hang of it, it's a surprisingly peaceful and even fun experience, since driving in LA is so stressful. it really is nice to relax and not have to do any work. and the people watching is great.
hurray!
If I really don't have to drive I take the bus which saves me money on gas and having to pay to park on city streets or lots.
The bus may take you a bit longer (10-30 mins) but in the long run its saving you money, reducing pollution and its alot less stressful then having to drive yourself.
OR Just walk!
-V :)
Two Ideas:
1. live closer to work so you can walk or bike to the office even if it means you have to downsize and learn to live with less space. having less stuff makes you feel better anyway.
2. do whatever it takes to get LA's subway up to par with every other major city in the world. I lived in DC for 3 years without a car and never missed driving one bit. walking around and taking metro is the healthiest lifestyle - you look better, feel better and put less of an impact on the roads and the planet.
-D
For few weeks, I was doing the park and ride route. But now, I took an extra step on totally ditching my truck completely, I Razor scooter to the bus station from my house which connects to another bus that takes me to work. Which I actually have to catch in 15 minutes.
Walking or taking the Metro to your public library is a great way to save on gas and a thrifty way of entertaining yourself. My local library in Los Feliz even has a decent DVD and Magazine section. Pinch some pennies peoples!
I live in echo park, so I can walk to all sorts of great places like Downbeat Cafe, Brite Spot, Dodger Stadium, The Echo. Walking is fun, you don't need to own a bike and you're allowed to be on the sidewalk so it's not as dangerous. The downside to walking is that it takes awhile to get anywhere, and you're limited to how far you can go, but the upsides are endless.
I've been doing a lot more walking since the gas prices have gotten stupid. The other night a friend and I actually walked over a mile to go out to dinner and felt super great walking back home. Walking makes me happy :)
I started a blog about living in Los Angeles without a car. My tip is, go to my blog and see all of the tips I've posted about there!
We have enough bike paths and running trails in LA that you can get anywhere without a car and get exercise. I don't do it to save money, but for my health!
You can take your bike with you on metro trains and buses really easily so you can get anywhere in the city easily without a car. Don't know what streets are safe to ride on? Check out bikemetro.com or bicyclela.org. Good luck to everyone!
My best tip would be move to an area that has everything you need on most days within a mile or two. I do have to drive to work (9 miles uphill) but aside from that I am never in my car. I moved to a section of Hollywood that has 2 Ralphs, TJ, Target, The Metro Rail, a library, countless movie theaters, restaurants bars and everything else I'd need.. all walking distance. And since I am outside in my neighborhood most days most of my friends tend to live walking distance from me too..
I ride my bike everywhere, and occasionally in-line skate around too. In my pursuit of going car free I encountered the delhima of what to do when I need to take my bike into the shop and leave it, and still get home. If the bike is ridable I strap my rollerblades to my backpack and take the bike in and skate home. Then skate to the shop again for pick up.
Also on a recent trip to the bike shop for a pick up and some purchases, I had too much to carry safely on the bike. So I rollerbladed while pushing the bike with one hand, a spare tire in the other, and another tire and set of handle bars sticking out my backpack. This might sound difficult, but if you are a strong skater it's really not that bad for a relatively short distance. I'm sure it looked silly, but it worked, and it was one less trip that otherwise might have taken a car.
I bike most everywhere; one just needs to be aware of traffic.
when going out for a run or jog, plan a route by some places that will let you run simple errands like getting stamps and going to the atm
use the metro trip planner for long distance commuting if you're unfamiliar with the system.
When I moved to LA 3 years ago - I knew I was going to have to walk everywhere I had to go. I live four blocks from work and I walk everyday. For those longer trips to pick up house supplies - I carpool with a neighbor(s) and my mom. On sundays - I walk to the farmers market and stock up for the week. I only take the metro when I know it's further than walking distance.
I used to drive my dogs to the local hike after work, but for the past few weeks we haven't driven out that way at all. Instead, we walk/jog/meander endlessly around the neighborhood late at night when traffic is dead.
I just moved to little tokyo recently and walked to union station to take the metro to Hollywood. While the train idled waiting for passengers to come on board, the AC was turned off, so I recommend coming about 5 minutes before departure to avoid sitting in the hot train. And of course, bring some tunes and a good book if traveling alone.
i moved my place of business to my garage. that way...i can walk to my office and go home for lunch...all within feet of my bed....so much for using a car accident as a reason of being late....
The Metro all the way. And walking down the smaller side streets instead of congested major thoroughfares to enjoy all the eclectic architecture in this city!
Taking a break from the car can be very rewarding! During the past month I've pushed myself to break-routine and take my bicycle to the train station in Claremont for a 40-min ride to El Monte, to bike the rest of the way to the office in Whittier. By the time I'd gotten to work, I felt awake, fresh, and I'd already spent some time outdoors and gotten the sun on my skin, not to mention having an interesting conversation with the cyclist next to me on the train.
bicycle + residential streets + bike racks on bus = efficient, cheap, and always faster than driving.
its all about the bike/bus combo.
i typically take the blue bus or ride my bike to work, it's about 4 miles each way. two weeks ago, i was taking the surfliner train from union station to irvine for a week long training course. on the 7:20am train, they advertise cocktails in the cafe car, the seats are comfortable, and i saw lots of people dressed for the beach, in flip flops and carrying boogie boards, on their way to san diego. i'll definitely be taking the train for my next trip to SD.
For those who ride the bus or metro, I would suggest you see if your employer offers any incentives for using mass transit. My girlfriend works at St.John's med center, where she would normally have to pay $30 or $80 for parking (outside or covered, respectively) per month.
Instead, St.John's gives her free Big Blue Bus cards with $35 in credit, and she can go in and just ask for one every few weeks. They also give bonus checks every two months to people who ride the bus or walk/bike to work.
It's worth a shot! You can't beat free transportation...
I know I'll sound like a shill for Metro (MTA) here, but their B-TAP program is amazing, and NO ONE seems to know about it.
The trick: you need to get a fairly high proportion of folks at your worksite to sign up for an annual pass on Metro, but then Metro discounts the pass at like 90%! So instead of it costing around $90 a month, it costs $8. And that's for unlimited rides, all the time!
If you can convince your employer to subsidize the pass -- it's not impossible, believe me -- you bring the cost down further, to nearly free.
(The real downside is that you have to deal with Metro staff, who really need to do a much better job of getting their act together. Be prepared for delays & frustration on the paperwork side.)
But it is all so very worth it. Plus, they give you all these other bonus bells & whistles, like a $15 refund and some other goodies.
One great thing about the program is that if you're interested, it forces you to talk to coworkers about it and get their buy-in. So we break down the individual nature of transport and actually engage in some (quite limited but still) collective action!
i bike to work.
Rather than biking or taking the bus, I like to walk. Sure it takes hours to get where you're going instead of minutes, but you never have to worry about where you're going to store your bike, you never even have to wear a helmet! Also, there's never any waiting around for a bus to arrive, or changing your schedule so you can get there on time. You'll never be that person running after the bus as its driving away. AND, as an added bonus, you have a plethora of options when it comes to footwear. If I'm walking under two miles, I like to sport flip-flops. They keep my feet nice and cool. Anything more than that, and you'll more than likely want to graduate to some walking shoes or at the very least, a mildly supportive sneaker.
For years I have been walking every chance I get, I live in the Fairfax area and walk to the Grove, the park, Whole Foods, Although I do love to drive, a car can be beast of burden in this town, trying to find parking, paying for parking, and now of course gas, gone of the days of Swingers when everyone went in their own vehicle, I just wish the red car was still around.
our feet are made for walking....and even in LA that works, especially if you live in the los feliz/silverlake area.try it!
I take the nostril-energy emmitted when the other icelandic whimsical humanoid, bjork, does her high pitch squeebling, and use it to power my land yacht.
walking is the best whenever possible
bicycle, OR (if going long distances to mountains) bicycle on Vespa-mounted bicycle rack!!!
I put really trendy music on my ipod shuffle (Jens Lekman!), throw on some flip-flops, walk an hour to the red-line Hollywood-Highland stop, and then get off at city hall-dripping in sweat and with a face to match the metro line color.
If you know how to get to Downtown on the metro (bus or red line) you can pretty much go anywhere in Southern California. Most Municipal and Regional bus services in socal have a route that ends in downtown. For example the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus has an express line that ends Union Station, OCTA's line 721 also ends at Union Station, Montebello City Bus lines operates three routes that end in downtown, and so on. It takes longer than driving, but it pays to be a patient person in order to save money on gas.
Gold line up to South Pasadena. All the new little wine bars (3 last time I counted) make it worth the $1.25.
I STILL rollerblade. no joke.. it's more liberating than eating chocolate cake.
I live in Orange County, so I really appreciate the relative ease of walking in LA. I haven't rode my bike in LA, but I do love to walk in areas where everything is within a close range (West Hollywood, J-Town, etc.) and take the bus between neighborhoods.
For a very long time, I thought bike riders could only legally use the vehicle streets and not sidewalks, but you can use both. You just have to be careful.
And you don't have to wear a helmet if you're 18+.
Metro bus and rail accommodate bikes, but maybe not during rush hour.
For me, I prefer to use bicycle for short errand runs and going on scenic (or un-scenic) routes, like the L.A. River bicycle path along the river and I-5. A nice place to zone out and take in the scene from a different point of view.
I like walking for short distances, but for longer commutess I use metro.net to plan my trip. It's a great resource because it gives very detailed instructions with very accurate times, and provides all route options. For very long trips, www.zimride.com helps carpoolers with common destinations link up and save money on gas. For "low cost inter city travel," use the megabus (www.megabus.com) -- it's cheap and fun!