Go Metro To The Arclight Theater

Guest Day Editor Fred Camino of MetroRiderLA will be joining LAist with a few posts throughout the day. Read his introductory interview here and check out his site.

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Your mission: to get there, from anywhere, without a car.

LAist sure does love the Arclight. It's not really my cuppa' tea... a little too flashy, way too pricey, and I don't appreciate a patronizing little speechy-poo before my movie. I prefer my Vista, Laemmle Grand 4 Downtown, and Highland 3, for their affordability, simplicity, and transit accessibility, but I digress... people love this domed place, and by god I'm going tell them how to get there by public transit because that damn parking garage sickens me.

The Arclight lies in what I like to call the "Hollywood Transit Corridor" which is basically the area served by the Red Line between Vermont/Sunset and Hollywood/Highland. It's a high-density transit-rich area that is growing and changing by the day, and definitely one of my favorite parts of town... it's a great place to consider moving if you're thinking of going car-free. The Arclight is an easy 6-minute walk down a vibrant pedestrian friendly street from the Hollywood/Vine Red Line Station. Just head down Vine and hook a left at Sunset and you're there. It's that simple. No Hollywood Blvd. traffic no Sunset Blvd. traffic, plus tons of little stores and restaurants for your spendy little eyes to gawk upon as you walk. If you have access to the Red Line, never drive to the Arclight, k?

But what if you're one of the types who doesn't live along a Red Line, or have easy access to a Red Line? Well aside from being a total moron (just kidding) (sort of), you've still got options. These options are long, run on compressed natural gas, and come in all sorts of colors. I spy with my little eye... the bus!

I don't call it the Hollywood Transit Corridor for nothin'. This place is crawling with things that want to drive you around while you do nothing but sit back. The trusty Metro 2and Metro 4 run through here along with Metro 210 and 217, plus the Rapid 704 and 780 serve the area.

If you live in West Hollywood, Mid Wilshire, Los Feliz, or Echo Park, you can take the Rapids, just don't plan on seeing a late show as the rapids have limited hours. Strictly for matinees only . For the 780 you will have to transfer to the Red Line at either Hollywood/Western or Hollywood/Highland and make your way towards Hollywood/Vine. The 704 will drop you at Santa Monica/Vine which is a half-mile (10-minute walk) south of Sunset/Vine.

If a matinee isn't for you, you're going to have to take a local bus. The Metro 2 goes from Downtown through Echo Park and Silver Lake to Hollywood and beyond - West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, even Pacific Palisades. But if you're living in Pacific Palasades and need to go to the Arclight to see a movie, just move already. If you're coming from Hancock Park you've got an easy ride 12 minute ride on the 210. If you're coming from West Hollywood or the WIlshire/Fairfax area, the 217 is your friend, a trip from Fairfax/Santa Monica will take you about 14 minutes.

Basically if you're in the withing a 4 mile radius of the Arclight, or have access to the Red Line, you'll be able to get to the theater without much problem, and more importantly, without a car. If you're in Santa Monica, it'll probably take you an hour and a half, but please realize, you are traveling 21 miles to see a goddamn movie. Get your priorities in order!

Photo by DonnaGrayson via Flickr.