On Sunday, you could probably hold a Super Bowl party in the middle of the Hollywood Freeway, because everybody else will be at their Super Bowl parties.
We call it the Super Bowl Speedway, one of the wonderful times — like Fourth of July weekend, or any federal holiday — when just enough people are off the roads that you can get just about anywhere in 20 minutes.
KPCC science reporter Sanden Totten put out the call to his Facebook friends a few days ago, asking them for ideas of destinations in Southern California he and his friends could go when the freeways are truly free. Here's what they came up with:
1. The Getty Villa
The Getty Villa is open 10-5 on Sunday, and we've made it from downtown in 20 minutes on previous holidays. This is a great time to check out the watercolors Marc Haefele told you about.
2. The Watts Towers
You've always meant to go to the Watts Towers, right? Or you've always meant to go back. Now's the time to head to Watts and take in Simon Rodia's beautiful creation. It's open 12-3 Sunday.
3. The Deep Creek Hot Springs
This one's in Apple Valley, so it's still a drive from L.A., but the bros who usually crowd the water will be in their man caves watching the Super Bowl — so Sanden, his nudist hippie friends and you can take a relaxing dip.
4. Palos Verdes Tide Pools
Usually, it's tough to see the Palos Verdes Tide Pools — and many others in SoCal — because there's no parking. But on Super Bowl Sunday, the starfish won't be watching the game, but the other drivers will be.
5. Chengdu Taste
Food writer Eddie Lin told Sanden that the world-renowned restaurant Chengdu Taste in Alhambra might have a smaller line on Super Bowl Sunday.
"By now you may already know that waiting for a table during peak hours at the insanely popular Chengdu Taste in Alhambra is the equivalent of languishing away at a disaster relief center while hoping against all hope that someone will come give you nourishment. The hungry humanity is manifold. The wait is long (upwards of two hours). But, the prize is a taste of Chengdu." — Eddie Lin, Los Angeles Magazine
Chengdu Taste is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday. It's at 828 West Valley Boulevard in Alhambra.
6. Your father-in-law's
Yeah, just go watch the game at Juan's. He'll love you for it for another year. And the traffic won't be bad at all.
