LA: Metro Rail Art Tour, Explore Downtown, Greek Fest (w/Ancient Greek Theater!)

(Time above is when we'll meet at the LA Union Station Information Booth for the Metro Rail Art Tour.) If you love rail, art, and/or LA, then let’s hop the train to Union Station! Free guided tours of the LA Metro Rail system’s artwork are offered the first weekend of every month, aiming to give “insights into the artworks, the artists who created them, the processes it took to make them, and the communities they enhance”. The 2-hour tours are 90% walking; elevators and escalators in all the stations. The 9/7 tour will include the Red and Purple Metro Rail lines. After the tour, we can have lunch at an affordable place downtown, or in nearby Chinatown, Olvera Street, Little Tokyo, etc…will bring an LA guidebook. And we very well may break into small groups according to people’s tastes. After lunch, you’ll need to decide whether you’ll leave LA on the 4:30 p.m. or 8:45 p.m. train, depending on what you want to do in the afternoon/evening. I mention the later train due to one afternoon/evening possibility in which a few members have expressed interest, the LA Greek Fest -- turns out that Fest activities on 9/7 include a “Night with the Ancients” theatrical show! The show (5p and 6:45p) is free with admission and is just ½ hour long (and the Cathedral representative I spoke to was not sure of its content)…but it’s ancient Greek theater! The 33 bus runs from downtown to the Greek Fest (Byzantine Latino Quarter) in 20-25 minutes. However, interested members who are leaving LA on the 4:30 p.m. train would probably prefer to attend the Greek Fest right after lunch (while others of us would probably do something else downtown and then head to the Fest at about 4:30 p.m.). We can just play it by ear on the day. Some ideas mentioned: LA Central Library, Museum of Contemporary Art, Museum of Neon Art, self-guided Historic Core/Bunker Hill art tour. Please continue to post ideas. METROLINK TRAIN & TICKETS Because many people are leaving from their home train stations (and because I’m taking the later train back), I am going to do the same, instead of leaving from Santa Ana. And this way I can try to hold seats for our group on the OC-to-LA train. * Let’s plan on sitting together in the last car of the train (upper level if there are two levels). I will email my cell number to the “Yes” and “Maybe” RSVPs. * OC Metrolink weekend fares are half the price of Amtrak, and your Metrolink ticket gives you free use of LA Metro Rail all day. I strongly suggest you buy your Metrolink ticket in advance of 9/7 as the ticket machines are sometimes out of order or finicky about the form of payment they’ll accept, and/or there may be people ahead of you in line. When you buy your ticket, you can specify the date you are taking your trip. Please also contact Metrolink at 1-800-371-5465 to confirm that you can park your car for free all day at your local station, and that there will be adequate parking. Please Note: The morning train to LA does not pick up at San Clemente Pier. The 4:30p train back to OC does not drop off at San Clemente or San Clemente Pier. The 8:45p train back does not drop off at San Clemente Pier. ROUGH ITINERARY 6:47a to 7:44a: Depart for LA Union Station on Metrolink, departure time depends on your station. 8:30a: Breakfast at Union Station or nearby (let’s meet at the bagel breakfast place inside the station and decide from there.) 9:40a: Meet at the Union Station Information Booth for the 10a-12p rail art tour. 12-4p/8p: Whatever we decide on the day...please post ideas! 4:30p/8:45p: Catch Metrolink back to OC Hope you can join us!