Transit Oriented Weekend: What’s Hot And How To Get There

The weekend before Earth Day (April 22nd) is a great opportunity to get out and support our mass transit system. Plus, it looks like the weather is going to be delightful. If you have an event that you think should be included in next week’s T.O.W., email us at metrorider@elhay.net.

Tonight

• WHAT’S HOT: Pink Slip Party for Roger Snoble hosted by The Bus Bench
  WHERE: Union Bagel at Union Station, Downtown Los Angeles
  WHEN: 6:00pm
  WHY: Join BusTard, Browne and the BusBenchers for the Pink Slip Pity Party for Roger Snoble next Friday (18 April) at 6 p.m., at Union Bagel. (We might go over to Traxx, unless we have young ‘uns among us.) Too, be sure to bring a small written piece—say, 50 words or so—about where you think Roger should be employed next. Best bit gets a Toy Bus Metro Liner and runner-up gets a Roger Snoble Mustache Mask!
  HOW MUCH: FREE
  HOW TO GET THERE: Transit Map of 800 N Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012. You can also check the Metro Trip Planner for the best route from your location.
• WHAT’S HOT: Fresh Paint at The New LATC
  WHERE: The NEW Los Angeles Theater Center, Downtown Los Angeles
  WHEN: 9:00pm
  WHY: In the spirit of the new downtown LA and the role of the arts in its development, “FRESH PAINT” is a free event, open to all, that offers a wide range of diverse, street, soul creations. The night will include live music from Semyon Kobialka, Cita La Muñeca Rota, Noah and the Clap, and So Many Wizards, art installations from Gronk and William Deutsch, DJ Original Bozak on the turntables, and the Buckworld One krump dancers. The LA Theater Initiative looks forward to working with THE NEW LATC to push their goal of transforming their venue into the bustling artistic community that it is poised to become.
  HOW MUCH: FREE
  HOW TO GET THERE: Transit Map of 514 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90013. You can also check the Metro Trip Planner for the best route from your location.

Saturday

• WHAT’S HOT: Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
  WHERE: Downtown Long Beach
  WHEN: 7:00am - 6:00pm (Also on Sunday)
  WHY: The 34th Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach will take place April 18-20, 2008. Despite a number of construction projects downtown, the Champ Cars will run on an unchanged 1.97-mile race circuit encompassing the Pike at Rainbow Harbor, Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center. Additionally, the Toyota Atlantic Championship will return to the streets of Long Beach, showcasing up-and-coming drivers. ALSO, Southern California motorsports will take a giant leap into the future with the debut of the Green Power Prix-View (TM) and an expanded Lifestyle and Alternative Energy Expo. Green Power Prix-View will feature extensive, weekend-long displays of alternative energy vehicles and on-circuit activities featuring vehicles ranging from hydrogen-powered cars to robotic vehicles. And, all weekend long, the newly expanded Lifestyle and Alternative Energy Expo will highlight renewable energy sources, water and energy conservation, green building and healthy lifestyles - for inside and outside the home - in the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center. HOW MUCH: Unreserved Seats $42 ($52 on Sunday), Reserved Seats $57
  HOW TO GET THERE: Props to the Grand Prix for promoting mass transit use on their website! Transit Map of 300 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802. You can also check the Metro Trip Planner for the best route from your location.
• WHAT’S HOT: The L.A. Grilled Cheese Invitational
  WHERE: Crystal Springs Picnic Area, Griffith Park
  WHEN: 5:00pm - 9:30pm
• WHY: Anyone is welcome to attend this event and judge sammiches. You do not have to compete in order to judge. All judging is done using standardized ballots and a patented, computerized database that scientifically tabulates the results to determine the winners. “The 1st 6th Annual Grilled Cheese Invitational will be mankind’s greatest achievement since the invention of fire!” says Tim Walker, the event’s founder and organizer. “This year we will have more cheese than ever before. More competitors, more sammiches, more everything!” Awards are determined by audience vote for each sammich. Attendees are handed sammiches and rate them accordingly. We then tabulate the results, dispense trophies and wrap ourselves up in the cheese glory! For the winners, there will be a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place trophy awarded in each category. There will also be two Spaz awards that will be given to different sammiches that are the biggest Spazes, executive judge awards and mountains of grilled cheese for everybody!
  HOW MUCH: FREE
  HOW TO GET THERE: Transit Map of 4730 Crystal Springs Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027. You can also check the Metro Trip Planner for the best route from your location.
• WHAT’S HOT: It Turns 420 At Midnight!
  WHERE: Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, Hollywood
  WHEN: 12:00am
  WHY: Come celebrate the first moments of 4/20 at this very pot friendly variety show! UCBTLA thinks 420 is all about getting high and laughing so we’ve compiled some of the funniest pot lovers around for stand-up, sketch, short films and just plain stoney things. Featuring: Doug Benson, Matt Besser, Eric Appel, Jimmy Dore, James Adomian, Curtis Rainsberry, Jeff Sloniker, Michael Busch, and many more!
  HOW MUCH: $5
  HOW TO GET THERE: Transit Map of 5919 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028. You can also check the Metro Trip Planner for the best route from your location.

Sunday

• WHAT’S HOT: Green Apple Festival
  WHERE: Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica
  WHEN: 12:00pm - 8:00pm
  WHY: Celebrate Earth Day with Live music, environmental action, and fun! Live bands include: Taj Mahal & Friends, Ziggy Marley solo acoustic, Juliette and the Licks, Escalera (featuring Danny Way and Bob Burnquist), School of Rock Hollywood Allstars, The Frequency, and Coby Brown. Free bike valet! How posh!
  HOW MUCH: FREE
  HOW TO GET THERE: Transit Map of 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401. You can also check the Metro Trip Planner for the best route from your location.