Riding the Rails: The Gold Line's Eastside Extension

A few weeks ago, the Franklin Avenue Foursome (yes, including the baby) finally took the full tour of the Metro Gold Line's newly opened Eastside extension. (Hey look -- an actual correct "Eastside" reference!)

The line now continues after Union Station -- past Little Tokyo and on to Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles.

We took a pit stop at Mariachi Plaza to walk around and have a late lunch at La Serenata de Garibaldi; then, it was back on the train, and all the way to Atlantic -- the final stop, in East Los Angeles -- and then back.

A few sights along the way:


Mariachi Plaza


Entrance to the Mariachi Plaza subway stop.


Turnstiles line up at the train stop.


The Gold Line subway tunnel


La Serenata -- possibly the best-known and revered restaurant on the Gold Line in East L.A.


My favorite part of this mural, of course, is the skeleton's moustache.


Jim's in Boyle Heights


Here comes the train... at the underground Mariachi Plaza stop.


Art at the Indiana stop


East L.A. Civic Center stop


All aboard the Gold Line!


Sunset from a Gold Line stop


24-hour King Taco


I love this Metro house ad -- but wish it included one more scene: The moment where the tagger beats the crap out of the tipster, having spotted him making an anonymous call.

Metro's Gold Line Map Inconsistency

Yes, I love to be nitpicky on some things -- and it especially bugs me when things aren't consistent. Take the new Gold Line map found on the Metro, which divides the train's stops by city: Pasadena, South Pasadena, Los Angeles, Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles.

Wait. One of these things is not like the other. Boyle Heights is not a city, but a community within Los Angeles City Limits.

That'd be fine, I suppose, except that the map chooses not to recognize other L.A. neighborhoods. Why the love for Boyle Heights, but not Highland Park? Chinatown? Little Tokyo?

Yes, like I said, nitpicky. But someone's gotta be!

Introducing... the Gold Line Extension, Opening This Sunday

The Franklin Avenue crew (now four strong!) will be riding the rails this Sunday, taking advantage of the Metro's all-day free entry to the Gold Line.

The long-awaited Gold Line extension to the Eastside now makes it even easier to head over to spots like Boyle Heights and attractions like the Mariachi Plaza (now a stop!) and La Serenata de Garibaldi, one of the best Mexican restaurants in the city.

We're already huge fans of the Gold Line -- we'll frequently take it down to Union Station, for example, for an afternoon strolling around Olvera Street, or for French dips at Philippe's. And of course, the South Pasadena Farmers' Market on Thursday night, located right next to the train stop, is a favorite.

We were also there on day one in 2003, when the Gold Line also offered free rides for its grand opening. Now it's time to celebrate again!

Meanwhile, the always informative Militant Angeleno has put together quite a nifty Guide to the existing, Union Station-to-Sierra Madre portion of the Gold Line. Check it out before hitting the rails on Sunday.

More guides to the new Gold Line extension:

-- Streetsblog takes a tour and review of the new Gold Line extension by bike.

-- The L.A. Times surveys the eating options along the Gold Line.

And here's the official Metro site on the extension.

Blogger Preschooler Says The Darndest Things One in a series

(Photo by LA Times.)

Apparently all of our fun, weekend trips on the Metro Gold Line are making an impression on the Blogger Preschooler (or, the Kid Formerly Known as the Blogger Toddler, who was Formerly Known as Blogger Baby -- take your pick).

Today, while Evan was playing with the toy trains at Swork, I got a kick out of hearing his narration.

"The next stop is HIGHLAND PARK STATION."

And, my favorite:

"The next stop is ARROYO STATION. Stand clear, the doors are closing."

I went ahead and asked him what his favorite train destination was.

"Chinatown... no, no, Pasadena!"

The MTA oughta put this kid on the payroll.

L.A.'s Most Family-Friendly Farmers Market

Last Thursday Maria wrote about the South Pasadena Farmers Market, and this Thursday I'm here to back her up.

Located on Mission -- right where the Metro Gold Line stops -- it's a perfect place for a market. People stroll from the restaurants to the market and back again; stores are open late; and the vibe is nice.

Plus, the food vendors are top-notch. There are a wide variety of produce, bread and baked goodies booths.

But I have to say, the South Pasadena Farmers Market is less about fruits and veggies (you can find a better selection at bigger markets like the Hollywood or Santa Monica ones), and more about the festive atmosphere. While you'd be hard-pressed to plop down and sit for a few hours at the Hollywood or Santa Monica ones, while letting your little ones run wild, that's part of the tradition at the South Pas market. Young parents with their kids sit on blankets, scarfing down gourmet tamales while their toddlers watch and squeal with delight as the Gold Line trains race by. (OK, that was me and Blogger Toddler last week.)

But get there while it's still light out relatively late -- and it's still warm outside. The South Pasadena Farmers Market takes place from 4 to 8 tonight. Parking's not hard to find -- or take the train in.


One reason it's a hit with kids: The constant appearance of the Gold Line, which Blogger Toddler never tired of watching as we consumed our tamales.


The farmers market staple: Fruit samples.


Tamales that live up to their gourmet name...


... just check out their menu. I ordered the "smoked BBQ chicken, red onion, cilantro and smoked Gouda cheese" tamale, while Evan had the more benign "green corn with sweet yellow corn" (which he completely consumed). We later brought home the "pumpkin and currant Jamaica Rum flavor" tamale for Maria.


As eaten on our blanket near the Metro Gold Line stop.


The rotisserie grill flames up.


Blogger Toddler meets Rice Krispie treat.


And oh yeah, produce.