CicLAvia Sunday, April 21, 2013

During CicLAvia, the streets are filled with people enjoying Los Angeles.

Discover LA by Metro:

Take a Sunday Stroll Through LA from Union Station to the Sea with CicLAvia

This Sunday’s CicLAvia, LA’s sixth, is taking a new route — Downtown to the sea, beating the Metro there by many years.  The weather prediction is for a beautiful LA day, making this Earth Day Weekend a great time to be a  part of LA’s biggest citywide block party.

Many bike clubs enjoy the unique riding opportunity of CicLAvia.

From 10 a.m. – 3 pm. on Sunday, April 21, more than 15 miles of Los Angeles streets will be closed to cars —making this the longest CicLAvia route yet. This is a chance to enjoy LA and see it from a different perspective — from a bike, skateboard, or just leisurely strolling down the middle of the boulevard. There are many great views to be appreciated, because of both the pedestrian/bike perspective and the slowed-down pace.

One of the joys of CicLAvia is that you can start and stop whenever and wherever you want, and do it on your own schedule. This is not a race — it’s streets turned into open space.

Seeing the city streets filled with cyclists, skaters, and strollers — wheeled and on foot— makes one really appreciate that LA belongs to everyone from all neighborhoods.

The CicLAvia route April 21, 2013 goes between Union Station, Downtown LA, to the sea at Venice.

With the opening of the Metro Expo line, Westside residents will be able to connect with CicLAvia by rail at the Expo Line Culver City Station.

Activities, such as family arts-and-crafts, and performers can be found at hubs and various points along the CicLAvia route — all adding to the fun of the event.

The upcoming CicLAvia route includes hubs at past favorite spots: MacArthur Park, Pershing Square and 7th/Metro Center Station, and Union Station.

CicLAvia also hosts a wide variety of activities for people of all interests and ages, including music, performances, food trucks galore, and just about everything else L.A. has to offer!

To get more of the feel of CicLAvia, see our adventures from last April and October, 2011.

Whether this is your first or sixth CicLAvia, plan on joining the fun on Sunday, April, 21.

Everyone enjoys wheeling along during CicLAvia.

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Hop on the Blue Line for Festive M. L. King, Jr. Day Parade

Lakewood Marching Band members show their spirit at Long Beach’s annual M. L. King, Jr. Day Parade.

Discover LA by Metro:

Celebrate Community and History at the Long Beach M. L. King, Jr. Day Parade Saturday, January 19, 2013.

Supporters of Interfaith Project of Interval Housing celebrate at Long Beach’s annual M. L. King, Jr. Day Parade.

(Note: The annual Kingdom Day Parade will also be held Saturday, January 19, 2013.)

Former Congresswoman Laura Richardson joins the celebration at Long Beach’s annual M. L. King, Jr. Day Parade.

A festivity filled with community pride, the Long Beach M. L. King, Jr. Day Parade will feature marching bands and school groups, union members, politicians, police and military, and citizens, all joyfully honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

We love this parade. It is great fun, with something for everyone — from cheerleaders to vintage cars — followed by a great community festival with free entertainment and a variety of delish food at reasonable prices.

The parade marches along Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue ending at the party in Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. The parade starts at 10:30 a.m., and the festival runs from 12:30 – 5 p.m.

The Blue Line Pacific Coast Highway Metro Station is 0.8 mile from M. L. King, Jr. Park in Long Beach.

The Long Beach M. L. King, Jr. Day route (in blue) travels along Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue from Anaheim Street to Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. The closest Metro Blue Line Stations are Pacific Coast Highway (1798 N. Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach) and Anaheim (1290 N. Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach). It is 0.8 mile from the PCH Station to the park.

Lakewood Marching Band serenades the crowds at Long Beach’s annual M. L. King, Jr. Day Parade.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is actually Monday, January 21, 2013. This year, the holiday corresponds with the second-term Inauguration Day for the nation’s first African-American President, Barack Obama. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan made Dr. King’s birthday a national holiday to celebrate the life and work of the civil rights leader who changed the face of America. Dr. King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968. Many observe this holiday by performing public service in Dr. King’s honor.

Dr. King led a pivotal civil rights march to Washington, D.C., in 1963, where he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in which he expressed hope that, “my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

We wish you a wonderful day in the spirit of Dr. King.

Long Beach police officers get warm greetings from the crowd at city’s annual M. L. King, Jr. Day Parade.

All photography, graphic images, and text copyright © and may not be downloaded or used without written permission.

Please contact us to license usage of images or text.

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Gold Line Event: Mariachi Festival Nov. 18, 2012

Mariachi groups of all types are featured at this annual free festival. The stage at Mariachi Plaza is behind the exit for the Metro Gold Line Mariachi Plaza Station.

Discover LA by Metro:

Mariachi Music, Food, Community Spirit to Brighten Fall on November 18, 2012, 10:00 am – 4:30 pm

The 22nd Annual Mariachi Festival offers free entertainment at the Mariachi Plaza Metro Gold Line Station.

 Mariachi Plaza has become one of our favorite Metro destinations. So a festival there with  promise of food, trumpets, guitars, brightly colored dancing costumes, and glittering charro outfits is a must for this Metro Duo!

We can taste the salsa and hear that beat now. Just what’s needed to perk up our spirits before tackling cooking and cleaning next week!

We hope you’ll join us at the 22nd Annual Mariachi Festival, Community Fair and International Farmers’ Market this Sunday, November 18, 2012, from 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The 22nd Annual Mariachi Festival couldn’t be more conveniently located for Metro adventurers — it’s right at the Metro Gold Line Mariachi Plaza station in Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles.

A statue commemorating singer Lucha Reyes  is a highlight of Mariachi Plaza.

This is a great opportunity to discover Mariachi Plaza, if you haven’t yet. Metro adventurers will enjoy the vibe of Mariachi Plaza, which is appointed with striking public art. The colorful stained-glass-look canopies over the station exit and the stage area behind it echo the shape of a dancer’s hair comb. A dramatic kiosk and 17 handcrafted wrought-iron benches are gifts from Jalisco, Mexico. A sculptural tribute to mariachi music commemorates singer Lucha Reyes (1906-1944), one of the first women mariachi band leaders.

In addition to the continuous music, as part of the 22nd Annual Mariachi Festival, there will be plenty of  food vendors, children’s activities, and the International Farmers’ Market with craft items for sale. The Mariachi Festival held this past spring had an abundance of colorful ceramics. Perhaps this is a good chance to look for those unique holiday gifts.

An international marketplace complements the 22nd Annual Mariachi Festival at the Mariachi Plaza Metro Gold Line Station.

We also suggest that you stop in at Libros Schmibros (1711 Mariachi Plaza de Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, California 90033, 323-302-9408), a unique used bookstore and community lending library. Although small in size, this place is enormous in spirit. It’s filled floor-to-ceiling with books, and the staff is friendly and helpful, so what’s not to like?  Libros Schmibros is on the plaza behind the kiosk.

Unique items are available for gift shopping at the international marketplace at the Mariachi Festival.

If you’re looking for a sit-down meal rather than one from the festival vendors, we recommend two fave restaurants right off Mariachi Plaza. Un Solo Sol is immediately across from the plaza (1818 East 1st Street, Los Angeles, California 90033, 323-269-8680). This small space is filled with energy. The menu is fabulously creative. We don’t know anywhere else that you can wash down your pupusas with a mango lassi! And the prices are very affordable. On the traditional side, and more pricey, is another of our faves, La Serenata de Garibaldi (1842 East 1st Street, Los Angeles 90033, 323-265-2887). The molés are palate-pleasing. This is an upscale establishment whose success led to two more restaurants on the West Side: West Pico Blvd. near Westwood Blvd. and Fourth Street, Santa Monica.

We’re looking forward to a lively day. Hop on the Gold Line and meet us there!

Circling Mariachi Plaza are 17 wrought-iron benches, a gift from artisans of Jalisco, Mexico.

22nd Annual Mariachi Festival and International Farmers’ Market
Sunday, November 18, 2012
10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Mariachi Plaza Metro Gold Line Station
Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles,  90033

This is a FREE event.

Mariachi Plaza is at the corner of Boyle Ave. and E. 1st Street.

Musicians warm up beneath the Mariachi Plaza Metro Gold Line Station canopy.

All photography, graphic images, and text copyright © and may not be downloaded or used without written permission.

Please contact us to license usage of images or text.

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If you enjoy our MetroDuo blog, please subscribe so that you’ll  be notified of new posts. 

We don’t want you to miss a MetroDuo adventure!

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