Expo-Fail. Slide Show-Success.

Union Station, DTLA

Friday, Larry and I drove to our Metro Station at La Cienega and Jefferson. There was plenty of parking at 5:30 pm on the first level. We hopped on the Expo Line toward downtown L.A. The train was packed with Dodger fans and people travelling home from work on a Friday. It was a 30 minute ride to USC and Exposition Park, then we rode under the Harbor Freeway and made the turn north on Flower Street. At 23rd Street, the train came to a stop. We were told that we'd be here for about 10 minutes. After about 20 minutes, we heard some garbled message over the PA system and people began to get off the train. We knew we were cooked when we saw the train conductor get off the train and walk away! What?

We were stranded at 23rd and Flower. Argh! We figured we were about 5 miles from our destination, Union Station. We walked a block over to Figueroa Street and summoned Uber. The car arrived in about 4 minutes and expertly took us through the back streets to Union Station. Thank goodness for Uber. We could have called a taxi, but that would have cost twice as much. The Metro has to work out some issues. This was really bad public relations to leave passengers stranded without explanation or alternate transportation to the 7th and Metro Station.

We were planning on walking over to Olvera Street for dinner, but since we had an 8pm start time for Charles Phoenix's "Los AngelesLand" slide show in the old ticket area at Union Station, we ducked into Traxx for dinner. Traxx, of course, was understaffed, but we managed to have a delicious Caesar salad and bowl of gumbo.

There were TONS of people in the ticket hall audience for Charles' show. He was wearing his rainbow suit as he tossed pieces of King's Hawaiian rainbow bread to the crowd, extolling the similarities between downtown L.A. and Disneyland! 

King's Hawaiian Rainbow Bread

Charles then proceeded to give us a hilarious lecture, illustrated by his colorful slides of DTLA. We had a wonderful time and saw lots of friends. Charles' show makes me want to really investigate the little shops in Chinatown!

Charles Phoenix autographs one of his many books

On our way back to the train platform we marveled at the beauty of Union Station (1939). The tiled floors, raised ceilings, arches, furnishings, everything is so elegant! Luckily, we didn't have any problem trains on our way home!

One of these days I'll take the Los Angeles Conservancy Tour of Union Station and learn all about it's beautiful architectural details!