Ride the Metro to Swankdom
 

The other night I was chatting with a couple folks from these boards that ride the red line daily as part of their commute. I myself walk through Union Station twice a day, and can’t help but notice a swank little bar, Traxx, done up in 1930’s Art Deco Railroad chic and can’t help but think what a delightful place to meet up with my fellow commuters for a little refreshing beverage before heading home and putting the work day away.

Of course, those I spoke to mentioned some other swank destinations all redline adjacent. Naturally, I would also love to explore these metro stops further and think perhaps we can make a “Rank the Swank” kind of quest, picking out the hippest destinations of the Redline.

But first, I’d love to give Union Stations a go, the end of the line for many a route. So who’s up for a little mid-week indulgence? I pass through there daily around 5:00 PM, but can certainly sit a spell to enjoy the company of a fellow swanker if your workplace makes you linger later than that.

Depending on the day, I can usually get there by about 5:30 :)

Maybe I can convince Boss Radio to make the trip with me.

I am beginning to fear the consequences should the two of us be in the same room together - lately destiny has conspired otherwise. Of course, this is outside his workplace so it might just work - though wouldn't it be a bit early for him?

As for myself, I might be hitting Hollywood and Highland after work today to get some shopping done.

This type of excursion sounds positively swankalicious. However, being as I am stuck in Tustin until the wee hours of the 5:00 timeframe, I believe you would be waiting a VERY long time for my presence.

Count me in! That's only... what, seven stops after mine? Hardly fifteen minutes away. Which would get me there around... five. Swell timing! I'd happily wait for Matt, or Kevin (however long) or Boss and Eliza (how swanky that would be!) if they were able to make it.

Ideally, it would be a day that ended with a meeting at, say, Paramount or Dreamworks...otherwise, trying to get from the Westside to Union Station at 5 would a bit daunting - the same feeling a spawning salmon might experience when he first lays fisheyes on the whitewater rapids he has to swim against.

Not that the plan is to spawn when we get there.

But there could be caviar.

Sigh. Living in the OC is a total liability when it comes to swank. Have fun!

Well, I made it from the office to The Grove is under an hour last night. But, it makes me so mad there is no Metro from the westside east - or south for that matter.

Do it on a day I am home and I can meet you there anytime. How sad it is that I can get from LB to Union Station easier that I can get from Santa Monica to Union Station.

Let's see, if I leave work a smidge early, fly through traffic to get to a station and get on a train...I can make it to Union Station just in time to have to hop back on the last train that goes back to the station I left my car at. Hooray!

If you have a Metrolink monthly pass, you can use the Amtrak trains to get back to your car in OC...

That is going to be changing (fingers crossed)...

Metro Board of Directors Certifies Final Environmental Impact Report on Exposition Light Rail Transit Project and Adopts Locally Preferred Alternative Alignment

So, there is some hope for Santa Monica, eventually ;)

Cool!

Now build a line following the 405 and I'll be happy.

Don't forget to build a line that goes straight to Vegas!

So how does Hollywood and Highland look for Tuesday the 10th? I want to see this at the Egyptian and thought it might provide a nice motivation for a metro-swanking.

Possible destinations aside from the Hollywood and Highland complex include the Pig & Whistle (Egyptian adjacent), the Roosevelt Hotel, or maybe even Muso & Franks (where I've never been). There's the Disney Store Soda Fountain and Lickety Split frozen custard for softer fare.

Anyone?

Michelli's is an old-school Hollywood restaurant around the corner and don't forget my favorite Cafe des Artistes.

I thought there was something else new and exciting there. Hmmmm.

Count me in! And probably Tom, too, who is lately working days (hurrah!) We are very fond of Miceli's (though it would be hard to maintain my moratorium on cheese) and are only two metro-stops away from home.

It looks like I will be in Santa Monica that day so I'll be making the horrid cross-town trek. Where is MY METRO??????

OK. Here are some choices for nosh/drinks around the Egyptian


Bella Cucina Italiana - got a great review in the Times yesterday.

Another Dolce Group restaurant is one block further up the street:
Geisha House

Boardners is an old old place up the street that could be fun for drinks.

The Hollywood Roosevelt has turned into a place for Paris Hilton and Lindsy Lohan to hang out and I'm not really into flash-in-the-pan swank but the quieter poolside bar may be fun. I'm just not standing in any velvet rope line so I can be bored. ;)

We enjoy the LA Erotic Museum. It's quite nearby. Love Toad!

I'm putting together my preferences:

I hear Dita von Teasa often preforms here - now that would be a swanking :evil:

Our favorite tattoo parlor is also right there, Kayden Creations (in the Cherokee Building) - they're the ones who did my Skull with Mickey Ears.

Are we still doing this, yo? I have no LoT access at work (blocked yet again) so unless we can get in touch by ringle-dingle en el telefono, I won't know what the meeting plans are. But as an aspiring female director, I really oughta be at that Egyptian showcase.

Yes! We are going.

I am going to catch the Metro lin LB and meet Chris at Hollywood and Highland. Then, we are going to walk down to Gesha House for some nosh and then to the Egyptian for the series of shorts.

Timing may go somewhat like this: 5:30 H&H then wander to the restaurant around 6. Back to the Egyptian at 7:15 or so.

Both Chris and I will be cellphone available after we come out of the underground.

Musso & Frank's, land of the so-so food, decent bar and snide (and ancient) waiters!

May I recommend Twist in the Rennaisance at the H&H complex? It's swanky, great bar and good food (albeit a tad on the pricey side)

Not sure if there is anything decent at the Roosevelt since they remodeled. The Teddy Roosevelt is gone and not sure I'd dine at the Cinegrill. I'd drink there, however, if the lounge act was good.

Just a word from someone who wishes she were going with you all to the Egyptian...:(

Donna

Will Berlin's "Metro" be the theme song for the day?

Well the First Metro Swanking of 2006 went off wonderfully - after gathering at Hollywood & Highland we walked down to the Geisha House - and I must say I was please with it's swank factor.



We were early so we had our choice of dinning room or bar - we ask for the "prettier" and got the Dinningroom, which didn't dissappoint. Darkly lit with a central tower featuring staggered fire places, a wrap around interior balcony and a Tokyo Noir Cityscape fill the one wall. The other walls are upolstered in various Kimono fabrics, softening the overall effect



I enjoyed the unagi, and had a Geisha Kiss - a sort of hybrid kir Royal with saki melon and Lychee added - quite a tasty treat.



We also sampled Geisha lips, and the ocean dragon rolls, Tuna Tatake, and some other delightful albacore sushimi



We quickly devoured a desert of tempura bananas with carmel, chocolate, and cinnimon ice cream - delightful - before we headed down to the Egyptian for a great collection of shorts.

All in all a great evening and hopefully, a sign of more to come in 2006.

Cheers,

€

So I'm sitting here at Hollywood & Highland enjoying a mocha before some other swankers show up and join me for cocktails anq a show at the Egyptian. So, won't you swank with me?