Getting there is all the fun

There's entertainment in every direction, and free rides, too, on the Expo Line this weekend.

When the first segment of the Expo Line opens Saturday, it will whisk transit patrons to destinations like the Coliseum and the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum. On opening day, riders won’t even need to leave the station platforms for a good time.

Celebrations with live entertainment will be held Saturday, April 28, at four stations—7^th/Metro, Expo/USC, Expo/Crenshaw and La Cienega/Jefferson. There will be standard fare including live music, info booths and L.A.’s ubiquitous gourmet food trucks, but there are also a few off-the-beaten-path diversions.

For starters, how about a psychic magician with a cat assistant? The Fantastic Fig and his cat, Newton, have appeared on America’s Got Talent and the Kathy Griffin Show to perform their mind-bending card tricks. On Saturday, the crowds at La Cienega/Jefferson station will get a close look at what the Fig has up his sleeve as he performs a roving routine.

If magic’s not your bag, a professional mime will also be riding the rails, performing on trains and in stations. Artist Tony Duran of the 24^th Street Theatre gives silent performances that range from purely comedic to serious and dramatic. Unfortunately, despite multiple attempts, the mime could not be reached for comment.

Alternatively, the inaugural crowds can show off their own abilities via karaoke, which takes place at Expo/Crenshaw and La Cienega/Jefferson stations. The less vocally-inclined might opt instead to memorialize the occasion in photos, using Cirque du Soleil’s “green screen” to transform themselves digitally into virtual Cirque performers, at the 7^th/Metro station. In addition, photo booths will be arranged at other stations so patrons can personalize snapshots with props and possibly a map of the new light rail line as a backdrop. Photos will be posted online after the event.

In addition to the sideshows there is, of course, the main event. This weekend, the shiny new Expo Line is the belle of the ball. Free rides will be offered Saturday and Sunday, from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. After that, the line starts taking on paying customers and will operate from 5 a.m. to midnight.

(During the inaugural run, trains will be bypassing the  line’s Farmdale and Culver City stations, which are not yet completed, though they are expected to open in the weeks ahead.)

According to Anna Chen of Metro’s media relations department, the opening day fun is all about the communities Expo will serve.

“We tried to incorporate local talent and promote the businesses and vendors along the line as much as possible,” said Chen. (A look at some of the eateries and other attractions along the line is here.)

Expo is expected to be one of the nation’s most heavily-used light rail lines. A second phase to Santa Monica is now underway.

Posted 4/25/12