How To Avoid 405 Closure This Weekend
Hey ESW Readers,
It is Wednesday, so you know what that means! It is time to share our favorites for the week, but in the wake of the horrible 405 closure this weekend, we have decided to share some ideas with you on how to avoid the carmegeddon this weekend will bring. Here are a few ideas that will hopefully settle your carless weekend nerves. Remember you don’t need a car to get around and have fun in L.A., there are plenty of other options.
How To Spend Your Weekend Without A Car
Jonathan: Take the Metro to see Cars 2 at the El Capitan Theatre
We’re taking the kiddies over to Hollywood to see Cars 2 in 3D at the El Capitan Theatre. We won’t disappoint the anxious toddlers thanks to the Metro, which will be running the trains and buses all day for FREE. A short little journey on the Green to the Red line from El Segundo. Plus, my little Noah always yearns for a little “Bao Bao” time, which is his way of saying, “Daddy, hold me!”
Chrissie: A Bike Ride on the Strand / Copa America Quarter Finals: Argentina vs. Uruguay @ Santino’s in Venice / FIFA Women’s World Cup Finals
I laugh at Carmageddon. The 405 closure will have little affect on my life. I’m the person you hate: I work a mile from home and live a mile from the beach. On most weekends, I leave my car parked in the garage or, at the least, drive no further than a few miles to local hangouts. That said, it’s the CHALLENGE of Carmegeddon that allures me. To know that I absolutely cannot access this major artery of Los Angeles and that half a million cars will be displaced and most presumably clogging every other available vein in the city makes me want to dominate L.A. by foot or explore the array of public transportation options available (and some even free!) for use this weekend. But I am wise enough to stay put in the South Bay where I can access The Strand, a bicycle and pedestrian super highway that connects L.A. beach cities from South Redondo Beach to north of Santa Monica. This weekend I’ll celebrate Carmageddon by pedaling freely along this stretch of beach and landing at Santino’s to watch Argentina in their Quarter final match in Copa America where I will feast on Empenadas and drown myself in Quilmes, liberated from the burden of having to navigate a motor vehicle home after a day of imbibing. And now that the Women’s USA Soccer team beat France today in the Semi Finals, I have to find some other place to bike to on Sunday for the Finals!
Roxy: Make Things!
Needless to say, the only way to get through the pending Carmageddon is to stay put. Without harping on the obvious, I say take a creative spin on the idea of being stuck without a car. Literally. Time should be used productively. Take this opportunity to bask in the “task” and get to work on a creative project.
I’m going to use this weekend opportunity to hibernate in my apartment and work on some long overdue recordings and poster illustrations. I’m actually looking forward to being “stuck”. For me, recording is the perfect time-consuming activity that leaves me wondering “where did the time go?”. Working on personal projects is not only rewarding but is sure to make you feel like the Carmageddon will be done before you know it. Find something similar to lose yourself in creatively and I promise you’ll say “Carma-what?”. Take this opportunity to learn a new craft, or revisit that old hobby you never have time for anymore. I promise it will be pleasurable and enriching. While everyone else is complaining about the horrible traffic, you’ll be able to say you not only survived but also have something to show for it.
All in all, take advantage of not using your car, and if you must go outside, a walk is both healthy and refreshing. You can also dust off that bike and exercise to lunch.
Eric: Los Angeles Car Wash Weekend
Ya ya yaaa… We know the 405 freeway is going to be closed this weekend between the 101 and 10. Tell me something I don’t know!
What I want to know is, what will you be doing this weekend? I talked to a few of my homies about this weekend and if they had any plans. Most of them replied with “Nothing Dawg… Ima just chill and stay off the road, cuz I ain’t tryin to deal with that carmageddon madness…” Okay maybe that wasn’t their exact words but they did say something along those lines with an emotion and tone of defeat behind their breath.
So that got me to thinking… What the hell am I going to do this weekend? Could this weekend really be that bad if I were to hop in my car? Well I’m definitely not going to find out. I use to drive in that LA traffic every morning to go to work and I hated it! I can only imagine what it would be like with the 405 freeway closed. So with that said, what I’m going to do this weekend is…
Wash my car! Well at least take it to my nearest car wash. I hereby declare this weekend to be known as “LOS ANGELES CAR WASH WEEKEND”. I figure if we can’t ride it, drive it or smash it… then I’ll wash it! Besides my whip is in desperate need of some TLC (tender loving care). So I encourage all of you to join me and participate in LOS ANGELES CAR WASH WEEKEND!
Chimmy: Sharing Fun Facts
Approximately 10 miles of the 405 will be closed for constructions, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you can get through it. In a car driving at 65mph it would take 9 minutes, 14 seconds to travel that distant.
10 Miles without a car:
On average, women walk at 3 miles per hour. At this speed, it would take 3 hours and 20 minutes minutes to walk 10 miles.
On average, men walk at 3.5 miles per hour. At this speed, it would take 2 hours and 51 and a half minutes to walk 10 miles.
Running at 10 mph it would take 1 hour
On a bike at 15 mph it would take 40 minutes.
Metro Rail travelling at 40mph would take 15 minutes
In a bus driving at 55 10 minutes, and 54 seconds
On a helicopter flying 140 knots would take 3 minutes, 43 seconds
On a 737 flying at 460 knots would take 1 minute, 8 seconds
Amber: Relax/Pitcher House Upper Deck
After bogged down by driving absolutely every where in L.A, I’m going to take this weekend to just relax. I’m not planning on doing anything! I’m going to catch up on some sleep, read Catch-22 by Joseph Heller, and hang out at my favorite local bar, Pitcher House Upper Deck in Redondo Beach. If you have never been you are missing out. Pitcher House Upper Deck is one of those amazing dive/sports bars. They have ping pong tables, pool tables, and have drink/food specials every night. My favorite night is Wednesday for karaoke and $3 well drinks. If you ever venture to Redondo Beach stop by and you may see yours truly singing anything from Black Eyed Peas to Ozzy Osbourne.
Leave A Comment