Foursquare and the Fair

I went on a bike ride yesterday. I stopped by the site of the Old PAL studios:

The engineer was some guy called Frank:

a neat Mural:

From 5-1-2011

I decide to go to the La Times Festival of Books. I missed the early train, but no problem, no one takes the Metrolink on weekends, right?
Well, this weekend is the Lemon Festival in Upland, so downtown was packed. I got a ticket, despite the vending machine insisting there were no train that day, was soon on a Bombardier car going to Union station:

From Book fair

Once I got there, I hopped on a shuttle bus:

From Book fair

and was soon face to face with Tommy Trojan:

From Book fair

They had a number of seminars that could have been of interest to me as an aspiring writer, but there were all sold out. so I wandered around outside:

From Book fair

I've also been playing around with Foursquare. while it is neat, you do have to have GPS enabled on your phone. I usually keep mine, which does produce some strange results. Hopefully, I won't make it on Pleaserobme.com. I did manage to persuade my phone and Foursquare that I was on the USC campus, and checked in.
I found out that UCLA has extension program for people like me, but the folks running the booths for USC and Chapman U were much more friendly. hmm (USC and Chapman are private - more tuition) Made the trip worth it. Chapman had a project where you wrote down a word, thy took your picture with it, and then the students would try and make a story with it.
I wandered around and around some more. Curiously, the part devoted to Food books seemed more busy. Probably because they were handing out free samples. I was also thinking about an analysis I heard on the royal wedding hoopla - That we, as a society, have been trending toward "reality" entertainment rather then "fictionalized." Maye I should devote my energies to "Revolutionary Idol" instead.
I found a free seminar that was interesting, but glanced at my watch. Time to go back to union station.
Turns out everyone else had that idea, too. Thankfully, they had a larger bus. we went by City Hall:

From Book fair

(the "effect" is the Target "advertising" wrap on the bus) before making it back to Union station.

From Book fair

If you've never been there, it's worth a trip. LAUPT was built in the late 30's, at the height of rail travel, and is wonderfully maintained as a period piece.
I bought a Madeline doll for a souvenir( The Times is using the artwork from the books as theme for this year.

From Book fair

before riding the Hyundai car back:

From Book fair

Of course, we stopped at Pomona for an hour due to ride with a medical condition, so maybe I should have taken the later train. I didn't want to go today, as there is an Immigrant rights march downtown in honor of May Day. Plus Metrolink has even less service on Sundays.
One other I did a bit different was I did'nt take my camera, but relied on phone for pictures - worked out well. Amazing how much "phones" have progressed.

A Fair day

I decided to go to the La county Fair today. I've been out for four years and it's only 10 miles away.
I noticed in the newspaper that if you brought five items of canned food from Ralphs Supermarket, you got in for free, so I made a trip to Ralphs'.
I was debating driving or taking the train. I decided on the train. it was a little late, but I soon a the entrance to the Fairplex. The train stops next to the drag strip:

From 9-11-2009

Once inside, I had to find a bathroom, it was next to the Train station for Acradia (but i'm in Pomona!)

From 9-11-2009

once inside, I was remind of My hair stylist's, Albert, opinion, that you should only visit the fair every 25 years. It was like the fair remember at home, The Southeast Missouri Fair, only writ larger. I was beginning to wonder if I had wasted my time. I consulted a map and arrived at the history area, but a little early:

From 9-11-2009

I then went thru the National Hot Rode Association museum.:

From 9-11-2009

From 9-11-2009

From 9-11-2009

not bad. I bought the Christmas present for my nephew, Chuck, and proceed to the Art Museum. I probably amazed my mom by not buying anything from the Museum store.
going to more modern cars, Toyota had a booth there, hmm, should I get a Pirus or a Matrix?
By then I was running out of things to do. The fair site does have some interesting art deco architecture

From 9-11-2009

I decided to go to farm animals. I was debating if it was worth it. I ran into my friend, Karen Miranda, and we chatted for a while.
by then I needed to go back to the train, The fair has a couple of ski lifts, so I took them, I get motion sick real easy, so it's probably the only ride I could ride:

From 9-11-2009

I decided to make a movie:

From 9-11-2009

when I got outside, the tram attendant told there wasn't a train for a hour an half, and that I had read the schedule wrong, so I went inside again, I wondered through the Africa expedition and then, listening to my 80 year old stylist advice, took in a horse race:

From 9-11-2009

Maybe I should have placed a bet. The winner had 80 to 1 odds:

From 9-11-2009

There was also a Cal fire helicopter:

From 9-11-2009

coming back, I was debating doing the Ferris Wheel. I deceided not to, but I when go to the train station, I discovered that there were no trains for an hour and half! I know i was right!
I also that there would more frequent service from the regular station, so I decided to walk there. I thought it was a mile. Turned out, more like two. Cross-training is good!
I got there just as a train was pulling in. It was standing room only, but still cut an hour off of waiting. Thankfully, I had bought a Souvenir cup:

From 9-11-2009