TrainDay2LA: S.A.D. in the City: The Gritty Anti-Valentine Trek

TrainDay2LA: S.A.D. in the City: The Gritty Anti-Valentine Trek
Theme: Singleness Awareness Day (S.A.D.)

Join me this SADurday, for a Train trip to Los Angeles where We will start with a walk to Grand Central Market. We’ll arrive early enough to get seats and avoid lines. After lunch, we’ll head out on our urban hike across the DTLA landscape. We will go to the gritty side of town, and search for beauty amidst chaos.

Route: GCM ➔ Grand Park ➔ Little Tokyo ➔ Arts District ➔ Sixth Street Viaduct ➔ Warehouse Row

Expect Urban Decay & "Real" LA
This is a walk through the raw, unfiltered bones of Los Angeles. While the city calls the 12-acre space under the sixth street bridge a "park," don't expect a typical neighborhood park. This is PARC (Park, Arts, River & Connectivity). You’ll see the strange beauty of a brand-new, pristine lawn—likely the best it will ever look—sitting in the shadow of massive concrete arches that are already a living canvas for relentless graffiti. It is a landscape of high-contrast shadows and industrial grit where the famous "Ribbon of Light" often sits dark due to ongoing copper wire theft. It’s stunning, it’s chaotic, and it’s the real LA.
We’ll take OC 1661 @ 9:21am to LA Union, scheduled to arrive LA at 10:34 am. In Irvine, look for Chris at the North end of Platform 1 the far side, use the bridge to cross the tracks. Be ready to board the 2nd car from the front at 9:21am We’ll take OC 1668 back leaving at 4:27pm from Union Station arriving in Irvine at 5:36pm.

🚶‍ What We’ll Do:
• Take Metrolink from Irvine to LA Union Station
• Grab eats from GCM in DTLA
• Traverse the gritty side of DTLA
• Expect to walk 6+ miles throughout the day, with flights of stairs possible along the way
• Route: GCM ➔ Grand Park ➔ Little Tokyo ➔ Arts District ➔ Sixth Street Viaduct

🕓 Schedule: Outbound – Metrolink:

• 🕐 9:00 AM: Arrive Irvine Train Station (15215 Barranca Pkwy, Irvine, CA), get your ticket, and Meetup on Platform 1 the far side look for Chris
• 🕐 9:21 AM: Depart Irvine Station on Metrolink OC 1661 (feel free to hop on at other stations)
• 🕙 10:34 AM: Arrive at LA Union Station
• 🕙 10:40 AM: Meet at Union Station West in front of Starbucks and Wetzel’s (Not the Starbucks pickup on the East—nearby bathrooms and water fill available)
🕙 11:00 AM: - 11:45 AM: Lunch at Grand Central Market
🕙 11:45 AM: The Gritty Anti-Valentine Trek

Return – Metrolink:
• 🕔 3:30 PM: Head back to LA Union Station
• 🕔 4:27 PM: Depart LA Union Station on Metrolink OC 1668
• 🕕 5:36 PM: Arrive back at Irvine Station

🎟️ Tickets & Costs: • Metrolink SoCal Day Pass: $10 ($5.00 for seniors) Buy at Irvine Station via the ticket machine: → Tap Buy Tickets > SoCal Day Pass covers all transit needed, including transfers to Metro rail
⚠️ Avoid using bills larger than $20 — machines may not give change.

🧴 What to Bring:
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Hat and Sunglasses
• Refillable water bottle
• A light snack for the train or after lunch

Meeting Options:
• At Irvine Station Platform 1 the far side (or meet onboard Metrolink OC 1661 from Irvine)
• Or at LA Union Station in front of Starbucks/Wetzel’s after we arrive ~10:40am

DISCLAIMER: Group organizer, assistant organizers and event hosts assume no liability; hike at your own risk. By being a member of this group you hereby agree to assume all risks and liability related to or resulting from any group functions. You agree that neither you nor any third party will hold any of the group's leaders, officers, or representatives liable for any injury, loss, or damage to your own person or any members of your family, friends, acquaintances, children, pets, or property, arising directly or as a consequence from a group activity. You also agree that your membership of this group is based on an "at will" basis.