Tagged: Los Angeles

November 30, 2012

Megabus returns to Los Angeles! Remembering my Megabus trip from LA to SF

Megabus returns to Los Angeles! Woohoo!!

The first time I took Megabus was with friend Erik and brother Vic. Here is what Erik said about that trip:

The first road-trip I ever went on with CrzBlue was to see the Dodgers on September 8 in Frisco. CrzBlue, Brother Vic, and I took Megabus, we left L.A. at 11:30pm on Friday and got to Frisco at about 5:30am on Saturday. I don’t think we slept more than 15 minutes the whole way. David Wells pitched for the Dodgers, he pushed a perfect game through 5 1/3 innings. Way to shut those jints down Boomer! His performance and the Dodgers’ win had me and CrzBlue singing “I Love L.A.” at the phone booth–T’was great. It was exciting, it was uncomfortable, it is unforgettable!

The second time I took Megabus was to go to San Diego. And yes, it was Dodger related. I can’t believe that was four years ago! I do hope this time the Megabus is a success. I could take it to watch Dodgers on the road to San Diego & San Francisco. Maybe I can also go see Oakland A’s. Maybe they will add Arizona. I know Las Vegas is also one of their destinations.

Megabus will start December 12 with rates as low as $1. Wow! I hope more people take advantage of these deals.

From ATVN:

The company hopes to provide an alternative transportation method for West Coast customers looking to avoid the high gas prices. The bus line will offer free onboard WiFi, power outlets, bathrooms, heating and air conditioning.

Customers can begin to purchase tickets on Wednesday at megabus.com and the first trips will begin on Dec. 12. Ticket prices range from $1 to around $25, but most seats are priced between $5 to $9.

As an opening promotion, the company will offer $1 trips for all seats and all trips in California during its first week of service.

Passengers can get on the express bus at its arrival and departure location at L.A. Union Station’s Patsaouras Transit Plaza.

The express bus runs four schedules each day to and from Las Vegas; the trip takes about six hours. There are six scheduled trips to and from San Francisco, which take about eight hours, and four schedule trips from Sacramento going different directions to San Francisco and Reno. The bus runs seven days a week.

Megabus will run 22 buses in California and is a subsidiary of Coach USA. The double-decker buses have a capacity of 81 passengers.

For more information go to http://us.megabus.com/

June 13, 2012

Rubber game: Dodgers Angels.

Dodgers lost the first game with the Angels 3-2. Isringhausen won it and Kenley Jansen lost it. Kenley is in my baseball fantasy team, Los Locos Azules.

BUT! we know pitchers got to have a short memory. Kenley came back on Tuesday and won the game. Dodgers were trailing on this one but with the score 2-2 (after Ethier tying the game), ex-Angel Juan Rivera went Boom! with a 3-run homerun! We went crazy at the stadium!

It was also Mike Sciocia’s bobblehead night. I don’t think the bobblehead resembles him but I am glad to have it. Scioscia used to be a favorite of mine back when I started attending games. Always had a soft spot for catchers and pitchers.

Not a good day for honorees at the ballpark since Jaime Jarrin who was honored the night before did not get a win for his team. But it was a special night with all the tributes paid to Jaime Jarrin.

After throwing out the first pitch along with his son Jorge Jarrin and his grandson Stefan Jarrin, Jaime went to the mike to say “It’s Time for Dodger Baseball” but first he said it in Spanish “Es La Hora de el Beisbol de los Dodgers”

Another person that threw out the first pitch was the Veteran of the Day. Dodgers honored a Veteran every day. This time it was 102 year old Bea Cohen, the oldest living female World War II Veteran.

Monday was also the day the Kings won the Stanley Cup! 50,559 showed up at Dodger Stadium even with the Kings playing at Staple Center.

For tonight Dodger game, the Stanley Cup Champions Los Angeles Kings are bringing the Stanley Cup trophy and will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. Congratulations Kings! Let’s Go Dodgers! Let’s Go!

March 1, 2012

Dodger Stadium Turns 50

Dodger Stadium turns 50 this year! It was April 10, 1962: Opening Day when Dodger Stadium opened its door for the first game. They hosted the Red. Dodgers lost the opener to the Reds 6-3. The first home run in Dodger Stadium was hit on Opening Day by Wally Post of the Cincinnati Reds. Box Score here: http://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=196204100LAN

Opening Day 2012 will on Tuesday April 10th. April 10, 1962 was also a Tuesday.

Back when Dodger Stadium used to have a gas station inside. Note the gas price is 1.99 cheaper. Now days is approaching $5.

A portion of the Left Field Pavilion

Ahhh I miss watching the sunset from Dodger Stadium

World famous Dodger Dogs!

Opening Day 1962

Old Union 76 sign. Look at the hills

Look at the final between Philadelphia & Chicago

I love this picture with Sandy Koufax. Look at a young Maury Wills

Look at DonDrysdale in the bullpen

Found this picture and what a surprise to find me there Top Deck against the wall, top right corner is my brother Vic then me.

The view of Downtown LA as we exit

Love the Opening Day 1962 ticket.

from 2008

Don’t you just love the colors in this picture. The guy reading the program, the old style glass. Yes, is 1962! Opening Day

View from the Top Deck

Can’t wait to be back at our Blue Heaven on Earth, Dodger Stadium

The exterior honoring past players. This changes from year to year

Umpires room 🙂

Victory song

Getting ready for Fireworks after the game

Vin Scully Press box

Sunset view from Dodger Stadium

The view from our seats

Beauty all around.

Happy Birthday our beloved Dodger Stadium!

Ref; Baseball fever.

December 9, 2011

Feliz cumpleaños maestro Jaime Jarrin

Vin Scully is the Voice of the Dodgers and Jaime Jarrin es la Voz de Los Dodgers. Jaime has been covering the Dodgers for the last 53 years!

Jaime Jarrin was born on December 10th, 1935 in Ecuador. Jaime Jarrin studied philosophy, letters, journalism and broadcasting at Central University of Ecuador in Quito in Ecuador. He had been the announcer for the No. 1 program on HCJB, the ‘Voice of the Andes.’ Jaime recalls leaving for the U.S. in 1955 on a cargo boat loaded with 100,000 bunches of bananas. When he came to Los Angeles on June 24, 1955, he had no job and he did not speak the language. His first job was working putting together chain link fences. He latched on at the only Spanish-language radio station in Los Angeles, KWKW. He worked in a fence factory all day, then broadcasted boxing matches at the Olympic Auditorium at night.

At the time, he had never seen a baseball game but he was intrigued by the game seeing fans watching the World Series on TV and hearing it on the radio that he said ‘This must be a great sport.” So over the next two years, he attended as many Triple-A games as he could, seeing the Los Angeles Angels at old Wrigley Field in South L.A., or the Hollywood Stars at Gilmore Field, on the site of what is now Farmer’s Market and the Grove.

When the Dodgers moved from Brooklyn to L.A., KWKW became the team’s Spanish-language station. Jarrin spent a year learning the game, then signed on as the play-by-play announcer in 1959. The Dodgers won the World Series that year and Jarrin has been in the team’s employ ever since. He never missed a game from 1962 to 1984, more than 4,000 in a row, and was the 1998 recipient of the Ford Frick award by the Hall of Fame.

To me, like Vin Scully, Jaime’s voice soothes me . All is well listening to these two gentlemen.

Feliz Cumpleanos a nuestro maestro el senor Jaime Jarrin. Que cumpla muchos pero muchos mas y que Dios nos lo conceda con mucha salud. Muchas gracias por ser tan lindo con todos nosotros los aficionados!

Happy Birthday to our teacher Mr. Jaime Jarrin. May you have many many birthdays and that God grant you plenty of health. Thank you so much for always being so nice to us fans!

July 22, 2011

Best Downtown LA Villain

While I was at Union Station in Downtown LA yesterday waiting for some friends, I was reading the Los Angeles Downtown News. I look forward to the yearly feature of “Readers Choice The Best of Downtown.” But a picture and another article caught my eye.

“Best Downtown Villain” by Jon Regardie.

As he drags the Los Angeles Dodgers through bankruptcy, Frank McCourt has done something rare: He has managed to unite Los Angeles. Just about everyone hates him and wants him to lose the team. Photo by Gary Leonard.

How Frank McCourt Became the Most Hated Man in Los Angeles, and Why That’s a Good Thing

by Jon Regardie

Published: Friday, July 15, 2011 5:00 PM PDT

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES – He’s Hannibal Lecter, eating the hearts of fans and seeming to enjoy every bite.He’s Bernie Madoff, squirreling away a fortune, and we didn’t realize it until it was far too late.He’s Lex Luthor, Superman’s arch-nemesis, apparently intent on destroying something — the Dodgers — that means so much to so many. We cringe, cry and seethe as he caroms into bankruptcy court, and he doesn’t care about what the rest of us hold dearly. We’re aghast that the greed of one mad man overwhelms the hopes and wishes of millions.He’s Frank McCourt.He’s the best villain in Los Angeles.No one else comes close. Not Charlie Sheen, who’s more of a nut job than a bad guy. Not Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who’s mainly a disappointment. Not Arnold Schwarzenegger, and come to think of it, is anyone actually surprised by Arnold?No, Frank McCourt is in a league of his own. His feats, if you can stand back and gape at them, are actually amazing. In the less than two years since he and Jamie split and opened Pandora’s Dodger-blue box, he managed to destroy the half century of fan dedication that the team built up. He’s managed to make the bad guy of the summer of 2010, the talents-taking LeBron James, look like Mother Teresa.

Great article Jon! And yes, the Tribe has united and spoken!

To read the rest of the article go to http://www.ladowntownnews.com/articles/2011/07/21/news/doc4e20cbaf5d54e298748127.txt

February 21, 2011

Spring Training or Bust and Dodgers Opening Day Update

Camelback Ranch or Bust

Spring Training here we come! We drive Saturday night from the LA area bound to Glendale, AZ or Bust! We’ll see if we get stopped because we are Hispanics J We’ll report from Arizona. Countdown: Five days!

37 days till Opening Day

When I first heard that ESPN wanted to broadcast Opening Day for The Dodgers against the Giants, I was not happy. My first thought was “Oh NO!” No Vin Scully!” That is sacrilegious! Vin is entering his 62nd season as voice of the Dodgers and this will be his 54th home opener in Los Angeles

But serenity has been restored! It has been announced that Vin will be covering the game on the radio doing innings one to three and seven to nine. Ah! I feel much better. Listening to Vin Scully makes TV unnessary but I’ll be at the game!

I am also glad that the Dodgers held their ground because if it was up to ESPN, the game would have been moved to Frisco! Still I am not happy that it got moved to an evening to accommodate TV.

Opening Day was supposed to be Friday April 1^‘stbut because of ESPN, it will be Thursday March 31^st at 5.P.M Pacific Time. Unlike some, I was able to change my vacation day. BTW, I argued with my boss that it should be a holiday since I call Dodger Stadium, Our Lady of Chavez Ravine but he would not buy it.

To hold us up until we get to hear Vin Scully again, here is Bill Buckner 1986 game or 9th Inning of Sandy Koufax”s Perfect Game

ref: MLB.com, Baseball-fever.

July 3, 2010

All-Star game and Mickey Mouses all around!

Wednesday when I went to Jury Duty in Downtown LA, I noticed that there is this Pittsburg Pirate Mickey Mouse at Union Station. I had seen one at Anaheim Stadium when I went there for the All-Star FanFest interview. I did not have my camera that day but Friday I made sure I had it with me.

After googleing about the the Mickey Mouse, I read that there are 36 varieties of statues including designs for all 30 clubs to celebrate the All-Star game here in Anaheim. I learned that there are three in the Los Angeles.

After work I made my rounds. First Union Station:

After taking a few pictures at Union Station, I walked to the Music Center in Dowtown. The walk is uphill. I should have taken a bus but it was worth it to see the DODGER Mickey Mouse !

In back of that fountain there was a huge group of people dancing with an instructor on stage teaching Indian (from India) dancing. Yep! I joined in!

Here is another picture of the Dodger Mickey Mouse

Here is the back of of the Dodger Mickey Mouse

OK, so after doing some dancing (or trying to follow the instructor with the dance moves), I headed to the third Mickey Mouse that is in LA.

ESPN LA Live has the Yankee Mickey Mouse

The LA Live is next to the Staple Center, home of the 2010 World Champion Lakers! A few blocks away from there is the Convention Center where they are having the Anime convention. I’ve never seen so many costumes! I took a picture with this guy

It was sad to read that the Red Sox Mickey Mouse that was somewhere in Anaheim, was vandalized. His arm is being repaired.

I’ll try to go take pictures of the ones that are in Hollywood sometime this weekend. They have Royals, Reds, Indians, Mariners and Phillies. I have pictures of the the Pirate and Yankee Mickey Mouses also if anyone likes me to post them, let me know.

Contratulations to Gibby on his first win as a manager. Now Dodgers go take the next two!

Let’s Go Dodgers!

Thank you all that read my blog and comment! I made #17! Woohoo! When I think of #17, I think of Carl Erskine! I admire Oisk! That is why a few years back I purchased a baseball with his signature at Dodger Stadium. On the baseball he wrote the date of his no-hitters.

April 4, 2010

Happy Easter. Happy Opening Day

I was like a kid awaiting the games at Dodger Stadium. We have a new shuttle bus that takes us from Union Station to our happy place that is Our Lady of Chavez Ravine, Dodger Stadium! I found out from Josh Rawitch, Dodger Vice President of Communication that indeed the shuttle bus started on Thursday when the Dodgers met the Indians in the first exhibition game.

Here are my friends Oscar and Jesse (Azul4life) posing infront of one of the busses. So good to see you guys again this year!

It was great greeting security guards, ushers and just everyone that works at Dodger stadium and of course my fellow Dodger fan friends!

Thursday night, Matt Kemp signed my copy of Maple Street Press Dodgers 2010 Annual! I highly recomend the magazine!

The second game was at Angel Stadium Friday night so I just watched it on TV. Took this picture from the TV

Saturday’s game was back at Dodger Stadium at 1:p.m. Here is Tony Jackson who used to be the Dodger beat writer for the Daily News. He now works for ESPN Los Angeles! I am so glad you are back covering the Dodgers Tony!

Here is Josh Rawitch, Dodgers VP of Communications.

Here is Ken Levine, the other part of the duo of Dodger Talk.

And here I am with the Chipmunks!

We lost the exhibition games, but we had fun! Erik and I greeted Vin Scully!

During the game, my friend Erik asked me if I wanted to go to the LA Cathedral for Easter Vigil so after the game, I dropped him and one hour later went to pick him up.

While we were wating for the Easter Vigil to start and while enjoying a cup of coffee, we scanned donors names here. Notice you can see the freeway below and that building across is a high school.