Itinerary: Riding the Red Line

This weekend the Metropolitan Transportation Authority opens three new stations on the Red Line, connecting Union Station in downtown Los Angeles to the center of Hollywood and the southeast corner of the San Fernando Valley. The extension brings the total number of stops on the route up to 16 and extends the subway line another 6.3 miles.

Passengers ride the Metro Rail for free Saturday and Sunday, so climb on board and check out the newest Red Line stops and all the attractions that are now just a quick train ride away.

Hollywood/Highland

Cruising Hollywood Boulevard just got easier with the new Hollywood/Highland stop. Famed attractions including Mann’s Chinese Theatre and the Hollywood Wax Museum are just footsteps from the new subway stop.

Hollywood Boulevard will be closed from Highland Avenue to Orange Drive on Saturday for a festival to celebrate the new station. Enjoy jazz from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or head to El Capitan Theatre to see a display of costumes designed for the Disney musical “The Lion King.”

If you’re a fan of outdoor concerts, head to the Hollywood Bowl (2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood, [323] 850-2000). The summer season opens Friday night with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra (See Friday’s Best Bets). Sunday at 7 p.m., you can catch the kickoff of World Festival 2000--an evening of traditional flamenco and classical Indian dance (See Sunday’s Best Bets).

Universal City

This is where the past, present and future collide. The Universal City Red Line station is located adjacent to historic Campo de Cahuenga (3919 Lankershim Blvd., Studio City, [818] 763-7651). Mexico relinquished control of California to the United States here in 1847, ending the Mexican American War. A small museum recounts the historic event and will be open free to visitors Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Reservations are usually required.)

Across the street from the subway station is the entrance to Universal Studios Hollywood (100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, [818] 622-3801). You can spend the day at this movie-themed amusement park and the evening at the adjacent Universal CityWalk ([818] 622-4455). The outdoor plaza is a mecca of restaurants, shops, nightclubs and home to the Universal Amphitheatre, where Yes and Kansas are playing Friday at 8:15 p.m.

North Hollywood

The third in the trio of new Red Line stops takes passengers to the heart of the NoHo Arts District at Lankershim and Chandler boulevards, where there are nearly 30 live theaters, restaurants and coffee houses. See what this artsy neighborhood has to offer Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. at the free NoHo International Theatre & Arts Festival (Lankershim Boulevard at Magnolia Avenue, [818] 508-5327). The eighth annual event will bring together 12 theaters, 50 troupes and 1,000 actors for four performances a day. There will also be continuous entertainment on four outdoor stages, fine art installations, international food and exhibit booths.

Check out the fair within the festival hosted by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (Magnolia and Lankershim boulevards, Saturday and Sunday, noon-8 p.m, free, [818] 754-2800). Watch stunt performances, including a free fall from a 54-foot crane and skydiving by a parachute stunt team. View costume displays from current TV shows and learn more about special effects, cinematography and makeup.