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Photo: Metro

Where to Shop When Metro’s Expo Line Extension Opens Tomorrow

By Danielle Directo-Meston
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By Danielle Directo-Meston
Photo: Metro

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When 2013's fashionable flick Her envisioned a future with a subway to the sea, it was actually looking to the past. Starting Friday, Angelenos will once again have car-free transportation options to the beach when Metro's Expo line extension opens. (Hey, the 10: it was nice knowing you.)

Running from Downtown to Santa Monica (in just 46 minutes, like seriously) starting mañana, the extended route will be totally gratis from noon tomorrow and all day Saturday. In honor of its grand debut (see the full map here), we've mapped out a handful of stylish stops along the entire line's stretch, starting from DTLA and ending in the Westside. All aboard!

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Platform

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Although Culver City's fashionable luxury shopping center has yet to unveil its full directory, a handful of stylish retailers — including Linda Farrow, Velvet by Graham & Spencer, Cult Gaia, Janessa Leoné and Freda Salvador, and Magasin, to name a few — have already opened their doors. Station: Culver City at Washington/National (less than a 1-min. walk)
8850 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
Photo: Katie Gibbs/Platform

Bergamot Station Arts Center

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Fuel your creative juices at the cool art gallery hub's Expo-Sé open house, which is free and family-friendly Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Station: 26th Street/Bergamot Station
2525 Michigan Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 586-6488
(310) 586-6488
Photo: Bergamot Station

The Shops at Adams Gateway

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West Adams's cool capsule of shipping containers houses everything from an organic produce market and a hair salon to vintage clothing and records and more. Station: Jefferson/La Cienega (~10-min. walk)
5746 W Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016

FIGat7th

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Restock your closet at H&M and Zara's massive shops, pick up French skincare at L'Occitane, grab technicolor cosmetics at MAC, and shop City Target's LA-focused memorabilia, to name a few activities. There are plenty of sweet and savory food options, too. Station: 7th Street/Metro Center (2-min. walk)
735 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 955-7150
(213) 955-7150

Lula Mae: Downtown Culver City

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The Cali-cool boutique by way of Florida relocated from Abbot Kinney last December, bringing labels like LnA, Pam & Gela, Elizabeth & James, and more to Downtown Culver City. While you're there, head next door to yummy plant-based eatery Make Out (which serves up ), or go ahead and make a day of it with a movie at the new ArcLight theater. Station: Culver City at Washington/National (13-min. walk)
9432 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
Photo: Lula Mae

The Standard, Downtown LA

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Swing by the stylish hotel for 24 Hr Psychic's surrealist art takeover (aka Snapchat gold) starting Friday at 11pm, or head early and watch the sun go down with the cool kids at the rooftop pool. Station: 7th Street/Metro Center (3-min. walk)
550 S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 892-8080
(213) 892-8080

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Museum of Jurassic Technology

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Our girl Tavi is obsessed with this bizarro museum, 'nuff said. Located off the beaten path in Culver City, it's filled with curiosities and wonders that blur the line between history and tall tales. Don't forget to exit through the gift shop (which also happens to be at the entrance). Station: Culver City at Washington/National (15-min. walk)
9341 Venice Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
Photo: California Through My Lens

Third Street Promenade

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What would a car-free Westside adventure be without a visit to Third Street Promenade? End (or begin) your cross-town shopping tour at the iconic open-air destination, which offers major retail stalwarts like Urban Outfitters, Victoria's Secret, Anthropologie, Six:02, and tons more. Station: Downtown Santa Monica (4-min. walk)
3rd St., Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 393-8355
(310) 393-8355
Photo: Downtown Santa Monica

Little Osaka at Sawtelle Boulevard

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New Yorkers may scoff at the walk, but Angelenos may want to bring a bike to this destination dubbed Little Osaka. Explore a handful of charming boutiques, from streetwear-filled Black Market and vinyl toy shop Giant Robot to Japan's answer to the 99-cents store (okay, more like $1.50) Daiso and more. Station: Westwood/Rancho Park (25-min. walk or 7-min. bike ride)
2023 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Photo: Han Cholo

Santa Monica Place

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Home to Sole Society's only brick-and-mortar and a new Aesop, the open-air shopping center offers a range of luxe labels (Coach, Louis Vuitton, DVF) and cult-cool brands (AllSaints, The Kooples, Uniqlo), plus Chan Luu's new gypset lifestyle boutique. Station: Downtown Santa Monica (4-min. walk)
395 Santa Monica Pl, Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 260-8300
(310) 260-8300
Photo: Chan Luu

Helms Bakery District

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Get your interior design inspo fix at stylish home furnishings havens HD Buttercup and Room & Board, shop for fashionable coffee table books at Arcana, and illuminate your abode at vintage and modern lighting haven Rejuvenation.
8800 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 204-1865
(310) 204-1865
Photo: HD Buttercup
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Platform

8850 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
Although Culver City's fashionable luxury shopping center has yet to unveil its full directory, a handful of stylish retailers — including Linda Farrow, Velvet by Graham & Spencer, Cult Gaia, Janessa Leoné and Freda Salvador, and Magasin, to name a few — have already opened their doors. Station: Culver City at Washington/National (less than a 1-min. walk)
8850 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
Photo: Katie Gibbs/Platform

Bergamot Station Arts Center

2525 Michigan Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Fuel your creative juices at the cool art gallery hub's Expo-Sé open house, which is free and family-friendly Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Station: 26th Street/Bergamot Station
2525 Michigan Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 586-6488
(310) 586-6488
Photo: Bergamot Station

The Shops at Adams Gateway

5746 W Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016
West Adams's cool capsule of shipping containers houses everything from an organic produce market and a hair salon to vintage clothing and records and more. Station: Jefferson/La Cienega (~10-min. walk)
5746 W Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016

FIGat7th

735 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Restock your closet at H&M and Zara's massive shops, pick up French skincare at L'Occitane, grab technicolor cosmetics at MAC, and shop City Target's LA-focused memorabilia, to name a few activities. There are plenty of sweet and savory food options, too. Station: 7th Street/Metro Center (2-min. walk)
735 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 955-7150
(213) 955-7150

Lula Mae: Downtown Culver City

9432 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
The Cali-cool boutique by way of Florida relocated from Abbot Kinney last December, bringing labels like LnA, Pam & Gela, Elizabeth & James, and more to Downtown Culver City. While you're there, head next door to yummy plant-based eatery Make Out (which serves up ), or go ahead and make a day of it with a movie at the new ArcLight theater. Station: Culver City at Washington/National (13-min. walk)
9432 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
Photo: Lula Mae

The Standard, Downtown LA

550 S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071
Swing by the stylish hotel for 24 Hr Psychic's surrealist art takeover (aka Snapchat gold) starting Friday at 11pm, or head early and watch the sun go down with the cool kids at the rooftop pool. Station: 7th Street/Metro Center (3-min. walk)
550 S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 892-8080
(213) 892-8080

Museum of Jurassic Technology

9341 Venice Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
Our girl Tavi is obsessed with this bizarro museum, 'nuff said. Located off the beaten path in Culver City, it's filled with curiosities and wonders that blur the line between history and tall tales. Don't forget to exit through the gift shop (which also happens to be at the entrance). Station: Culver City at Washington/National (15-min. walk)
9341 Venice Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
Photo: California Through My Lens

Third Street Promenade

3rd St., Santa Monica, CA 90401
What would a car-free Westside adventure be without a visit to Third Street Promenade? End (or begin) your cross-town shopping tour at the iconic open-air destination, which offers major retail stalwarts like Urban Outfitters, Victoria's Secret, Anthropologie, Six:02, and tons more. Station: Downtown Santa Monica (4-min. walk)
3rd St., Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 393-8355
(310) 393-8355
Photo: Downtown Santa Monica

Little Osaka at Sawtelle Boulevard

2023 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025
New Yorkers may scoff at the walk, but Angelenos may want to bring a bike to this destination dubbed Little Osaka. Explore a handful of charming boutiques, from streetwear-filled Black Market and vinyl toy shop Giant Robot to Japan's answer to the 99-cents store (okay, more like $1.50) Daiso and more. Station: Westwood/Rancho Park (25-min. walk or 7-min. bike ride)
2023 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Photo: Han Cholo

Santa Monica Place

395 Santa Monica Pl, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Home to Sole Society's only brick-and-mortar and a new Aesop, the open-air shopping center offers a range of luxe labels (Coach, Louis Vuitton, DVF) and cult-cool brands (AllSaints, The Kooples, Uniqlo), plus Chan Luu's new gypset lifestyle boutique. Station: Downtown Santa Monica (4-min. walk)
395 Santa Monica Pl, Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 260-8300
(310) 260-8300
Photo: Chan Luu

Helms Bakery District

8800 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034
Get your interior design inspo fix at stylish home furnishings havens HD Buttercup and Room & Board, shop for fashionable coffee table books at Arcana, and illuminate your abode at vintage and modern lighting haven Rejuvenation.
8800 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 204-1865
(310) 204-1865
Photo: HD Buttercup