Glimpses of South Pasadena: Subliminal

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Subliminal

If you ever need an excuse to skip your commute and play hooky, you might be tempted by that message on the platform. Decisions, decisions...

20 comments:

Mister Earl said...: Lately, with the cold weather and rain, I've been using any excuse to avoid parking my car, walking a long block to the Gold Line, and taking it to work. When I drive to work, I pay $5 to park, but I get to drink my Starbucks and listen to sports talk all the way downtown. (It's difficult to get AM radio on the Gold Line.)

But now that Spring is approaching, I'll be crossing the line more and more.

Nice photo of one of the "Special Cars," which I haven't seen much lately.; March 4, 2009 at 5:13 AM
Yakpate said...: It's interesting how the train is such a visible part of life in South Pas... the way trains were visible in hometown America 50 years ago. In Burbank, I occasionally stop at an intersection where a MetroLink whizzes by for 15 seconds... without the romance that used to be associated with trains.

What I miss most... that lonely, haunting sound, especially at night, of a train whistle.; March 4, 2009 at 6:01 AM
dbdubya said...: I'm curious, Laurie. Did you take the photo and then notice the "STAY BEHIND" and create the caption, or did you stage the photo with only that portion of the message in the frame with the intention of using a creative caption? Just wondering how you do it.; March 4, 2009 at 6:11 AM
Anonymous said...: Sounds almost like a threat.

Yakpate, I too grew up near traintracks (for a few years) and found the clackety-clack and the mournful whistle very soothing and romantic at night.; March 4, 2009 at 7:54 AM
Leslie Saeta said...: Lovely picture. I love the gold line and wish I had the opportunity to use it more often. It is hard to beleive our charming city went through so many heartaches trying to get it built ...; March 4, 2009 at 8:00 AM
Unknown said...: I prefer "Mind The Gap" in London rather than "Stay Behind" in South Pasadena.; March 4, 2009 at 8:22 AM
Petrea Burchard said...: Made me think of "Mind the Gap," too. As though there was something that eluded me each time I boarded the Tube.

This is a bit sinister; you can't see who's driving the train, if anyone. Eek.; March 4, 2009 at 8:38 AM
Anonymous said...: that wouldn't work. Most people would think is was an ad for clothing.; March 4, 2009 at 8:53 AM
Sharon said...: I'm with Petrea and Stephane, mind the gap is much more positive.; March 4, 2009 at 8:54 AM
Margaret said...: Love "The Clash." I'm putting them on Pandora right now.; March 4, 2009 at 10:14 AM
San Diego Farmgirl said...: Who needs an excuse to play hooky? ;o); March 4, 2009 at 11:04 AM
Virginia said...: Nice one in BW Laurie. I'd rather stay behind than be left behind!
V; March 4, 2009 at 1:46 PM
Anonymous said...: I prefer this new Air Stream influenced design to the original gold line cars.

I never stay behind the line. It tends to annoy the guards in museums. I can't help myself.; March 4, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Ken Mac said...: that train looks so moderne!; March 4, 2009 at 4:05 PM
Mister Earl said...: It looks very moderne, in a retro sort of way. It's an Italian-made car. As I've said before, the white ones, from Japan, have a less interesting design but they are much more comfortable inside than the Airstream version.; March 4, 2009 at 4:19 PM
Jane Hards Photography said...: I'm always behind as being nosy. I'd heed the notice. Needless to say mono adds the classic twist.; March 4, 2009 at 5:12 PM
Anonymous said...: It looks moderne to me too. My first thought when I looked at it was Art Deco and, yes, how synchronistic. I've been wanting more Deco things around. I'm rather retro anyway. Staying behind is my style.

I did laugh quite a lot when I first read the sign on the sidewalk !!; March 4, 2009 at 7:36 PM
Laurie Allee said...: Hi folks,

Thanks for staying behind with me today.

Mister Earl, be careful that the pretty spring days don't make you want to skip MORE work!

Yak, Altadenahiker and Leslie, I didn't realize how much I would love seeing trains every day. When we moved here, I thought it was charming but now that I've been here a year, I can't imagine life without trains. It's also fun to have the option of leaving the car behind to go to Old Town or Downtown LA. We still haven't taken the train to Union Station for a bigger trip -- San Diego, maybe, or Santa Barbara. (Years ago, I used to take a Amtrak for a day of shopping/wine tasting in Santa Barbara at least once every few months as a cheap mini vacation.)

DBdubya, I planned the text in this shot. I'd been waiting for the right light and the right silver train to get it for a monochrome shot. I'm very partial to text in pictures and I look for ways to use it.

Stephane, Sharon and Petrea -- I just love Mind the Gap. That sounds like a great title for an existential novel.

Margaret, well of course you should add The Clash to Pandora! I'm way more excited about Pandora Radio than I was about Ipods.

Farmgirl and Virginia, obviously we have no need of these gentle reminders to seize the day... :-)

Pasadenaadjacent, I'm jealous! I'm such a nerd about staying behind the lines and gallery ropes. Sigh.

Ken, Mister E and Shanna, I just adore these moderne silver trains. I've posted about them before. I think they really add something to the greater Los Angeles landscape. I've ridden both the older Japanese white trains and these and I don't notice a great deal of difference in comfort but I'm not a commuter so I'm sure I haven't noticed the nuances. I tend to favor form over function and will gladly give up a little comfort for something beautiful. Trains... High heels...

Babooshka, thanks!

And thanks again, people. Until tomorrow...; March 5, 2009 at 12:26 AM
Mister Earl said...: Hey gang - I don't skip work on rainy and cold days. I just drive to work. I'm cheating on the Green Gods.

Laurie - You would have to be a commuter to see why the white cars are more comfortable. If you take the train during off hours, you wouldn't notice. The silver cars, which I do like better from an exterior aesthetic point of view, have narrower seats (no space between the 2 seats), and more sideways seats. It's very difficult to cram 4 people into 4 sideways seats, so usually only 2 or 3 people use the seats. This means that fewer people are actually sitting when the car is crowded.; March 5, 2009 at 5:36 AM
Dinah Brooks said...: I saw that very sign & had a giggle over it when I was visiting my BF in SoPas last month. I took your trains & it was great fun! This is coming from a kid who once hopped a freight car on a beautiful spring day & ended up in St. Joseph, MO with splinters in my hands & no way to get home. Ah well... some are tourists; some are travelers! Thank you for another evocative photo!; March 5, 2009 at 6:47 AM