Best Buses—Big Blue Bus Rapid 7, Pico Boulevard

By a process which is too geeky and convoluted to explain, I started looking at the Big Blue Bus Rapid 7  rapid bus on Pico Boulevard. It runs from the Wilshire/Western subway station to Downtown Santa Monica,  It’s the only bus that turns to reach the subway at Western, a very useful connection (particularly given that Pico is one of only two Westside streets where the buses don't run all the way to Downtown LA). The walkscores of the 23 stops--their ratings on walk access to stores and services on the line averaged 85 out of 100. Only two were below 70—at Pico & Fairfax, and at a new stop at Century City, that walkers’ nightmare (or at least purgatory).  The stop by Wilshire/Western scored a rare 100. And most important of all in assessing Pico Blvd.—renowned restaurant critic Jonathan Gold had once aspired to eat in every restaurant on Pico, but the profusion of eateries defeated even him.

So, why is this a “best bus,” it only runs Monday-Friday? (On the weekend there’s the BBB 7 local, which reaches as far east as the Pico/Rimpau Blvd. transit center—to continue you’d take Metrobus on Pico). Because it gets you to a lot of interesting and notable places in its roughly 13 mile trip. To wit, 13 locations:

Wilshire/Western Red Line—Heartland Koreatown. Walk a few blocks south on Western Ave. for innumerable choices of restaurants in strip malls

Victoria Park—A historic enclave of circa 1910 expansive Craftsman bungalow, part of the larger West Adams neighborhood. Crensaw & Pico stop, walk west to Windsor Blvd., south to Victoria Park Dr.

Black Dahlia Theatre—5453 Pico—A well-regarded small theatre company,  halfway between the La Brea and Fairfax stops

Bloom Café—5544 Pico, a lovely breakfast/lunch spot, also between La Brea and Fairfax

Pico/Robertson—The eponymous intersection is at the center of Orthodox Jewish life in LA today. The neighborhood is full of glatt (strictly) kosher delis, pizza places, bakeries etc. I like the Beverlywood Bakery at 9128 Pico at Oakhurst.  Don’t bother stopping on Friday at or after sundown, everything will be shut for the Jewish Sabbath.

Century City—The new Avenue of the Stars stop puts you at the southern end of the Century City edge city office/hotel/shopping center (no on-street stores)/residential complex. You can walk up alongside the rushing traffic to the Annenberg Space for Photography tucked away inside an office tower at 2000 Avenue of the Stars.

Westside Pavilion—Big shopping center right at the Westwood Blvd. stop. Nordstrom, Macy’s, H & M, Ann Taylor the whole lot—also Westside Tavern, a good place for (pricy) beers, cocktails, American food. The great Jewish deli—Junior’s—is across Pico from Westside Pavilion.

Pico & Sepulveda—Title of a 1947 Freddy Martin song that used many street names.

Sawtelle—The Sawtelle Japanese commercial district is at Olympic, a short walk north.

Travelodge Santa Monica Pico Blvd.—3102 Pico Blvd. Santa Monica, a few blocks east of Stewart St. stop. A budget hotel choice that’s always gotten good reviews. McCabe’s Guitar Shop and music club is across the street at 3101 Pico.

Santa Monica College—The community college is around the 18^th St. stop

Santa Monica Pier—Now we’re in a tourist land, so what? Ocean & Colorado stop.

Third St. Promenade—Santa Monica & 3^rd (to Santa Monica), Broadway & 3^rd (to Los Angeles)—Get out your gawking shoes.