TBIT

Fresh public art at LAX TBIT

LAx - art 2

Three new – hard to miss – public art pieces are fully installed in the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) at Los Angeles International Airport.

Bell Tower, above, by Mark Bradford, is on the mezzanine level of the terminal’s Departures Hall, and is suspended from a skylight above the TSA security screening area.

The artist says he modeled the sculpture – 712 panels made from salvaged plywood and posters found on construction sites around town – on medieval bell towers, which served as both a civic gathering spot and sites of surveillance.

LAX ART 1

In the north light well of the TBIT Great Hall, look for Air Garden, by the Ball-Nogues Studio. A “sinuous, dynamic cloud of color,” the sculpture looks like a giant beaded curtain that seems to take on different shapes depending on the light and viewer’s perspective.

LAX Pae White

The third public art piece is Pae White’s, ΣLAX, which is suspended above the terminal’s north and south “sterile corridors” leading international passengers to customs.

The work is made of 23.86 miles of custom-dyed cordage in three distinct color palettes that pay homage to the colored-tiled mosaics by Charles D. Kratka, that are in Terminals 3, 4, and 6. Among the sculpture’s 7,484 gold brackets – are eleven (have fun guessing) that are actually made of 14K gold.

(Photos courtesy PanicStudio L.A.)

Travel Tidbits: FAA vs. Southwest +Air New Zealand at LAX

southwest

After failing to come to a settlement, the Federal Aviation Administration has filed a $12 million suit again Southwest Airlines over allegations that repairs made to 44 airplanes by a contractor did not meet safety standards.

 

Air New Zealand Hobbit plane2

Starting December 3, 2014, AIR New Zealand will switch terminals at Los Angeles International Airport from T2 to the lovely Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT). That, of course, means ANZ passengers will be able to enjoy all the new art and amenities in the revitalized terminal. But it also means that qualified ANZ passengers will able to use the swanky Star Alliance lounge in that terminal, which is operated in partnership with Air New Zealand.

LAX TBIT STAR ALLIANCE LOUNGE OUTDOOR TERRACE - BASKAS

Travel tidbits: free bus rides, LAX reveals TBIT upgrades

Tired of flying? Consider the bus.

Not sure if the bus is for you?  Megabus.com is offering you a ride for free.

The company’s rates are pretty cheap to begin with (as low as $1 a ticket, if you book really, really early), but this deal is  200,000 free seats for travel between January 9th and February 28, 2013 (subject to availability) to/from cities served by megabus.com in the USA and Canada.  Promo code TRYMEGABUS.

 

Observation Deck at Los Angeles International Airport now openAnd there’s now a list of the 60 new shops and restaurants – including 22 local L.A. brands – coming to what’s being called New TBIT – the expanded Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) – at Los Angeles International Airport.

The first phase of New TBIT will include a Great Hall and boarding gates on the west side of the terminal. That is scheduled to open in Spring 2013.  The second phase – which includes new gates on the east side of the terminal, new federal security screening area, and an upgraded customs arrivals area – is expected to be completed by 2014.

Here is some of what’s in store for the new terminal:

  • Top Chef Winner Michael Voltaggio will offer sandwiches at ink.sack;
  • Upscale, modern Mexican food from the “Top Chef Masters”  duo of Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken at Border Grill;

Also

  • Umami Burger, the L.A. outlet that was awarded GQ’s “Burger of the Year” title;
  • 800 Degrees Pizzeria;
  • III Forks (steakhouse),
  • Sushi with fish air-shipped from Tokyo at Chaya or Lucky Fish by Sushi Roku;
  • Petrossian Caviar & Champagne Bar;
  •  Vino Volo;
  • Short Cake and Vanilla Bake Shop (desserts, yay!)
  • and one of the first Starbucks Evenings outlets, serving wine and small plates.

In addition to a wide range of duty-free options, retail will include:  Bvlgari,Emporio Armani, Kitson, Coach, Porsche Design, Tumi, Victoria’s Secret, the iStore Boutique, 7-Eleven, See’s Candies, Xpress Spa and Bliss, which will also offer manicures, pedicures and facials .

Here’s a link to the full list and more information about what’s coming – finally – to the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX.

Can’t wait!