Continue walking down Beverly Blvd. to Wilshire, notice the Beverly-Wilshire Hotel. Turn right on Wilshire for a block and turn right again on Rodeo Dr. Go through the Via Rodeo. It is on the NE corner and it looks like a European street.

Go up the east side of Rodeo to Little Santa Monica and then go back down the west side of the street to Wilshire and turn right. There are so many interesting things on both sides of Rodeo, you don't want to miss anything. Stores you have to go into on Rodeo: Guess - it's decorated in period vignettes, Williams and Sonoma - try the vinegar bar, and Hammacher-Schlemmer - great, unusual yuppie toys (an air-conditioned pith helmet for instance). Also go through the Rodeo Collection.

After Rodeo, continue west on Wilshire Blvd. At the intersection of Santa Monica Blvd. and Wilshire is the quintessential Budget Rent-a-car. You can rent a Rolls Royce, Porsche Boxster, Jaguar, Mercedes, Prowler, Hummer, or the new VW Bug, etc.

At this intersection, take Little Santa Monica (west) to Ave. of the Stars. Take Avenue of the Stars (south, left) in Century City. Just south of Constellation Blvd., you will see the ABC Entertainment Center with the Shubert Theater on the left and the Century Plaza Hotel on the right . Ronald Reagan used to stay at the Century Plaza when he was president. You can go to the bottom floor of the ABC Entertainment Center and walk (under the street) to the Century Plaza Hotel. Take the escalator up to the lobby.

Follow Avenue of the Stars back to Little Santa Monica Blvd. Go left to Century City Shopping Center (bordered by Little Santa Monica Blvd. and Century Park West). You will see a Yellow Submarine sticking out of the side of a restaurant. This is Dive restaurant. The restaurant was created by Steven Spielberg. They serve mostly (submarine) sandwiches. You can have lunch there or in the Market Place behind it. Please note: Dive is no longer there.

After lunch, head back to Beverly Hills. Take Little Santa Monica Blvd., right (east) to Avenue of the Stars. At Avenue of the Stars, go left. Go to (the north side of) Santa Monica Blvd., go right (east).

When you get to the intersection of Santa Monica and Wilshire, continue on Santa Monica. There is a really pretty fountain there. It's a good resting point.

Turn left at the first street, Walden. Go one block to Carmelita, turn right. The Spadena House (1921) is on the SE corner, 516 Walden Dr. This Hansel and Gretel structure was originally designed as a movie set and office on a movie lot in Culver City and moved here. It is a private residence.

Turn around and go back to Santa Monica, continue east. You will be walking through Beverly Gardens Park. You will pass a couple beautiful churches. At Rodeo Dr. turn left, go one block. On the west side of Rodeo, at Park Way, you will see another great example of architecture, the O'Neill house. Take a quick look in the alley, at the guest house. This is also a private residence.
Go back to Santa Monica, continue east. Your walk ends at Crescent.

**Paul Williams was an architect who designed more than 3000 buildings from the 1920s through the 1970s. He was the first African-American member and Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. I read a newspaper article about him years ago and I fell in love with his story and how his talent, determination and intelligence helped him overcome the prejudice of his day.
Recently I read his biography, "The Will and the Way", written by his granddaughter, Karen E. Hudson. It is written in the form of a journal that he wrote for his grandson, Paul Claude. The book brings to life the man who, despite being orphaned at four years of age and asked by his high school advisor - "Who ever heard of a Negro being an architect?", would go on to become one of the most important architects in Los Angeles. He would come to be known as the "Architect of the Stars", and he would dine with President Eisenhower in the White House. "The Will and the Way" gave such an intimate glimpse into the life of this warm, gentle, family man, that at the end of the book, when he died, I was profoundly struck by his loss.

You’ll Need:
A good street map of the area, pedometer, water, sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes and a small backpack to carry all this stuff.

Comfort Tips:
Taking a fifteen minute rest stop and water break, half-way through your trip, gives you a second wind. And after the walk, taking a bubble bath soaks out aching muscles.

Extra Stuff:
I'm including two great points of interest in the area that are not part of the walk. One I've never seen. It is new and sounds incredible, the Coconut Club. The other is an elegant, wonderful tradition on La Cienega's Restaurant Row, Lawry's the Prime Rib.

Coconut Club: Los Angeles magazine says, "Merv Griffin invites swing kids to soak up that Coconut Grove ambience of yore. Dining, four full bars. Live entertainment. Fri-Sat. Cover varies. Beverly Hilton Hotel, 9876 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. (310) 285-1358."

Lawry's the Prime Rib: Los Angeles magazine says that "this restaurant is such an institution that reviewing it is as pointless as critiquing Disneyland." 100 N. La Cienega, (310) 652-2827. $$$