One of the pleasure of our NetWalkers & Co. group is the element of surprise. You never know who may show up to join us. Today, Robert, whom I met at the Designers Hike with Rob Curedale, drove in from Altadena and combined our walk with his meeting in Beverly Hills. That’s the way to do it. From what I hear, Shirin, who is teaching Design at UCLA Extension, has invited Robert to speak to her design class. He is astonishingly brilliant with a long stride.

Along the way, we happened upon the work crew refurbishing the former estate of Johnny Mack Brown in the Hills of Beverly off of Foothill. He was a minor star a la John Wayne. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Mack_Brown At least a dozen work trucks filled the former tennis courts of the estate. The contractors were there with papers in hand. It is so gratifying that older homes are not always torn down.

Today we happen to notice many brick driveways. I love brick, especially old brick re-purposed for a new patio or walkway. (Our home in Bungalow Heaven in Pasadena had a brick patio that we only discovered after we took out the ivy.) Considering the curse of earthquakes in So Cal, it is astonishing that brick facade homes exist in this area. Robert’s tidbit of design trivia: the distance and curve of a brick design depends on the length of the craftsman’s arm and reach. Have you ever laid bricks? On your next walk, look down and notice the design at your feet, and remember those who do the work when you walk.

Tidbits of trivia and new contacts. That’s what so much fun about walking in Beverly Hills.