Last Thursday of every month, 6:00 pm-10:00 pm, debuting October 25, 2012

Wilshire Center Art and Architecture Walk is a monthly celebration of sustainable urban living showcasing historic architecture, galleries, artists, photography, restaurants, bars, shops, and businesses located in Wilshire Center.

Enjoy a self-guided walking tour of one of Los Angeles' most densely populated, pedestrian friendly, public transportation facilitated, and architecturally rich neighborhoods.

Official Art Lounge

Join us at Spanish Fly Gastropub, 3800 Wilshire Blvd, to pickup maps and schedules featuring landmark buildings, art galleries, art stops and food/drink crawls. (Guest speakers at 6:00 TBA). Unwind post-walk at Spanish Fly Gastropub's after-party with a local artist meet-n-greet, round table discussion, and late night happy hour starting at 8:00 pm

West Meets East at the Wilshire Center Art and Architecture Walk

“Wilshire Center is one of Los Angeles' oldest neighborhoods, steeped in old Hollywood splendor, dotted with historic architecture, modern skyscrapers and bustling with ethnic and socio-economic diversity,” says Michael Russell, Operations Director of the Wilshire Center BID (Business Improvement District). “Wilshire Center was once called the Upper East Side of the West Coast, because of tony department stores like Bullocks Wilshire, and New York style apartments built for movie stars, when the area was popular with old Hollywood. There are still about 70 of these apartment structures here which are enjoying a revival of sorts, with developers renovating them to their former glory. Nearly 300 people are on the waiting list for a spot in the Los Altos Apartments. We'd love to see more art galleries opening up in these historic building as well”.

According to organizer Susan Park, “Virtually every major style of 20th century architecture is represented on Wilshire Boulevard. Wilshire Center is where the boulevard began when Henry Gaylord Wilshire cleared a path in his 35 acre barley field. Since we are in one of Los Angeles' oldest neighborhoods, so the architecture represents over 100 years of layering and reinvention in typical Los Angeles fashion. Spanish Fly is housed in a Claude Beelman designed Mid-Century landmark. Saint James Episcopal Church, an English Gothic style structure, is just a bit west of us. The Art Deco Wiltern/Pellisier Theater is immediately east of us. Across the street CGV Cinemas at Madang Courtyard hovers over a single level strip mall. Diagonally across the street from us is The Solair: a contemporary concrete, glass and steel building above the Wilshire/Western metro stop. None of it is particularly coherent, but it is infinitely walkable, liveable and loveable.”

Wilshire Center Art and Architecture Walk is a project of Spanish Fly Gastropub supported by Wilshire Center BID. Organized by Susan Park of Spanish Fly Gastropub with advisory artist Karin Lisa Atkinson of Soliton Images. Ninth grader Kamilah Sou-Yeon Zadi is spearheading the kids and teen division.