As you have been made aware by my rambling at the breakfast table for the past two weeks, I have traveled throughout the world several times over the past five years. I have been fortunate to have sampled some of the finest hotels, villas, and Bed & Breakfast locations while on these business trips. I have come to appreciate the comfort and convenience of B&Bs as I usually find excellent cuisine, comfortable accommodations and someone who is usually involved in the local community and/or has a wealth of knowledge to impart on their tenants.

I thought that I had found the best of what Bed & Breakfasts have to offer when I stayed in Prague, Vienna, and Budapest, but I must change my opinion after staying at The Inn at 657. My wife and daughter enjoyed themselves very much and wanted to ensure that I pass on their regards and thanks for a relaxing weekend.

I would like to keep your B&B a secret and treasure for myself because my stay was one of the best and most relaxing periods in the past five years. However, I will let the world know about Miss Patsy at 657. I hope your plans for expansion come to fruition. I'm already looking for forward to my next visit to Los Angeles. Thank you very much for the wonderful experience of the Inn at 657.

Best Regards,

J. M.
Schenectady, NY

Patsy,

Many thanks for the great food the last three weeks. I am looking forward to the first week of November. See you then.

C. V.
Miami, FL

Dear Patsy,

I very much enjoyed staying at your B&B. The food, company and neighborhood were great. And I so much appreciate not only your hospitality, but also your support in preparing for my lecture. I wish you all the best.

B. B.
Pullman, WA

The following letter was submitted to Randy Curwen, Travel Editor for the Chicago Tribune.

Dear Mr. Curwen:

We recently stayed at a delightful B&B in Los Angeles, which is worth sharing with others. The Inn at 657 W. 23rd Street is located conveniently to USC, the Staples Center, downtown, Figueroa St., and major expressways. It is easy to access from the airport. Although close to many business sites, the atmosphere is neighborly, quiet, secure and pleasant.

The congenial owner, Patsy Carter, a retired attorney, now has two buildings. Accommodations range from a room with a queen-sized bed and bath to a suite with a working kitchen; furnishings range from turn of the century to current. Breakfast is hearty and is prepared to your choice-both time and selection.

We wholeheartedly and unabashedly recommend this Los Angeles bed and breakfast.

Yours Truly,

S. & J. C.
Flossmoor, IL

Dear Patsy,

Thank you so much for a thoroughly enjoyable stay in L.A. last Sunday. Your Inn is absolutely fantastic--from the immaculate, tasteful room decor to the extensive breakfast delicacies. It's so special to find such a homelike atmosphere in the middle of L.A. I'm going to "pass the word"!!! Thanks again.

Sincerely,

C. G.
Reno, NV

Dear Patsy,

I certainly enjoyed my recent stay at your lovely Inn at 657, and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to others visiting the area. My only regret is that because of conflicts in my schedule, I didn't have the opportunity to share more breakfasts with your other interesting guests.

Thanks again!

Sincerely,

S. B.
Chicago, IL

Dear Patsy:

Thank so much for your hospitality last Friday. We had a wonderful time and breakfast was over the top. I have already downloaded your French Toast recipe. We loved it there so much I forgot to return the keys and my son packed one of the books from the room by mistake. Sorry if this caused any inconvenience.

Sincerely,

T. S.
Murrieta, GA

Dear Patsy,

I stayed at your Inn last February. I am (finally!) writing to say what a wonderful experience it was. The apartment was cozy, very comfortable, and had everything I needed.

The Los Angeles/Hollywood experience was unforgettable. Sine then I have seen, in movies and commercials, so many of the places I saw while there.

Breakfast, however, was the best. I thoroughly enjoyed not only your delicious food, but also our very interesting conversations.

I truly hope I can return to your Inn soon and often.

With warmest regards,

L. B.
Holly Grove, AR

Patsy,

Thank you so much for your hospitality during my stay here for the Insect Fair at the Museum of Natural History.

I so enjoyed conversations with you and your other guests! What a wonderful way to start the day! Keep up the great work. I will be sure to refer my friends to this lovely "oasis" in L.A.

Sincerely,

E. C.
Johnstown, PA

Dear Patsy:

Just wanted to say thanks for entertaining my rather frantic visit to your Inn. You've done a beautiful job creating a nest in the city--I can see why your guests feel so at home. I've always heard wonderful things about the Inn; now that I've seen it, I completely understand why.

Thank you again.

Sincerely,

L. O.
Medway, MA

Patsy,

You and the Inn at 657, were the highlights of our week. Thanks again for the hospitality. We'll be back.

R. P. & D. P.
Cardiff, CA

Dear Pasty,

Thank you for your hospitality. I've enjoyed my stay in the L.A. area and wish everywhere that I traveled had someone like you that cared so much about me. You make me feel welcomed and at home. If I ever get back this way I will make a point of coming by.

R. S.
Houston, TX

Dear Patsy,

Thank you for your kindness. Our family felt right at home. We have been very spoiled this week and will always be grateful. We hope you can visit us in San Francisco.

Sincerely,

C. S.
San Francisco, CA

Patsy,

Just a note to say thanks again for yet another wonderful stay. Relaxing and enjoyable as always. The great breakfasts and morning conversations always so hard to depart from. I look forward to my next trip if only to enjoy your hospitality.

Sincerely,

R. M.
Halfmoon Bay, BC

The following letter was written to Fodor's Travel:

Deal California Editor:

I have just returned from 10 days on the West Coast, where I had the distinct pleasure of staying at the Inn at 657 in Los Angeles for my last three nights. I found the Inn through Fodor's, which I have used for lodging suggestions for the last several years.

The Inn was the best suggestion I have ever had from Fodor's. The accommodations exceeded my expectations in every respect. Patsy's warmth, design caring attention to detail, combined with an extraordinary intellect and knowledge of her community, provided a wonderful home-away-from-home.

Thank you for the recommendation. I am already planning my next trip back to L.A.

Very truly yours,

J. M.
Portland, Maine

Patsy,

You probably won't remember me, but I've stayed at your establishment two times now and I wanted to express my extreme satisfaction and tell you that I'll never forget either occasion. I don't get to take trips very often, so when I do I try to make the most of them. The last one I took was the best yet and it is one those times I look back on when I'm having a bad day in order to cheer myself up.

I last stayed with you on April 3rd, 4th, and 5th, treating myself to a spring break getaway/early birthday in L.A. As a result of an error in scheduling my reservations I had to stay somewhere else for my first night in L.A., which was fine with me and I didn't expect you to make it up to me the way you did, or at all. You not only gave me a night free, but you also upgraded my original room to another. I can hardly express to you how touched I still am at how your concern seemed to be less about losing money than having a satisfied customer and doing something nice for someone else and I respect you for that.

Of all the things I think back on when I think of my trip, my stay at the Inn at 657 is what I think of first. The room was so beautifully decorated and nicely kept that I almost didn't want to leave everyday to do my shopping! That, combined with your kindness, attention to detail, and wonderful breakfasts are what made my stay so memorable.

Regrettably (for me), it probably be a long time until I get to stay with you again-although if all goes well it may be as soon as December provided I find out what's happening soon enough to make reservations. I know December is a busy time so I won't get my hopes up. Anyway, I just wanted to share my wonderful memory of your hospitality with you in the hopes that you will continue to do more of the same for others, most of whom probably appreciate it just as much as I do.

Thank you,

A. C. S
Pauma Valley, CA

Dear Patsy;

Just a short note to tell you how much we enjoyed our stay at Patsy's Place.

The best part was meeting you, you are such a joy--I know why Michelle thinks so highly of you, and now so do we.

The meals were great. I especially loved the fresh fruit every morning and the avocado.

Wishing you all the best.

With fond memories,

R. B. & L. B.
Nashua, NH

Dear Patsy,

I've been telling everyone what a wonderful inn you have. I truly enjoyed staying there. Oh, yes ... I've made Mexican eggs four times since I've been home. I look forward to the next time I need to stay in Los Angeles--your inn will be the only choice!

Thank you again for such a wonderful stay. I wish you and your family well.

Warmest regards,

V. V.
Fresno, CA

Dear Patsy-

Just a quick note to say thank you for creating such a wonderful and beautiful place to getaway to. The atmosphere, food, ad your hospitality were all so special and memorable. You're a terrific hostess and I really look forward to my next stay.

M. L.
Brea, CA

Patsy,

Thank you once again for your fine hospitality. Elise and I enjoyed our stay with you very much and will hold lovely memories of our time there. We will also refer any of our friends visiting L.A., to your wonderful hospitality.

I hope to see you in the not too distant future.

B. D.
Sioux City, IA

Patsy,

Thank you so much for the gracious hospitality. Your Inn at 657 is a wonderful haven to retreat and relax. Also, your breakfasts are most delicious! Once again, thanks for making our stay in LA. much more pleasurable.

J. D. & D. D.
San Diego, CA

Patsy,

I really enjoyed my stay here. You are a gracious and interesting hostess. This was the best place I have stayed in the USA. You make the experience very homely. Your flexibility to our schedules was wonderful. You can bet I will spread the word!

Yours truly,

J. S.
Buckhannon, WV

Dear Patsy,

I am not telling about this wonderful place because I'm afraid there wouldn't be room for me next time! I'm just kidding-what a cozy place. Thank you for the consideration, the delicious fruit, and the concern.

B. R.
Seattle, WA

Dear Patsy,

This is probably the nicest of the 75 or so B&Bs where we've stayed. The best food, and the best Patsy.

P. C. & J. C.
Fairfield, IL

Patsy,

The Inn at 657 is everything the books says and more. Thank you.

L. P.
Durham, N.C.

From the Philadelphia Inquirer, by Rick Sylvain

"Charming inn" and "Los Angeles" would seem to go together about as well as, oh, say, "uncongested" and "Los Angeles."

But, by golly, in the heart of this city of glass towers and speedway- freeways, there it sits, the Inn at 657, innkeeper Patsy Humiston Carter at your service.

The inn is in an older, near-downtown neighborhood with the sounds of L.A. all around: playful schoolkids at recess, the not-so-distant din of freeway traffic, the polyglot of people - high-profile and low-life - that make this city so endlessly fascinating.

The seven guest rooms are big and solid; this was an apartment house in the 1940s. Touches like kitchens, Oriental silks on the walls and goose-down comforters on the beds make the place both pretty and practical for the leisure traveler or someone in town on business.

Carter, a retired trial lawyer, keeps the inn fragrant with fresh flowers, gourmet teas and coffees. Fresh fruits and juices are in the refrigerator, movie videos and Cracker Jack are on the bedstand. Everything is there to make a guest feel at home while away from home.

And the soap! Can't forget the soap: huge bars because, Carter says, "I hate those scrawny pieces you get in hotels."

A made-to-order breakfast is included in the rates and served in a lovely dining room. On a palm-shaded deck, a hot tub accommodates an unspecified number of guests. "It depends on how cozy everyone wants to be," says Carter.

The guests are a fascinating lot, says Carter.

"We get students, curators, artists and faculty. I just love to cook and kept imagining myself cooking breakfast and talking to my guests. Now it's happened.

"If there's any drawback, it's that I underestimated friendships and how hard it would be to say goodbye to people."

"We're more than a home away from home, too. Most homes in the 1990s are frantic! I like to think we're more tranquil."

From Fodor's

Looking for the human touch? Proprietor Patsy Carter provides a homey atmosphere and them some at her intimate bed-and-breakfast style inn near the University of Southern California, 1 mi. south of downtown. Rooms and apartment-size suites have private entrances, down comforters, Oriental silks on the walls, and huge dining tables. You are welcome to hang out with hummingbirds in the garden. All rooms include breakfast and free parking.

From the Orange County Register, by Barbara Kingsley

When rain soaks plans for a Los Angeles getaway weekend, it's nice to have a place to stay that's warm and welcoming. Like a charming bed and breakfast just south of downtown.

The Inn at 657 is an oasis in a working-class neighborhood and a busy world. For one Valentine's weekend, it was home base for some L.A. explorations for me and my boyfriend, Scott.

The circa 1940s two-story converted apartment house is secluded by high vegetation and a dense fern garden. The house is near the Harbor (I-110) Freeway, northeast of the University of Southern California.

Victorian houses and Queen Anne homes line the streets of the North University Park neighborhood, one of the oldest in the city.

The houses with stained glass, colonnades and projecting bays are reminiscent of New England or upstate New York.

A few absent balcony posts that looked like missing teeth, missing shingles and high metal fences bespeak a struggling neighborhood. But lined metal numerous trash receptacles and scaffolding on houses under renovation also show that residents are trying hard to win the battle.

"It's starting to make a comeback," says Patsy Carter, our innkeeper. "In a few years, you won't be able to buy a home in this neighborhood. "

Our two-bedroom suite had a large kitchen and an even bigger sitting room. A wall was decorated with hand-painted Japanese silks. The furniture was contemporary, mingled with period pieces including a mohair daybed. Heavy amethyst drapes provided a feeling of seclusion, and the carpeting was a thick, lush teal, intended to feel "like a sultan's tent," says Carter.

The whole thing goes for $125, with breakfast, almost enough to hold you until dinnertime.

We arrived in a driving rain early that Saturday and left the next day to sunny skies and a crystalline view of the San Bernardino Mountains. Between, we checked out Hollywood and Beverly Hills, and toured the new California ScienCenter and Universal Studios.

Carter was earth mother for our trip. A lawyer-turned-neighborhood-activist-and-innkeeper, Carter looks out for guests with the same zeal with which she organizes neighborhood trash pickups and scotches graffiti.

She started the inn seven years ago: "I like to cook. I was always having neighbors and friends over and I thought, there's got to be a way to make this work. " It seems to work quite well. We breakfasted on eggs Benedict with a three-cheese sauce. Also, homemade gingerbread, a bowl of fresh fruit, croissants and mango juice. Coffee smells wafted into the dining room. Fresh-cut red and yellow tulips adorned the table.

Carter has seen guests from all over _ Northern California, Europe and Asia. A woman from China toured Los Angeles solely by public transit. Carter, 59, said she doesn't need to travel: "The world comes here to me. "

Scott and I live less than an hour away, yet we never spent the weekend here playing tourist. Our itinerary was new to us.

Rain stalled our Saturday plans for Universal Studios by day and Universal CityWalk by night. We sloshed over to the new California ScienCenter by the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. It was teeming when we arrived, and we expected to see only science stalwarts. We were wrong.

The museum, which opened just a week before, was packed. We quickly bought tickets for the IMAX theater, donned our oversize 3-D glasses for "Into the Deep" and became immersed in the fish-eat-fish world of the ocean. The huge screen seemed to yank us into the water.

The ScienCenter is like a "how things work" for animals and plants, and shows how our life systems mingle. Hard-core science buffs might consider it "science light. " But the museum is a place to play and discover, no holds barred. Adults and kids can ride a bike on a high wire _ there's a counterweight so you can't fall off _ or watch a video of a lung operation.

We headed back to Carter's and noshed on the oatmeal cookies she left in our room. By then the downpour had given way to a benign drizzle. We toured the neighborhood, strolling through the quiet, thickly wooded grounds of Mount St. Mary's College. The stillness was complete enough to shut out the din from busy Adams Boulevard and Figueroa Street.

Our original dinner plans spoiled by the rain _ and as we were unwilling to pay $75 for a five-course Valentine's dinner at a fancy restaurant _ we cruised through Hollywood and Beverly Hills.

Impatient for a quick bite, we found ourselves before the sign for Jerry's Famous Deli.

I had sun-dried tomato pasta, and Scott, a triple-decker sandwich _ unspectacular but fine for our needs. We enjoyed the deli's dark din and gawked at the Hollywood pictures on the walls.

We ended the evening with a stroll down Hollywood's Walk of Fame and examined Al Jolson's knee prints and Myrna Loy's tiny handprints by Mann's Chinese Theater. Nighttime seemed to throw a cloak over some of Hollywood's seediness.

We had planned to drive up to Universal City the next morning to beat the crowds at Universal Studios. Instead we lingered and chatted with our inn compatriots, also in for an L.A. play day.

Kathy Good and Gary Wuchner of Ventura came to see a musical.

Robert Neighbors of Mission Viejo had dinner with a friend at a downtown restaurant converted from a firehouse, Engine Co. 28 on Figueroa.

`You feel like you have a lot of privacy," Neighbors says of the inn, "even though it's a concrete jungle in L.A."

We said our goodbyes and drove off. The rain washed away the mist from the San Fernando Valley, leaving it as clear as a painting as we headed up to Universal Studios.

From Time Out: Los Angeles

One of L.A.'s nicest mid-range B&Bs, located on a safe residential street, and popular with visiting scholars, museum curators, and business people. Former teacher and lawyer turned innkeeper Patsy Carter has been running the place for ten years and recently bought the adjacent property. There are five suites in the original building and six in the newer one, which has air conditioning and new bathrooms. All rooms feature an elegant and cosmopolitan array of furniture from different periods. Enjoy the generous breakfast served in the intimate dining room or on the patio, and the unique and friendly atmosphere.

From the San Francisco Chronicle, by Sonnee Weedn

Several years ago, I read about a wonderful bed and breakfast inn in the heart of downtown Los Angeles in your column. Since I had a son attending the University of Southern California at the time, I was delighted to find out about The Inn at 657.

An easy and safe walk to the USC campus, Exposition Park, the IMAX theater and Museum of Science and Industry, the inn was cozy and secure. I met the most interesting people over breakfast in the innkeeper's dining room. Patsy Carter, the owner, had six well-appointed suites at that time.

Now Carter has bought the building next door, which was built in 1902. She had the upstairs and downstairs renovated to create six or seven more one- and two- bedroom suites. All have private bathrooms, TV and telephone, and there is a living room downstairs. This building adjoins the original one through a central patio and garden.

Patsy, a retired land-use attorney,is a great hostess, especially when it comes to making local dining recommendations. Anyone attending a meeting or convention in Los Angeles, or visiting downtown and seeking relief from big, impersonal, high-rise hotels is in for a treat. Rates are $110 for singles, $125 for doubles - including all taxes, parking and a generous breakfast.

From the Las Vegas Tribune, by Sandy Zimmermann

We don't usually think of downtown Los Angeles as a tourist destination, but the city has everything! Inside this large city is a charming place to relax away from the traffic and noise. The beautiful historic B&B Inn at 657 is nestled on a quiet street. Imagine parrots, love birds, and humming birds sitting in the trees and gardens around you! It is a touch of the past, 2 buildings constructed in the 1900's, the owner Patsy Carter has carried the theme inside the rooms with her decorations and furnishings. She loves searching for antiques and has a wonderful collection of some of the most beautiful Chippendale style chairs, ornate mirrors, period furniture, and other pieces.

Our corner room had garden views at both windows, and the large four poster bed was piled with pillows and a down comforter. The next guest room had an entire wall of windows. Each of her rooms are different. Breakfast is big at the Inn, we sit at an extra-long dining room table and meet all of the guests. Patsy feels, "It's a joy to prepare breakfast," and she does it so well. Patsy serves family style so we can eat as much as we want.

Some breakfast selections are homemade pancakes with maple syrup and caramelized apples, fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, ham, sausage, mushroom cheese omelet, eggs Benedict with smoked turkey, croissants, rosemary garlic potatoes, and baked Tuscan fig compote. She has a wide variety of recipes to surprise her guests and is happy to share them.

The gardens are Patsy's passion, and they are very special. The Chinese Silk Pod tree dominates the back yard with a canopy of pink orchid-like flowers offering shade in the summer. You will see roses, gardenias, oleanders, and all types of flowers among the fountains and statues. I appreciated the Inn's great location! Just 2 blocks from a freeway, we could make connections with other freeways to coastal cities, Hollywood, and major attractions.

The Inn is within walking distance to Quiznos, Popeyes, McDonalds, Panda Express, 7-11, El Pollo Loco, and several reasonable family owned restaurants. You may want to attend USC's lectures, exhibits, and events, around 1 mile from the inn. Rates: $115- 1 person, $135- 2 persons- the price includes tax, free broadband internet, parking, breakfast, sodas, community refrigerator, as well as use of the living room, sitting room, and garden.

Patsy explained, "I want to run an Inn where people feel comfortable." After living in Los Angeles 20 years, she can advise guests about things to do, dining, attractions, and gives directions how to get there. I was pleasantly surprised to find a B&B in Los Angeles and loved the Inn at 657. (800)-347-7512, 657 W. 23rd Street, downtown, Los Angeles.