Category: California Fool’s Gold

California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Mentryville

~ Eric Brightwell ~ 2 Comments

INTRODUCTION  The other day I found myself in Santa Clarita with a couple of hours to kill. I Googled "best restaurants in Santa Clarita" -- knowing full well that Google has been a mostly garbage search engine for years -- completely corrupted as it is by paid advertisements and SEO. I'm sure that there are … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Mentryville

DTLA Walk with John โ€” Bunker Hill Edition

~ Eric Brightwell ~ 1 Comment

On Saturday 20 January 2024, Iโ€™m going to co-lead a walk of Bunker Hill with State Assembly candidate, John Yi. We will meet at Metro's Civic Center/Grand Park Station in Gloria Molina Grand Park. To avoid confusion, make certain (if you come by train) that you exit in the Grand Park entrance/exit. Thereโ€™s also an … Continue reading DTLA Walk with John โ€” Bunker Hill Edition

California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Elysian Heights

~ Eric Brightwell ~ 9 Comments

INTRODUCTION The other day I explored Elysian Heights, a small neighborhood in Mideast Los Angeles thatโ€™s usually characterized as being part of Echo Park โ€” despite its having been subdivided before Echo Park was even constructed. It wasnโ€™t exactly my typical California Foolโ€™s Gold exploration but rather part of a group walk that I led … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Elysian Heights

California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Torrance

~ Eric Brightwell ~ 8 Comments

I finally explored Torrance. I say โ€œfinallyโ€ because it occupied the top spot, based on reader votes, for the longest time โ€” maybe since 2019. Then the COVID-19 pandemic happenedโ€ฆ and Torrance is sort of far from me and not that easy to get to. So, in the meantime, when I explored, I stuck to … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Torrance

California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Miracle Mile

~ Eric Brightwell ~ 5 Comments

INTRODUCTION The other day, Mike Morgan โ€” a frequent companion in my neighborhood explorations โ€” asked whether or not Iโ€™d like to explore a neighborhoodโ€ฆ or to maybe go to a museum. He asked, too, what community was currently topping the California Foolโ€™s Gold readersโ€™ poll. I informed him that Torrance still occupies the top … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Miracle Mile

California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Dayton Heights

~ Eric Brightwell ~ 5 Comments

I was recently contacted by Dave Stoelk from Spectrum News. He originally wanted to do a segment on the Silver Lake Croquet League for his segment, "That's So L.A." After talking for a few minutes, though, he thought it might be fun to instead do a segment about my maps that I make, as Pendersleigh … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Dayton Heights

Happy 909, or, Pomona Valley Day!

~ Eric Brightwell ~ Leave a comment

INTRODUCTION Snapshot of the Communities of the Pomona Valley Readers are apparently loving these area code/valley posts. Last year's 818/San Fernando Valley Day post was my most-read piece in 2021. That unexpected response inspired me to write this year's 626/San Gabriel Valley Day post, which -- two month's after its publication -- has already climbed … Continue reading Happy 909, or, Pomona Valley Day!

California Fool’s Gold — The Best of Los Angeles

~ Eric Brightwell ~ 3 Comments

Last year, I think, I made a map of some of my favorite places -- and places I've still yet to visit but am eager to -- in Metro Los Angeles. I don't remember what the occasion was -- or even whether or not there was one. I think that I just wanted to visualize … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — The Best of Los Angeles

California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Pioneertown

~ Eric Brightwell ~ 4 Comments

INTRODUCTION Penderersleigh & Sons Cartography's Map of Pioneertown, available in art prints and a variety of merchandise This entry into the California Fool's Gold series is about Pioneertown. Pioneertown has actually received zero votes or requests from readers, and that's usually how I determine which communities to cover. However, a friend's band was playing there, … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Pioneertown

California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Larchmont Village

~ Eric Brightwell ~ 5 Comments

INTRODUCTION Pendersleigh & Sons Cartography's map of Larchmont Village, available in art prints and on a variety of merchandise This edition of California Fool's Gold is about Larchmont Village. It was nominated by readers who let me know which communities they'd like me to explore in the comment section. Larchmont Village is not, despite what … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Larchmont Village