INTRODUCTION The other day, Mike Morgan — a frequent companion in my neighborhood explorations — asked whether or not I’d like to explore a neighborhood… or to maybe go to a museum. He asked, too, what community was currently topping the California Fool’s Gold readers’ poll. I informed him that Torrance still occupies the top … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Miracle Mile
Category: California Fool’s Gold
California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Dayton Heights
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!
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
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
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
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
California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Whittier
INTRODUCTION For this chapter of California Fool's Gold, I explored the city of Whittier. Whittier is a city in Southeast Los Angeles (County), separated from the San Gabriel Valley to the north by the Puente Hills and sharing a border with Orange County to the southeast. As of the 2020 Census, it had a population … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Whittier
California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Santa Barbara
INTRODUCTION A year ago -- over a year ago! -- my partner and I visited the town of Santa Barbara. I meant to write about our visit for California Fool's Gold sooner, but 2020 was the year everything went pear-shaped. When the pandemic hit, many suddenly found themselves with more time than they knew what … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Santa Barbara
Los Angeles Neighborhoods — The California Fool’s Gold Guide to Los Angeles County’s Cities, Enclaves, Neighborhoods, Regions, Sub-Regions, Subdivisions, Unincorporated Communities, Census-Designated Places, &c
As most of my readers know, I've been trying for years to wrap my head around Los Angeles by exploring and mapping the metropolis. My first maps were hand-drawn on paper, starting with a map of Elysian Park's trails that I drew around 2001. I also have made quite a few Google Maps. The Google … Continue reading Los Angeles Neighborhoods — The California Fool’s Gold Guide to Los Angeles County’s Cities, Enclaves, Neighborhoods, Regions, Sub-Regions, Subdivisions, Unincorporated Communities, Census-Designated Places, &c
Seasons in Los Angeles
In 2019, I decided to make a video essay documenting the changing seasons in Los Angeles. https://www.youtube.com/embed/MF9OoSUPnrM The film begins, as the year does, in winter. In this case, it's winter in the San Gabriel Mountains that divide the chaparral of the Los Angeles Basin from the desert of the Antelope Valley. Next we're in … Continue reading Seasons in Los Angeles
Eric Brightwell 