Fools Gold Tapestries
Description: The Eastside is a region of Los Angeles County. It includes the communities of Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles, El Sereno, Lincoln Heights -- as well as numerous smaller communities like Belvedere, Brooklyn Heights, City Terrace, Eastmont, Happy Valley, Hillside Village, Maravilla, Rose Hill, and University Hills. I wrote a primer, for my series, "California Fool's Gold," in 2011. https://ericbrightwell.com/2011/03/30/california-fools-gold-an-eastside-primer/
Description: Denver's Colorado Mine Company was one of those places that wasn’t what it seemed. It was a dive bar of sorts, but slightly classier and wrapped in a unique style of western kitsch with a menu to match. It was the kind of place your mother had warned you about, but that only made it that much more fun to hang out there. The restaurant lives on in America's collective consciousness as the creator of the "Fool's Gold" sandwich, one of Elvis Presley's all-time favorites, so much so that he would fly his private jet from Graceland to Denver just to get his fix.
Description: Southeast Los Angeles County -- or just "Southeast Los Angeles" -- refers to a cluster of gateway cities and unincorporated suburbs located between South Los Angeles's Eastside, the San Gabriel Valley, and North Orange County. I wrote a primer of the region, for my series "California Fool's Gold," in 2009 and drew an earlier version of the map at that time. This one was completed a short time after. https://ericbrightwell.com/2009/04/28/california-fools-gold-a-southeast-los-angeles-primer/
Description: Pasadena is today only the ninth-most populous cities in Los Angeles County. However, it is easily one of the most historically and culturally important. I explored it for my series, "California Fool's Gold," in 2012. https://ericbrightwell.com/2012/01/04/california-fools-gold-exploring-pasadena-the-crown-city-of-roses/
Description: Highland Park is a neighborhood in Northeast Los Angeles. It was, along with Sycamore Grove, one of the first two communities to be annexed by Los Angeles, in 1895. In 1927, part of Annandale, Garvanza, Hermon, and York Valley (formerly New York Valley) joined together in an alliance as "Greater Highland Park." I explored the neighborhood over the course of two days for my series, "California Fool's Gold," in 2010. https://ericbrightwell.com/2010/10/03/california-fools-gold-exploring-highland-park/
Description: Silver Lake is a restaurant in the Mideast Los Angeles (MELA) region. It is famously Los Angeles's "gayborhood," having been the birthplace of the Advocate magazine, Light House Book Store, the Black Cat protest (the nation's first planned gay rights action), the Mattachine Society, and countless gay bars. One of its affectionate neighborhood -- a reference to both its demographics and hilly topography, is "the Swish Alps." I explored it for my series, "California Fool's Gold," in 2010. https://ericbrightwell.com/2010/06/08/california-fools-gold-exploring-silver-lake-los-angeless-gayborhood/
Description: Monterey Park is a suburban city in the San Gabriel Valley. It is notable for it's Chinese American majority, although it has undergone changes over the years, from a predominantly Taiwanese Chinese population to a mainland Chinese and Hong Konger population. I explored it for my series, "California Fool's Gold," in 2010. https://ericbrightwell.com/2010/09/23/california-fools-gold-exploring-monterey-park-%e8%92%99%e7%89%b9%e5%88%a9%e5%85%ac%e5%9b%ad/
![Fools Gold Records [DISTRESSED] Tapestry](https://images.teepublic.com/derived/production/designs/90884788_0/1776694491/i_m:bi_production_blanks_uue6kkaylik55suzvwsb_1507037315,c_78_50_x728,bc_000000,o_landscape,s_313,q_90.webp)
Description: Fullerton is a suburb of North Orange County widely recognized as the birthplace of several major punk bands, including Social Distortion, Agent Orange, and the Adolescents. I explored for my series, "California Fool's Gold," in 2010. https://ericbrightwell.com/2010/10/25/california-fools-gold-exploring-fullerton-the-education-community/
Description: Los Feliz is a neighborhood in Mideast Los Angeles (MELA). It's named after the Feliz (also spelled Felix and Felis) family who ranched there decades ago. I explored it for my series, "California Fool's Gold," in 2010. https://ericbrightwell.com/2010/11/16/california-fools-gold-exploring-los-feliz-the-mideast-sides-pill-hill/
Description: Sherman Oaks is a mostly-suburban neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley. In the 1980s, it was widely associated with the Valley Girl subculture thanks in large part to the Sherman Oaks Galleria -- which figured into the films "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and "Valley Girl," the song "Valley Girl," and "Val" culture. I explored it for my series, "California Fool's Gold" in 2010. https://ericbrightwell.com/2010/07/16/california-fools-gold-exploring-sherman-oaks/
Description: The Santa Monica Mountains are, naturally, a mountain range. The name also refers to a region of Los Angeles County, located west of the Westside. I wrote a primer and painted this map for my series, "California Fool's Gold," in 2011. https://ericbrightwell.com/2011/06/01/california-fools-gold-a-santa-monica-mountains-primer/
Description: Orange is a city in North Orange County. Unlike most of Orange County, it boasts a variety of attractive homes built in several eras and architectural styles. It is particularly notable for its Eichler tracts. I explored it for my series, "California Fool's Gold," in 2010. https://ericbrightwell.com/2010/12/07/california-fools-gold-exploring-orange-orange-countys-plaza-city/
Description: San Clemente is the southernmost suburb of South Orange County. At its core is a charming, Spanish Colonial Revival planned community that would be walkable were there more sidewalks -- which were intentionally left out in areas in order to help keep out riff-raff like me. I nevertheless mapped and explored it for my series, "California Fool's Gold," in 2013. https://ericbrightwell.com/2013/10/11/san-clemente-the-spanish-village-in-oc/
Description: Hancock Park is a neighborhood in Los Angeles's Midtown region. Although primarily composed of single-family homes, Rossmore Avenue is home to a charming section of older, mid-rise apartment buildings. I explored it for my series, "California Fool's Gold," in 2015. https://ericbrightwell.com/2015/05/28/california-fools-gold-exploring-hancock-park/
Description: Eagle Rock is a former municipality that was incorporated in 1911. In 1923, it was annexed by Los Angeles. It's named after a large rock, which at certain times of the day, reveals a shadow that looks like an eagle in flight. I explored it, for my series, "California Fool's Gold," in 2010. https://ericbrightwell.com/2010/04/09/1166/
Description: Hacienda Heights is an unincorporated suburban community in the San Gabriel Valley. It is home to a large Taiwanese population and is home to the biggest Buddhist temple in the Western Hemisphere. I explored it for my series, "California Fool's Gold," in 2011. https://ericbrightwell.com/2011/06/19/california-fools-gold-exploring-hacienda-heights/
Description: A circular emblem with an orange border on a black background. Inside, a silhouette of a building with a tower, surrounded by pine trees and mountains against an orange sky. The text "HOME OF THE WORLD FAMOUS 'FOOL'S GOLD' SANDWICH" curves around the top. Below the silhouette, "THE COLORADO MINE COMPANY" is prominently displayed with "EST. 1971" on either side.
Description: Denver's Colorado Mine Company was one of those places that wasn’t what it seemed. It was a dive bar of sorts, but slightly classier and wrapped in a unique style of western kitsch with a menu to match. It was the kind of place your mother had warned you about, but that only made it that much more fun to hang out there
Description: A circular emblem with an orange border and black background. The top text reads "HOME OF THE WORLD FAMOUS "FOOL'S GOLD" SANDWICH." Below is a silhouette of a building with pine trees. The lower section has "THE COLORADO MINE COMPANY" in bold text, with "EST. 1971" to the left and right.
Description: A circular emblem style with a dark orange outer ring. Inside, a silhouetted building with a tower and trees are set against a sunset gradient. Text adorns the outer ring and center: "HOME OF THE WORLD FAMOUS "FOOL'S GOLD" SANDWICH", "THE COLORADO MINE COMPANY EST. 1971". The overall style is retro and gritty.
The Colorado Mine Company Home of the World Famous "Fool's Gold" Sandwich Tapestry
by STEPHEN CHOU STD
$30
Description: A circular emblem with a retro sunset scene. It depicts a rustic building with trees in silhouette against an orange sky with clouds and birds. The text reads "HOME OF THE WORLD FAMOUS "FOOL'S GOLD" SANDWICH", "EST. 1971", "THE COLORADO MINE COMPANY". The border is a dark orange.
