Nick Brooks
Designer and Photographer based in El Cerrito, CA
My name is Nick Brooks, I’m a designer from New York City who has happily lived in El Cerrito for 4 years and counting with my partner who is from Albany, CA. I received my BFA in graphic design and photography from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in 2010, and completed my Master’s degree in Design Strategy at the California College of Arts (CCA) in 2017. Currently I’m working as a designer in the field of education technology.
El Cerrito’s history through matchbooks
After attending a presentation by the El Cerrito Historical Society towards the beginning of the pandemic, I became fascinated with our City’s rich and surprising history; What is currently such a quiet and family-friendly town was once a nightlife destination for those seeking some fun and mischeif. San Pablo was lined with nightclubs, gambling halls and rowdy music venues, such as Hambone Kelly’s, Six Bells, the Kona Club, and the Hollywood Club. There were even ostrich races that regularly happened where the El Cerrito Plaza currently stands!
As an avid collector of vintage trading cards and ephemera, I love how each matchbook cover serves as a tiny poster that captures a very specific time and place. While they’re fun to look at artifacts themselves, the great textures, typography, and other details really come to life when you can see them at a larger scale. My collection of vintage El Cerrito matchbooks now represents over 30 different locations and counting. I encourage you to ask some of your neighbors who have deep roots in El Cerrito if they have any personal stories about any of the businesses on display.
Acknowledgments
Very special thanks to David Weinstein and Chris Treadway of the El Cerrito Historical Society for all of your amazing research, events, and community building.
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Also, thank you to the wonderful owners of the Elevation 66 Brewery for providing the perfect space and atmosphere for displaying this work!