Broadway Corridor
They say variety is the spice of life, and we agree! That’s why we decided to put together this exclusive Pride collection, commemorating our state’s rich history of leadership on LGBTQIA+ rights. California has the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender population in the country —2.7 million and counting! Not only that, but 10% of our State Government Legislature identifies as LGBTQIA+. Within California, various cities have become melting pots for those in the Queer community looking for a place to call home; giving rise to gay districts or “gayborhoods”. Here we honor those communities and the pioneers who paved the way for them to exist.
June not only marks the beginning of pride month, but also the start of summer barbecues, and freshly picked veggies available at local farmer’s markets. The Broadway Corridor Blend is meant for corn on the cob, where smoky hickory leads the way to a delicious summer side dish. Playing off the inherent sweetness of summer corn, we combined hickory salt with the sour burst of orange zest, and tied that in with paprika’s mellow, dependable anchor. Black pepper contributes rich pine flavor and lemony top notes. The grind of some ingredients is kept large, so this blend delivers great texture and crunch.
Steam, grill, roast, or boil corn on the cob. Slather with butter or oil, and sprinkle the seasoning on top. Toss on top of cornbread or mac and cheese and bake. This is a great topper for roasted vegetables like zucchini or yellow squash. Use this as a finishing seasoning on unconventional salads like shaved fennel with orange supremes, or toss over thick slices of tomato and drizzle with a balsamic vinegar reduction.
Hand Blended Ingredients: Smoked hickory salt, sea salt, orange zest, black pepper and paprika.
About the Broadway Corridor:
Long Beach’s LGBTQIA+ scene dates back decades. The city has historically served as a safe haven for queer people throughout the region, particularly along the Broadway corridor. In the 1950s, gay bars like The Patch and gay societies like the Daughters of Bilitis and the Long Beach-based Satyrs Motorcycle Club offered a way for LGBT residents to gather far away from the threat of police raids. Later, in the1980s, long-running lesbian bars like Que Sera and Cherry Street Bar opened up, which helped artists like Melissa Etheridge come to fame.
In the midst of all this, however, the threat of entrapment, police violence and random homophobic acts lingered in the background. The first hard-won Long Beach Pride Parade in 1984 lasted only thirty minutes despite drawing a crowd of thousands. Judi Doyle, the Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride Parade President, was threatened with violence in the weeks leading up to the march. Long Beach organizer Robert Fox created the Alamitos Beach Neighborhood Association to help prevent gay-bashings in the neighborhood. This involved the creation of groups of escorts to see bar goers safely home at night. In the mid-80s, gay bashings were a nightly occurrence.
Today, Long Beach is largely regarded as one of the most LGBTQIA+ friendly cities in the country. The bars, shops and restaurants along the Broadway Corridor, Which includes Alamitos Beach, Bluff Park, Bluff Heights and the East Village, have long provided refuge for gay people in the region, and those traveling who see Long Beach as a leading gay-friendly destination.