Culture & Commentary
Long Beach Lost: The Buffums’ department store in Downtown
My ongoing series, Long Beach Lost, was launched to examine buildings, places, and things that have either been demolished, are set to be demolished, or are in motion to possibly be demolished—or were never even in existence. This is not a preservationist series but rather a historical series that will help keep a record of our architectural, cultural, and spatial history.
Culture & Commentary
Long Beach Lost: The cringey and strange tale of how Lucille’s Smokehouse created a fictitious Black woman for their brand
In a move that echoes the controversy surrounding Quaker Oats's creation of Aunt Jemima, Lucille's proudly admitted to creating Lucille Buchanan, a fictitious Black woman from South Carolina which inspired their barbecue. Come the BLM protests of 2020, the restaurant removed the entire story without a word.
Culture & Commentary
Cali Chilli continues to shine a light on Indian cuisine with Michelin-recognized Chef Manjunath Mural’s private dinner
Cali Chilli continues represent an idea of Indian food that really doesn't exist in much of the region, a space where traditional and innovation mix—and the prix fixe dinner of Chef Mural, visiting from Singapore, exemplifies that.
Culture & Commentary
Why one of Long Beach’s most important foci should be limiting speeds on our most dangerous roads
In this guest commentary piece, Long Beach Transit Boardmember Michael Clemson breaks down how speed is one of our city's most dangerous characteristics.
Culture & Commentary
Long Beach Lost: The three roller coasters that once graced our shoreline at the Pike
My ongoing series, Long Beach Lost, was launched to examine buildings, places, and things that have either been demolished, are set to be demolished, or are in motion to possibly be demolished—or were never even in existence. This is not a preservationist series but rather a historical series that will help keep a record of our architectural, cultural, and spatial history.
Culture & Commentary
Meet the Mexican immigrants whose first local jobs were at Egg Heaven—and how they’re trying to revive the breakfast legend
Esperanza Trejo and Rito García came from Mexico to Long Beach, each landing jobs at Egg Heaven. Now, decades later and following a closure of the space earlier this year, they return with the hopes of bringing the breakfast legend back to life.
Culture & Commentary
The Afro-Latino roots of L.A. is a history we should all know in light of racist comments from Latino leaders
Perturbing conversations between four Latino political leaders of Los Angeles—unveiling vile, racist comments that targets Black and Indigenous populations—are but a reminder that L.A.'s history has deep roots with Afro-Latinos.
Culture & Commentary
Ready to take your best shot? DLBA’s annual Unfiltered photo contest returns
Spanning across five categories, the contest encourages photographers to capture DTLB with their own distinct style while vying for prizes and gallery space.
Culture & Commentary
‘I can finally work without fear:’ Long Beach street vendor scene celebrate newfound freedom post-SB 972
After being persistently badgered by authorities, the street vendors of Long Beach have discovered a quick sense of freedom after California signed SB 972 into law.
Culture & Commentary
Long Beach’s last video store, Broadway Video—a cultural cornerstone with 50K titles—officially closes and liquidates
Broadway Video & Art has been around for nearly four decades—and its current owner, determined to show a unique world antithetical to the Streaming Domain, can no longer move on.
