News From Behind the Orange Curtain

[furrbear]

Gay bar opens in Huntington Beach, California.

I didn't believe it at first, but it's in The OC Register.

Comments

[blt4success66.livejournal.com]

Well yeah for them...but they probably have the clientele to support it.

[furrbear.livejournal.com]

Things behind the Orange Curtain aren't exactly GLBT friendly. OC was the only Pride celebration canceled for lack of attendance (only partly due to bad planning).

[blt4success66.livejournal.com]

Yes, but they def. have more opportunity for support if they band together than those of us in the netherlands...

[furrbear.livejournal.com]

You live in Holland?

[blt4success66.livejournal.com]

alright silly...the "boondocks of America"

[furrbear.livejournal.com]

I guess living in the netherlands is better than living in the nether regions.

[blt4success66.livejournal.com]

There you go, "nether regions" is a better term, but that would be more like Wyoming and/or Montana....

[furrbear.livejournal.com]

Butte?

[blt4success66.livejournal.com]

Well don't let [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com] hear you say that! LOL

[randomcub.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. On April 1, though. . .

[furrbear.livejournal.com]

Bar Site appears legit.

[gearjock.livejournal.com]

Did they post it to say "bring torches"?

[joebehrsandiego.livejournal.com]

OC isn't what it is used to be - whatever that was. See my reply, below.

[furrbear.livejournal.com]

And pitchforks

[joebehrsandiego.livejournal.com]

Cool! Whatever the internet does in this regard we still need 3-D spaces to hang in.

Referencing your inplied context, though: As you know from ... well, living there ... OC at one point supported its own "Cedar Springs Strip", on Garden Grove Boulevard.

And that was back when OC's demographics and politics were much, much scarier than they are now.

Now:

Racial/Ethnic mix -

White Non-Hispanic (51.3%)
Hispanic (30.8%)
Other race (14.8%)
Vietnamese (4.8%)
Two or more races (4.1%)
Chinese (2.1%)
Korean (2.0%)
Filipino (1.7%)
Black (1.7%)
American Indian (1.3%)
Japanese (1.1%)
Other Asian (1.0%)

Politics (using the 2008 election as a snapshot):

Obama: 549,558 McCain: 579,064

My take: OC suffers from the "San Jose Effect" - it is *just close enough* to Long Beach and LA (and, for the boys in Aliso Viejo and San Clemehte, San Diego) to make operating bars etc. in this day and age a challenge.

It wasn't about the "Orange Curtain" back in the day ... and it isn't now.

Your thoughts?

[furrbear.livejournal.com]

I've not experienced it in the last six years.

If it has improved, so much the better. The demographics are certainly improving. But much of that 51.3% is some very scary Fundagelical Republicans.

Yep - 714 heads to LA. 949 heads to SD. And don't neglect PSP's influence here either.

Closest thing to a strip that I recall was three blocks of PCH in Laguna. But that was more due to having a friend in S. Laguna Beach (aka Dr. Botox). Just didn't have that much desire or need to visit GG.

Even though born in SFO, I consider my hometown to be Long Beach. That's where my earliest memories are located. I grew up about two miles west of the LA/OC county line.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

Little Laurel, MD got it's first gay bar called PW's Sports Bar & Grill not too long ago. Jeff and I stopped in for lunch and the food was very good and pretty cheap too. Hopefully it stays around for a long time. Sure eats trying to mob our way into Baltimore or DC, and it's less than ten minutes from home.

[joebehrsandiego.livejournal.com]

Cool!

One of my job apps today was with the Prince George's County planning office (school siting, etc.) in Upper Marlboro. If that comes about I probably will land not too far from you guys, and I agree with your last sentence here.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

Really? What's the story there? I mean, wouldn't that be a hell of a drive from SD each day? Inquiring minds want to know. ;)

If you do indeed end up in the area, there's actually some very friendly 'enclaves' and the general area is pretty progressive. If you need help with this, let me know, I'll be happy to get you acquainted.