The first time I entered the dark and vibey realm of Uptown’s Bar Shiru, I was transported. The whole space is a shrine to jazz, where vinyl records are revered by a world-class sound system, thoughtful curation and hushed voices. Portraits of the greats and an imposing wall of albums set the scene. It feels simultaneously like a nod to Oakland’s rich jazz history and a promising peek into its revitalized Uptown future.
Daniel Gahr and Shirin Raza opened Bar Shiru in 2019, inspired by their travels to Tokyo and its audiophile bars, where the impetus is largely, “Talk less, listen more.” Now that’s an idea I can certainly get behind. Gahr and Raza also recently opened their second spot Uptown, Gold Palm, a bar and restaurant across from the Fox Theater. It’s a bold yet hopeful move, predicated on the possibilities of Oakland’s artistic abundances rather than its recent turmoils—and a sentiment I also share.
“Certainly in the 21st century, we consider Oakland to be the musical and cultural heart and soul of the Bay Area,” Gahr said.
As an epicurean and aesthete, I’m delighted by this issue. Our focus on food and drink includes a foray into the worlds of craft ciders and spice shops, of which there are plenty in the East Bay. In these pages, we also celebrate music and art across the bay. SFJAZZ, the world’s largest nonprofit jazz presenter since 1983, is now under the leadership of executive artistic director, renowned jazz trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard. Their annual jazz festival returns to SFJAZZ Center in June.
Meanwhile, SFMOMA honors acclaimed modernist artist Ruth Asawa with a retrospective featuring her diverse works, including looped and tied-wire sculptures, clay and bronze casts, masks, paperfolds, paintings, drawings and public art projects. The exhibition, which runs through Sept. 2, includes more than 300 works across 12 gallery spaces, as well as a recreation of her gorgeous Noe Valley home garden and art-filled living room.
Having recently explored this exhibit, I was struck by Asawa’s determined and prolific creativity, innovation and commitment to her art, her family and community, often seamlessly integrating all. This integration of life and art is a powerful reminder of the potential for imagination and connection in our everyday existence.
