Keeping The Wheels Turning, Pt II (Oakland)
Last time out, we tried to shine a light on SF institutions near and dear to our heart, and what can be done at this time to assist them and keep the scene alive. This edition takes it across the bridge, back to Oakland. We’ll start with the big picture: the Bay Area Safety Net Fund is up and operational. Follow this link to access both donation and grant application areas.
1234 Go! Records is a Bay Area institution that just celebrated their 12th birthday in March. With the impact of the Coronavirus, they’ve dialed it back, temporarily closing the SF store, but the beating heart of the main location in Oakland remains pumping, with the shop itself closed, but the mail order side is very much in effect. Complete update below:
A staple of the Bay Area since 1986, 924 Gilman needs no introduction. Crisis or no, their drive to own the building and determine their fate continues. You can support their good work here.
Housed in a three-story Victorian Oddfellows hall built in 1893, Starline Social Club is a one-of-a-kind venue. You can support the Starline Family Survival fund here.
Having migrated from across the Bay to Jack London Square, the Elbo Room just won’t quit. The Elbo Room Jack London staff support fund can be reached here. Eli’s Mile High Club is still fighting the good fight. Click on the delivery button of their website for info for (weekend only) pickups or deliveries and their first foray into merch. To support the Eli’s Employee Apocalypse Fund, proceed here.
The Uptown Nightclub on Telegraph Ave. have a fund you can contribute to here. If the Prince song is now lodged in your head, then our work here is done.
Yoshi’s has become synonymous with jazz in the Bay Area, and sadly they’ve had to postpone two crucial upcoming events supporting the Oakland School For The Arts and Berkeley Middle School Jazz Bands, but you can help them continuing their good work with the purchase of merch or gift certificates.
The Oakland Metro serves as a crucial part of the scene, with the 501c3’s projects including: Oakland Opera Theatre, The Oakland Metro Operahousel, Hoodslam, Tourettes Without Regrets, and many more. The Oakland Metro Stabilization Fund can be found here, and the video below will get you up to speed on their mission…
Moving over to the East Bay, Albany’s Ivy Room holds a special place in our hearts, with its roots as a neighborhood bar stretching back to WWII. Summer Gerbing and Lani Torres combined their talents to create the current incarnation, running strong since 2015. You can support them with gift card or merchandise purchases and staff donations here.
Back to Berkeley, for over 50 years, the Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse has been a stalwart non profit community arts organization dedicated to promoting traditional music. Their support link can be found here. In closing, a reminder that this just scratches the surface, and remember to find you favorites and reach out now, no matter big or small, our collective efforts now will bear fruit in the future for those who have been there for us.