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"content": "\u003cp>Every October, \u003ca href=\"https://www.fanhs-national.org/filam/filipino-american-history-month-2025\">Filipino American History Month\u003c/a> honors more than a century of Filipino presence in the United States. In the Bay Area, that legacy runs deep: Cities such as San José, Milpitas and Daly City have long served as hubs for the Filipino diaspora. San José alone is home to around 109,000 Filipino residents, making it one of the 10 largest Filipino communities in the country, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of census data.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So it makes sense that San José plays host to a slew of cultural events this month — such as \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/4th-annual-kababayan-drag-brunch-tickets-1762716465399\">Kababayan Drag Brunch\u003c/a>, which returns for its fourth year on Saturday, Oct. 18 at Strike Brewing Company. First organized in 2021, this drag brunch has become a South Bay fixture during Filipino American History Month, reflecting the area’s vibrant intersection of Filipino and LGBTQ+ culture.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hosted by drag performers Manang and Tori Tia, the all-ages event blends Filipino food, queer artistry and community pride in an afternoon of performance. “Bring your lola (grandma), bring your auntie, and bring your parents who may be supportive of queerness but don’t usually go to nightclubs,” says Manang.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13982479\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2160px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/F26E7C14-0C46-4F54-B262-ED8AD753F263.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13982479\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/F26E7C14-0C46-4F54-B262-ED8AD753F263.jpg\" alt=\"five drag queens in colorful outfits stand on a stage under a neon sign that reads 'mama kin'\" width=\"2160\" height=\"2345\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/F26E7C14-0C46-4F54-B262-ED8AD753F263.jpg 2160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/F26E7C14-0C46-4F54-B262-ED8AD753F263-2000x2171.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/F26E7C14-0C46-4F54-B262-ED8AD753F263-160x174.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/F26E7C14-0C46-4F54-B262-ED8AD753F263-768x834.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/F26E7C14-0C46-4F54-B262-ED8AD753F263-1415x1536.jpg 1415w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/F26E7C14-0C46-4F54-B262-ED8AD753F263-1886x2048.jpg 1886w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2160px) 100vw, 2160px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Manang, Kashewpeia, Tala, John Feddellaga and Tori Tia at Kababayan Drag Brunch 2023. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Manang)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>This year’s show features six performers, including \u003cem>Drag Race Philippines\u003c/em> season three’s John Fedellaga, widely known online as the “Omegle Queen.” DJ Ayumi Please provides the soundtrack, while Filipino bites come courtesy of Gnosh Confections.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is a great event to bring people together to celebrate being Filipino, to have fun, to see queer joy,” adds Manang. “We hope Filipinos show up like we always do — yelling, cheering, laughing. It’s a big party for our community to celebrate the month and to celebrate queer joy, especially at a time when that is under threat.”\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Kababayan Drag Brunch takes place Saturday, Oct. 18, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Strike Brewing Company & Warehouse Taproom (2099 S 10th St #30, San Jose). Free; more information \u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/4th-annual-kababayan-drag-brunch-tickets-1762716465399\">\u003ci>here\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003c/i>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Every October, \u003ca href=\"https://www.fanhs-national.org/filam/filipino-american-history-month-2025\">Filipino American History Month\u003c/a> honors more than a century of Filipino presence in the United States. In the Bay Area, that legacy runs deep: Cities such as San José, Milpitas and Daly City have long served as hubs for the Filipino diaspora. San José alone is home to around 109,000 Filipino residents, making it one of the 10 largest Filipino communities in the country, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of census data.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So it makes sense that San José plays host to a slew of cultural events this month — such as \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/4th-annual-kababayan-drag-brunch-tickets-1762716465399\">Kababayan Drag Brunch\u003c/a>, which returns for its fourth year on Saturday, Oct. 18 at Strike Brewing Company. First organized in 2021, this drag brunch has become a South Bay fixture during Filipino American History Month, reflecting the area’s vibrant intersection of Filipino and LGBTQ+ culture.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hosted by drag performers Manang and Tori Tia, the all-ages event blends Filipino food, queer artistry and community pride in an afternoon of performance. “Bring your lola (grandma), bring your auntie, and bring your parents who may be supportive of queerness but don’t usually go to nightclubs,” says Manang.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13982479\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2160px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/F26E7C14-0C46-4F54-B262-ED8AD753F263.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13982479\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/F26E7C14-0C46-4F54-B262-ED8AD753F263.jpg\" alt=\"five drag queens in colorful outfits stand on a stage under a neon sign that reads 'mama kin'\" width=\"2160\" height=\"2345\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/F26E7C14-0C46-4F54-B262-ED8AD753F263.jpg 2160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/F26E7C14-0C46-4F54-B262-ED8AD753F263-2000x2171.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/F26E7C14-0C46-4F54-B262-ED8AD753F263-160x174.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/F26E7C14-0C46-4F54-B262-ED8AD753F263-768x834.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/F26E7C14-0C46-4F54-B262-ED8AD753F263-1415x1536.jpg 1415w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/F26E7C14-0C46-4F54-B262-ED8AD753F263-1886x2048.jpg 1886w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2160px) 100vw, 2160px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Manang, Kashewpeia, Tala, John Feddellaga and Tori Tia at Kababayan Drag Brunch 2023. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Manang)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>This year’s show features six performers, including \u003cem>Drag Race Philippines\u003c/em> season three’s John Fedellaga, widely known online as the “Omegle Queen.” DJ Ayumi Please provides the soundtrack, while Filipino bites come courtesy of Gnosh Confections.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is a great event to bring people together to celebrate being Filipino, to have fun, to see queer joy,” adds Manang. “We hope Filipinos show up like we always do — yelling, cheering, laughing. It’s a big party for our community to celebrate the month and to celebrate queer joy, especially at a time when that is under threat.”\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Kababayan Drag Brunch takes place Saturday, Oct. 18, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Strike Brewing Company & Warehouse Taproom (2099 S 10th St #30, San Jose). Free; more information \u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/4th-annual-kababayan-drag-brunch-tickets-1762716465399\">\u003ci>here\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>\u003c/i>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "The Bay Area’s First Kerala-Style Chai Shop Opens in San José",
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"content": "\u003cp>At \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/chayakada.us/?hl=en\">Chayakada\u003c/a> in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/san-jose\">San José\u003c/a>, chai baristas juggle a meter-long stream of tea through the air like master \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGy0kbk6gYc\">waterbenders\u003c/a>, effortlessly filling each cup to the brim with hot, frothy chai.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On a recent Sunday afternoon, the shop was buzzing with late-2000s pop hits while friends sipped chai huddled around tables loaded with egg puffs and boardgames. Open since June, the cafe takes its name from the chaya kada, a kind of small tea shop or tea stall found in the state of Kerala, India. Chayakada \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DKosIfpxmuB/\">claims to be the first one\u003c/a> in the United States — a small slice of South India tucked away in a South San José strip mall.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Owner Aleena Thomas got her start in the food business in 2023, when she quit her job as a program manager at Meta to open Bread Bae, a San José–based ghost kitchen operation focused on baked goods and chai from Kerala. Thomas grew up in Kuwait, but has fond memories of visiting her grandparents and uncles in Kerala. She became nostalgic for the food from her childhood and wanted to share it with others who might be feeling the same way. And while there were \u003ca href=\"https://tastecooking.com/the-rise-of-kerala-cuisine-in-america-cannot-go-unnoticed/\">other restaurants\u003c/a> specializing in the food of Kerala, there weren’t any Kerala-style chai bars.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We didn’t have a single chaya kada in all of America. I was like, ‘Wow, this is crazy,’” says Thomas. “How come we don’t have one? I wanted to have that in the U.S.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13981957\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13981957\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Saffron-Meter-Chai.jpg\" alt=\"Overhead view of a cup of very frothy chai.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Saffron-Meter-Chai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Saffron-Meter-Chai-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Saffron-Meter-Chai-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Saffron-Meter-Chai-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The special, meter-high pouring technique results in an extra-frothy cup of chai. \u003ccite>(Octavio Peña)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Chaya kadas are known for meter chai, a style of tea preparation that involves pouring the tea from a great height to aerate the drink. Thomas suggests the pouring method may have started as a way to attract customers to the tea stalls. But the technique isn’t just for show — it helps create a thick layer of froth in the chai glass, imparting a smoother mouthfeel. The height of the pour also \u003ca href=\"https://www.thekitchn.com/does-pouring-height-make-a-difference-in-coffee-taste-255299\">cools the drink\u003c/a> to a temperature where the tongue can detect more flavors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Before we had coffee machines and frothers, you needed to get air into your beverages,” says Thomas. “Most of the people who do it are taller than I am and have longer arms. So their arm actually goes up to a meter. I don’t know if my wingspan is that large. We try to get it as far as we can.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It isn’t just the eye-catching pour that makes Chayakada’s drinks special. The cafe is one of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13932089/indian-coffee-roaster-kaveri-berkeley\">few Bay Area spots\u003c/a> sourcing its tea and coffee from small farms in India. The coffee is from \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/lemilscoffee/\">Le Mils\u003c/a>, a Bay Area roastery that gets its coffee beans from the owners’ family farm in Chikmanglur. Chayakada is also one of the only shops in the Bay Area that serves traditional Indian filter coffee, a sweet, chicory-infused drink.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13981958\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13981958\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Egg-Puffs.jpg\" alt='A display tray of crispy, golden-brown pastries labeled \"Egg Puffs.\"' width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Egg-Puffs.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Egg-Puffs-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Egg-Puffs-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Egg-Puffs-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A tray of egg puffs, one of the traditional Kerala-style street snacks served at Chayakada. \u003ccite>(Octavio Peña)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>As for the Kerala-style chai, Thomas believes a lot of people don’t see the full spectrum of the drink. “If somebody asks, ‘What’s your favorite chai?’’’ she says. “You’re like, I’m not really sure, what Starbucks gives me?” She wants people to understand that, as with coffee, you can alter a chai’s flavor intensity, roast level and sweetness. At Chayakada’s chai counter, you can also get your tea flavored with saffron, masala, white chocolate or salted caramel. For customers looking to take their chai game to the next level, Thomas offers tea blending and tasting workshops.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chayakada serves the same street food snacks typically found in a traditional chaya kada in Kerala. Specifically, the menu is reflective of the cuisine of the Malayali people who are native to Kerala and make up a majority of its population. The most popular dish is a puff pastry that envelops a boiled egg and caramelized onions. A close second is the pazhampori, which Thomas likens to a plantain tempura. Heartier options include goat biryani, fish cutlets and slow-roasted beef sandwiches. There’s also a large selection of curries served alongside Kerala staples like porotta (a flaky flatbread) and kappa puzhukku (mashed tapioca).\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13981959\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13981959\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Roast-beef-sandwich.jpg\" alt=\"Toasted sandwich filled with saucy shredded beef.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1126\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Roast-beef-sandwich.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Roast-beef-sandwich-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Roast-beef-sandwich-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Roast-beef-sandwich-1536x865.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Kerala-style sandwich filled with shredded, slow-roasted beef. \u003ccite>(Octavio Peña)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“There’s no other place doing this,” says Thomas. “So, I want to make sure authentic food is served first. Eventually, we could add some fusion flare. Right now, I want people to understand I’m not just Indian, we’re Malayali.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">[aside postID='arts_13955884,arts_13912706,arts_13969923']\u003c/span>Thomas is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to the history of chaya kadas in Kerala. The tea shops first appeared in Kerala during the 19th century, when \u003ca href=\"https://www.keralatourism.org/munnar/munnar-history.php\">tea plantations were established in the rural town of Munnar\u003c/a>, and soon spread all across Kerala. “For every chaya kada, there’s a community that is built with it,” says Thomas. In particular, the tea stalls in Kerala have a history of being places of congregation where patrons commonly read the newspaper out loud, making them places for lively social and political discourse. The intermingling of people from different castes at chaya kadas is even credited with helping to ease caste barriers in the region.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Thomas continues the tradition of chaya kadas being more than a place to sip tea. “I have a 4-year-old,” says Thomas. With that parental mindset, she designed Chayakada so that guests of all ages could enjoy it. The shop features a mini library, foosball, boardgames and carrom — a popular Indian tabletop game. She has a Bring-Your-Own-Boardgame policy to encourage crowds to come in and kick back. She’s even hosted Charades nights, tea party–themed birthday parties and an Onam celebration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13981960\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13981960\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Aleena-Thomas-Owner.jpg\" alt='A woman poses in front of a green plant wall with a neon sign that reads, \"Chai yeah.\"' width=\"2000\" height=\"1126\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Aleena-Thomas-Owner.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Aleena-Thomas-Owner-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Aleena-Thomas-Owner-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Aleena-Thomas-Owner-1536x865.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Thomas poses for a portrait inside Chayakada, her San Jose tea shop. \u003ccite>(Octavio Peña)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Chayakada is only a few months old, but it has already hooked a community of regulars who pack the dining room during high tea for a late-afternoon snack. Thomas says that half of her customers come in already familiar with chaya kadas and Malayali cuisine. She enjoys having the opportunity to introduce the food to those unfamiliar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“America is considered a coffee country,” says Thomas. “There’s millions of people who are tea drinkers. I really want to get chai to where coffee stands.”\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/chayakada.us/?hl=en\">\u003ci>Chayakada\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci> (117 Bernal Rd. Ste. 80, San Jose) is open Wednesday through Monday, 9 a.m.–9 p.m., except Mondays when the shop closes at 7 p.m.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"title": "The Bay Area’s First Kerala-Style Chai Shop Opens in San José | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>At \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/chayakada.us/?hl=en\">Chayakada\u003c/a> in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/san-jose\">San José\u003c/a>, chai baristas juggle a meter-long stream of tea through the air like master \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGy0kbk6gYc\">waterbenders\u003c/a>, effortlessly filling each cup to the brim with hot, frothy chai.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On a recent Sunday afternoon, the shop was buzzing with late-2000s pop hits while friends sipped chai huddled around tables loaded with egg puffs and boardgames. Open since June, the cafe takes its name from the chaya kada, a kind of small tea shop or tea stall found in the state of Kerala, India. Chayakada \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DKosIfpxmuB/\">claims to be the first one\u003c/a> in the United States — a small slice of South India tucked away in a South San José strip mall.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Owner Aleena Thomas got her start in the food business in 2023, when she quit her job as a program manager at Meta to open Bread Bae, a San José–based ghost kitchen operation focused on baked goods and chai from Kerala. Thomas grew up in Kuwait, but has fond memories of visiting her grandparents and uncles in Kerala. She became nostalgic for the food from her childhood and wanted to share it with others who might be feeling the same way. And while there were \u003ca href=\"https://tastecooking.com/the-rise-of-kerala-cuisine-in-america-cannot-go-unnoticed/\">other restaurants\u003c/a> specializing in the food of Kerala, there weren’t any Kerala-style chai bars.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We didn’t have a single chaya kada in all of America. I was like, ‘Wow, this is crazy,’” says Thomas. “How come we don’t have one? I wanted to have that in the U.S.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13981957\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13981957\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Saffron-Meter-Chai.jpg\" alt=\"Overhead view of a cup of very frothy chai.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Saffron-Meter-Chai.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Saffron-Meter-Chai-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Saffron-Meter-Chai-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Saffron-Meter-Chai-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The special, meter-high pouring technique results in an extra-frothy cup of chai. \u003ccite>(Octavio Peña)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Chaya kadas are known for meter chai, a style of tea preparation that involves pouring the tea from a great height to aerate the drink. Thomas suggests the pouring method may have started as a way to attract customers to the tea stalls. But the technique isn’t just for show — it helps create a thick layer of froth in the chai glass, imparting a smoother mouthfeel. The height of the pour also \u003ca href=\"https://www.thekitchn.com/does-pouring-height-make-a-difference-in-coffee-taste-255299\">cools the drink\u003c/a> to a temperature where the tongue can detect more flavors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Before we had coffee machines and frothers, you needed to get air into your beverages,” says Thomas. “Most of the people who do it are taller than I am and have longer arms. So their arm actually goes up to a meter. I don’t know if my wingspan is that large. We try to get it as far as we can.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It isn’t just the eye-catching pour that makes Chayakada’s drinks special. The cafe is one of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13932089/indian-coffee-roaster-kaveri-berkeley\">few Bay Area spots\u003c/a> sourcing its tea and coffee from small farms in India. The coffee is from \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/lemilscoffee/\">Le Mils\u003c/a>, a Bay Area roastery that gets its coffee beans from the owners’ family farm in Chikmanglur. Chayakada is also one of the only shops in the Bay Area that serves traditional Indian filter coffee, a sweet, chicory-infused drink.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13981958\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13981958\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Egg-Puffs.jpg\" alt='A display tray of crispy, golden-brown pastries labeled \"Egg Puffs.\"' width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Egg-Puffs.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Egg-Puffs-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Egg-Puffs-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Egg-Puffs-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A tray of egg puffs, one of the traditional Kerala-style street snacks served at Chayakada. \u003ccite>(Octavio Peña)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>As for the Kerala-style chai, Thomas believes a lot of people don’t see the full spectrum of the drink. “If somebody asks, ‘What’s your favorite chai?’’’ she says. “You’re like, I’m not really sure, what Starbucks gives me?” She wants people to understand that, as with coffee, you can alter a chai’s flavor intensity, roast level and sweetness. At Chayakada’s chai counter, you can also get your tea flavored with saffron, masala, white chocolate or salted caramel. For customers looking to take their chai game to the next level, Thomas offers tea blending and tasting workshops.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chayakada serves the same street food snacks typically found in a traditional chaya kada in Kerala. Specifically, the menu is reflective of the cuisine of the Malayali people who are native to Kerala and make up a majority of its population. The most popular dish is a puff pastry that envelops a boiled egg and caramelized onions. A close second is the pazhampori, which Thomas likens to a plantain tempura. Heartier options include goat biryani, fish cutlets and slow-roasted beef sandwiches. There’s also a large selection of curries served alongside Kerala staples like porotta (a flaky flatbread) and kappa puzhukku (mashed tapioca).\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13981959\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13981959\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Roast-beef-sandwich.jpg\" alt=\"Toasted sandwich filled with saucy shredded beef.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1126\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Roast-beef-sandwich.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Roast-beef-sandwich-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Roast-beef-sandwich-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Roast-beef-sandwich-1536x865.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Kerala-style sandwich filled with shredded, slow-roasted beef. \u003ccite>(Octavio Peña)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“There’s no other place doing this,” says Thomas. “So, I want to make sure authentic food is served first. Eventually, we could add some fusion flare. Right now, I want people to understand I’m not just Indian, we’re Malayali.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/span>Thomas is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to the history of chaya kadas in Kerala. The tea shops first appeared in Kerala during the 19th century, when \u003ca href=\"https://www.keralatourism.org/munnar/munnar-history.php\">tea plantations were established in the rural town of Munnar\u003c/a>, and soon spread all across Kerala. “For every chaya kada, there’s a community that is built with it,” says Thomas. In particular, the tea stalls in Kerala have a history of being places of congregation where patrons commonly read the newspaper out loud, making them places for lively social and political discourse. The intermingling of people from different castes at chaya kadas is even credited with helping to ease caste barriers in the region.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Thomas continues the tradition of chaya kadas being more than a place to sip tea. “I have a 4-year-old,” says Thomas. With that parental mindset, she designed Chayakada so that guests of all ages could enjoy it. The shop features a mini library, foosball, boardgames and carrom — a popular Indian tabletop game. She has a Bring-Your-Own-Boardgame policy to encourage crowds to come in and kick back. She’s even hosted Charades nights, tea party–themed birthday parties and an Onam celebration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13981960\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13981960\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Aleena-Thomas-Owner.jpg\" alt='A woman poses in front of a green plant wall with a neon sign that reads, \"Chai yeah.\"' width=\"2000\" height=\"1126\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Aleena-Thomas-Owner.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Aleena-Thomas-Owner-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Aleena-Thomas-Owner-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Aleena-Thomas-Owner-1536x865.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Thomas poses for a portrait inside Chayakada, her San Jose tea shop. \u003ccite>(Octavio Peña)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Chayakada is only a few months old, but it has already hooked a community of regulars who pack the dining room during high tea for a late-afternoon snack. Thomas says that half of her customers come in already familiar with chaya kadas and Malayali cuisine. She enjoys having the opportunity to introduce the food to those unfamiliar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“America is considered a coffee country,” says Thomas. “There’s millions of people who are tea drinkers. I really want to get chai to where coffee stands.”\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/chayakada.us/?hl=en\">\u003ci>Chayakada\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci> (117 Bernal Rd. Ste. 80, San Jose) is open Wednesday through Monday, 9 a.m.–9 p.m., except Mondays when the shop closes at 7 p.m.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "lowrider-exhibition-car-culture-corazon-y-vida-smithsonian",
"title": "Lowriders Cruise Onto the National Stage In Smithsonian Exhibition",
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"headTitle": "Lowriders Cruise Onto the National Stage In Smithsonian Exhibition | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>Lowriders — American-made muscle cars customized with chrome plates, glossy paint and pristine rims — comprise an art form that neatly represents the ideals of this country.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The cars are products of engineering and ingenuity, as well as community and culture. With candy paint and gold rims, the mobile masterpieces come from a long tradition that’s been stigmatized and even criminalized.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, lowriding culture is being celebrated on the highest national level.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Friday, Sept. 26, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington D.C. will open the exhibition \u003ca href=\"https://americanhistory.si.edu/explore/exhibitions/corazon-y-vida-lowriding-culture\">\u003cem>Corazón y vida\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, honoring more than 80 years of lowriding culture.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13981674\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1600px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13981674 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/iwJihpZQ.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"794\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/iwJihpZQ.jpg 1600w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/iwJihpZQ-160x79.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/iwJihpZQ-768x381.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/iwJihpZQ-1536x762.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">El Rey, a vintage 1963 Chevrolet Impala, has been named Lowrider of the Year three times by Lowrider Magazine. \u003ccite>(National Musuem of American History)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The exhibition includes photographs from artists like \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmoma.org/artist/Lou_Dematteis/\">Lou Dematteis\u003c/a> and posters from the \u003ca href=\"https://library.harvard.edu/collections/royal-chicano-air-force-posters\">Royal Chicano Air Force\u003c/a>. Artifacts such as plaques, jackets, a tool box and a “No Cruising” sign from Sacramento help fill in important context.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And of course, there’s the legendary vehicles. Those include “\u003ca href=\"https://www.petersen.org/vehicle-spotlights/1963-chevrolet-impala-el-rey\">El Rey\u003c/a>,” Albert de Alba, Sr.’s 1963 cherry-and-sherbet-colored Chevrolet Impala, and “\u003ca href=\"https://www.petersen.org/vehicle-spotlights/1964-chevrolet-impala-gypsy-rose\">Gypsy Rose\u003c/a>,” a 1964 Chevrolet Impala hand-painted with a floral design by the late Jesse Valadez Sr..\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Yes, the car is the star,” exhibition curator Steve Velasquez tells me in a recent phone interview. “But it takes a community to build it. It takes a community to show it. It takes the community to really appreciate it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That community of lowrider lovers that Velasquez references is largely Latino. As the federal government makes it a point to accost, harass and deport immigrants — specifically Latino people — \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/09/23/nx-s1-5550915/trump-immigration-judges\">without due process\u003c/a>, \u003cem>Corazón y vida\u003c/em> comes at an interesting time, to say the least.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Add to that this administration’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/trump-executive-order-to-force-changes-at-smithsonian-institution-targeting-funding-for-programs-with-improper-ideology\">meddling into the Smithsonian\u003c/a>, an institution under threat of a “\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/09/22/nx-s1-5517973/smithsonian-document-citizen-historians\">comprehensive internal review\u003c/a>” to weed out “improper ideology” and “divisive narratives.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The exhibition has been in the works since the end of Trump’s first term, but it comes at the right time, says Velasquez, adding that it’s “the right thing to do” regardless of who’s in power.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Long before the current administration, lowriding and the culture from which it emerged faced harsh critiques, over-policing and biased legislation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RAavisatXA\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In January of last year, \u003ca href=\"https://lataco.com/california-cruising-law\">California’s Assembly Bill 436\u003c/a> took effect, ending a more than 25-year ban on “cruising zones” throughout the state. And while changing laws is a major accomplishment, changing people’s minds is a separate hurdle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s taken a lot of work, from a lot of people, to change the perception of lowriding as criminal and to make it more of an expression of culture,” says Velasquez.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many car clubs serve the community by volunteering at hospitals, speaking to the incarcerated and organizing food drives, Velasquez says. Along with hanging fuzzy dice on the rear-view and installing hydraulics to make their cars hop, lowrider groups for years have filled the gaps created by a lack of city services and other social institutions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13923205/best-of-roll-with-us-a-sisterhood-of-lowriding\">Dueñas\u003c/a>, an all-women, intergenerational collective from the South Bay led by Angel Romero, exemplifies the changing perception of lowriders.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since their founding more than five years ago, the collective has turned heads at car shows, organized holiday toy drives for kids and performed philanthropic work throughout the South Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13981668\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13981668\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Duen%CC%81as_2-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"An intergenerational group of Latina women pose for a photo.\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Dueńas_2-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Dueńas_2-2000x1333.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Dueńas_2-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Dueńas_2-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Dueńas_2-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Dueńas_2-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dueńas car club, pictured in 2021, is an intergenerational collective of women from the South Bay. \u003ccite>(Renée Lopez)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Now, an image of Dueñas will be included in the Smithsonian exhibition.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I never thought that lowriding, in general, would be this widely accepted,” says Romero. “Especially in times like this, where we’re facing a lot of different things going on in our communities.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those “different things” include a widespread federal crackdown on immigration, which sharply increased after Trump’s spending bill, approved in July, dedicated a staggering $75 billion to ICE enforcement over the next four years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“To see our culture and our history highlighted in the Smithsonian,” Romero says, “it shows that no matter what, we will always be here.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The image of Romero’s car club included in the Smithsonian exhibit was created by Northern California-based photographer \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/misslopezmedia/?hl=en\">Renée Lopez\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When Lopez got final confirmation of the exhibition, she printed the image and hand-delivered it to the car club members. “I was like, ‘Hey, by the way, y’all are about to be in Smithsonian,’” Lopez says. “We all cried, it was amazing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13981669\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13981669 size-medium\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Miss-Lopez-2000x2667.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2667\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Miss-Lopez-2000x2667.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Miss-Lopez-160x213.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Miss-Lopez-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Miss-Lopez-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Miss-Lopez-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Miss-Lopez-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Renée Lopez, seen here at work in Oakland, has documented lowrider culture for years, with a specific focus on women. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Miss Lopez Media)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://unscriptedphotographers.com/misslopezmedia\">A photographer\u003c/a> who’s spent the past six years documenting lowrider culture, specifically the women in the scene, Lopez says the inclusion in the exhibit is a huge honor, and something that she’s still trying to wrap her head around.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I don’t get paid,” she says about her cultural documentation, “I do it out of love.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lopez’s mission to center women in lowriding underscores a significant shift within the culture. “We were really only allowed to be passengers,” Lopez says, in reference to older ways of thinking. “Now,” she says, “women have money to buy their own cars, they’re building their own cars and painting their own cars.” Two years ago, for the first time, she saw a woman compete in a hop contest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is what I’ve been working for, to push the culture forward,” says Lopez. “For it to be at this time, with what’s happening in this country right now, it is so special. I can’t even explain it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lopez, who is currently working on a documentary about women in lowriding, plans to make the trip to the nation’s capitol for this weekend’s opening.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Lowriding has been happening for a long time, and it’s always about resistance and resilience, right?” she says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“For it to be shown right now, I feel like the timing couldn’t have been better.”\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>‘Corazón y vida’ opens Friday, Sept. 26, at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington D.C. \u003ca href=\"https://americanhistory.si.edu/explore/exhibitions/corazon-y-vida-lowriding-culture\">Details and more information here\u003c/a>. The touring exhibition \u003ca href=\"https://www.sites.si.edu/s/tour-schedule?exhibit=Lowrider%20Culture%20in%20the%20United%20States%20%2F%20Cultura%20Lowrider%20en%20los%20Estados%20Unidos\">visits three cities in California\u003c/a>: Anaheim, Port Hueneme and Fresno. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"title": "Lowriders Cruise Onto the National Stage In Smithsonian Exhibition | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Lowriders — American-made muscle cars customized with chrome plates, glossy paint and pristine rims — comprise an art form that neatly represents the ideals of this country.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The cars are products of engineering and ingenuity, as well as community and culture. With candy paint and gold rims, the mobile masterpieces come from a long tradition that’s been stigmatized and even criminalized.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, lowriding culture is being celebrated on the highest national level.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Friday, Sept. 26, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington D.C. will open the exhibition \u003ca href=\"https://americanhistory.si.edu/explore/exhibitions/corazon-y-vida-lowriding-culture\">\u003cem>Corazón y vida\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, honoring more than 80 years of lowriding culture.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13981674\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1600px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13981674 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/iwJihpZQ.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"794\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/iwJihpZQ.jpg 1600w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/iwJihpZQ-160x79.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/iwJihpZQ-768x381.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/iwJihpZQ-1536x762.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">El Rey, a vintage 1963 Chevrolet Impala, has been named Lowrider of the Year three times by Lowrider Magazine. \u003ccite>(National Musuem of American History)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The exhibition includes photographs from artists like \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmoma.org/artist/Lou_Dematteis/\">Lou Dematteis\u003c/a> and posters from the \u003ca href=\"https://library.harvard.edu/collections/royal-chicano-air-force-posters\">Royal Chicano Air Force\u003c/a>. Artifacts such as plaques, jackets, a tool box and a “No Cruising” sign from Sacramento help fill in important context.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And of course, there’s the legendary vehicles. Those include “\u003ca href=\"https://www.petersen.org/vehicle-spotlights/1963-chevrolet-impala-el-rey\">El Rey\u003c/a>,” Albert de Alba, Sr.’s 1963 cherry-and-sherbet-colored Chevrolet Impala, and “\u003ca href=\"https://www.petersen.org/vehicle-spotlights/1964-chevrolet-impala-gypsy-rose\">Gypsy Rose\u003c/a>,” a 1964 Chevrolet Impala hand-painted with a floral design by the late Jesse Valadez Sr..\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Yes, the car is the star,” exhibition curator Steve Velasquez tells me in a recent phone interview. “But it takes a community to build it. It takes a community to show it. It takes the community to really appreciate it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That community of lowrider lovers that Velasquez references is largely Latino. As the federal government makes it a point to accost, harass and deport immigrants — specifically Latino people — \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/09/23/nx-s1-5550915/trump-immigration-judges\">without due process\u003c/a>, \u003cem>Corazón y vida\u003c/em> comes at an interesting time, to say the least.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Add to that this administration’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/trump-executive-order-to-force-changes-at-smithsonian-institution-targeting-funding-for-programs-with-improper-ideology\">meddling into the Smithsonian\u003c/a>, an institution under threat of a “\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/09/22/nx-s1-5517973/smithsonian-document-citizen-historians\">comprehensive internal review\u003c/a>” to weed out “improper ideology” and “divisive narratives.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The exhibition has been in the works since the end of Trump’s first term, but it comes at the right time, says Velasquez, adding that it’s “the right thing to do” regardless of who’s in power.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Long before the current administration, lowriding and the culture from which it emerged faced harsh critiques, over-policing and biased legislation.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/9RAavisatXA'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/9RAavisatXA'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>In January of last year, \u003ca href=\"https://lataco.com/california-cruising-law\">California’s Assembly Bill 436\u003c/a> took effect, ending a more than 25-year ban on “cruising zones” throughout the state. And while changing laws is a major accomplishment, changing people’s minds is a separate hurdle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s taken a lot of work, from a lot of people, to change the perception of lowriding as criminal and to make it more of an expression of culture,” says Velasquez.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many car clubs serve the community by volunteering at hospitals, speaking to the incarcerated and organizing food drives, Velasquez says. Along with hanging fuzzy dice on the rear-view and installing hydraulics to make their cars hop, lowrider groups for years have filled the gaps created by a lack of city services and other social institutions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13923205/best-of-roll-with-us-a-sisterhood-of-lowriding\">Dueñas\u003c/a>, an all-women, intergenerational collective from the South Bay led by Angel Romero, exemplifies the changing perception of lowriders.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since their founding more than five years ago, the collective has turned heads at car shows, organized holiday toy drives for kids and performed philanthropic work throughout the South Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13981668\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13981668\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Duen%CC%81as_2-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"An intergenerational group of Latina women pose for a photo.\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Dueńas_2-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Dueńas_2-2000x1333.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Dueńas_2-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Dueńas_2-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Dueńas_2-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Dueńas_2-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dueńas car club, pictured in 2021, is an intergenerational collective of women from the South Bay. \u003ccite>(Renée Lopez)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Now, an image of Dueñas will be included in the Smithsonian exhibition.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I never thought that lowriding, in general, would be this widely accepted,” says Romero. “Especially in times like this, where we’re facing a lot of different things going on in our communities.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those “different things” include a widespread federal crackdown on immigration, which sharply increased after Trump’s spending bill, approved in July, dedicated a staggering $75 billion to ICE enforcement over the next four years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“To see our culture and our history highlighted in the Smithsonian,” Romero says, “it shows that no matter what, we will always be here.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The image of Romero’s car club included in the Smithsonian exhibit was created by Northern California-based photographer \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/misslopezmedia/?hl=en\">Renée Lopez\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When Lopez got final confirmation of the exhibition, she printed the image and hand-delivered it to the car club members. “I was like, ‘Hey, by the way, y’all are about to be in Smithsonian,’” Lopez says. “We all cried, it was amazing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13981669\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13981669 size-medium\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Miss-Lopez-2000x2667.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2667\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Miss-Lopez-2000x2667.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Miss-Lopez-160x213.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Miss-Lopez-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Miss-Lopez-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Miss-Lopez-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Miss-Lopez-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Renée Lopez, seen here at work in Oakland, has documented lowrider culture for years, with a specific focus on women. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Miss Lopez Media)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://unscriptedphotographers.com/misslopezmedia\">A photographer\u003c/a> who’s spent the past six years documenting lowrider culture, specifically the women in the scene, Lopez says the inclusion in the exhibit is a huge honor, and something that she’s still trying to wrap her head around.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I don’t get paid,” she says about her cultural documentation, “I do it out of love.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lopez’s mission to center women in lowriding underscores a significant shift within the culture. “We were really only allowed to be passengers,” Lopez says, in reference to older ways of thinking. “Now,” she says, “women have money to buy their own cars, they’re building their own cars and painting their own cars.” Two years ago, for the first time, she saw a woman compete in a hop contest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is what I’ve been working for, to push the culture forward,” says Lopez. “For it to be at this time, with what’s happening in this country right now, it is so special. I can’t even explain it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lopez, who is currently working on a documentary about women in lowriding, plans to make the trip to the nation’s capitol for this weekend’s opening.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Lowriding has been happening for a long time, and it’s always about resistance and resilience, right?” she says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“For it to be shown right now, I feel like the timing couldn’t have been better.”\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>‘Corazón y vida’ opens Friday, Sept. 26, at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington D.C. \u003ca href=\"https://americanhistory.si.edu/explore/exhibitions/corazon-y-vida-lowriding-culture\">Details and more information here\u003c/a>. The touring exhibition \u003ca href=\"https://www.sites.si.edu/s/tour-schedule?exhibit=Lowrider%20Culture%20in%20the%20United%20States%20%2F%20Cultura%20Lowrider%20en%20los%20Estados%20Unidos\">visits three cities in California\u003c/a>: Anaheim, Port Hueneme and Fresno. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13980118\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/HelloKitty.1x1.jpg\" alt=\"A person in a large white kitten outfit wearing a cap and jersey for the Giants baseball team waves with both hands on the baseball field\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2000\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13980118\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/HelloKitty.1x1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/HelloKitty.1x1-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/HelloKitty.1x1-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/HelloKitty.1x1-1536x1536.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hello Kitty throws out the first pitch before a game at Oracle Park on June 8, 2025 in San Francisco. With deep roots from San José to Santa Rosa, Sanrio’s prevalence in the Bay Area is stronger than ever. \u003ccite>(Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Laura Chin walked into the Hello Kitty Cafe, dressed for the occasion.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wearing a pink milkmaid dress adorned with sprinkles, the longtime Sanrio fan completed her outfit with black cat ears and various themed accessories. Greeted by cases filled with cute Hello Kitty-themed confectionery and employees sporting signature pink aprons, the experience elevated Chin’s love for the Japanese brand.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Sanrio is often dismissed as just a cute pastel brand for children, or perhaps a nostalgic relic of Y2K,” Chin says. “But we overlook its cultural depth; it has enduring relevance. It has a really big aesthetic influence across, I believe, generations and even subcultures.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That influence is reaching fever pitch in the Bay Area. When Westfield Valley Fair mall unveiled the Hello Kitty Cafe in mid-July, a reported \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/restaurants/article/hello-kitty-cafe-santa-clara-20774832.php\">500 people lined up for opening day\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At a Giants baseball game in June, which sold out before the season even began, tens of thousands of fans lined up around the block to \u003ca href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@tephaniep/video/7513697416378338602\">scramble for a Hello Kitty Giants jersey\u003c/a> giveaway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13979973\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 1080px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13979973 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/SarahNaini.HelloKitty.Giants.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/SarahNaini.HelloKitty.Giants.jpg 1080w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/SarahNaini.HelloKitty.Giants-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/SarahNaini.HelloKitty.Giants-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sanrio fan Sarah Naini shows off her Hello Kitty Giants jersey at a game between the San Francisco Giants and the Atlanta Braves on June 8, 2025, at Oracle Park in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Sarah Naini)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>As a longtime Sanrio and Giants fan, Sarah Naini lined up at exactly 9 a.m. and was able to score one of the 15,000 free jerseys at around noon. But not everyone was as lucky.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A lot of my friends came in 30 to 45 minutes after me, and they didn’t even end up getting one because the line was that long,” Naini says. “I’ve gone to many Giants games and I’ve never seen the line that long, even before a game. I was asking one of the workers, and she said it was the craziest line that she’s ever seen in history.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What might seem like an unusual frenzy in the region has an explanation, and it’s not just \u003ca href=\"https://hoodline.com/2023/05/new-census-data-shows-that-asians-have-overtaken-whites-as-largest-bay-area-racial-group/\">the Bay Area’s substantial Asian population\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As it turns out, Sanrio’s roots in the Bay Area go back almost to its very beginnings, more than 50 years ago.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A not-so-Hollywood beginning\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Before Hello Kitty took over cafe menus and baseball stadiums, she slowly built her empire here in the United States.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the book \u003cem>Hello Kitty: The Remarkable Story of Sanrio and the Billion Dollar Feline Phenomenon, \u003c/em>authors Ken Belson and Brian Bremner explain that even early on, Sanrio founder Shintaro Tsuji’s goal for the Japanese brand was to expand to North America.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13979972\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"max-width: 1200px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13979972\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/GiftGate.FirstSanrioStoreInUSA.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1200\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/GiftGate.FirstSanrioStoreInUSA.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/GiftGate.FirstSanrioStoreInUSA-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/GiftGate.FirstSanrioStoreInUSA-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The very first Sanrio retail store in North America was located in San José’s Eastridge Mall. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Sanrio Co. Ltd.)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Like many Japanese businessmen, Tsuji was keenly focused on what was going on overseas,” Belson and Bremner write. “In the character-goods industry, there was no place better than America or, more specifically, Hollywood.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Sanrio didn’t debut in Hollywood’s cinematic spotlight. The company’s first North American satellite office was right here in the Bay Area, in South San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Randy Patterson, former vice president of retail and wholesale at Sanrio North America, notes in the Netflix documentary series \u003cem>The Toys That Made U\u003c/em>s that there were “a couple of warehouses in South San Francisco that were just chock-full of inventory.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This modest start in South San Francisco soon gave way to a more visible presence nearby. If you were around San José in the 1970s, you might recall \u003ca href=\"https://corporate.sanrio.co.jp/en/about_sanrio/history/\">Sanrio’s first-ever retail store in the United States\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Known as Gift Gate, the first, but certainly not the last, Sanrio store was located in Eastridge Mall, on the second level near Macy’s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13980016\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-18-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13980016\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-18-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-18-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-18-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-18-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Store employee Jack Chau straightens Hello Kitty merchandise on the shelves at the Sanrio store in Cupertino on Aug. 12, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For longtime San José resident Cynthia Pilgrim, Eastridge was her go-to, and she still remembers the feeling of visiting the Sanrio store as a child.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It was an attractive store, very colorful, very inviting — and that just stirred up something about your own childhood that made you curious,” Pilgrim says. “You wanted to go inside and figure out what the store was about. So, I loved it for the colors, and Hello Kitty was a big part of it. She was always in the window or somewhere nearby.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The Bay Area beagle who helped Hello Kitty\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>When it comes to Sanrio characters, along with Hello Kitty, fans may also think of My Melody, Kuromi or even Cinnamoroll.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But in his company’s early days, Tsuji started out selling a character a little more local to the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13980015\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13980015 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-16-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-16-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-16-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-16-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-16-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hello Kitty merchandise, including toys, accessories, and home goods, lines the shelves at the Sanrio store in Cupertino on Aug. 12, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Tsuji was a fan of Charles Schulz, creator of the \u003cem>Peanuts\u003c/em> comic strip and a longtime resident of Santa Rosa.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He met Schulz in 1970 and secured the license to market Snoopy and other \u003cem>Peanuts\u003c/em> characters in Japan, marking an important step in Sanrio’s international expansion.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13980011\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13980011\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-06-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-06-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-06-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-06-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-06-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Customers line up to order at the Hello Kitty Cafe in the Westfield Valley Fair mall in Santa Clara on Aug. 12, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Before long, the cultural exchange came full circle. In the 1980s, a mall in Santa Rosa hosted a Sanrio store, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>By securing the license for Snoopy, a character with direct ties to the Bay Area through Schulz and his studio, Sanrio laid important groundwork for expanding Hello Kitty and other characters across North America.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>More than just cute\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Sanrio’s early presence in the Bay Area turned into a lasting connection. Stores like Gift Gate did more than sell products — they created experiences that sparked curiosity and brought a touch of “cute” into everyday life.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For many, Hello Kitty and her friends became comforting childhood companions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13980019\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13980019\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-21-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-21-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-21-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-21-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-21-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Store employee Arielle Valera wears Hello Kitty accessories on her apron at the Sanrio store in Cupertino on Aug. 12, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>That affection didn’t fade with age. Instead, it evolved into something richer. Chin, a political science professor at De Anza Community College and longtime fan, has seen \u003ca href=\"https://www.britannica.com/topic/kawaii-culture\">kawaii culture\u003c/a> flourish not only among her students but the community at large.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Plush toys and character charms have moved beyond children’s accessories to become symbols of identity and emotional expression for people of all ages.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13980017\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13980017\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-19-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-19-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-19-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-19-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-19-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Sanrio store in Cupertino on Aug. 12, 2025, sells a wide range of Hello Kitty merchandise. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Chin describes these characters as “emotional surrogates,” offering care, optimism and even rebellion. In today’s world of emotional burnout and constant pressure, both especially strong in the Bay Area, she sees softness as a form of resistance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For many, kawaii culture also provides a space for memory, joy, and cultural belonging.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think of Sanrio’s modern revival not as regression, but as an emotional reclamation that these are symbols that are not just for kids,” Chin says. “They’re for everybody. They’re for anyone who understands that cuteness is joy, that cuteness can be armor, that identity is fluid, and that joy is worth displaying. And to love Sanrio, it’s to say that I remember who I was. I honor who I am. And I carry both with me, sometimes clipped to my purse in plushy form.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13980118\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/HelloKitty.1x1.jpg\" alt=\"A person in a large white kitten outfit wearing a cap and jersey for the Giants baseball team waves with both hands on the baseball field\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2000\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13980118\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/HelloKitty.1x1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/HelloKitty.1x1-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/HelloKitty.1x1-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/HelloKitty.1x1-1536x1536.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hello Kitty throws out the first pitch before a game at Oracle Park on June 8, 2025 in San Francisco. With deep roots from San José to Santa Rosa, Sanrio’s prevalence in the Bay Area is stronger than ever. \u003ccite>(Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Laura Chin walked into the Hello Kitty Cafe, dressed for the occasion.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wearing a pink milkmaid dress adorned with sprinkles, the longtime Sanrio fan completed her outfit with black cat ears and various themed accessories. Greeted by cases filled with cute Hello Kitty-themed confectionery and employees sporting signature pink aprons, the experience elevated Chin’s love for the Japanese brand.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Sanrio is often dismissed as just a cute pastel brand for children, or perhaps a nostalgic relic of Y2K,” Chin says. “But we overlook its cultural depth; it has enduring relevance. It has a really big aesthetic influence across, I believe, generations and even subcultures.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That influence is reaching fever pitch in the Bay Area. When Westfield Valley Fair mall unveiled the Hello Kitty Cafe in mid-July, a reported \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/restaurants/article/hello-kitty-cafe-santa-clara-20774832.php\">500 people lined up for opening day\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At a Giants baseball game in June, which sold out before the season even began, tens of thousands of fans lined up around the block to \u003ca href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@tephaniep/video/7513697416378338602\">scramble for a Hello Kitty Giants jersey\u003c/a> giveaway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13979973\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 1080px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13979973 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/SarahNaini.HelloKitty.Giants.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/SarahNaini.HelloKitty.Giants.jpg 1080w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/SarahNaini.HelloKitty.Giants-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/SarahNaini.HelloKitty.Giants-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sanrio fan Sarah Naini shows off her Hello Kitty Giants jersey at a game between the San Francisco Giants and the Atlanta Braves on June 8, 2025, at Oracle Park in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Sarah Naini)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>As a longtime Sanrio and Giants fan, Sarah Naini lined up at exactly 9 a.m. and was able to score one of the 15,000 free jerseys at around noon. But not everyone was as lucky.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A lot of my friends came in 30 to 45 minutes after me, and they didn’t even end up getting one because the line was that long,” Naini says. “I’ve gone to many Giants games and I’ve never seen the line that long, even before a game. I was asking one of the workers, and she said it was the craziest line that she’s ever seen in history.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What might seem like an unusual frenzy in the region has an explanation, and it’s not just \u003ca href=\"https://hoodline.com/2023/05/new-census-data-shows-that-asians-have-overtaken-whites-as-largest-bay-area-racial-group/\">the Bay Area’s substantial Asian population\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As it turns out, Sanrio’s roots in the Bay Area go back almost to its very beginnings, more than 50 years ago.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A not-so-Hollywood beginning\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Before Hello Kitty took over cafe menus and baseball stadiums, she slowly built her empire here in the United States.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the book \u003cem>Hello Kitty: The Remarkable Story of Sanrio and the Billion Dollar Feline Phenomenon, \u003c/em>authors Ken Belson and Brian Bremner explain that even early on, Sanrio founder Shintaro Tsuji’s goal for the Japanese brand was to expand to North America.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13979972\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"max-width: 1200px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13979972\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/GiftGate.FirstSanrioStoreInUSA.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1200\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/GiftGate.FirstSanrioStoreInUSA.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/GiftGate.FirstSanrioStoreInUSA-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/GiftGate.FirstSanrioStoreInUSA-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The very first Sanrio retail store in North America was located in San José’s Eastridge Mall. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Sanrio Co. Ltd.)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Like many Japanese businessmen, Tsuji was keenly focused on what was going on overseas,” Belson and Bremner write. “In the character-goods industry, there was no place better than America or, more specifically, Hollywood.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Sanrio didn’t debut in Hollywood’s cinematic spotlight. The company’s first North American satellite office was right here in the Bay Area, in South San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Randy Patterson, former vice president of retail and wholesale at Sanrio North America, notes in the Netflix documentary series \u003cem>The Toys That Made U\u003c/em>s that there were “a couple of warehouses in South San Francisco that were just chock-full of inventory.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This modest start in South San Francisco soon gave way to a more visible presence nearby. If you were around San José in the 1970s, you might recall \u003ca href=\"https://corporate.sanrio.co.jp/en/about_sanrio/history/\">Sanrio’s first-ever retail store in the United States\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Known as Gift Gate, the first, but certainly not the last, Sanrio store was located in Eastridge Mall, on the second level near Macy’s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13980016\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-18-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13980016\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-18-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-18-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-18-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-18-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Store employee Jack Chau straightens Hello Kitty merchandise on the shelves at the Sanrio store in Cupertino on Aug. 12, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For longtime San José resident Cynthia Pilgrim, Eastridge was her go-to, and she still remembers the feeling of visiting the Sanrio store as a child.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It was an attractive store, very colorful, very inviting — and that just stirred up something about your own childhood that made you curious,” Pilgrim says. “You wanted to go inside and figure out what the store was about. So, I loved it for the colors, and Hello Kitty was a big part of it. She was always in the window or somewhere nearby.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The Bay Area beagle who helped Hello Kitty\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>When it comes to Sanrio characters, along with Hello Kitty, fans may also think of My Melody, Kuromi or even Cinnamoroll.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But in his company’s early days, Tsuji started out selling a character a little more local to the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13980015\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13980015 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-16-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-16-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-16-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-16-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-16-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hello Kitty merchandise, including toys, accessories, and home goods, lines the shelves at the Sanrio store in Cupertino on Aug. 12, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Tsuji was a fan of Charles Schulz, creator of the \u003cem>Peanuts\u003c/em> comic strip and a longtime resident of Santa Rosa.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He met Schulz in 1970 and secured the license to market Snoopy and other \u003cem>Peanuts\u003c/em> characters in Japan, marking an important step in Sanrio’s international expansion.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13980011\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13980011\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-06-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-06-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-06-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-06-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-06-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Customers line up to order at the Hello Kitty Cafe in the Westfield Valley Fair mall in Santa Clara on Aug. 12, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Before long, the cultural exchange came full circle. In the 1980s, a mall in Santa Rosa hosted a Sanrio store, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>By securing the license for Snoopy, a character with direct ties to the Bay Area through Schulz and his studio, Sanrio laid important groundwork for expanding Hello Kitty and other characters across North America.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>More than just cute\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Sanrio’s early presence in the Bay Area turned into a lasting connection. Stores like Gift Gate did more than sell products — they created experiences that sparked curiosity and brought a touch of “cute” into everyday life.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For many, Hello Kitty and her friends became comforting childhood companions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13980019\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13980019\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-21-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-21-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-21-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-21-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-21-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Store employee Arielle Valera wears Hello Kitty accessories on her apron at the Sanrio store in Cupertino on Aug. 12, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>That affection didn’t fade with age. Instead, it evolved into something richer. Chin, a political science professor at De Anza Community College and longtime fan, has seen \u003ca href=\"https://www.britannica.com/topic/kawaii-culture\">kawaii culture\u003c/a> flourish not only among her students but the community at large.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Plush toys and character charms have moved beyond children’s accessories to become symbols of identity and emotional expression for people of all ages.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13980017\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13980017\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-19-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-19-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-19-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-19-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/250812-HELLOKITTY-19-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Sanrio store in Cupertino on Aug. 12, 2025, sells a wide range of Hello Kitty merchandise. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Chin describes these characters as “emotional surrogates,” offering care, optimism and even rebellion. In today’s world of emotional burnout and constant pressure, both especially strong in the Bay Area, she sees softness as a form of resistance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For many, kawaii culture also provides a space for memory, joy, and cultural belonging.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think of Sanrio’s modern revival not as regression, but as an emotional reclamation that these are symbols that are not just for kids,” Chin says. “They’re for everybody. They’re for anyone who understands that cuteness is joy, that cuteness can be armor, that identity is fluid, and that joy is worth displaying. And to love Sanrio, it’s to say that I remember who I was. I honor who I am. And I carry both with me, sometimes clipped to my purse in plushy form.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "asi-mexican-middle-eastern-fusion-restaurant-san-jose-halal",
"title": "At This San Jose Fusion Restaurant, Mexican and Jordanian Flavors Collide",
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"content": "\u003cp>Located on a quiet corner of South \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/san-jose\">San Jose\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/asimexicanfusion/?hl=en\">Así Mexican Fusion Bistro\u003c/a> would be easy to miss if it weren’t for the vibrant butterfly mural on the wall — one of the butterfly’s wings is a Mexican flag, and the other is a Jordanian flag. Inside, where customers sip on micheladas and catch sports on the TV, the restaurant feels like a standard Mexican spot until the basket of pita chips and tortilla chips arrives at the table: Instead of guacamole, you dip the chips in hummus topped with salsa macha.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The dip is typical of Así’s hybrid approach, which supplements the restaurant’s traditional Mexican menu with dishes that incorporate Middle Eastern ingredients in surprisingly delicious ways. Mini blue tostadas come topped with ribbons of beef shawarma, toum (garlic sauce) and sumac pickled onions. The shakshuka a la Mexicana, meanwhile, is a cross between traditional shakshuka and huevos rancheros, combining eggs, salty cheese, cilantro and a sumac-spiced tomato sauce — again, all on top of a tostada.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Owner Lourdes Barraza quit her job as a Group Supervisor at Santa Cruz Juvenile Hall to start a taco catering business in August 2018. “I’m a mom of three girls,” says Barraza, noting that catering allowed her to keep a flexible schedule. “For me, having my career was important, but being a mom was always number one.” Six years later, in January 2024, Barraza opened Así Mexican Fusion Bistro along with her eldest daughter, Isabella Astorga, who manages the restaurant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13979657\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13979657\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Lourdes-Barraza-Isabella-Astorga-Ana-Colin-and-Sophia-Gallo%CC%81n-Left-to-right.jpg\" alt=\"Four women pose for a portrait in front of a mural.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Lourdes-Barraza-Isabella-Astorga-Ana-Colin-and-Sophia-Gallón-Left-to-right.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Lourdes-Barraza-Isabella-Astorga-Ana-Colin-and-Sophia-Gallón-Left-to-right-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Lourdes-Barraza-Isabella-Astorga-Ana-Colin-and-Sophia-Gallón-Left-to-right-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Lourdes-Barraza-Isabella-Astorga-Ana-Colin-and-Sophia-Gallón-Left-to-right-1536x864.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">From left to right: Lourdes Barraza and her daughters Isabella Astorga, Sophia Gallón and Ana Colin. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Así Mexican Fusion Bistro)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For the brick-and-mortar, the mother and daughter wanted to go beyond traditional Mexican food. “We thought, ‘Let’s do Middle Eastern fusion,’” says Barraza. As it turns out, Astorga’s partner is from Jordan, and as she became more familiar with that country’s cuisine, she was intrigued by how similar it was to Mexican food — and how well the two cuisines’ spices and cooking techniques blended together. The fusion dishes at Así don’t come across as a gimmick, then, but rather a love letter to both cultures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’re also a lot of fun. Some of the restaurant’s most creative fusion creations include a falafel-stuffed burrito and fries loaded with chicken shawarma, black beans, feta and pickled turnips.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Recipe development starts by breaking dishes down into their components and examining potential twists. For example, if a Mexican dish has oregano, the chefs consider fortifying that earthy flavor by adding Middle Eastern spices like za’atar or sumac. “It’s trial and error,” says Barraza. “As we go, we make changes we feel necessary. It seems to be working, people seem to love it.” One of their greatest hits is the tahini-chipotle crema, which serves as a nutty, smoky complement to grilled meats.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13979658\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13979658\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Pollo-Al-Pastor-Kebab-Plate.jpg\" alt=\"Chicken kebab, grilled tomatoes, cucumber salad and various sauces on a plate.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1126\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Pollo-Al-Pastor-Kebab-Plate.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Pollo-Al-Pastor-Kebab-Plate-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Pollo-Al-Pastor-Kebab-Plate-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Pollo-Al-Pastor-Kebab-Plate-1536x865.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Así’s take on al pastor is like a deconstructed chicken kebab skewer. \u003ccite>(Octavio Peña)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>It’s worth noting that there’s a long history of Mediterranean and Mexican fusion. Al pastor was created thanks to Lebanese immigrants who \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2018/02/08/584057034/building-a-latino-muslim-coalition-with-tacotrucksateverymosque\">introduced spit-roasted meat to Mexico in the 1930s\u003c/a>. Así shakes things up a bit by serving both chicken shawarma (cooked on a traditional vertical spit) and a pollo al pastor plate that’s essentially a deconstructed kebab: big, kebab-like chunks of spiced chicken paired with charred tomatoes, onion and a heaping pile of cucumber salad. The experience of loading up a freshly made corn tortilla with chicken kebab, tzatziki, toum and salsa verde is something you’re unlikely to find anywhere else in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #2b2b2b;font-weight: 400\">[aside postID='arts_13977033,arts_13971280,arts_13976236']\u003c/span>\u003c/span>Así is also a fusion of the family’s experiences and skills. Barraza brings her cooking experience as well as knowledge of family recipes — Así’s salsas are the same ones her father served at his taqueria in Southern California. Meanwhile, Astorga puts her communications degree to use by running an efficient floor and creating a strong sense of community with customers. Barraza’s youngest daughter helps out as a server and makes \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DAl2EuYSxlV/?hl=en\">social media videos\u003c/a> for the restaurant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Although Así is relatively new, it has already earned a dedicated following, with some customers stopping in as many as five times a week. “We’ve become a pillar in the short time we’ve been in the community,” Astorga says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13979656\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13979656\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Shakshuka-a-la-Mexicana-tostada.jpg\" alt=\"Tostada topped with egg cooked in tomato sauce.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1126\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Shakshuka-a-la-Mexicana-tostada.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Shakshuka-a-la-Mexicana-tostada-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Shakshuka-a-la-Mexicana-tostada-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Shakshuka-a-la-Mexicana-tostada-1536x865.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">‘Shakshuka a la Mexicana’ is a cross between traditional shakshuka and huevos rancheros. \u003ccite>(Octavio Peña)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The success can be attributed in part to Barraza’s willingness to adapt. When she noticed that a majority of Así’s customers were Muslims who had concerns about cross-contamination from pork, she decided to remove it from the menu. Now, all of the food they serve is halal. Meanwhile, Barraza says many Latino customers have been hesitant to try the restaurant’s Middle Eastern–influenced dishes. She hopes to entice them by pairing those items with more familiar Mexican dishes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The family has bright hopes for the restaurant’s future, with plans to eventually open a nicer sit-down location with full table service. However, they’re in no rush to expand.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The restaurant is in its toddler stages,” Barraza says. “Before we open another location, I need it walking on its own.”\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/asimexicanfusion/?hl=en\">\u003ci>Así Mexican Fusion Bistro\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci> is located at 6239 Santa Teresa Blvd. in San Jose.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Located on a quiet corner of South \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/san-jose\">San Jose\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/asimexicanfusion/?hl=en\">Así Mexican Fusion Bistro\u003c/a> would be easy to miss if it weren’t for the vibrant butterfly mural on the wall — one of the butterfly’s wings is a Mexican flag, and the other is a Jordanian flag. Inside, where customers sip on micheladas and catch sports on the TV, the restaurant feels like a standard Mexican spot until the basket of pita chips and tortilla chips arrives at the table: Instead of guacamole, you dip the chips in hummus topped with salsa macha.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The dip is typical of Así’s hybrid approach, which supplements the restaurant’s traditional Mexican menu with dishes that incorporate Middle Eastern ingredients in surprisingly delicious ways. Mini blue tostadas come topped with ribbons of beef shawarma, toum (garlic sauce) and sumac pickled onions. The shakshuka a la Mexicana, meanwhile, is a cross between traditional shakshuka and huevos rancheros, combining eggs, salty cheese, cilantro and a sumac-spiced tomato sauce — again, all on top of a tostada.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Owner Lourdes Barraza quit her job as a Group Supervisor at Santa Cruz Juvenile Hall to start a taco catering business in August 2018. “I’m a mom of three girls,” says Barraza, noting that catering allowed her to keep a flexible schedule. “For me, having my career was important, but being a mom was always number one.” Six years later, in January 2024, Barraza opened Así Mexican Fusion Bistro along with her eldest daughter, Isabella Astorga, who manages the restaurant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13979657\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13979657\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Lourdes-Barraza-Isabella-Astorga-Ana-Colin-and-Sophia-Gallo%CC%81n-Left-to-right.jpg\" alt=\"Four women pose for a portrait in front of a mural.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Lourdes-Barraza-Isabella-Astorga-Ana-Colin-and-Sophia-Gallón-Left-to-right.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Lourdes-Barraza-Isabella-Astorga-Ana-Colin-and-Sophia-Gallón-Left-to-right-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Lourdes-Barraza-Isabella-Astorga-Ana-Colin-and-Sophia-Gallón-Left-to-right-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Lourdes-Barraza-Isabella-Astorga-Ana-Colin-and-Sophia-Gallón-Left-to-right-1536x864.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">From left to right: Lourdes Barraza and her daughters Isabella Astorga, Sophia Gallón and Ana Colin. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Así Mexican Fusion Bistro)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For the brick-and-mortar, the mother and daughter wanted to go beyond traditional Mexican food. “We thought, ‘Let’s do Middle Eastern fusion,’” says Barraza. As it turns out, Astorga’s partner is from Jordan, and as she became more familiar with that country’s cuisine, she was intrigued by how similar it was to Mexican food — and how well the two cuisines’ spices and cooking techniques blended together. The fusion dishes at Así don’t come across as a gimmick, then, but rather a love letter to both cultures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’re also a lot of fun. Some of the restaurant’s most creative fusion creations include a falafel-stuffed burrito and fries loaded with chicken shawarma, black beans, feta and pickled turnips.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Recipe development starts by breaking dishes down into their components and examining potential twists. For example, if a Mexican dish has oregano, the chefs consider fortifying that earthy flavor by adding Middle Eastern spices like za’atar or sumac. “It’s trial and error,” says Barraza. “As we go, we make changes we feel necessary. It seems to be working, people seem to love it.” One of their greatest hits is the tahini-chipotle crema, which serves as a nutty, smoky complement to grilled meats.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13979658\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13979658\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Pollo-Al-Pastor-Kebab-Plate.jpg\" alt=\"Chicken kebab, grilled tomatoes, cucumber salad and various sauces on a plate.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1126\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Pollo-Al-Pastor-Kebab-Plate.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Pollo-Al-Pastor-Kebab-Plate-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Pollo-Al-Pastor-Kebab-Plate-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Pollo-Al-Pastor-Kebab-Plate-1536x865.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Así’s take on al pastor is like a deconstructed chicken kebab skewer. \u003ccite>(Octavio Peña)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>It’s worth noting that there’s a long history of Mediterranean and Mexican fusion. Al pastor was created thanks to Lebanese immigrants who \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2018/02/08/584057034/building-a-latino-muslim-coalition-with-tacotrucksateverymosque\">introduced spit-roasted meat to Mexico in the 1930s\u003c/a>. Así shakes things up a bit by serving both chicken shawarma (cooked on a traditional vertical spit) and a pollo al pastor plate that’s essentially a deconstructed kebab: big, kebab-like chunks of spiced chicken paired with charred tomatoes, onion and a heaping pile of cucumber salad. The experience of loading up a freshly made corn tortilla with chicken kebab, tzatziki, toum and salsa verde is something you’re unlikely to find anywhere else in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #2b2b2b;font-weight: 400\">\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/span>\u003c/span>Así is also a fusion of the family’s experiences and skills. Barraza brings her cooking experience as well as knowledge of family recipes — Así’s salsas are the same ones her father served at his taqueria in Southern California. Meanwhile, Astorga puts her communications degree to use by running an efficient floor and creating a strong sense of community with customers. Barraza’s youngest daughter helps out as a server and makes \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DAl2EuYSxlV/?hl=en\">social media videos\u003c/a> for the restaurant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Although Así is relatively new, it has already earned a dedicated following, with some customers stopping in as many as five times a week. “We’ve become a pillar in the short time we’ve been in the community,” Astorga says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13979656\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13979656\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Shakshuka-a-la-Mexicana-tostada.jpg\" alt=\"Tostada topped with egg cooked in tomato sauce.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1126\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Shakshuka-a-la-Mexicana-tostada.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Shakshuka-a-la-Mexicana-tostada-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Shakshuka-a-la-Mexicana-tostada-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/Shakshuka-a-la-Mexicana-tostada-1536x865.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">‘Shakshuka a la Mexicana’ is a cross between traditional shakshuka and huevos rancheros. \u003ccite>(Octavio Peña)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The success can be attributed in part to Barraza’s willingness to adapt. When she noticed that a majority of Así’s customers were Muslims who had concerns about cross-contamination from pork, she decided to remove it from the menu. Now, all of the food they serve is halal. Meanwhile, Barraza says many Latino customers have been hesitant to try the restaurant’s Middle Eastern–influenced dishes. She hopes to entice them by pairing those items with more familiar Mexican dishes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The family has bright hopes for the restaurant’s future, with plans to eventually open a nicer sit-down location with full table service. However, they’re in no rush to expand.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The restaurant is in its toddler stages,” Barraza says. “Before we open another location, I need it walking on its own.”\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/asimexicanfusion/?hl=en\">\u003ci>Así Mexican Fusion Bistro\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci> is located at 6239 Santa Teresa Blvd. in San Jose.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "escaped-black-and-white-tegu-lizard-loose-santa-clara-county-san-jose",
"title": "There’s a Black and White Tegu on the Loose in Santa Clara County",
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"headTitle": "There’s a Black and White Tegu on the Loose in Santa Clara County | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>When someone told me over the weekend that a black and white tegu was loose in Joseph D. Grant County Park, I initially thought one of those boxy little driverless robotaxis had gone rogue. Turns out that tegus are, in fact, massive lizards native to Central and South America that like nothing more than gobbling up eggs, small mammals and fruit — and being pretty darn cute while they’re at it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The black and white tegu was spotted last week by hikers who reported their sighting to the Santa Clara County Parks department. Rangers have been searching for the tegu near Grant Lake ever since, and are encouraging hikers to immediately report any sightings of the little guy to them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13977344\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13977344\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/santa-clara-fb.png\" alt=\"A large white lizard with black markings peers out of shrubbery.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1551\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/santa-clara-fb.png 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/santa-clara-fb-160x124.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/santa-clara-fb-768x596.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/santa-clara-fb-1536x1191.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Santa Clara County Parks posted this alert to Facebook on Friday. \u003ccite>(Facebook/Santa Clara County Parks)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Where the heck did this lizard come from? Well, tegus are smart and usually docile, which means people like keeping them as pets. It’s perfectly legal to do so in California, even though they can grow up to four feet long and live up to 20 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s a pet tegu named Winston who has his own TikTok account:\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" style=\"max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px\" cite=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@winstonthetegu/video/7129275873358040366\" data-video-id=\"7129275873358040366\">\n\u003csection>\u003ca title=\"@winstonthetegu\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@winstonthetegu?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@winstonthetegu\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"winstonthetegu\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/winstonthetegu?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#winstonthetegu\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"tegu\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/tegu?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#TEGU\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"argentine\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/argentine?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#argentine\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"blackandwhite\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/blackandwhite?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#blackandwhite\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"tegus\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/tegus?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#Tegus\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"argentinetegu\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/argentinetegu?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#argentinetegu\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"lizard\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/lizard?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#lizard\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"lizardlife\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/lizardlife?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#lizardlife\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"reptile\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/reptile?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#reptile\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"reptiles\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/reptiles?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#reptiles\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"fyp\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#fyp\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"foryoupage\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/foryoupage?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#foryoupage\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"fypシ\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp%E3%82%B7?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#fypシ\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"cute\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/cute?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#cute\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"lizardsofinstagram\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/lizardsofinstagram?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#lizardsofinstagram\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"tegulizard\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/tegulizard?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#tegulizard\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"reptilesofinstagram\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/reptilesofinstagram?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#reptilesofinstagram\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"happy\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/happy?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#happy\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"♬ original sound - winstonthetegu\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7129275857436396334?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">♬ original sound – winstonthetegu\u003c/a>\u003c/section>\n\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>[tiktok]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unfortunately, when tegus get out into American nature, they can be destructive little so-and-sos who wreak havoc on native bird populations and other small creatures. They are also speedy and fond of burrowing, making them tricky to find and catch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" style=\"max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px\" cite=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@seasexotics/video/7345949940624969006\" data-video-id=\"7345949940624969006\">\n\u003csection>\u003ca title=\"@seasexotics\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@seasexotics?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@seasexotics\u003c/a> He stole my shoes \u003ca title=\"animal\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/animal?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#animal\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"animals\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/animals?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#animals\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"pet\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/pet?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#pet\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"pets\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/pets?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#pets\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"cuteanimals\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/cuteanimals?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#cuteanimals\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"interesting\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/interesting?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#interesting\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"reptiles\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/reptiles?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#reptiles\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"cute\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/cute?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#cute\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"reptile\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/reptile?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#reptile\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"aww\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/aww?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#aww\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"tegu\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/tegu?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#tegu\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"blackandwhite\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/blackandwhite?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#blackandwhite\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"blackandwhitetegu\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/blackandwhitetegu?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#blackandwhitetegu\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"lizard\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/lizard?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#lizard\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"lizards\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/lizards?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#lizards\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"♬ original sound - Sea’s Exotics\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7345950029963643694?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">♬ original sound – Sea’s Exotics\u003c/a>\u003c/section>\n\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>Exacerbating matters, female tegus will lay up to 35 eggs each year; populations of the escaped reptiles can grow quickly. Both Florida and Georgia have such out-of-control tegu problems that both states recently introduced bans on breeding and selling the animals. One tegu owner, known as \u003ca href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@thatteacherwiththelizard/video/7236761514924051758\">@thatteacherwiththelizard on TikTok\u003c/a>, notes that “Tegus are on the same level as cats when it comes to intelligence … They’re escape artists, they’re cunning, they’re super sweet. If you have a cat, you know.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep your eyes peeled if you’re in Joseph D. Grant County Park. The local birds will thank you for it.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>When someone told me over the weekend that a black and white tegu was loose in Joseph D. Grant County Park, I initially thought one of those boxy little driverless robotaxis had gone rogue. Turns out that tegus are, in fact, massive lizards native to Central and South America that like nothing more than gobbling up eggs, small mammals and fruit — and being pretty darn cute while they’re at it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The black and white tegu was spotted last week by hikers who reported their sighting to the Santa Clara County Parks department. Rangers have been searching for the tegu near Grant Lake ever since, and are encouraging hikers to immediately report any sightings of the little guy to them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13977344\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13977344\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/santa-clara-fb.png\" alt=\"A large white lizard with black markings peers out of shrubbery.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1551\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/santa-clara-fb.png 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/santa-clara-fb-160x124.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/santa-clara-fb-768x596.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/santa-clara-fb-1536x1191.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Santa Clara County Parks posted this alert to Facebook on Friday. \u003ccite>(Facebook/Santa Clara County Parks)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Where the heck did this lizard come from? Well, tegus are smart and usually docile, which means people like keeping them as pets. It’s perfectly legal to do so in California, even though they can grow up to four feet long and live up to 20 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s a pet tegu named Winston who has his own TikTok account:\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" style=\"max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px\" cite=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@winstonthetegu/video/7129275873358040366\" data-video-id=\"7129275873358040366\">\n\u003csection>\u003ca title=\"@winstonthetegu\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@winstonthetegu?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@winstonthetegu\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"winstonthetegu\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/winstonthetegu?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#winstonthetegu\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"tegu\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/tegu?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#TEGU\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"argentine\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/argentine?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#argentine\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"blackandwhite\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/blackandwhite?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#blackandwhite\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"tegus\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/tegus?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#Tegus\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"argentinetegu\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/argentinetegu?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#argentinetegu\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"lizard\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/lizard?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#lizard\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"lizardlife\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/lizardlife?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#lizardlife\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"reptile\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/reptile?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#reptile\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"reptiles\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/reptiles?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#reptiles\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"fyp\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#fyp\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"foryoupage\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/foryoupage?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#foryoupage\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"fypシ\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp%E3%82%B7?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#fypシ\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"cute\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/cute?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#cute\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"lizardsofinstagram\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/lizardsofinstagram?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#lizardsofinstagram\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"tegulizard\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/tegulizard?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#tegulizard\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"reptilesofinstagram\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/reptilesofinstagram?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#reptilesofinstagram\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"happy\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/happy?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#happy\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"♬ original sound - winstonthetegu\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7129275857436396334?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">♬ original sound – winstonthetegu\u003c/a>\u003c/section>\n\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unfortunately, when tegus get out into American nature, they can be destructive little so-and-sos who wreak havoc on native bird populations and other small creatures. They are also speedy and fond of burrowing, making them tricky to find and catch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" style=\"max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px\" cite=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@seasexotics/video/7345949940624969006\" data-video-id=\"7345949940624969006\">\n\u003csection>\u003ca title=\"@seasexotics\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@seasexotics?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@seasexotics\u003c/a> He stole my shoes \u003ca title=\"animal\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/animal?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#animal\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"animals\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/animals?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#animals\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"pet\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/pet?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#pet\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"pets\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/pets?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#pets\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"cuteanimals\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/cuteanimals?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#cuteanimals\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"interesting\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/interesting?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#interesting\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"reptiles\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/reptiles?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#reptiles\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"cute\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/cute?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#cute\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"reptile\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/reptile?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#reptile\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"aww\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/aww?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#aww\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"tegu\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/tegu?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#tegu\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"blackandwhite\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/blackandwhite?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#blackandwhite\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"blackandwhitetegu\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/blackandwhitetegu?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#blackandwhitetegu\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"lizard\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/lizard?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#lizard\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"lizards\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/lizards?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#lizards\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"♬ original sound - Sea’s Exotics\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7345950029963643694?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">♬ original sound – Sea’s Exotics\u003c/a>\u003c/section>\n\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>Exacerbating matters, female tegus will lay up to 35 eggs each year; populations of the escaped reptiles can grow quickly. Both Florida and Georgia have such out-of-control tegu problems that both states recently introduced bans on breeding and selling the animals. One tegu owner, known as \u003ca href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@thatteacherwiththelizard/video/7236761514924051758\">@thatteacherwiththelizard on TikTok\u003c/a>, notes that “Tegus are on the same level as cats when it comes to intelligence … They’re escape artists, they’re cunning, they’re super sweet. If you have a cat, you know.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep your eyes peeled if you’re in Joseph D. Grant County Park. The local birds will thank you for it.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "salpikitos-arepas-san-jose-charcoal-grill-late-night",
"title": "San Jose’s New Late-Night Hot Spot Serves Smoky, Charcoal-Grilled Arepas",
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"content": "\u003cp>On a recent Saturday night, I was food-truck-hopping in East \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/san-jose\">San Jose\u003c/a> when the aroma of charcoal lured me to a small food stand on Alum Rock — a Colombian arepa joint called \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/salpikitos.usa24/?hl=en\">Salpikitos\u003c/a>, it turned out. I felt like I had stumbled into a family’s backyard barbecue. There was an assembly line of cooks. One tended to a simmering pot of speckled quail eggs; another fanned the flames while searing a batch of arepas on the grill. It was nearly midnight and every table was packed with customers chowing down on charred masa cakes and sipping bottles of Colombiana cola.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For research purposes, I ordered the fattest arepa on the menu, the desgranada, which overflowed with beef, corn, plantain, avocado, chicharron and quail eggs skewered on toothpicks. I loved the contrast between the crisp, brittle masa and the creamy filling. It was one of the tastiest arepas I’ve come across in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Edward Tovar and Vivian Sanchez opened the San Jose location of Salpikitos last December, but the business was born in Villavicencio, Colombia, in 2008. Tovar’s brother, Carlos Kaleet, started out selling arepas from a street stall and eventually expanded to a brick-and-mortar location in Villavicencio and another in Bogota. Tovar and Sanchez worked alongside Kaleet back in Colombia and got his blessing to continue the family business when they moved to the United States three years ago. Over the last six months, they’ve transformed Salpikitos from a simple food stall that had a few scattered tables to something more like an outdoor restaurant, complete with a walled-off, fully built-out kitchen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13977046\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13977046\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripin%CC%83a-on-Grill.jpg\" alt=\"An arepa topped with shredded cheese and pinapples cooking over a charcoal grill, alongside a sausage link.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripiña-on-Grill.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripiña-on-Grill-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripiña-on-Grill-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripiña-on-Grill-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripiña-on-Grill-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripiña-on-Grill-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripiña-on-Grill-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Salpikitos’ calling card is that it cooks its arepas on a charcoal grill, imparting the corn cakes with a smoky flavor. Pictured here are the components of the choripiña. \u003ccite>(Octavio Peña)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #2b2b2b;font-weight: 400\">[aside postID='arts_13971280,arts_13954112,arts_13939388']\u003c/span>\u003c/span>Of course, the food stand’s specialty is its arepas, which are a kind of masa cake that originated in Colombia and Venezuela. There’s a growing number of Colombian and Venezuelan food businesses in San Jose that make these stuffed corn cakes, but almost always on an indoor griddle. What makes the arepas at Salpikitos special is that they’re grilled over charcoal to impart a smoky flavor and a light char. Plus, the cooks make the masa from scratch using white corn kernels. “Before we had an electric machine,” says Sanchez, “but right now, we’re grinding it by hand. It takes about two and a half hours for the thirty pounds of masa we make per day.” The arepas are sturdy enough to encase an incredible amount of filling and have a subtle corn flavor that serves as a blank slate for a diverse cast of ingredients.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The couple spent years studying the recipes at the original Salpikitos to replicate the flavors as precisely as possible. “The spices, amounts and ingredients are all the same we used in Colombia,” says Sanchez. There are over a dozen varieties of stuffed arepas on the menu. The top seller is the aforementioned desgranada. Sanchez’s personal favorite is the shrimp arepa filled with gooey cheese, tomatoes, red onions, avocado and paprika.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13977043\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13977043\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Edward-Tovar-and-Vivian-Sanchez.jpg\" alt=\"A man and woman, both dressed in black, pose for a portrait next to a fence.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1126\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Edward-Tovar-and-Vivian-Sanchez.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Edward-Tovar-and-Vivian-Sanchez-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Edward-Tovar-and-Vivian-Sanchez-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Edward-Tovar-and-Vivian-Sanchez-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Edward-Tovar-and-Vivian-Sanchez-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Edward-Tovar-and-Vivian-Sanchez-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Edward-Tovar-and-Vivian-Sanchez-1920x1081.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Owners Edward Tovar and Vivian Sanchez. \u003ccite>(Octavio Peña)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>On the other hand, Tovar says his favorite dish isn’t a stuffed arepa at all. It’s the choripiña — a plain, unstuffed arepa topped with melted cheese and chunks of macerated pineapple, and served with a grilled Colombian chorizo link on top. All of the flavors come together incredibly well — the smoke-infused corn flavor of the grilled masa, the tart sweetness of the pineapple, the richness of the cheese, and the savoriness of the spice-infused chorizo. It’s also just a fun eating experience, since you can wrap the arepa around the sausage and bite into the whole thing as if it were a large stuffed taco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tovar and Sanchez say their menu is identical to the one at the Salpikitos locations in Colombia, so I was surprised to see dishes inspired by American and Mexican cuisine. The rancher burger arepa is filled with traditional burger toppings along with the addition of corn and quail eggs. Those two aren’t ingredients I would ever typically consider adding to my burger, but I can confirm that the combination works exceptionally well, especially with the hard sear the beef patty gets on the grill. The Mexicana, on the other hand, features beans, jalapeño, tomato, avocado, cheese and meat with a tangy red salsa.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13977044\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13977044\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Desgranada.jpg\" alt=\"A cheesy, overstuffed arepa on a paper plate.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Desgranada.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Desgranada-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Desgranada-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Desgranada-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Desgranada-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Desgranada-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Desgranada-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The fat, overstuffed desgranada is the bestseller. \u003ccite>(Octavio Peña)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13977045\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13977045\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripin%CC%83a.jpg\" alt=\"Arepa topped with chopped pineapple and a sausage link.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripiña.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripiña-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripiña-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripiña-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripiña-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripiña-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripiña-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The choripiña isn’t stuffed — instead, chopped pineapple and a grilled chorizo link are placed on top. \u003ccite>(Octavio Peña)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>When asked about their favorite menu item, every Salpikitos employee recommended something different. In other words, it’s the type of place where there’s something for everyone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Salpikitos isn’t visible from the street, and it’s tucked directly in the middle of the food truck park. Which is to say, the place isn’t easy to come across accidentally, yet the tables fill up nearly every night of the week, and the owners say they sell around 150 arepas a day. It’s become a popular late-night spot for diners in the mood for Colombian barbecue who gather near the fire as the cold night air fills with smoke and chatter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We feel customers come here because of the flavor of the arepa,” says Sanchez. “Customers tell us the flavor is unique because of the charcoal. It’s the essence of the arepa.”\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/salpikitos.usa24/?hl=en\">\u003ci>Salpikitos\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci> is open Monday through Friday 7 p.m.–12 a.m. and Saturday to Sunday 5 p.m.–midnight at 1948 Alum Rock Ave. in San Jose.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>On a recent Saturday night, I was food-truck-hopping in East \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/san-jose\">San Jose\u003c/a> when the aroma of charcoal lured me to a small food stand on Alum Rock — a Colombian arepa joint called \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/salpikitos.usa24/?hl=en\">Salpikitos\u003c/a>, it turned out. I felt like I had stumbled into a family’s backyard barbecue. There was an assembly line of cooks. One tended to a simmering pot of speckled quail eggs; another fanned the flames while searing a batch of arepas on the grill. It was nearly midnight and every table was packed with customers chowing down on charred masa cakes and sipping bottles of Colombiana cola.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For research purposes, I ordered the fattest arepa on the menu, the desgranada, which overflowed with beef, corn, plantain, avocado, chicharron and quail eggs skewered on toothpicks. I loved the contrast between the crisp, brittle masa and the creamy filling. It was one of the tastiest arepas I’ve come across in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Edward Tovar and Vivian Sanchez opened the San Jose location of Salpikitos last December, but the business was born in Villavicencio, Colombia, in 2008. Tovar’s brother, Carlos Kaleet, started out selling arepas from a street stall and eventually expanded to a brick-and-mortar location in Villavicencio and another in Bogota. Tovar and Sanchez worked alongside Kaleet back in Colombia and got his blessing to continue the family business when they moved to the United States three years ago. Over the last six months, they’ve transformed Salpikitos from a simple food stall that had a few scattered tables to something more like an outdoor restaurant, complete with a walled-off, fully built-out kitchen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13977046\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13977046\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripin%CC%83a-on-Grill.jpg\" alt=\"An arepa topped with shredded cheese and pinapples cooking over a charcoal grill, alongside a sausage link.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripiña-on-Grill.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripiña-on-Grill-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripiña-on-Grill-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripiña-on-Grill-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripiña-on-Grill-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripiña-on-Grill-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripiña-on-Grill-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Salpikitos’ calling card is that it cooks its arepas on a charcoal grill, imparting the corn cakes with a smoky flavor. Pictured here are the components of the choripiña. \u003ccite>(Octavio Peña)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #2b2b2b;font-weight: 400\">\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/span>\u003c/span>Of course, the food stand’s specialty is its arepas, which are a kind of masa cake that originated in Colombia and Venezuela. There’s a growing number of Colombian and Venezuelan food businesses in San Jose that make these stuffed corn cakes, but almost always on an indoor griddle. What makes the arepas at Salpikitos special is that they’re grilled over charcoal to impart a smoky flavor and a light char. Plus, the cooks make the masa from scratch using white corn kernels. “Before we had an electric machine,” says Sanchez, “but right now, we’re grinding it by hand. It takes about two and a half hours for the thirty pounds of masa we make per day.” The arepas are sturdy enough to encase an incredible amount of filling and have a subtle corn flavor that serves as a blank slate for a diverse cast of ingredients.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The couple spent years studying the recipes at the original Salpikitos to replicate the flavors as precisely as possible. “The spices, amounts and ingredients are all the same we used in Colombia,” says Sanchez. There are over a dozen varieties of stuffed arepas on the menu. The top seller is the aforementioned desgranada. Sanchez’s personal favorite is the shrimp arepa filled with gooey cheese, tomatoes, red onions, avocado and paprika.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13977043\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13977043\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Edward-Tovar-and-Vivian-Sanchez.jpg\" alt=\"A man and woman, both dressed in black, pose for a portrait next to a fence.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1126\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Edward-Tovar-and-Vivian-Sanchez.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Edward-Tovar-and-Vivian-Sanchez-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Edward-Tovar-and-Vivian-Sanchez-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Edward-Tovar-and-Vivian-Sanchez-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Edward-Tovar-and-Vivian-Sanchez-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Edward-Tovar-and-Vivian-Sanchez-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Edward-Tovar-and-Vivian-Sanchez-1920x1081.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Owners Edward Tovar and Vivian Sanchez. \u003ccite>(Octavio Peña)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>On the other hand, Tovar says his favorite dish isn’t a stuffed arepa at all. It’s the choripiña — a plain, unstuffed arepa topped with melted cheese and chunks of macerated pineapple, and served with a grilled Colombian chorizo link on top. All of the flavors come together incredibly well — the smoke-infused corn flavor of the grilled masa, the tart sweetness of the pineapple, the richness of the cheese, and the savoriness of the spice-infused chorizo. It’s also just a fun eating experience, since you can wrap the arepa around the sausage and bite into the whole thing as if it were a large stuffed taco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tovar and Sanchez say their menu is identical to the one at the Salpikitos locations in Colombia, so I was surprised to see dishes inspired by American and Mexican cuisine. The rancher burger arepa is filled with traditional burger toppings along with the addition of corn and quail eggs. Those two aren’t ingredients I would ever typically consider adding to my burger, but I can confirm that the combination works exceptionally well, especially with the hard sear the beef patty gets on the grill. The Mexicana, on the other hand, features beans, jalapeño, tomato, avocado, cheese and meat with a tangy red salsa.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13977044\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13977044\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Desgranada.jpg\" alt=\"A cheesy, overstuffed arepa on a paper plate.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Desgranada.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Desgranada-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Desgranada-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Desgranada-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Desgranada-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Desgranada-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Desgranada-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The fat, overstuffed desgranada is the bestseller. \u003ccite>(Octavio Peña)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13977045\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13977045\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripin%CC%83a.jpg\" alt=\"Arepa topped with chopped pineapple and a sausage link.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripiña.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripiña-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripiña-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripiña-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripiña-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripiña-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/Choripiña-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The choripiña isn’t stuffed — instead, chopped pineapple and a grilled chorizo link are placed on top. \u003ccite>(Octavio Peña)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>When asked about their favorite menu item, every Salpikitos employee recommended something different. In other words, it’s the type of place where there’s something for everyone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Salpikitos isn’t visible from the street, and it’s tucked directly in the middle of the food truck park. Which is to say, the place isn’t easy to come across accidentally, yet the tables fill up nearly every night of the week, and the owners say they sell around 150 arepas a day. It’s become a popular late-night spot for diners in the mood for Colombian barbecue who gather near the fire as the cold night air fills with smoke and chatter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We feel customers come here because of the flavor of the arepa,” says Sanchez. “Customers tell us the flavor is unique because of the charcoal. It’s the essence of the arepa.”\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/salpikitos.usa24/?hl=en\">\u003ci>Salpikitos\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci> is open Monday through Friday 7 p.m.–12 a.m. and Saturday to Sunday 5 p.m.–midnight at 1948 Alum Rock Ave. in San Jose.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "best-classical-music-concerts-opera-bay-area-summer-2025",
"title": "8 Great Classical Music Experiences in the Bay Area This Summer",
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"headTitle": "8 Great Classical Music Experiences in the Bay Area This Summer | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Be sure to check out our full \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/summer-guide-2025\">2025 Summer Arts Guide to live music, movies, art, theater, festivals and more\u003c/a> in the Bay Area.\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When it comes to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/classical-music\">classical music\u003c/a>, for most of the year, I tend to be a champion of new works and rarely performed obscurities. But in the summertime, something about the season invites popular chestnuts of the repertoire — and helps my ear hear them in new ways. Luckily, this summer in the Bay Area, there’s a healthy mix of both. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976640\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/HarveyMilkReimagined.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976640\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/HarveyMilkReimagined.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/HarveyMilkReimagined-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/HarveyMilkReimagined-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Michael Kelly is Harvey Milk in ‘Harvey Milk Reimagined.’ \u003ccite>(Matt Simpkins Photography)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://ybca.org/event/harvey-milk-reimagined/\">Harvey Milk Reimagined\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>May 31–June 7, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>YBCA Theater, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Thirty years after its debut, the opera \u003cem>Harvey Milk\u003c/em> has been “reimagined” by Stewart Wallace and Michael Korie, its original composer and librettist. In this anticipated production by Opera Parallèle, it’s now two acts instead of three, but the emotional core of Milk’s inspiring life and tragic assassination remains. In St. Louis, this reworked, two-hour version was \u003ca href=\"https://www.riverfronttimes.com/arts/review-harvey-milk-at-opera-theatre-of-saint-louis-is-a-triumph-37902678\">hailed\u003c/a> as “nothing short of a triumph.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976641\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MarcOlivierLeBlanc-3606.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976641\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MarcOlivierLeBlanc-3606.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MarcOlivierLeBlanc-3606-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MarcOlivierLeBlanc-3606-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MarcOlivierLeBlanc-3606-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MarcOlivierLeBlanc-3606-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MarcOlivierLeBlanc-3606-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MarcOlivierLeBlanc-3606-1920x1281.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Heidi Moss Erickson. \u003ccite>(Marc Olivier LeBlanc)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://www.livermoreamadorsymphony.org/nextconcert.html\">Celestial Sounds\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>May 31, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>Bankhead Theater, Livermore\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We all have that friend who’s trepidatious about classical music, or even downright positive that they hate it. The cure? This outer space–themed program at the Livermore-Amador Symphony, with works they’ll recognize (Debussy’s \u003cem>Clair de Lune\u003c/em>; Richard Strauss’ \u003cem>Also Sprach Zarathustra\u003c/em> opening, used in the film \u003cem>2001\u003c/em>) alongside pieces featuring soprano (and \u003ca href=\"https://www.heidimosserickson.com/scientist\">scientist\u003c/a>) Heidi Moss Erickson. Holst’s \u003cem>The Planets\u003c/em> and John Williams’ rugged \u003cem>Star Wars\u003c/em> Suite, perfect for kids, round out the evening. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976642\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/37A1674.jpg\" alt=\"A man in a scarf and ragged clothing holds the hand of a woman, similarly dressed, both kneeling on the ground\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1395\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976642\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/37A1674.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/37A1674-800x558.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/37A1674-1020x711.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/37A1674-160x112.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/37A1674-768x536.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/37A1674-1536x1071.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/37A1674-1920x1339.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">‘La bohème’ comes to San Francisco Opera in June. \u003ccite>(Cory Weaver/SF Opera)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfopera.com/operas/la-boheme/\">La bohème\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>June 3–21, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I’ll grant you this: Once upon a time, this tale of starving artists in 19th-century Paris might have felt more relevant in San Francisco, now wealthy with tech money. But as the city’s few remaining artists get \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13975661/national-endowment-for-the-arts-grants-canceled-nonprofits\">defunded\u003c/a> by forces of fascism, it’s time to watch Puccini’s masterpiece in a new light. If you want just a taste, SF Opera’s “\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfopera.com/press/press-releases/Boheme-Out-of-the-Box-2025/\">Bohème Out of the Box\u003c/a>” mini-tour concludes in Hayward on June 28 and 29.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976644\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/hannahkendall.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1112\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976644\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/hannahkendall.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/hannahkendall-800x445.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/hannahkendall-1020x567.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/hannahkendall-160x89.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/hannahkendall-768x427.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/hannahkendall-1536x854.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/hannahkendall-1038x576.jpg 1038w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/hannahkendall-1920x1068.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hannah Kendall. \u003ccite>(Artist photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://www.leftcoastensemble.org/spring-contrasts\">Spring Contrasts\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>June 7, 2025, Piedmont Center for the Arts, Piedmont\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>June 9, 2025, Noe Valley Ministry, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In this inspired program for piano, clarinet and violin, the sturdy Left Coast Chamber Ensemble performs newer works by two Black composers: Kevin Day’s thrilling \u003cem>\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVSGnN3Gf_8\">Unquiet Waters\u003c/a>\u003c/em> and Hannah Kendall’s magnificent \u003cem>Processional\u003c/em>. Pieces by Puerto Rico’s Roberto Sierra and 19th-century Parisian Mel Bonis provide contrasts, thematically threaded by Bartók’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lg_Ss2tmhFw\">1938 composition\u003c/a> of the same name.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918983\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1994px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Screen-Shot-2022-09-09-at-1.54.12-PM.png\" alt=\"A conductor in action, arm flexed out before him, before a black background. He is wearing a casual black t-shirt, rather than a suit.\" width=\"1994\" height=\"1398\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13918983\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Screen-Shot-2022-09-09-at-1.54.12-PM.png 1994w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Screen-Shot-2022-09-09-at-1.54.12-PM-800x561.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Screen-Shot-2022-09-09-at-1.54.12-PM-1020x715.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Screen-Shot-2022-09-09-at-1.54.12-PM-160x112.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Screen-Shot-2022-09-09-at-1.54.12-PM-768x538.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Screen-Shot-2022-09-09-at-1.54.12-PM-1536x1077.png 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Screen-Shot-2022-09-09-at-1.54.12-PM-1920x1346.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1994px) 100vw, 1994px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">San Francisco Symphony’s music director Esa-Pekka Salonen, in action. \u003ccite>(Minna Hatinen)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfsymphony.org/Buy-Tickets/2024-25/salonen-mahler2\">Salonen conducts Mahler’s second\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>June 12–14, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco\u003c/em> \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And so Esa-Pekka Salonen’s time in San Francisco comes to an end. (Did he ever \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13846535/its-esa-pekkas-city-eventually\">go to a Giants game or get a Mission burrito\u003c/a>?) The maestro’s final concerts as the San Francisco Symphony’s Music Director seem pretty dang final — he didn’t appear at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13975328/michael-tilson-thomas-80th-birthday-concert-symphony-review\">Michael Tilson Thomas’ 80th birthday concert\u003c/a>, nor is he part of the symphony’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13973375/san-francisco-symphony-new-season-2025-2026\">upcoming season\u003c/a>. Catch him conducting Mahler’s second — with Heidi Stober, Sasha Cooke and the symphony chorus — before he shoves off. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13955628\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Kedrick-Armstrong-conducts-Oakland-Symphony-credit-Scott-Chernis-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A conductor waves his baton as orchestra musicians look on,\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13955628\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Kedrick-Armstrong-conducts-Oakland-Symphony-credit-Scott-Chernis-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Kedrick-Armstrong-conducts-Oakland-Symphony-credit-Scott-Chernis-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Kedrick-Armstrong-conducts-Oakland-Symphony-credit-Scott-Chernis-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Kedrick-Armstrong-conducts-Oakland-Symphony-credit-Scott-Chernis-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Kedrick-Armstrong-conducts-Oakland-Symphony-credit-Scott-Chernis-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Kedrick-Armstrong-conducts-Oakland-Symphony-credit-Scott-Chernis-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Kedrick-Armstrong-conducts-Oakland-Symphony-credit-Scott-Chernis-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Kedrick-Armstrong-conducts-Oakland-Symphony-credit-Scott-Chernis-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kedrick Armstrong conducts the Oakland Symphony in February 2024. \u003ccite>(Scott Chernis)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandsymphony.org/event-category/tickets-available/\">Kedrick Armstrong conducts Beethoven’s ninth\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>June 13, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>Paramount Theatre, Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Beethoven’s warhorse, complete with the Oakland Symphony Chorus and vocalists Hope Briggs, Zoie Reams, Ashley Faatoalia and Adam Lau, will be the main draw here. But \u003cem>Mighty River\u003c/em>, by Belize-born composer Errollyn Wallen, is sure to be a highlight of not only this program but the entire summer season. Interweaving musical themes from spirituals and gospel, the piece meditates on the British slave trade, delivering a deeply poignant listening experience. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13961162\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/9400-fnv-opening-240712.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13961162\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/9400-fnv-opening-240712.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/9400-fnv-opening-240712-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/9400-fnv-opening-240712-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/9400-fnv-opening-240712-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/9400-fnv-opening-240712-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/9400-fnv-opening-240712-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Soprano Pretty Yende sings at Charles Krug Winery in St. Helena for the opening night of Festival Napa Valley, July 12, 2024. \u003ccite>(Drew Alitzer Photography)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://festivalnapavalley.org/\">Festival Napa Valley\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>July 5–20, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>Various venues, Napa County\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You could try to pigeonhole this wine country festival as a hotbed of wealth — opening night at Charles Krug Winery features songs by Gordon Getty and a tribute to the late venture capitalist Richard Kramlich. But you’d be overlooking its many free and choose-your-own-price events accessible to locals, including the U.S. debut of the Versailles Royal Opera performing Donizetti’s \u003cem>La fille du régiment\u003c/em>. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976646\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/RafaelAguirre.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1239\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976646\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/RafaelAguirre.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/RafaelAguirre-800x496.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/RafaelAguirre-1020x632.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/RafaelAguirre-160x99.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/RafaelAguirre-768x476.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/RafaelAguirre-1536x952.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/RafaelAguirre-1920x1189.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rafael Aguirre. \u003ccite>(Liz Isles)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.symphonysanjose.org/attend/2024-2025-season/concerts/espana/\">España\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>June 7 and 8, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>California Theatre, San Jose\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Latin American-tinged \u003cem>Escaramuza\u003c/em> by Berkeley-born composer Gabriela Lena Frank kicks off this program, which includes pieces by Ravel and Rimsky-Korsakov that explore the rhythms and influence of Spain. But the centerpiece here, with guitarist Rafael Aguirre, is Rodrigo’s \u003cem>Concierto de Aranjuez\u003c/em>, the very definition of an oft-performed classic that deserves the renewed ear of summertime.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"title": "Your Guide to Classical Music in the Bay Area This Summer | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Be sure to check out our full \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/summer-guide-2025\">2025 Summer Arts Guide to live music, movies, art, theater, festivals and more\u003c/a> in the Bay Area.\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When it comes to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/classical-music\">classical music\u003c/a>, for most of the year, I tend to be a champion of new works and rarely performed obscurities. But in the summertime, something about the season invites popular chestnuts of the repertoire — and helps my ear hear them in new ways. Luckily, this summer in the Bay Area, there’s a healthy mix of both. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976640\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/HarveyMilkReimagined.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976640\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/HarveyMilkReimagined.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/HarveyMilkReimagined-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/HarveyMilkReimagined-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Michael Kelly is Harvey Milk in ‘Harvey Milk Reimagined.’ \u003ccite>(Matt Simpkins Photography)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://ybca.org/event/harvey-milk-reimagined/\">Harvey Milk Reimagined\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>May 31–June 7, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>YBCA Theater, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Thirty years after its debut, the opera \u003cem>Harvey Milk\u003c/em> has been “reimagined” by Stewart Wallace and Michael Korie, its original composer and librettist. In this anticipated production by Opera Parallèle, it’s now two acts instead of three, but the emotional core of Milk’s inspiring life and tragic assassination remains. In St. Louis, this reworked, two-hour version was \u003ca href=\"https://www.riverfronttimes.com/arts/review-harvey-milk-at-opera-theatre-of-saint-louis-is-a-triumph-37902678\">hailed\u003c/a> as “nothing short of a triumph.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976641\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MarcOlivierLeBlanc-3606.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976641\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MarcOlivierLeBlanc-3606.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MarcOlivierLeBlanc-3606-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MarcOlivierLeBlanc-3606-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MarcOlivierLeBlanc-3606-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MarcOlivierLeBlanc-3606-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MarcOlivierLeBlanc-3606-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MarcOlivierLeBlanc-3606-1920x1281.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Heidi Moss Erickson. \u003ccite>(Marc Olivier LeBlanc)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://www.livermoreamadorsymphony.org/nextconcert.html\">Celestial Sounds\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>May 31, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>Bankhead Theater, Livermore\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We all have that friend who’s trepidatious about classical music, or even downright positive that they hate it. The cure? This outer space–themed program at the Livermore-Amador Symphony, with works they’ll recognize (Debussy’s \u003cem>Clair de Lune\u003c/em>; Richard Strauss’ \u003cem>Also Sprach Zarathustra\u003c/em> opening, used in the film \u003cem>2001\u003c/em>) alongside pieces featuring soprano (and \u003ca href=\"https://www.heidimosserickson.com/scientist\">scientist\u003c/a>) Heidi Moss Erickson. Holst’s \u003cem>The Planets\u003c/em> and John Williams’ rugged \u003cem>Star Wars\u003c/em> Suite, perfect for kids, round out the evening. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976642\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/37A1674.jpg\" alt=\"A man in a scarf and ragged clothing holds the hand of a woman, similarly dressed, both kneeling on the ground\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1395\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976642\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/37A1674.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/37A1674-800x558.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/37A1674-1020x711.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/37A1674-160x112.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/37A1674-768x536.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/37A1674-1536x1071.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/37A1674-1920x1339.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">‘La bohème’ comes to San Francisco Opera in June. \u003ccite>(Cory Weaver/SF Opera)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfopera.com/operas/la-boheme/\">La bohème\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>June 3–21, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I’ll grant you this: Once upon a time, this tale of starving artists in 19th-century Paris might have felt more relevant in San Francisco, now wealthy with tech money. But as the city’s few remaining artists get \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13975661/national-endowment-for-the-arts-grants-canceled-nonprofits\">defunded\u003c/a> by forces of fascism, it’s time to watch Puccini’s masterpiece in a new light. If you want just a taste, SF Opera’s “\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfopera.com/press/press-releases/Boheme-Out-of-the-Box-2025/\">Bohème Out of the Box\u003c/a>” mini-tour concludes in Hayward on June 28 and 29.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976644\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/hannahkendall.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1112\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976644\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/hannahkendall.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/hannahkendall-800x445.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/hannahkendall-1020x567.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/hannahkendall-160x89.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/hannahkendall-768x427.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/hannahkendall-1536x854.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/hannahkendall-1038x576.jpg 1038w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/hannahkendall-1920x1068.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hannah Kendall. \u003ccite>(Artist photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>‘\u003ca href=\"https://www.leftcoastensemble.org/spring-contrasts\">Spring Contrasts\u003c/a>’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>June 7, 2025, Piedmont Center for the Arts, Piedmont\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>June 9, 2025, Noe Valley Ministry, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In this inspired program for piano, clarinet and violin, the sturdy Left Coast Chamber Ensemble performs newer works by two Black composers: Kevin Day’s thrilling \u003cem>\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVSGnN3Gf_8\">Unquiet Waters\u003c/a>\u003c/em> and Hannah Kendall’s magnificent \u003cem>Processional\u003c/em>. Pieces by Puerto Rico’s Roberto Sierra and 19th-century Parisian Mel Bonis provide contrasts, thematically threaded by Bartók’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lg_Ss2tmhFw\">1938 composition\u003c/a> of the same name.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13918983\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1994px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Screen-Shot-2022-09-09-at-1.54.12-PM.png\" alt=\"A conductor in action, arm flexed out before him, before a black background. He is wearing a casual black t-shirt, rather than a suit.\" width=\"1994\" height=\"1398\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13918983\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Screen-Shot-2022-09-09-at-1.54.12-PM.png 1994w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Screen-Shot-2022-09-09-at-1.54.12-PM-800x561.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Screen-Shot-2022-09-09-at-1.54.12-PM-1020x715.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Screen-Shot-2022-09-09-at-1.54.12-PM-160x112.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Screen-Shot-2022-09-09-at-1.54.12-PM-768x538.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Screen-Shot-2022-09-09-at-1.54.12-PM-1536x1077.png 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Screen-Shot-2022-09-09-at-1.54.12-PM-1920x1346.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1994px) 100vw, 1994px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">San Francisco Symphony’s music director Esa-Pekka Salonen, in action. \u003ccite>(Minna Hatinen)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfsymphony.org/Buy-Tickets/2024-25/salonen-mahler2\">Salonen conducts Mahler’s second\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>June 12–14, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco\u003c/em> \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And so Esa-Pekka Salonen’s time in San Francisco comes to an end. (Did he ever \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13846535/its-esa-pekkas-city-eventually\">go to a Giants game or get a Mission burrito\u003c/a>?) The maestro’s final concerts as the San Francisco Symphony’s Music Director seem pretty dang final — he didn’t appear at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13975328/michael-tilson-thomas-80th-birthday-concert-symphony-review\">Michael Tilson Thomas’ 80th birthday concert\u003c/a>, nor is he part of the symphony’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13973375/san-francisco-symphony-new-season-2025-2026\">upcoming season\u003c/a>. Catch him conducting Mahler’s second — with Heidi Stober, Sasha Cooke and the symphony chorus — before he shoves off. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13955628\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Kedrick-Armstrong-conducts-Oakland-Symphony-credit-Scott-Chernis-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A conductor waves his baton as orchestra musicians look on,\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13955628\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Kedrick-Armstrong-conducts-Oakland-Symphony-credit-Scott-Chernis-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Kedrick-Armstrong-conducts-Oakland-Symphony-credit-Scott-Chernis-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Kedrick-Armstrong-conducts-Oakland-Symphony-credit-Scott-Chernis-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Kedrick-Armstrong-conducts-Oakland-Symphony-credit-Scott-Chernis-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Kedrick-Armstrong-conducts-Oakland-Symphony-credit-Scott-Chernis-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Kedrick-Armstrong-conducts-Oakland-Symphony-credit-Scott-Chernis-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Kedrick-Armstrong-conducts-Oakland-Symphony-credit-Scott-Chernis-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Kedrick-Armstrong-conducts-Oakland-Symphony-credit-Scott-Chernis-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kedrick Armstrong conducts the Oakland Symphony in February 2024. \u003ccite>(Scott Chernis)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandsymphony.org/event-category/tickets-available/\">Kedrick Armstrong conducts Beethoven’s ninth\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>June 13, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>Paramount Theatre, Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Beethoven’s warhorse, complete with the Oakland Symphony Chorus and vocalists Hope Briggs, Zoie Reams, Ashley Faatoalia and Adam Lau, will be the main draw here. But \u003cem>Mighty River\u003c/em>, by Belize-born composer Errollyn Wallen, is sure to be a highlight of not only this program but the entire summer season. Interweaving musical themes from spirituals and gospel, the piece meditates on the British slave trade, delivering a deeply poignant listening experience. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13961162\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/9400-fnv-opening-240712.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13961162\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/9400-fnv-opening-240712.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/9400-fnv-opening-240712-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/9400-fnv-opening-240712-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/9400-fnv-opening-240712-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/9400-fnv-opening-240712-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/9400-fnv-opening-240712-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Soprano Pretty Yende sings at Charles Krug Winery in St. Helena for the opening night of Festival Napa Valley, July 12, 2024. \u003ccite>(Drew Alitzer Photography)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://festivalnapavalley.org/\">Festival Napa Valley\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>July 5–20, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>Various venues, Napa County\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You could try to pigeonhole this wine country festival as a hotbed of wealth — opening night at Charles Krug Winery features songs by Gordon Getty and a tribute to the late venture capitalist Richard Kramlich. But you’d be overlooking its many free and choose-your-own-price events accessible to locals, including the U.S. debut of the Versailles Royal Opera performing Donizetti’s \u003cem>La fille du régiment\u003c/em>. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976646\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/RafaelAguirre.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1239\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976646\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/RafaelAguirre.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/RafaelAguirre-800x496.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/RafaelAguirre-1020x632.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/RafaelAguirre-160x99.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/RafaelAguirre-768x476.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/RafaelAguirre-1536x952.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/RafaelAguirre-1920x1189.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rafael Aguirre. \u003ccite>(Liz Isles)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.symphonysanjose.org/attend/2024-2025-season/concerts/espana/\">España\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>June 7 and 8, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>California Theatre, San Jose\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Latin American-tinged \u003cem>Escaramuza\u003c/em> by Berkeley-born composer Gabriela Lena Frank kicks off this program, which includes pieces by Ravel and Rimsky-Korsakov that explore the rhythms and influence of Spain. But the centerpiece here, with guitarist Rafael Aguirre, is Rodrigo’s \u003cem>Concierto de Aranjuez\u003c/em>, the very definition of an oft-performed classic that deserves the renewed ear of summertime.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "best-jazz-bay-area-summer-concerts-festivals",
"title": "10 of the Best Jazz Shows in the Bay Area This Summer",
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"headTitle": "10 of the Best Jazz Shows in the Bay Area This Summer | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cb>\u003ci>Be sure to check out our full \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/summer-guide-2025\">2025 Summer Arts Guide to live music, movies, art, theater, festivals and more\u003c/a> in the Bay Area.\u003c/i>\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s an unpredictable summer, folks. Some find escape in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13975778/summer-concerts-music-festivals-bay-area-san-francisco-napa-oakland\">music festivals\u003c/a> or \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13976207/bay-area-summer-djing-glass-blowing-ceramics-sewing-gardening\">hands-on diversions\u003c/a>, while I’ve always gotten lost in jazz — especially live jazz, and its beautiful reshaping of the world and one’s self in it. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are 10 excellent jazz shows in the Bay Area this summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976346\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/howardwiley.courtesy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1081\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976346\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/howardwiley.courtesy.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/howardwiley.courtesy-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/howardwiley.courtesy-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/howardwiley.courtesy-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/howardwiley.courtesy-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/howardwiley.courtesy-1536x865.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Howard Wiley. \u003ccite>(Artist photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/24-25/howard-wiley/\">Howard Wiley’s ‘California Love Pt. II’\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>May 24, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>SFJAZZ Center, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last year, Oakland tenor saxophonist and SFJAZZ resident artistic director Howard Wiley brought a sold-out crowd to its feet in a concert celebrating the music of the Golden State. (A medley of “Hotel California” and “California Love”? Check.) This year he brings that beat back with its sequel, subtitled “Love, Kale, Pride and Revolution,” with a group including organist Lionel “LJ” Holoman and trombonist Robin Eubanks, plus a handful of Bay Area all-stars. If you’ve been meaning to introduce a date to the thrill and energy of live jazz, you can’t go wrong here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976347\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 963px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/trio.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"963\" height=\"542\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976347\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/trio.jpg 963w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/trio-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/trio-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/trio-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 963px) 100vw, 963px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">LMNts Trio. \u003ccite>(Center for New Music)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://centerfornewmusic.com/event/lmnts-trio-aaron-bennett/\">LMNts Trio with Aaron Bennett\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>May 31, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>Center for New Music, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re feeling adventurous with $15 in your pocket, here’s your opportunity for radical exploration. The LMNts Trio evokes the form-fluid free jazz of labels like ESP-Disk with Scott R. Looney on prepared piano and electronics, Lisa Mezzacapa on bass and Kjell Nordeson on percussion. Add into the mix saxophonist Aaron Bennett, steeped in jazz standards and Thelonious Monk, and there’s no telling what could happen. That’s the fun of it, isn’t it? \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976348\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 872px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/63_Original.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"872\" height=\"584\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976348\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/63_Original.png 872w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/63_Original-800x536.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/63_Original-160x107.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/63_Original-768x514.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 872px) 100vw, 872px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Takuya Koroda. \u003ccite>(Artist photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://thenewparish.com/tm-event/takuya-kuroda/\">Takuya Koroda\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>June 6, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>The New Parish, Oakland \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Born in Kobe and now living in Brooklyn, Takuya Koroda is Japan’s answer to Roy Hargrove: a little bit of fusion, a little bit of post-bop, a little bit of hip-hop and a lot of invention. Having made a name for himself backing vocalist José James, Koroda has since recorded albums for Blue Note, Concord and Universal; his newest, \u003cem>Everyday\u003c/em>, is alive in all the right ways.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976349\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Sky-Quartet_2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976349\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Sky-Quartet_2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Sky-Quartet_2-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Sky-Quartet_2-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Sky-Quartet_2-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Sky-Quartet_2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Sky-Quartet_2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Sky-Quartet_2-1920x1080.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Charles Lloyd Sky Quartet, with Eric Harland, Larry Grenadier and Jason Moran. \u003ccite>(D. Darr)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/2025-summer/festival/overview/\">San Francisco Jazz Festival\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>June 13–15, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>SFJAZZ Center and surrounding streets, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Charles Lloyd alone makes this first-year festival at SFJAZZ worth attending, but the rest of this completely bananas lineup is so exciting, it had no choice but to spill out onto the streets for a three-day block party — complete with food trucks, local DJs and wine and beer. With bona fide jazz legends (Patrice Rushen, Stanley Clarke, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Dave Holland), hot, new up-and-comers (Lakecia Benjamin, Kassa Overall) and local stars (Ambrose Akinmusire, Salami Rose Joe Louis, Idris Ackamoor), it’s the must-see jazz event of the summer in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976350\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MG_1388croppedV2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1409\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976350\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MG_1388croppedV2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MG_1388croppedV2-800x564.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MG_1388croppedV2-1020x719.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MG_1388croppedV2-160x113.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MG_1388croppedV2-768x541.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MG_1388croppedV2-1536x1082.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MG_1388croppedV2-1920x1353.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Diane Reeves. \u003ccite>(Artist photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://healdsburgjazz.org/\">Healdsburg Jazz Festival\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>June 13–22, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>Various venues, Healdsburg\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The best of the Bay Area’s small-town jazz festivals hosts big names in intimate environs. This year it’s vocalist Diane Reeves, pianist Kenny Barron, drummer Terri Lynne Carrington, trumpeter Nicholas Payton and more. Under the direction of Marcus Shelby, regional artists get plenty of time in the wine country sunshine as well. Pro tip: The free Juneteenth concert in the town plaza couldn’t embody the festival spirit more, and Jason Moran’s tribute to Ellington — with Shelby and his orchestra — is essential.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976351\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Jovino-Santos-Neto-by-Daniel-Sheehan-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976351\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Jovino-Santos-Neto-by-Daniel-Sheehan-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Jovino-Santos-Neto-by-Daniel-Sheehan-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Jovino-Santos-Neto-by-Daniel-Sheehan-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Jovino-Santos-Neto-by-Daniel-Sheehan-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Jovino-Santos-Neto-by-Daniel-Sheehan-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Jovino-Santos-Neto-by-Daniel-Sheehan-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Jovino-Santos-Neto-by-Daniel-Sheehan-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Jovino-Santos-Neto-by-Daniel-Sheehan-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jovino Santos Neto. \u003ccite>(Daniel Sheehan)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://tickets.blackcatsf.com/r/jovino-santos-neto\">Jovino Santos Neto\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>June 26–29, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>The Black Cat, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now 70 years old, Jovino Santos Neto is playing as well as ever, and the basement confines of San Francisco’s classic, straight-out-of-the-movies jazz club should caress something special out of the Brazilian musician for this four-night residency. The multi-instrumentalist began performing at age 16 before a long run with Hermeto Pascal’s band; his talent and experience both emanate from his rarified music. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976352\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/ambolley.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976352\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/ambolley.jpg 1000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/ambolley-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/ambolley-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/ambolley-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gyedu-Blay Ambolley. \u003ccite>(Artist photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.jazzisdead.com/uploadevents/gyedu-blay-ambolley\">Gyedu-Blay Ambolley\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>July 18, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>Cornerstone, Berkeley\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hailing from Ghana, Gyedu-Bley Ambolly has released nearly 30 albums — but none so revered as his 1975 debut \u003cem>Simigiwa\u003c/em>. Mixing West African highlife with James Brown, Ambolley offered a Fela Kuti-esque vision of the world and, in the process, inadvertently created a roadmap for hip-hop. For its 50th anniversary, Ambolley plays the album in its entirety in Berkeley with an eight-piece band.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976353\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/peteescovedo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1553\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976353\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/peteescovedo.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/peteescovedo-800x621.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/peteescovedo-1020x792.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/peteescovedo-160x124.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/peteescovedo-768x596.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/peteescovedo-1536x1193.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/peteescovedo-1920x1491.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pete Escovedo. \u003ccite>(Courtesy Yoshi's)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://yoshis.com/events/buy-tickets/pete-escovedo-orchestra-birthday-celebration-5/detail\">Pete Escovedo 90th Birthday Celebration\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>July 25–27, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>Yoshi’s, Oakland \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Between his own music, his time in the groups Santana and Azteca, and his running of the 1990s jazz club Mr. E’s, there’s no underestimating the contributions of Pete Escovedo to Latin jazz. There’s also no underestimating the stature of the percussionist’s family, either, who’ll be on hand to give their patriarch a much-deserved musical celebration in their hometown. Though no lineup for the six-show residency has been formally announced, daughter Sheila E. and sons Juan and Peter III would be natural special guests for this family affair. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976355\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1374px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/RichieRich.MacMall.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1374\" height=\"1028\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976355\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/RichieRich.MacMall.jpg 1374w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/RichieRich.MacMall-800x599.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/RichieRich.MacMall-1020x763.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/RichieRich.MacMall-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/RichieRich.MacMall-768x575.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1374px) 100vw, 1374px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(L–R) Richie Rich and Mac Mall. \u003ccite>(Jason Hayes (\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/j.castae/\">J.Castae\u003c/a> / Artist photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://yoshis.com/events/buy-tickets/richie-rich-2/detail\">Richie Rich\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Aug. 1 and 2, 2025\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://yoshis.com/events/buy-tickets/mac-mall/detail\">Mac Mall\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Aug. 10, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>Yoshi’s, Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Among the more welcome developments in jazz clubs is the gradual migration of jazz’s natural lineage onto the stage: rap artists, performing with a live band. Yoshi’s in Oakland has been at the forefront of this trend, hosting thrilling shows with national artists like Scarface, Rakim and DJ Quik. This summer, local rap icons Richie Rich and Mac Mall both hit the club with a live band for a week of shows to remind you just how skilled and charismatic these two Bay legends are.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13903773\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1024px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/GettyImages-1166270592.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13903773\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/GettyImages-1166270592.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/GettyImages-1166270592-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/GettyImages-1166270592-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/GettyImages-1166270592-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/GettyImages-1166270592-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mavis Staples in 2019. \u003ccite>(Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://summerfest.sanjosejazz.org/\">San Jose Jazz Summer Fest\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Aug 8–10, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>Downtown San Jose \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s not summer in San Jose without this fantastic weekend festival, an annual tradition which takes over downtown San Jose and its scenic César Chávez Plaza. With headliners Mavis Staples, Common, Femi Kuti, Butcher Brown and Bilal — and over 100 artists total — the festival sprawls across nine stages to fill the downtown air with top-notch music and vibes that, sare we say, are immaculate. \u003c/p>\n\n",
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"excerpt": "A new street festival, international touring acts and local favorites round out a syncopated summer.",
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"headline": "10 of the Best Jazz Shows in the Bay Area This Summer",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cb>\u003ci>Be sure to check out our full \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/summer-guide-2025\">2025 Summer Arts Guide to live music, movies, art, theater, festivals and more\u003c/a> in the Bay Area.\u003c/i>\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s an unpredictable summer, folks. Some find escape in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13975778/summer-concerts-music-festivals-bay-area-san-francisco-napa-oakland\">music festivals\u003c/a> or \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13976207/bay-area-summer-djing-glass-blowing-ceramics-sewing-gardening\">hands-on diversions\u003c/a>, while I’ve always gotten lost in jazz — especially live jazz, and its beautiful reshaping of the world and one’s self in it. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are 10 excellent jazz shows in the Bay Area this summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976346\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/howardwiley.courtesy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1081\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976346\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/howardwiley.courtesy.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/howardwiley.courtesy-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/howardwiley.courtesy-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/howardwiley.courtesy-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/howardwiley.courtesy-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/howardwiley.courtesy-1536x865.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Howard Wiley. \u003ccite>(Artist photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/24-25/howard-wiley/\">Howard Wiley’s ‘California Love Pt. II’\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>May 24, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>SFJAZZ Center, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last year, Oakland tenor saxophonist and SFJAZZ resident artistic director Howard Wiley brought a sold-out crowd to its feet in a concert celebrating the music of the Golden State. (A medley of “Hotel California” and “California Love”? Check.) This year he brings that beat back with its sequel, subtitled “Love, Kale, Pride and Revolution,” with a group including organist Lionel “LJ” Holoman and trombonist Robin Eubanks, plus a handful of Bay Area all-stars. If you’ve been meaning to introduce a date to the thrill and energy of live jazz, you can’t go wrong here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976347\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 963px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/trio.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"963\" height=\"542\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976347\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/trio.jpg 963w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/trio-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/trio-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/trio-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 963px) 100vw, 963px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">LMNts Trio. \u003ccite>(Center for New Music)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://centerfornewmusic.com/event/lmnts-trio-aaron-bennett/\">LMNts Trio with Aaron Bennett\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>May 31, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>Center for New Music, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re feeling adventurous with $15 in your pocket, here’s your opportunity for radical exploration. The LMNts Trio evokes the form-fluid free jazz of labels like ESP-Disk with Scott R. Looney on prepared piano and electronics, Lisa Mezzacapa on bass and Kjell Nordeson on percussion. Add into the mix saxophonist Aaron Bennett, steeped in jazz standards and Thelonious Monk, and there’s no telling what could happen. That’s the fun of it, isn’t it? \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976348\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 872px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/63_Original.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"872\" height=\"584\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976348\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/63_Original.png 872w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/63_Original-800x536.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/63_Original-160x107.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/63_Original-768x514.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 872px) 100vw, 872px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Takuya Koroda. \u003ccite>(Artist photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://thenewparish.com/tm-event/takuya-kuroda/\">Takuya Koroda\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>June 6, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>The New Parish, Oakland \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Born in Kobe and now living in Brooklyn, Takuya Koroda is Japan’s answer to Roy Hargrove: a little bit of fusion, a little bit of post-bop, a little bit of hip-hop and a lot of invention. Having made a name for himself backing vocalist José James, Koroda has since recorded albums for Blue Note, Concord and Universal; his newest, \u003cem>Everyday\u003c/em>, is alive in all the right ways.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976349\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Sky-Quartet_2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976349\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Sky-Quartet_2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Sky-Quartet_2-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Sky-Quartet_2-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Sky-Quartet_2-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Sky-Quartet_2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Sky-Quartet_2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Sky-Quartet_2-1920x1080.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Charles Lloyd Sky Quartet, with Eric Harland, Larry Grenadier and Jason Moran. \u003ccite>(D. Darr)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/2025-summer/festival/overview/\">San Francisco Jazz Festival\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>June 13–15, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>SFJAZZ Center and surrounding streets, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Charles Lloyd alone makes this first-year festival at SFJAZZ worth attending, but the rest of this completely bananas lineup is so exciting, it had no choice but to spill out onto the streets for a three-day block party — complete with food trucks, local DJs and wine and beer. With bona fide jazz legends (Patrice Rushen, Stanley Clarke, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Dave Holland), hot, new up-and-comers (Lakecia Benjamin, Kassa Overall) and local stars (Ambrose Akinmusire, Salami Rose Joe Louis, Idris Ackamoor), it’s the must-see jazz event of the summer in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976350\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MG_1388croppedV2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1409\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976350\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MG_1388croppedV2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MG_1388croppedV2-800x564.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MG_1388croppedV2-1020x719.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MG_1388croppedV2-160x113.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MG_1388croppedV2-768x541.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MG_1388croppedV2-1536x1082.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/MG_1388croppedV2-1920x1353.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Diane Reeves. \u003ccite>(Artist photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://healdsburgjazz.org/\">Healdsburg Jazz Festival\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>June 13–22, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>Various venues, Healdsburg\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The best of the Bay Area’s small-town jazz festivals hosts big names in intimate environs. This year it’s vocalist Diane Reeves, pianist Kenny Barron, drummer Terri Lynne Carrington, trumpeter Nicholas Payton and more. Under the direction of Marcus Shelby, regional artists get plenty of time in the wine country sunshine as well. Pro tip: The free Juneteenth concert in the town plaza couldn’t embody the festival spirit more, and Jason Moran’s tribute to Ellington — with Shelby and his orchestra — is essential.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976351\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Jovino-Santos-Neto-by-Daniel-Sheehan-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976351\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Jovino-Santos-Neto-by-Daniel-Sheehan-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Jovino-Santos-Neto-by-Daniel-Sheehan-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Jovino-Santos-Neto-by-Daniel-Sheehan-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Jovino-Santos-Neto-by-Daniel-Sheehan-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Jovino-Santos-Neto-by-Daniel-Sheehan-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Jovino-Santos-Neto-by-Daniel-Sheehan-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Jovino-Santos-Neto-by-Daniel-Sheehan-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Jovino-Santos-Neto-by-Daniel-Sheehan-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jovino Santos Neto. \u003ccite>(Daniel Sheehan)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://tickets.blackcatsf.com/r/jovino-santos-neto\">Jovino Santos Neto\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>June 26–29, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>The Black Cat, San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now 70 years old, Jovino Santos Neto is playing as well as ever, and the basement confines of San Francisco’s classic, straight-out-of-the-movies jazz club should caress something special out of the Brazilian musician for this four-night residency. The multi-instrumentalist began performing at age 16 before a long run with Hermeto Pascal’s band; his talent and experience both emanate from his rarified music. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976352\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/ambolley.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976352\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/ambolley.jpg 1000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/ambolley-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/ambolley-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/ambolley-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gyedu-Blay Ambolley. \u003ccite>(Artist photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.jazzisdead.com/uploadevents/gyedu-blay-ambolley\">Gyedu-Blay Ambolley\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>July 18, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>Cornerstone, Berkeley\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hailing from Ghana, Gyedu-Bley Ambolly has released nearly 30 albums — but none so revered as his 1975 debut \u003cem>Simigiwa\u003c/em>. Mixing West African highlife with James Brown, Ambolley offered a Fela Kuti-esque vision of the world and, in the process, inadvertently created a roadmap for hip-hop. For its 50th anniversary, Ambolley plays the album in its entirety in Berkeley with an eight-piece band.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976353\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/peteescovedo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1553\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976353\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/peteescovedo.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/peteescovedo-800x621.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/peteescovedo-1020x792.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/peteescovedo-160x124.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/peteescovedo-768x596.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/peteescovedo-1536x1193.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/peteescovedo-1920x1491.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pete Escovedo. \u003ccite>(Courtesy Yoshi's)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://yoshis.com/events/buy-tickets/pete-escovedo-orchestra-birthday-celebration-5/detail\">Pete Escovedo 90th Birthday Celebration\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>July 25–27, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>Yoshi’s, Oakland \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Between his own music, his time in the groups Santana and Azteca, and his running of the 1990s jazz club Mr. E’s, there’s no underestimating the contributions of Pete Escovedo to Latin jazz. There’s also no underestimating the stature of the percussionist’s family, either, who’ll be on hand to give their patriarch a much-deserved musical celebration in their hometown. Though no lineup for the six-show residency has been formally announced, daughter Sheila E. and sons Juan and Peter III would be natural special guests for this family affair. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976355\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1374px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/RichieRich.MacMall.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1374\" height=\"1028\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976355\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/RichieRich.MacMall.jpg 1374w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/RichieRich.MacMall-800x599.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/RichieRich.MacMall-1020x763.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/RichieRich.MacMall-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/RichieRich.MacMall-768x575.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1374px) 100vw, 1374px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(L–R) Richie Rich and Mac Mall. \u003ccite>(Jason Hayes (\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/j.castae/\">J.Castae\u003c/a> / Artist photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://yoshis.com/events/buy-tickets/richie-rich-2/detail\">Richie Rich\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Aug. 1 and 2, 2025\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://yoshis.com/events/buy-tickets/mac-mall/detail\">Mac Mall\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Aug. 10, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>Yoshi’s, Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Among the more welcome developments in jazz clubs is the gradual migration of jazz’s natural lineage onto the stage: rap artists, performing with a live band. Yoshi’s in Oakland has been at the forefront of this trend, hosting thrilling shows with national artists like Scarface, Rakim and DJ Quik. This summer, local rap icons Richie Rich and Mac Mall both hit the club with a live band for a week of shows to remind you just how skilled and charismatic these two Bay legends are.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13903773\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1024px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/GettyImages-1166270592.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13903773\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/GettyImages-1166270592.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/GettyImages-1166270592-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/GettyImages-1166270592-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/GettyImages-1166270592-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/GettyImages-1166270592-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mavis Staples in 2019. \u003ccite>(Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://summerfest.sanjosejazz.org/\">San Jose Jazz Summer Fest\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Aug 8–10, 2025\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>Downtown San Jose \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s not summer in San Jose without this fantastic weekend festival, an annual tradition which takes over downtown San Jose and its scenic César Chávez Plaza. With headliners Mavis Staples, Common, Femi Kuti, Butcher Brown and Bilal — and over 100 artists total — the festival sprawls across nine stages to fill the downtown air with top-notch music and vibes that, sare we say, are immaculate. \u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "documentary-tyson-amir-racism-california-schools",
"title": "A Double Feature Confronts Racism in California Schools",
"publishDate": 1747242009,
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"headTitle": "A Double Feature Confronts Racism in California Schools | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>When \u003ca href=\"https://www.tysonamir.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tyson Amir\u003c/a> wrote his 2016 book \u003ca href=\"https://www.tysonamir.com/product-page/black-boy-poems-by-tyson-amir\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cem>Black Boy Poems\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, he did so with the intention of assisting African American kids in their pursuit of education.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s the same reason he started leading classroom workshops in the South Bay, discussing current events and history alike. And on the heels of the pandemic, as students returned to the classroom, teachers and administrators in several school districts noticed an increase in racist behavior, specifically directed at African American students.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, Amir is the subject of a short film about his work, \u003cem>Black Impact: The Leaders We Build\u003c/em>, which screens Friday, May 16 at the New Parkway in Oakland as a part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.fsmei.org/event-details/revolutionary-visions-film-festival\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Revolutionary Visions Film Festival\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Directed by \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/am1creates/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AM1\u003c/a>, the film centers on \u003ca href=\"https://www.fsmei.org/_files/ugd/d695b3_a4edf48b9e9f466fa8d5ba3788043fbf.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a 2023 anti-racist resolution\u003c/a> at Bernal Intermediate School in San Jose. After it was implemented, it spread across San Jose’s Oak Grove School District and around the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Amir believes this work is a model response to an nationwide issue. Last year the \u003ca href=\"https://www.justice.gov/hatecrimes/reported-hate-crimes-schools/dl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Department of Justice reported\u003c/a> that, from 2018–2022, Black students were the most likely to be victims of hate crimes in schools.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976277\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1683px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976277\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-10-at-2.20.41%E2%80%AFPM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1683\" height=\"1046\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-10-at-2.20.41 PM.png 1683w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-10-at-2.20.41 PM-800x497.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-10-at-2.20.41 PM-1020x634.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-10-at-2.20.41 PM-160x99.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-10-at-2.20.41 PM-768x477.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-10-at-2.20.41 PM-1536x955.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1683px) 100vw, 1683px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Amir Tyson speaks with a classroom in a scene from ‘Black Impact: The Leaders We Build.’ \u003ccite>(Courtesy Tyson Amir)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The year before, \u003ca href=\"https://idea.gseis.ucla.edu/publications/files/diverse-democracy-ca-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a UCLA survey\u003c/a> of 150 California principals showed that two-thirds reported instances of racist statements being directed at Black students — more than any other racial demographic by far, despite making up just five percent of all California public school students.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Recently, \u003ca href=\"https://aclucalaction.org/state-of-black-education-2024-california-report-card/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the ACLU looked at the state’s education system\u003c/a> to see what, if any, fundamental changes have occurred in the 70 years since the landmark Civil Rights case Brown v. Board of Education. “California is the third most segregated state for Black students,” read one finding. “Enrollment for Black students in CA decreased by 47% from 2003 to 2023,” read another.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And that’s the stuff that’s being reported,” says Amir via phone. “We know a whole bunch of stuff doesn’t get reported.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Amir has witnessed students calling their Black classmates monkeys, the N-word and chicken munchers; one invoked picking cotton in demanding another pick up a ball of wadded notebook paper. “And this is in the elementary and middle schools,” Amir explains.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID='arts_13974210']In response, he worked with teachers and administrators to create and implement a contract for students. It outlined how to treat people of all races and ethnicities, and established a set of guidelines for educators handling racist remarks and actions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Partway through the 19-minute film, Amir speaks a plain truth about his efforts. “Just because you put something on paper doesn’t mean it’s going to solve the problems that it’s addressing,” he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What follows is faculty and students admitting that the contract is a starting point. One that’s brought about \u003cem>some\u003c/em> change, but that also requires further work and education.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nonetheless, in subsequent years the contract’s framework has spread around the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976278\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1862px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976278\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-10-at-2.24.46%E2%80%AFPM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1862\" height=\"1039\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-10-at-2.24.46 PM.png 1862w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-10-at-2.24.46 PM-800x446.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-10-at-2.24.46 PM-1020x569.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-10-at-2.24.46 PM-160x89.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-10-at-2.24.46 PM-768x429.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-10-at-2.24.46 PM-1536x857.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1862px) 100vw, 1862px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Amir Tyson speaks with a classroom in a scene from ‘Black Impact: The Leaders We Build.’ \u003ccite>(Courtesy Tyson Amir)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Hayward Unified School District passed a \u003ca href=\"https://mtedenmonarch.com/1414/news/husd-passes-n-word-policy/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">no N-word policy\u003c/a> based on the Oak Grove School District anti-hate speech policy,” says Amir, who adds that Castro Valley Unified School District and New Haven Unified School District in Union City have passed similar resolutions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The next step is supporting students outside of school, Amir says. That’s where his nonprofit, \u003ca href=\"https://www.livingmanuals.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Living Manuals\u003c/a>, comes in.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After noticing students’ progress receding during the summer months, he began organizing trips for students to visit a Wellness Retreat Center just outside the United States in Baja California, complete with meals, history lessons and self-defense classes. It’s an extension, Amir says, of what his colleague in education, \u003ca href=\"https://jsassociates.org/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAad7oL_r8vqbvosQt7n0F9dDUiUgAWxcA7pRej5O8l6r90KzYLWJOkwxPHoxGg_aem_xoJnqFhZaj2sYsht567Jpw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Professor Jason Seals\u003c/a>, calls “a community of care.” (Professor Seals will also screen a film at The New Parkway on May 16 titled \u003ca href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jason-seals-96b39035_through-their-eyes-stories-of-anti-blackness-activity-7287250470568443904-iSbK/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cem>Through Their Eyes: Stories of Anti-Blackness\u003c/em>.\u003c/a>)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID='arts_13971701']While working with the young people can bring incremental change, Amir believes real solutions will have to come from adults. “Teachers are mandated reporters,” Amir says, citing the California Education Code. Racism that students encounter is technically abuse, and Amir says in certain instances, teachers have witnessed it and said nothing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You’re trained to step in when you’re seeing a child being harmed,” Amir attests. “Don’t allow these children to be harmed,” Amir continues, “that’s your job as an educator, as an adult.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All of this work is in effort to give students three key tools that create a healthy educational experience.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One where “you can think, you can learn,” Amir says, “and you can build better relationships.”\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>‘Black Impact: The Leaders We Build’ screens Friday, May 16 at the New Parkway in Oakland. \u003ca href=\"https://www.fsmei.org/event-details/revolutionary-visions-film-festival\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Details here\u003c/a>. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>When \u003ca href=\"https://www.tysonamir.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tyson Amir\u003c/a> wrote his 2016 book \u003ca href=\"https://www.tysonamir.com/product-page/black-boy-poems-by-tyson-amir\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cem>Black Boy Poems\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, he did so with the intention of assisting African American kids in their pursuit of education.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s the same reason he started leading classroom workshops in the South Bay, discussing current events and history alike. And on the heels of the pandemic, as students returned to the classroom, teachers and administrators in several school districts noticed an increase in racist behavior, specifically directed at African American students.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, Amir is the subject of a short film about his work, \u003cem>Black Impact: The Leaders We Build\u003c/em>, which screens Friday, May 16 at the New Parkway in Oakland as a part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.fsmei.org/event-details/revolutionary-visions-film-festival\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Revolutionary Visions Film Festival\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Directed by \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/am1creates/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AM1\u003c/a>, the film centers on \u003ca href=\"https://www.fsmei.org/_files/ugd/d695b3_a4edf48b9e9f466fa8d5ba3788043fbf.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a 2023 anti-racist resolution\u003c/a> at Bernal Intermediate School in San Jose. After it was implemented, it spread across San Jose’s Oak Grove School District and around the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Amir believes this work is a model response to an nationwide issue. Last year the \u003ca href=\"https://www.justice.gov/hatecrimes/reported-hate-crimes-schools/dl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Department of Justice reported\u003c/a> that, from 2018–2022, Black students were the most likely to be victims of hate crimes in schools.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976277\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1683px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976277\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-10-at-2.20.41%E2%80%AFPM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1683\" height=\"1046\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-10-at-2.20.41 PM.png 1683w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-10-at-2.20.41 PM-800x497.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-10-at-2.20.41 PM-1020x634.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-10-at-2.20.41 PM-160x99.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-10-at-2.20.41 PM-768x477.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-10-at-2.20.41 PM-1536x955.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1683px) 100vw, 1683px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Amir Tyson speaks with a classroom in a scene from ‘Black Impact: The Leaders We Build.’ \u003ccite>(Courtesy Tyson Amir)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The year before, \u003ca href=\"https://idea.gseis.ucla.edu/publications/files/diverse-democracy-ca-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a UCLA survey\u003c/a> of 150 California principals showed that two-thirds reported instances of racist statements being directed at Black students — more than any other racial demographic by far, despite making up just five percent of all California public school students.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Recently, \u003ca href=\"https://aclucalaction.org/state-of-black-education-2024-california-report-card/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the ACLU looked at the state’s education system\u003c/a> to see what, if any, fundamental changes have occurred in the 70 years since the landmark Civil Rights case Brown v. Board of Education. “California is the third most segregated state for Black students,” read one finding. “Enrollment for Black students in CA decreased by 47% from 2003 to 2023,” read another.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And that’s the stuff that’s being reported,” says Amir via phone. “We know a whole bunch of stuff doesn’t get reported.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Amir has witnessed students calling their Black classmates monkeys, the N-word and chicken munchers; one invoked picking cotton in demanding another pick up a ball of wadded notebook paper. “And this is in the elementary and middle schools,” Amir explains.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>In response, he worked with teachers and administrators to create and implement a contract for students. It outlined how to treat people of all races and ethnicities, and established a set of guidelines for educators handling racist remarks and actions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Partway through the 19-minute film, Amir speaks a plain truth about his efforts. “Just because you put something on paper doesn’t mean it’s going to solve the problems that it’s addressing,” he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What follows is faculty and students admitting that the contract is a starting point. One that’s brought about \u003cem>some\u003c/em> change, but that also requires further work and education.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nonetheless, in subsequent years the contract’s framework has spread around the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976278\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1862px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976278\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-10-at-2.24.46%E2%80%AFPM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1862\" height=\"1039\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-10-at-2.24.46 PM.png 1862w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-10-at-2.24.46 PM-800x446.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-10-at-2.24.46 PM-1020x569.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-10-at-2.24.46 PM-160x89.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-10-at-2.24.46 PM-768x429.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-10-at-2.24.46 PM-1536x857.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1862px) 100vw, 1862px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Amir Tyson speaks with a classroom in a scene from ‘Black Impact: The Leaders We Build.’ \u003ccite>(Courtesy Tyson Amir)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Hayward Unified School District passed a \u003ca href=\"https://mtedenmonarch.com/1414/news/husd-passes-n-word-policy/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">no N-word policy\u003c/a> based on the Oak Grove School District anti-hate speech policy,” says Amir, who adds that Castro Valley Unified School District and New Haven Unified School District in Union City have passed similar resolutions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The next step is supporting students outside of school, Amir says. That’s where his nonprofit, \u003ca href=\"https://www.livingmanuals.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Living Manuals\u003c/a>, comes in.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After noticing students’ progress receding during the summer months, he began organizing trips for students to visit a Wellness Retreat Center just outside the United States in Baja California, complete with meals, history lessons and self-defense classes. It’s an extension, Amir says, of what his colleague in education, \u003ca href=\"https://jsassociates.org/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAad7oL_r8vqbvosQt7n0F9dDUiUgAWxcA7pRej5O8l6r90KzYLWJOkwxPHoxGg_aem_xoJnqFhZaj2sYsht567Jpw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Professor Jason Seals\u003c/a>, calls “a community of care.” (Professor Seals will also screen a film at The New Parkway on May 16 titled \u003ca href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jason-seals-96b39035_through-their-eyes-stories-of-anti-blackness-activity-7287250470568443904-iSbK/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cem>Through Their Eyes: Stories of Anti-Blackness\u003c/em>.\u003c/a>)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>While working with the young people can bring incremental change, Amir believes real solutions will have to come from adults. “Teachers are mandated reporters,” Amir says, citing the California Education Code. Racism that students encounter is technically abuse, and Amir says in certain instances, teachers have witnessed it and said nothing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You’re trained to step in when you’re seeing a child being harmed,” Amir attests. “Don’t allow these children to be harmed,” Amir continues, “that’s your job as an educator, as an adult.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All of this work is in effort to give students three key tools that create a healthy educational experience.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One where “you can think, you can learn,” Amir says, “and you can build better relationships.”\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>‘Black Impact: The Leaders We Build’ screens Friday, May 16 at the New Parkway in Oakland. \u003ca href=\"https://www.fsmei.org/event-details/revolutionary-visions-film-festival\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Details here\u003c/a>. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "viet-thanh-nguyen-vietnamese-grocery-store-san-jose",
"title": "Viet Thanh Nguyen on Growing Up at His Parents’ Grocery Store in San José",
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"headTitle": "Viet Thanh Nguyen on Growing Up at His Parents’ Grocery Store in San José | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>Long before Viet Thanh Nguyen became a Pulitzer Prize–winning novelist, he was one of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12037680/san-jose-became-home-betty-duong-vietnamese-americans\">thousands of Vietnamese refugee kids\u003c/a> who grew up in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/san-jose\">San José\u003c/a> during the 1970s and ’80s. On evenings and weekends, he’d help out at his parents’ grocery store in downtown San José, where his family moved in 1978 when he was seven years old. It was reportedly the second-ever Vietnamese grocery store in the city, and Nguyen’s experiences there helped inform his debut novel, \u003ci>The Sympathizer\u003c/i>, and subsequent works.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A few weeks before the anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, KQED met with Nguyen — who now lives in Southern California — at the site of his parents’ old shop, currently occupied by an upscale apartment building across the street from City Hall. He reflected on the impact of his family’s store, his favorite childhood treats, and his memories of those early years for San José’s burgeoning Vietnamese community — decades before the flashy all-Vietnamese mega-malls and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/sanjosefood\">nationally recognized food scene\u003c/a> the city is known for today.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>This interview has been edited for length and clarity.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>KQED: Can you tell us about a little bit about your parents’ store in San José? \u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">[aside postID='news_12037680']\u003c/span>\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Viet Thanh Nguyen:\u003c/b> My parents opened a grocery store on East Santa Clara Street in 1978 or 1979. That whole corner there, underneath [what’s now a] very big apartment complex, was the Sàigòn Mới. It was not much to look at: a single-story grocery store, perhaps the second Vietnamese grocery store in San José, California. My parents ran it for about a decade. It was one of the centers of Vietnamese life because people could go, speak Vietnamese, buy rice, buy all of the kinds of things Vietnamese people needed to cook. I still meet people today, four decades later, who remember coming to my parents’ store.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13975437\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13975437\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/New-Saigon-Market-early-1980s.jpg\" alt=\"Old 1980s photograph of a Vietnamese grocery store with cars parked outside. The sign reads, 'Sàigòn Mới'. \" width=\"2000\" height=\"1358\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/New-Saigon-Market-early-1980s.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/New-Saigon-Market-early-1980s-800x543.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/New-Saigon-Market-early-1980s-1020x693.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/New-Saigon-Market-early-1980s-160x109.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/New-Saigon-Market-early-1980s-768x521.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/New-Saigon-Market-early-1980s-1536x1043.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/New-Saigon-Market-early-1980s-1920x1304.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nguyen’s parents opened the store in the late ’70s and ran it for about a decade. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Viet Thanh Nguyen)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Eventually, of course, what happened is that San José got so successful that the city forced all these Vietnamese businesses on Santa Clara Street to sell to them under eminent domain. So everything you see there now didn’t exist in the 1970s and 1980s. Now the new San José City Hall [is here], but way back then it was Winchell’s Donuts and the Kragen Auto Parts. On Sundays, we would go to Vietnamese mass down the street at St. Patrick’s, and then I would go help my parents at the store, buy a dozen donuts at Winchell’s and read the \u003ci>San Jose Mercury News\u003c/i>. And that’s how I spent my weekends.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Running a grocery store was not easy. My parents were working 12- to 14-hour days almost every day of the year, except for the Catholic holidays. \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CEuckOVBcgf/\">They were shot in that store on Christmas Eve\u003c/a>. It was a hard life. And so the last thing I wanted to do was to work in a grocery store. And one way that we actually deviated from stereotype is that my parents didn’t make my brother and me work in the store very much. What I did is that after they got home from their long day, after dinner, I would help them do the accounting. I would stamp the checks, count the money, stamp the food stamps and the Aid to Families with Dependent Children coupons. This is how I knew that life was hard for the Vietnamese in San José because I think half my parents’ revenue was from food stamps. Vietnamese people really needed the social welfare.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>My way of coping with this was to go to the Martin Luther King Jr. Public Library, and I just read a lot. That was how I escaped from the pressures of refugee life.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13975439\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13975439\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/viet-car.jpg\" alt=\"Asian American teenager leans against a sporty white coupe in a photo taken during the 1980s.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"926\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/viet-car.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/viet-car-800x370.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/viet-car-1020x472.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/viet-car-160x74.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/viet-car-768x356.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/viet-car-1536x711.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/viet-car-1920x889.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nguyen as a teenager in the late ’80s, posing in front of his car. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Viet Thanh Nguyen)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>KQED: Do you have any favorite memories of the store from when you were a kid?\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Nguyen: \u003c/b>The grocery store sold all kinds of things. Obviously it sold nuoc mam. There was a butcher in the back, so there was meat and fish. There were all kinds of canned goods, like canned lychees, and every kind of ingredient you would need to make Vietnamese food. Lots of rice — 20-pound sacks, 50-pound sacks of rice. We also had baked goods, Vietnamese pastries and lots of candy. Being the son of a grocery store owner, what that meant is I could eat all that as much as I wanted. So some of my best memories were ladyfinger cookies, Lu Petit Ecolier chocolate biscuits and, especially, chocolate-covered cherries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>KQED: How would you say Vietnamese refugees like your parents change San José and America as a whole?\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Nguyen: \u003c/b>You can drive through many streets here, see the Vietnamese businesses, and see how the Vietnamese have made themselves into a part of San José. And this is how immigrants and refugees stake their claim to this country: They buy property and they put their name on it, so that people know there are people of a particular group here. My parents, when they opened their store, they had a big sign [that said] “Sàigòn Mới.” But they never translated that, which I never understood. Why didn’t they just call it the New Saigon?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I think they called it the Sàigòn Mới because they weren’t trying to appeal to other Americans. They were trying to create a Vietnamese community — but because they and others created that Vietnamese community, they also created a Vietnamese American community. I’m not sure that was their ambition, but that’s what happened.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13975442\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1828px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13975442\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Tungs-family-1981-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of an Asian family — mother, father, and two sons — posing for a portrait.\" width=\"1828\" height=\"2560\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Tungs-family-1981-scaled.jpg 1828w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Tungs-family-1981-800x1120.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Tungs-family-1981-1020x1429.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Tungs-family-1981-160x224.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Tungs-family-1981-768x1076.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Tungs-family-1981-1097x1536.jpg 1097w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Tungs-family-1981-1462x2048.jpg 1462w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Tungs-family-1981-1920x2689.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1828px) 100vw, 1828px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Nguyen family in 1981. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Viet Thanh Nguyen)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>KQED: During those early years for San José’s Vietnamese community, were there Vietnamese restaurants in the city that you would go to with your family?\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There was a whole Vietnamese restaurant scene in San José. Every Sunday we would go to Vietnamese Sunday mass at St. Patrick’s Church right down the street on Santa Clara Street, and then we’d go to Phở Hòa. This was a very important part of being Vietnamese. I learned how to use chopsticks and eat phở with both hands and all this kind of stuff.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Only later would I hear \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-04-24-mn-691-story.html\">the rumors\u003c/a> that Phở Hòa was supposedly part of this international phở chain where the profits were being used to support efforts to take Vietnam back through military measures. I have no idea if it was true, but this was the rumor, and I put it into my novel, \u003ci>The Sympathizer\u003c/i>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>KQED: Besides the pho, was there a favorite treat that you remember from when you were little that you would crave and that you seek out in the city?\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">[aside postID='arts_13904913,arts_13930458,arts_13905293']\u003c/span>The sweet treats were the chè and flan. Vietnamese flan is different from Mexican flan or Spanish flan. There’s no butter or cheese or goat’s milk or anything like that — just eggs and sugar. It was really, really sweet. My cousin would make some terrific flan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And my parents would make chè at home. Unfortunately, they made the kinds I didn’t like because \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13904913/vietnamese-drinks-boba-che-guide-san-jose\">there are many different varieties\u003c/a>. But going to the restaurants, you could get stuff like sương sa hạt lựu, which was my favorite chè. That was our version of Baskin-Robbins’ 31 flavors, except we had maybe seven or eight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>KQED: What else do you think is important for people to know or remember about your family’s experiences as Vietnamese refugees living in San José?\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I have a very personal relationship to this area of downtown San José because I grew up here. And so I remember the way it was in the 1970s and the 1980s. Vietnamese Americans today, if they were born after that time period, won’t know that. So you can come here as a Vietnamese American, and you can see City Hall, you see Starbucks, you see this big apartment complex, and that’s just the way things are for you. But I can see what used to be here. And so, for me, there’s a personal sense of loss of what used to be that was where I spent my childhood, where my parents had worked and suffered so much, along with so many other Vietnamese people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13975441\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13975441\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Mom-and-Dad.jpg\" alt=\"Black and white photo of an Asian couple.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1423\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Mom-and-Dad.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Mom-and-Dad-800x569.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Mom-and-Dad-1020x726.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Mom-and-Dad-160x114.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Mom-and-Dad-768x546.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Mom-and-Dad-1536x1093.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Mom-and-Dad-1920x1366.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An early photo of Nguyen’s parents, who came to the United States as refugees in 1975. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Viet Thanh Nguyen)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Every country, including the United States, goes through historical change, goes through gentrification, and we are all stricken in different ways with amnesia. But for those of us who remember the way things used to be, I think there is an obligation to remember, to tell stories about that, to try to make sure other people know the history. And so that’s not just about the Sàigòn Mới, but it’s a metaphor for our relationship to history in general. If you grew up here as a Vietnamese American in San José, you may not have a sense of what your parents and your grandparents and your great-grandparents went through to provide you with this opportunity to go shopping in these \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12009871/an-evening-at-san-joses-story-road-night-market\">sleek Vietnamese malls\u003c/a> and to have a good time in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13904913/vietnamese-drinks-boba-che-guide-san-jose\">Vietnamese cafes\u003c/a>, but there was a lot of turmoil, a lot of suffering, a lot of angst and melancholy that goes into the making of the Vietnamese community, all of which has faded and is fading away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s why it’s so crucial for those of us who were there to hang onto those feelings and to continue telling those stories for future generations.\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cblockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" style=\"max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px\" cite=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqednews/video/7499231197927656750\" data-video-id=\"7499231197927656750\">\n\u003csection>\u003ca title=\"@kqednews\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqednews?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@kqednews\u003c/a>Long before Viet Thanh Nguyen became a Pulitzer Prize–winning novelist, he was one of thousands of Vietnamese refugee kids who grew up in San Jose during the 1970s and ’80s. On evenings and weekends, he’d help out at his parents’ grocery store in downtown San Jose, the second-ever Vietnamese grocery store in the city. Nguyen’s experiences there helped inform his debut novel, The Sympathizer, and subsequent works.\u003ca title=\"♬ original sound - KQED News\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7499231276847598379?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">♬ original sound – KQED News\u003c/a>\u003c/section>\n\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[tiktok]\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Long before Viet Thanh Nguyen became a Pulitzer Prize–winning novelist, he was one of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12037680/san-jose-became-home-betty-duong-vietnamese-americans\">thousands of Vietnamese refugee kids\u003c/a> who grew up in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/san-jose\">San José\u003c/a> during the 1970s and ’80s. On evenings and weekends, he’d help out at his parents’ grocery store in downtown San José, where his family moved in 1978 when he was seven years old. It was reportedly the second-ever Vietnamese grocery store in the city, and Nguyen’s experiences there helped inform his debut novel, \u003ci>The Sympathizer\u003c/i>, and subsequent works.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A few weeks before the anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, KQED met with Nguyen — who now lives in Southern California — at the site of his parents’ old shop, currently occupied by an upscale apartment building across the street from City Hall. He reflected on the impact of his family’s store, his favorite childhood treats, and his memories of those early years for San José’s burgeoning Vietnamese community — decades before the flashy all-Vietnamese mega-malls and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/sanjosefood\">nationally recognized food scene\u003c/a> the city is known for today.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>This interview has been edited for length and clarity.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>KQED: Can you tell us about a little bit about your parents’ store in San José? \u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/span>\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Viet Thanh Nguyen:\u003c/b> My parents opened a grocery store on East Santa Clara Street in 1978 or 1979. That whole corner there, underneath [what’s now a] very big apartment complex, was the Sàigòn Mới. It was not much to look at: a single-story grocery store, perhaps the second Vietnamese grocery store in San José, California. My parents ran it for about a decade. It was one of the centers of Vietnamese life because people could go, speak Vietnamese, buy rice, buy all of the kinds of things Vietnamese people needed to cook. I still meet people today, four decades later, who remember coming to my parents’ store.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13975437\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13975437\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/New-Saigon-Market-early-1980s.jpg\" alt=\"Old 1980s photograph of a Vietnamese grocery store with cars parked outside. The sign reads, 'Sàigòn Mới'. \" width=\"2000\" height=\"1358\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/New-Saigon-Market-early-1980s.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/New-Saigon-Market-early-1980s-800x543.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/New-Saigon-Market-early-1980s-1020x693.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/New-Saigon-Market-early-1980s-160x109.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/New-Saigon-Market-early-1980s-768x521.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/New-Saigon-Market-early-1980s-1536x1043.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/New-Saigon-Market-early-1980s-1920x1304.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nguyen’s parents opened the store in the late ’70s and ran it for about a decade. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Viet Thanh Nguyen)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Eventually, of course, what happened is that San José got so successful that the city forced all these Vietnamese businesses on Santa Clara Street to sell to them under eminent domain. So everything you see there now didn’t exist in the 1970s and 1980s. Now the new San José City Hall [is here], but way back then it was Winchell’s Donuts and the Kragen Auto Parts. On Sundays, we would go to Vietnamese mass down the street at St. Patrick’s, and then I would go help my parents at the store, buy a dozen donuts at Winchell’s and read the \u003ci>San Jose Mercury News\u003c/i>. And that’s how I spent my weekends.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Running a grocery store was not easy. My parents were working 12- to 14-hour days almost every day of the year, except for the Catholic holidays. \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CEuckOVBcgf/\">They were shot in that store on Christmas Eve\u003c/a>. It was a hard life. And so the last thing I wanted to do was to work in a grocery store. And one way that we actually deviated from stereotype is that my parents didn’t make my brother and me work in the store very much. What I did is that after they got home from their long day, after dinner, I would help them do the accounting. I would stamp the checks, count the money, stamp the food stamps and the Aid to Families with Dependent Children coupons. This is how I knew that life was hard for the Vietnamese in San José because I think half my parents’ revenue was from food stamps. Vietnamese people really needed the social welfare.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>My way of coping with this was to go to the Martin Luther King Jr. Public Library, and I just read a lot. That was how I escaped from the pressures of refugee life.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13975439\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13975439\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/viet-car.jpg\" alt=\"Asian American teenager leans against a sporty white coupe in a photo taken during the 1980s.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"926\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/viet-car.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/viet-car-800x370.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/viet-car-1020x472.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/viet-car-160x74.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/viet-car-768x356.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/viet-car-1536x711.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/viet-car-1920x889.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nguyen as a teenager in the late ’80s, posing in front of his car. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Viet Thanh Nguyen)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>KQED: Do you have any favorite memories of the store from when you were a kid?\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Nguyen: \u003c/b>The grocery store sold all kinds of things. Obviously it sold nuoc mam. There was a butcher in the back, so there was meat and fish. There were all kinds of canned goods, like canned lychees, and every kind of ingredient you would need to make Vietnamese food. Lots of rice — 20-pound sacks, 50-pound sacks of rice. We also had baked goods, Vietnamese pastries and lots of candy. Being the son of a grocery store owner, what that meant is I could eat all that as much as I wanted. So some of my best memories were ladyfinger cookies, Lu Petit Ecolier chocolate biscuits and, especially, chocolate-covered cherries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>KQED: How would you say Vietnamese refugees like your parents change San José and America as a whole?\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Nguyen: \u003c/b>You can drive through many streets here, see the Vietnamese businesses, and see how the Vietnamese have made themselves into a part of San José. And this is how immigrants and refugees stake their claim to this country: They buy property and they put their name on it, so that people know there are people of a particular group here. My parents, when they opened their store, they had a big sign [that said] “Sàigòn Mới.” But they never translated that, which I never understood. Why didn’t they just call it the New Saigon?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I think they called it the Sàigòn Mới because they weren’t trying to appeal to other Americans. They were trying to create a Vietnamese community — but because they and others created that Vietnamese community, they also created a Vietnamese American community. I’m not sure that was their ambition, but that’s what happened.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13975442\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1828px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13975442\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Tungs-family-1981-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of an Asian family — mother, father, and two sons — posing for a portrait.\" width=\"1828\" height=\"2560\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Tungs-family-1981-scaled.jpg 1828w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Tungs-family-1981-800x1120.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Tungs-family-1981-1020x1429.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Tungs-family-1981-160x224.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Tungs-family-1981-768x1076.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Tungs-family-1981-1097x1536.jpg 1097w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Tungs-family-1981-1462x2048.jpg 1462w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Tungs-family-1981-1920x2689.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1828px) 100vw, 1828px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Nguyen family in 1981. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Viet Thanh Nguyen)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>KQED: During those early years for San José’s Vietnamese community, were there Vietnamese restaurants in the city that you would go to with your family?\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There was a whole Vietnamese restaurant scene in San José. Every Sunday we would go to Vietnamese Sunday mass at St. Patrick’s Church right down the street on Santa Clara Street, and then we’d go to Phở Hòa. This was a very important part of being Vietnamese. I learned how to use chopsticks and eat phở with both hands and all this kind of stuff.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Only later would I hear \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-04-24-mn-691-story.html\">the rumors\u003c/a> that Phở Hòa was supposedly part of this international phở chain where the profits were being used to support efforts to take Vietnam back through military measures. I have no idea if it was true, but this was the rumor, and I put it into my novel, \u003ci>The Sympathizer\u003c/i>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>KQED: Besides the pho, was there a favorite treat that you remember from when you were little that you would crave and that you seek out in the city?\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/span>The sweet treats were the chè and flan. Vietnamese flan is different from Mexican flan or Spanish flan. There’s no butter or cheese or goat’s milk or anything like that — just eggs and sugar. It was really, really sweet. My cousin would make some terrific flan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And my parents would make chè at home. Unfortunately, they made the kinds I didn’t like because \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13904913/vietnamese-drinks-boba-che-guide-san-jose\">there are many different varieties\u003c/a>. But going to the restaurants, you could get stuff like sương sa hạt lựu, which was my favorite chè. That was our version of Baskin-Robbins’ 31 flavors, except we had maybe seven or eight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>KQED: What else do you think is important for people to know or remember about your family’s experiences as Vietnamese refugees living in San José?\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I have a very personal relationship to this area of downtown San José because I grew up here. And so I remember the way it was in the 1970s and the 1980s. Vietnamese Americans today, if they were born after that time period, won’t know that. So you can come here as a Vietnamese American, and you can see City Hall, you see Starbucks, you see this big apartment complex, and that’s just the way things are for you. But I can see what used to be here. And so, for me, there’s a personal sense of loss of what used to be that was where I spent my childhood, where my parents had worked and suffered so much, along with so many other Vietnamese people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13975441\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13975441\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Mom-and-Dad.jpg\" alt=\"Black and white photo of an Asian couple.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1423\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Mom-and-Dad.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Mom-and-Dad-800x569.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Mom-and-Dad-1020x726.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Mom-and-Dad-160x114.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Mom-and-Dad-768x546.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Mom-and-Dad-1536x1093.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Mom-and-Dad-1920x1366.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An early photo of Nguyen’s parents, who came to the United States as refugees in 1975. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Viet Thanh Nguyen)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Every country, including the United States, goes through historical change, goes through gentrification, and we are all stricken in different ways with amnesia. But for those of us who remember the way things used to be, I think there is an obligation to remember, to tell stories about that, to try to make sure other people know the history. And so that’s not just about the Sàigòn Mới, but it’s a metaphor for our relationship to history in general. If you grew up here as a Vietnamese American in San José, you may not have a sense of what your parents and your grandparents and your great-grandparents went through to provide you with this opportunity to go shopping in these \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12009871/an-evening-at-san-joses-story-road-night-market\">sleek Vietnamese malls\u003c/a> and to have a good time in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13904913/vietnamese-drinks-boba-che-guide-san-jose\">Vietnamese cafes\u003c/a>, but there was a lot of turmoil, a lot of suffering, a lot of angst and melancholy that goes into the making of the Vietnamese community, all of which has faded and is fading away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s why it’s so crucial for those of us who were there to hang onto those feelings and to continue telling those stories for future generations.\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cblockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" style=\"max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px\" cite=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqednews/video/7499231197927656750\" data-video-id=\"7499231197927656750\">\n\u003csection>\u003ca title=\"@kqednews\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@kqednews?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@kqednews\u003c/a>Long before Viet Thanh Nguyen became a Pulitzer Prize–winning novelist, he was one of thousands of Vietnamese refugee kids who grew up in San Jose during the 1970s and ’80s. On evenings and weekends, he’d help out at his parents’ grocery store in downtown San Jose, the second-ever Vietnamese grocery store in the city. Nguyen’s experiences there helped inform his debut novel, The Sympathizer, and subsequent works.\u003ca title=\"♬ original sound - KQED News\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7499231276847598379?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">♬ original sound – KQED News\u003c/a>\u003c/section>\n\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "palestinian-food-bay-area-gaza-activism-manakish-shawarmaji-azukar",
"title": "These Bay Area Chefs Are Preserving Palestinian Culture One Dish at a Time",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Editor’s note\u003c/strong>: This story is part of KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/youthtakeover\">Youth Takeover\u003c/a>. Throughout the week of April 21–25, we’re publishing content by high school students from all over the Bay Area.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[dropcap]A[/dropcap]s soon as I step into the Saba Center parking lot in San Jose, I’m hit by the bustling and lively environment of teens rushing towards concession stands with their friends, hand in hand. The traditional drumming of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/islam\">Muslim\u003c/a> nasheeds (spiritual songs) and other Arabic music echoes all around. A line of food trucks sells everything from halal barbecue beef ribs to the trending Dubai chocolate cups. Most of the men all gather in one section of the parking lot, chai in hand, while the women congregate at the colorful hijab and abaya stands.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a late Saturday night in mid-March during the holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims observe “suhoor” each day, eating one pre-dawn meal before they begin their day of fasting — usually alone in their own homes. But for one night each year, HalalFest hosts a giant, all-night, communal suhoor called “\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13972704/suhoor-fest-ramadan-san-jose-halal-food-festival-2025\">Suhoor Fest\u003c/a>,” where the Muslim communities from all over the Bay Area can come together with a spirit of joy and laughter. This year, I’ve come with my family to get a taste of the foods trending among Bay Area Muslims.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At one of the festival’s most popular food trucks, Manakish, the earthy fragrance of za’atar fills the air. The truck’s vibrant blue and yellow logo pulls the attention of visitors, and the line is so long it extends to the festival parking lot. Named after a kind of flatbread that’s central to Palestinian food culture, Manakish is one of the many Palestinian food businesses at this year’s Suhoor Fest that are proudly owning their cultural identity. Popular items such as Manakish’s za’atar-and-cheese flatbread and shawarma fries quickly begin to sell out — evidence of how much the flavors of Palestine have taken center stage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13975036\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13975036\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A cheesy za'atar flatbread on a pizza peel.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-11-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-11-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-11-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-11-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-11-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-11-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-11-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Manakish’s za’atar-and-cheese flatbread is one of its most popular dishes. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In fact, it appeared that around two-thirds of the stands at Suhoor Fest were either Palestinian-owned or at least showed some visible sign of solidarity with Palestine, like flags or stickers, even if the food wasn’t explicitly Palestinian. All of this comes at a time when Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza has brought the Palestinian people into the public eye more than ever. To date, \u003ca href=\"https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/04/1162356\">more than 51,000 Palestinians\u003c/a>, mostly women and children, are reported to have been killed in the aftermath of Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the heart of this Palestinian food movement is a deeper mission beyond the food itself: protecting Palestine’s cultural legacy. During a time when Palestinian American chefs across the Bay Area feel their people and their culture are under attack, both here and overseas, they’re using the preservation of traditional flavors as a form of resistance, embracing and speaking out about their Palestinian heritage more prominently than before. At Manakish, this resistance is expressed, in part, through its dedication to za’atar seasoning. Oakland’s Shawarmaji shows a similar commitment, using its traditional shawarma cooking techniques to reclaim and revive Palestinian food. And at Asúkar’s Palestinian-Cuban fusion pop-ups in Oakland, the chef is redoubling her efforts to ensure the Palestinian roots of her cooking are never overlooked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"mceTemp\">\u003c/div>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13975038\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13975038\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-17-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Kebabs cooking over a smoky charcoal grill.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-17-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-17-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-17-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-17-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-17-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-17-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-17-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kebabs cooking over a charcoal grill outside of Manakish. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>[dropcap]A[/dropcap]part from the food truck, \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/manakishsanjose/\">Manakish Oven & Grill\u003c/a> is a Levantine-inspired restaurant with locations in San Jose and Walnut Creek. Nabila Salem and her husband Feras AbuGhaben created the business as a way to reconnect with their Palestinian roots and share a piece of home with others. Alongside its traditional Palestinian dishes, the restaurant also offers creative spin-offs like its shawarma fries and pizza-inspired manakish.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Salem says she longed for the tastes and smells of Palestine — something to remind her of home and keep the nostalgic smell of her teta’s, or grandmother’s, kitchen alive. At the restaurant, she hopes to preserve her culture by using authentic, Palestinian-sourced ingredients. “The spices we use in the shawarma — we get them from Palestine. Even the za’atar and olive oil, we get them all from there,” she says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Salem, the za’atar is especially important. It isn’t just a spice blend, but a representation of her heritage, a connection to her land, and a symbol of the strength of her culture. The process of making it — by combining thyme, sesame seeds, sumac and other spices — is an important Palestinian tradition dating back to the 12th century. “We show resistance through our food, how we make olive oil, how we make za’atar, how long it takes to make za’atar — it all shows our resistance,” Salem says. “We’re here. We’re strong. We’re not going anywhere.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13975039\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1333px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13975039\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-22-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A mother and child pose for a portrait, seated inside a restaurant with a cheese-topped flatbread in front of them.\" width=\"1333\" height=\"2000\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-22-KQED.jpg 1333w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-22-KQED-800x1200.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-22-KQED-1020x1530.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-22-KQED-160x240.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-22-KQED-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-22-KQED-1024x1536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1333px) 100vw, 1333px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nabila Salem, founder and owner of Manakish Oven & Grill, and her daughter Layla, 5, pose for a photo. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>With what’s happening in Gaza today, Salem says she believes it’s extremely important to be louder than ever — both through their food and on \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/manakishsanjose/\">social media\u003c/a>. When she opened the original Manakish in Walnut Creek in 2019, the restaurant was less outspoken about its Palestinian roots, mostly advertising itself as a “Mediterranean” restaurant. Now, she feels an obligation to speak up and be more bold.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I feel like our food now is more popular than it was two or even three years ago. People now want to try za’atar. They now want to communicate — they want to learn more about Palestine,” Salem says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most diners probably think of Oakland’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/theshawarmaji/?hl=en\">Shawarmaji\u003c/a> strictly as a Jordanian restaurant, with its focus on serving shawarma like it’s made on the streets of Amman, Jordan: layers of marinated meat stacked on a tall rotating spit, cooked slowly until tender, then sliced off and wrapped in warm pita with garlic sauce and pickles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13975217\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13975217\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Copy-of-IMG_8835-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A chef slices meat off of a shawarma spit.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"2560\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Copy-of-IMG_8835-scaled.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Copy-of-IMG_8835-800x1067.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Copy-of-IMG_8835-1020x1360.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Copy-of-IMG_8835-160x213.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Copy-of-IMG_8835-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Copy-of-IMG_8835-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Copy-of-IMG_8835-1536x2048.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shawarmaji chef Mohammad Abutaha slices shawarma off the vertical spit at his Oakland restaurant. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Shawarmaji)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But chef-owner Mohammad Abutaha explains that he’s actually of Palestinian descent. His grandparents were born in Yaffa, while he was raised in Amman, where his dad was born. And in the past year and a half, in particular, Abutaha has put his Palestinian identity front and center at both Shawarmaji locations, in Oakland and Santa Clara, and Teta Nalah, his new “Arab soul food” restaurant, as well as on social media, where he shares \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DHZp0SfSpWZ/?hl=en&img_index=1\">traditional Palestinian recipes\u003c/a> and information about \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DHd8QX_JpTL/?hl=en\">fundraisers\u003c/a> and protests related to Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #2b2b2b;font-weight: 400\">[aside postID='arts_13972704,arts_13962355,arts_13894684']\u003c/span>\u003c/span>For Abutaha, keeping his food “authentic” isn’t just about holding on to traditions, but also using them as a way to spark conversation about each dish’s Palestinian origins. On the surface, Shawarmaji has a typical shawarma spot menu: falafel, chicken and beef shawarma, and a range of Levantine salads. “My path is more about recreating the food I grew up eating, preserving the culture and the original food,” Abutaha explains. His food reclaims the flavors of Palestine and Jordan, even if it’s just by simply preserving the original spices and cooking methods, resisting the need for it to be “whitewashed” or “catered to a certain audience.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, this approach isn’t always met with positive reviews. He acknowledges, “You know, people aren’t gonna like the garlic sauce — ‘\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13894684/toum-shawarmaji-jordanian-restaurant-oakland-garlic-sauce\">it’s too garlicky\u003c/a>, blah, blah, blah,’ — but that’s something I didn’t wanna compromise on because that’s how I ate it.” By keeping the garlic sauce authentic to how it’s served in Jordan, Abutaha hopes to preserve all the hard work that went into creating shawarma — the years of his ancestors’ labor that ought to be remembered. His refusal to compromise on those flavors is his way of standing up for his Palestinian heritage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, chef Nicole Garcia blends both her husband’s Cuban roots and her own Palestinian heritage at her Oakland-based Palestinian-Cuban fusion pop-up \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/palestinian_cuban_fusion/?hl=en\">Asúkar\u003c/a>. The name is a combination of the Spanish word “azúcar” and the Arabic “sukkar.” She uses the term “mezze tapas” to describe the dining experience, which includes a combination of hybrid dishes — such as ropa vieja (a Cuban shredded meat dish) served over hummus — and more traditional Palestinian dishes like mujadara, which is made with lentils, rice and caramelized onions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13963734\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13963734\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/azucar-fusion.jpg\" alt=\"A tostone slider on a plate.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/azucar-fusion.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/azucar-fusion-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/azucar-fusion-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/azucar-fusion-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/azucar-fusion-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/azucar-fusion-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/azucar-fusion-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tostones sliders — one of Asúkar’s Palestian-Cuban fusion dishes. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Oakland Bloom)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Through her cooking, Garcia aims to advocate for the struggles of both the Cuban \u003ci>and\u003c/i> Palestinian cultures. “Food brings people together to recognize there are more similarities amongst all of us than differences,” she says. Since the events of October 7, Garcia says she has felt an even stronger responsibility to represent the Palestinian side of her identity. “When I’m at pop-ups, a lot of people will just overlook the Palestinian part and say, ‘Oh look, it’s a Cuban fusion,’” she says. “They’ll just totally overlook the Palestinian part.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Part of her standing up for the Palestinian struggle has been through direct activism, like a screening of the documentary \u003ci>Israelism\u003c/i>, where attendees ate Asúkar’s mezze tapas and discussed the rise in Jewish solidarity with the Palestinian people, and the pro-Palestine tags on all of Garcia’s food posts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Garcia also recognizes that, especially in the Bay Area’s crowded Arab food scene, it’s important to offer something distinct — to show the richness of Palestinian culture through every dish. By sourcing ingredients such as her somak and olive oil \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CUcpiSylLtL/?hl=en\">directly from Palestine\u003c/a>, she actively resists the overlooking of her heritage. But Garcia stresses that she’s \u003ci>always\u003c/i> made sure to represent her Palestinian identity — it isn’t just something she’s doing now because people are talking about it on social media: “This is not a trend. This is humanity,” she says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Food is culture, food is identity. It’s a celebration,” Garcia continues. “And my people’s culture and identity is … beautiful and has every right to exist and thrive.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13975042\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13975042\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-25-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Bright, casual restaurant dining room decorated with Palestinian artwork.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-25-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-25-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-25-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-25-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-25-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-25-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-25-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Manakish’s bright, airy San Jose dining room is decorated with Palestinian-inspired artwork and light fixtures. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13975040\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13975040\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-23-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Overhead view of a kefta kebab plate with rice and flatbread.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-23-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-23-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-23-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-23-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-23-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-23-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-23-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A kefta kebab plate at Manakish. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>[dropcap]W[/dropcap]hen I finally visit Manakish’s new location in San Jose, I’m greeted by the soft glow of the colorful Moroccan lamps and the gentle hum of conversation amongst families looking at the menus. The za’atar flatbread comes fresh out of the oven, hot and crispy. As I tear off a piece, still steaming, the combination of cheese, earthiness and slight bitterness fills my mouth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At that moment, I feel like I’m not just tasting any regular flatbread. I’m tasting the history behind it — the farmers who harvested the spices, the people who ground the spices by hand, and the families who passed the recipes down, maintaining the true flavors of the dish. And I’m overcome with admiration for the history and resilience these Palestinian dishes carry, and for the people who continue to keep it alive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I take one more bite of the hot, soul-warming bread and think to myself, this is what resistance tastes like. And it tastes delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Khadijah Ismail is a freshman at Notre Dame San Jose, a food enthusiast and a member of KQED’s Youth Advisory Board.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Editor’s note\u003c/strong>: This story is part of KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/youthtakeover\">Youth Takeover\u003c/a>. Throughout the week of April 21–25, we’re publishing content by high school students from all over the Bay Area.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__dropcapShortcode__dropcap\">A\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>s soon as I step into the Saba Center parking lot in San Jose, I’m hit by the bustling and lively environment of teens rushing towards concession stands with their friends, hand in hand. The traditional drumming of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/islam\">Muslim\u003c/a> nasheeds (spiritual songs) and other Arabic music echoes all around. A line of food trucks sells everything from halal barbecue beef ribs to the trending Dubai chocolate cups. Most of the men all gather in one section of the parking lot, chai in hand, while the women congregate at the colorful hijab and abaya stands.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a late Saturday night in mid-March during the holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims observe “suhoor” each day, eating one pre-dawn meal before they begin their day of fasting — usually alone in their own homes. But for one night each year, HalalFest hosts a giant, all-night, communal suhoor called “\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13972704/suhoor-fest-ramadan-san-jose-halal-food-festival-2025\">Suhoor Fest\u003c/a>,” where the Muslim communities from all over the Bay Area can come together with a spirit of joy and laughter. This year, I’ve come with my family to get a taste of the foods trending among Bay Area Muslims.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At one of the festival’s most popular food trucks, Manakish, the earthy fragrance of za’atar fills the air. The truck’s vibrant blue and yellow logo pulls the attention of visitors, and the line is so long it extends to the festival parking lot. Named after a kind of flatbread that’s central to Palestinian food culture, Manakish is one of the many Palestinian food businesses at this year’s Suhoor Fest that are proudly owning their cultural identity. Popular items such as Manakish’s za’atar-and-cheese flatbread and shawarma fries quickly begin to sell out — evidence of how much the flavors of Palestine have taken center stage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13975036\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13975036\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A cheesy za'atar flatbread on a pizza peel.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-11-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-11-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-11-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-11-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-11-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-11-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-11-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Manakish’s za’atar-and-cheese flatbread is one of its most popular dishes. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In fact, it appeared that around two-thirds of the stands at Suhoor Fest were either Palestinian-owned or at least showed some visible sign of solidarity with Palestine, like flags or stickers, even if the food wasn’t explicitly Palestinian. All of this comes at a time when Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza has brought the Palestinian people into the public eye more than ever. To date, \u003ca href=\"https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/04/1162356\">more than 51,000 Palestinians\u003c/a>, mostly women and children, are reported to have been killed in the aftermath of Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the heart of this Palestinian food movement is a deeper mission beyond the food itself: protecting Palestine’s cultural legacy. During a time when Palestinian American chefs across the Bay Area feel their people and their culture are under attack, both here and overseas, they’re using the preservation of traditional flavors as a form of resistance, embracing and speaking out about their Palestinian heritage more prominently than before. At Manakish, this resistance is expressed, in part, through its dedication to za’atar seasoning. Oakland’s Shawarmaji shows a similar commitment, using its traditional shawarma cooking techniques to reclaim and revive Palestinian food. And at Asúkar’s Palestinian-Cuban fusion pop-ups in Oakland, the chef is redoubling her efforts to ensure the Palestinian roots of her cooking are never overlooked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"mceTemp\">\u003c/div>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13975038\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13975038\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-17-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Kebabs cooking over a smoky charcoal grill.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-17-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-17-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-17-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-17-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-17-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-17-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-17-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kebabs cooking over a charcoal grill outside of Manakish. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__dropcapShortcode__dropcap\">A\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>part from the food truck, \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/manakishsanjose/\">Manakish Oven & Grill\u003c/a> is a Levantine-inspired restaurant with locations in San Jose and Walnut Creek. Nabila Salem and her husband Feras AbuGhaben created the business as a way to reconnect with their Palestinian roots and share a piece of home with others. Alongside its traditional Palestinian dishes, the restaurant also offers creative spin-offs like its shawarma fries and pizza-inspired manakish.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Salem says she longed for the tastes and smells of Palestine — something to remind her of home and keep the nostalgic smell of her teta’s, or grandmother’s, kitchen alive. At the restaurant, she hopes to preserve her culture by using authentic, Palestinian-sourced ingredients. “The spices we use in the shawarma — we get them from Palestine. Even the za’atar and olive oil, we get them all from there,” she says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Salem, the za’atar is especially important. It isn’t just a spice blend, but a representation of her heritage, a connection to her land, and a symbol of the strength of her culture. The process of making it — by combining thyme, sesame seeds, sumac and other spices — is an important Palestinian tradition dating back to the 12th century. “We show resistance through our food, how we make olive oil, how we make za’atar, how long it takes to make za’atar — it all shows our resistance,” Salem says. “We’re here. We’re strong. We’re not going anywhere.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13975039\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1333px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13975039\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-22-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A mother and child pose for a portrait, seated inside a restaurant with a cheese-topped flatbread in front of them.\" width=\"1333\" height=\"2000\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-22-KQED.jpg 1333w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-22-KQED-800x1200.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-22-KQED-1020x1530.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-22-KQED-160x240.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-22-KQED-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-22-KQED-1024x1536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1333px) 100vw, 1333px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nabila Salem, founder and owner of Manakish Oven & Grill, and her daughter Layla, 5, pose for a photo. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>With what’s happening in Gaza today, Salem says she believes it’s extremely important to be louder than ever — both through their food and on \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/manakishsanjose/\">social media\u003c/a>. When she opened the original Manakish in Walnut Creek in 2019, the restaurant was less outspoken about its Palestinian roots, mostly advertising itself as a “Mediterranean” restaurant. Now, she feels an obligation to speak up and be more bold.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I feel like our food now is more popular than it was two or even three years ago. People now want to try za’atar. They now want to communicate — they want to learn more about Palestine,” Salem says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most diners probably think of Oakland’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/theshawarmaji/?hl=en\">Shawarmaji\u003c/a> strictly as a Jordanian restaurant, with its focus on serving shawarma like it’s made on the streets of Amman, Jordan: layers of marinated meat stacked on a tall rotating spit, cooked slowly until tender, then sliced off and wrapped in warm pita with garlic sauce and pickles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13975217\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13975217\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Copy-of-IMG_8835-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A chef slices meat off of a shawarma spit.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"2560\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Copy-of-IMG_8835-scaled.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Copy-of-IMG_8835-800x1067.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Copy-of-IMG_8835-1020x1360.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Copy-of-IMG_8835-160x213.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Copy-of-IMG_8835-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Copy-of-IMG_8835-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Copy-of-IMG_8835-1536x2048.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shawarmaji chef Mohammad Abutaha slices shawarma off the vertical spit at his Oakland restaurant. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Shawarmaji)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But chef-owner Mohammad Abutaha explains that he’s actually of Palestinian descent. His grandparents were born in Yaffa, while he was raised in Amman, where his dad was born. And in the past year and a half, in particular, Abutaha has put his Palestinian identity front and center at both Shawarmaji locations, in Oakland and Santa Clara, and Teta Nalah, his new “Arab soul food” restaurant, as well as on social media, where he shares \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DHZp0SfSpWZ/?hl=en&img_index=1\">traditional Palestinian recipes\u003c/a> and information about \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DHd8QX_JpTL/?hl=en\">fundraisers\u003c/a> and protests related to Gaza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #2b2b2b;font-weight: 400\">\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/span>\u003c/span>For Abutaha, keeping his food “authentic” isn’t just about holding on to traditions, but also using them as a way to spark conversation about each dish’s Palestinian origins. On the surface, Shawarmaji has a typical shawarma spot menu: falafel, chicken and beef shawarma, and a range of Levantine salads. “My path is more about recreating the food I grew up eating, preserving the culture and the original food,” Abutaha explains. His food reclaims the flavors of Palestine and Jordan, even if it’s just by simply preserving the original spices and cooking methods, resisting the need for it to be “whitewashed” or “catered to a certain audience.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, this approach isn’t always met with positive reviews. He acknowledges, “You know, people aren’t gonna like the garlic sauce — ‘\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13894684/toum-shawarmaji-jordanian-restaurant-oakland-garlic-sauce\">it’s too garlicky\u003c/a>, blah, blah, blah,’ — but that’s something I didn’t wanna compromise on because that’s how I ate it.” By keeping the garlic sauce authentic to how it’s served in Jordan, Abutaha hopes to preserve all the hard work that went into creating shawarma — the years of his ancestors’ labor that ought to be remembered. His refusal to compromise on those flavors is his way of standing up for his Palestinian heritage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, chef Nicole Garcia blends both her husband’s Cuban roots and her own Palestinian heritage at her Oakland-based Palestinian-Cuban fusion pop-up \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/palestinian_cuban_fusion/?hl=en\">Asúkar\u003c/a>. The name is a combination of the Spanish word “azúcar” and the Arabic “sukkar.” She uses the term “mezze tapas” to describe the dining experience, which includes a combination of hybrid dishes — such as ropa vieja (a Cuban shredded meat dish) served over hummus — and more traditional Palestinian dishes like mujadara, which is made with lentils, rice and caramelized onions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13963734\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13963734\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/azucar-fusion.jpg\" alt=\"A tostone slider on a plate.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/azucar-fusion.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/azucar-fusion-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/azucar-fusion-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/azucar-fusion-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/azucar-fusion-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/azucar-fusion-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/azucar-fusion-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tostones sliders — one of Asúkar’s Palestian-Cuban fusion dishes. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Oakland Bloom)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Through her cooking, Garcia aims to advocate for the struggles of both the Cuban \u003ci>and\u003c/i> Palestinian cultures. “Food brings people together to recognize there are more similarities amongst all of us than differences,” she says. Since the events of October 7, Garcia says she has felt an even stronger responsibility to represent the Palestinian side of her identity. “When I’m at pop-ups, a lot of people will just overlook the Palestinian part and say, ‘Oh look, it’s a Cuban fusion,’” she says. “They’ll just totally overlook the Palestinian part.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Part of her standing up for the Palestinian struggle has been through direct activism, like a screening of the documentary \u003ci>Israelism\u003c/i>, where attendees ate Asúkar’s mezze tapas and discussed the rise in Jewish solidarity with the Palestinian people, and the pro-Palestine tags on all of Garcia’s food posts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Garcia also recognizes that, especially in the Bay Area’s crowded Arab food scene, it’s important to offer something distinct — to show the richness of Palestinian culture through every dish. By sourcing ingredients such as her somak and olive oil \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CUcpiSylLtL/?hl=en\">directly from Palestine\u003c/a>, she actively resists the overlooking of her heritage. But Garcia stresses that she’s \u003ci>always\u003c/i> made sure to represent her Palestinian identity — it isn’t just something she’s doing now because people are talking about it on social media: “This is not a trend. This is humanity,” she says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Food is culture, food is identity. It’s a celebration,” Garcia continues. “And my people’s culture and identity is … beautiful and has every right to exist and thrive.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13975042\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13975042\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-25-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Bright, casual restaurant dining room decorated with Palestinian artwork.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-25-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-25-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-25-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-25-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-25-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-25-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-25-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Manakish’s bright, airy San Jose dining room is decorated with Palestinian-inspired artwork and light fixtures. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13975040\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13975040\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-23-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"Overhead view of a kefta kebab plate with rice and flatbread.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-23-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-23-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-23-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-23-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-23-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-23-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/20250420_YTPALESTINIANFOOD_GC-23-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A kefta kebab plate at Manakish. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class=\"utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__dropcapShortcode__dropcap\">W\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>hen I finally visit Manakish’s new location in San Jose, I’m greeted by the soft glow of the colorful Moroccan lamps and the gentle hum of conversation amongst families looking at the menus. The za’atar flatbread comes fresh out of the oven, hot and crispy. As I tear off a piece, still steaming, the combination of cheese, earthiness and slight bitterness fills my mouth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At that moment, I feel like I’m not just tasting any regular flatbread. I’m tasting the history behind it — the farmers who harvested the spices, the people who ground the spices by hand, and the families who passed the recipes down, maintaining the true flavors of the dish. And I’m overcome with admiration for the history and resilience these Palestinian dishes carry, and for the people who continue to keep it alive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I take one more bite of the hot, soul-warming bread and think to myself, this is what resistance tastes like. And it tastes delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Khadijah Ismail is a freshman at Notre Dame San Jose, a food enthusiast and a member of KQED’s Youth Advisory Board.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"order": 1
},
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"id": "code-switch-life-kit",
"title": "Code Switch / Life Kit",
"info": "\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em>, which listeners will hear in the first part of the hour, has fearless and much-needed conversations about race. Hosted by journalists of color, the show tackles the subject of race head-on, exploring how it impacts every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, sports and more.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em>, which will be in the second part of the hour, guides you through spaces and feelings no one prepares you for — from finances to mental health, from workplace microaggressions to imposter syndrome, from relationships to parenting. The show features experts with real world experience and shares their knowledge. Because everyone needs a little help being human.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510312/codeswitch\">\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/lifekit\">\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />",
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"id": "commonwealth-club",
"title": "Commonwealth Club of California Podcast",
"info": "The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum. As a non-partisan forum, The Club brings to the public airwaves diverse viewpoints on important topics. The Club's weekly radio broadcast - the oldest in the U.S., dating back to 1924 - is carried across the nation on public radio stations and is now podcasting. Our website archive features audio of our recent programs, as well as selected speeches from our long and distinguished history. This podcast feed is usually updated twice a week and is always un-edited.",
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"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Commonwealth-Club-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
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"meta": {
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"source": "Commonwealth Club of California"
},
"link": "/radio/program/commonwealth-club",
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"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jb21tb253ZWFsdGhjbHViLm9yZy9hdWRpby9wb2RjYXN0L3dlZWtseS54bWw",
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"id": "forum",
"title": "Forum",
"tagline": "The conversation starts here",
"info": "KQED’s live call-in program discussing local, state, national and international issues, as well as in-depth interviews.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 9am-11am, 10pm-11pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Forum-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Forum with Mina Kim and Alexis Madrigal",
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"order": 9
},
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"id": "freakonomics-radio",
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"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/freakonomics-radio",
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"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/freakonomics-radio/id354668519",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/WNYC-Podcasts/Freakonomics-Radio-p272293/",
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},
"fresh-air": {
"id": "fresh-air",
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"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=214089682&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
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"info": "A live production of NPR and WBUR Boston, in collaboration with stations across the country, Here & Now reflects the fluid world of news as it's happening in the middle of the day, with timely, in-depth news, interviews and conversation. Hosted by Robin Young, Jeremy Hobson and Tonya Mosley.",
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"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510051/podcast.xml"
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"hidden-brain": {
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"info": "Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices and direct our relationships.",
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"airtime": "SUN 7pm-8pm",
"meta": {
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"source": "NPR"
},
"link": "/radio/program/hidden-brain",
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"how-i-built-this": {
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"title": "How I Built This with Guy Raz",
"info": "Guy Raz dives into the stories behind some of the world's best known companies. How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/howIBuiltThis.png",
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"airtime": "SUN 7:30pm-8pm",
"meta": {
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"link": "/radio/program/how-i-built-this",
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"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-built-this-with-guy-raz/id1150510297?mt=2",
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"hyphenacion": {
"id": "hyphenacion",
"title": "Hyphenación",
"tagline": "Where conversation and cultura meet",
"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Hyphenacion_FinalAssets_PodcastTile.png",
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"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/hyphenacion",
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"order": 15
},
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"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/2p3Fifq96nw9BPcmFdIq0o?si=39209f7b25774f38",
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},
"jerrybrown": {
"id": "jerrybrown",
"title": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown",
"tagline": "Lessons from a lifetime in politics",
"info": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game – and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Political-Mind-of-Jerry-Brown-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
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"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/jerrybrown",
"meta": {
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"order": 18
},
"link": "/podcasts/jerrybrown",
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},
"latino-usa": {
"id": "latino-usa",
"title": "Latino USA",
"airtime": "MON 1am-2am, SUN 6pm-7pm",
"info": "Latino USA, the radio journal of news and culture, is the only national, English-language radio program produced from a Latino perspective.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/latinoUsa.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://latinousa.org/",
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"link": "/radio/program/latino-usa",
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"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=79681317&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
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"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510016/podcast.xml"
}
},
"marketplace": {
"id": "marketplace",
"title": "Marketplace",
"info": "Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 4pm-4:30pm, MON-WED 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Marketplace-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.marketplace.org/",
"meta": {
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"source": "American Public Media"
},
"link": "/radio/program/marketplace",
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},
"masters-of-scale": {
"id": "masters-of-scale",
"title": "Masters of Scale",
"info": "Masters of Scale is an original podcast in which LinkedIn co-founder and Greylock Partner Reid Hoffman sets out to describe and prove theories that explain how great entrepreneurs take their companies from zero to a gazillion in ingenious fashion.",
"airtime": "Every other Wednesday June 12 through October 16 at 8pm (repeats Thursdays at 2am)",
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"officialWebsiteLink": "https://mastersofscale.com/",
"meta": {
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"source": "WaitWhat"
},
"link": "/radio/program/masters-of-scale",
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"apple": "http://mastersofscale.app.link/",
"rss": "https://rss.art19.com/masters-of-scale"
}
},
"mindshift": {
"id": "mindshift",
"title": "MindShift",
"tagline": "A podcast about the future of learning and how we raise our kids",
"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mindshift-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED MindShift: How We Will Learn",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/mindshift/",
"meta": {
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"source": "kqed",
"order": 12
},
"link": "/podcasts/mindshift",
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"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM1NzY0NjAwNDI5",
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}
},
"morning-edition": {
"id": "morning-edition",
"title": "Morning Edition",
"info": "\u003cem>Morning Edition\u003c/em> takes listeners around the country and the world with multi-faceted stories and commentaries every weekday. Hosts Steve Inskeep, David Greene and Rachel Martin bring you the latest breaking news and features to prepare you for the day.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 3am-9am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Morning-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/morning-edition/",
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"link": "/radio/program/morning-edition"
},
"onourwatch": {
"id": "onourwatch",
"title": "On Our Watch",
"tagline": "Deeply-reported investigative journalism",
"info": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/On-Our-Watch-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "On Our Watch from NPR and KQED",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/onourwatch",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 11
},
"link": "/podcasts/onourwatch",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1567098962",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5ucHIub3JnLzUxMDM2MC9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbD9zYz1nb29nbGVwb2RjYXN0cw",
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"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510360/podcast.xml"
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},
"on-the-media": {
"id": "on-the-media",
"title": "On The Media",
"info": "Our weekly podcast explores how the media 'sausage' is made, casts an incisive eye on fluctuations in the marketplace of ideas, and examines threats to the freedom of information and expression in America and abroad. For one hour a week, the show tries to lift the veil from the process of \"making media,\" especially news media, because it's through that lens that we see the world and the world sees us",
"airtime": "SUN 2pm-3pm, MON 12am-1am",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/onTheMedia.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/otm",
"meta": {
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"source": "wnyc"
},
"link": "/radio/program/on-the-media",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-media/id73330715?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/On-the-Media-p69/",
"rss": "http://feeds.wnyc.org/onthemedia"
}
},
"pbs-newshour": {
"id": "pbs-newshour",
"title": "PBS NewsHour",
"info": "Analysis, background reports and updates from the PBS NewsHour putting today's news in context.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 3pm-4pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PBS-News-Hour-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/",
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"source": "pbs"
},
"link": "/radio/program/pbs-newshour",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pbs-newshour-full-show/id394432287?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/PBS-NewsHour---Full-Show-p425698/",
"rss": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/feeds/rss/podcasts/show"
}
},
"perspectives": {
"id": "perspectives",
"title": "Perspectives",
"tagline": "KQED's series of daily listener commentaries since 1991",
"info": "KQED's series of daily listener commentaries since 1991.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Perspectives_Tile_Final.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Perspectives",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/perspectives/",
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"source": "kqed",
"order": 14
},
"link": "/perspectives",
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"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432309616/perspectives",
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},
"planet-money": {
"id": "planet-money",
"title": "Planet Money",
"info": "The economy explained. Imagine you could call up a friend and say, Meet me at the bar and tell me what's going on with the economy. Now imagine that's actually a fun evening.",
"airtime": "SUN 3pm-4pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/planetmoney.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/sections/money/",
"meta": {
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"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/planet-money",
"subscribe": {
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"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/planet-money/id290783428?mt=2",
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"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510289/podcast.xml"
}
},
"politicalbreakdown": {
"id": "politicalbreakdown",
"title": "Political Breakdown",
"tagline": "Politics from a personal perspective",
"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
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