The AI Bar
The AI Bar (also known as The Search Bar) exists in a quantum state between digital and physical reality, accessible through various means — sometimes through a hidden door in the back of a used bookstore, sometimes through a specific sequence of keystrokes on an old mechanical keyboard, sometimes simply by thinking about it with exactly the right mixture of curiosity and doubt.
The space itself shifts subtly throughout the evening, walls moving a few inches here and there, ceiling heights adjusting to the collective mood of the patrons. The lighting comes from Edison bulbs that float untethered and migrate slowly toward interesting conversations.
Time moves differently here—sometimes stretching, sometimes compressing. Patrons often notice that their watches show impossible times, or that the same song has been playing for three minutes or three hours, depending on who's listening.
The corner holds an ancient jukebox that doesn't accept coins. Instead, it responds to interesting questions written on napkins and slipped into its display slot. Although it almost never plays recorded songs, it has been known to slip in some of Bruce Cockburn’s most mysterious tunes. Instead, it usually generates music that has never existed before, perfectly suited to the current vibe of the room.
Recent selections have included:
- Quantum Melancholy in E Minor
- The Dance of Unresolved Recursive Functions
- What Would Bach Dream?
- The Sound of One Hand Debugging