[1] Stevie Stacionis, a business owner in Oakland, described it as a "gritty, open-minded co-working space, where vulnerable conversations about race, politics, literature and motherhood take place over spritzes and noodles" after hosting a wine event at the Ruby.
[3] Every other Friday, the Ruby invites local chefs from various culinary backgrounds to prepare meals for its members, spanning cuisine styles like Vietnamese, Mexican, Indonesian, Ethiopian, Malaysian, Native American, and more.
[2] After graduating from the University of Florida's MFA program, Khong moved to San Francisco and worked at Lucky Peach, a food magazine co-created by David Chang.
[5] Khong then thought a lot about the nature of community in the city, which spurred her to establish the Ruby, intended as a collective space for women and non-binary people.
[2] Past and present Ruby members include Meng Jin, R. O. Kwon, Mimi Lok, Rita Bullwinkel, Esmé Weijun Wang, C. Pam Zhang, Cecilia Rabess, Gabriela Garcia, and Shruti Swamy.