A grand day in Davis

There's no shortage of activities in this college town

Ana Cotham

Say “Davis,” and think: “University.” “Aggies.” “Animals.” But there’s a lot more to do in this little 10.5-square-mile city than swerve around college kids on bikes. There’s eating, drinking, art and book browsing, rock climbing, museum going, garden observing and, OK, more eating. If you’re a cyclist, Davis has bike paths galore winding through the campus and into the tree-lined neighborhoods. But if you’re in town for a day and have your walking shoes on, downtown Davis is the place to be.

Fuel

The patio at Bistro 33

Perhaps the biggest question of any grand day out is, “Where do we eat?” Davis has no shortage of restaurants, ranging from fancy to uber-casual. Crepeville offers good food, though tables are often hard to come by (it’s across the street from Central Park, so on a nice day you can picnic). Bistro 33 has a wonderful patio and serves an herb cheese flat bread I would steal from my own mother. Other favorite dinner options, which range in price from anywhere between $15 to $30 per person, include the Mustard Seed, Aioli Bodega Española, Sophia’s Thai Kitchen and Little Prague.
Morning usually calls for coffee and a bit o’ breakfast. Assuming you’re already downtown, the town’s most retail-heavy area, Mishka’s Café is a great place to start. They roast and serve organic and fair trade blends, and you can enjoy a cuppa and a pastry while secretly smirking at the students who’ll be studying while you carouse. Another option is the Village Bakery, which has freshly baked morning goods on its menu (keep it in mind as a lunch option too, as its brick-oven pizza is also noteworthy). If you’re in the mood for a classier sit-down breakfast, Konditorei is worth the short drive from downtown for its authentic Austrian breads, Linzerschnitte (Austrian spice cake) or Krapfen (deep-fried dough filled with custard or apricot marmalade).

Temptations from Ciocolat

At some point during the day, whether after lunch, after dinner or after a while, you might want a treat. Davis is a health food nut’s paradise, but by no means does it turn its nose up at something sweet. For death-by-chocolate, the aptly named Ciocolat is a cozy, European-style café just across from Central Park. If the weather is right, there’s a Ben & Jerry’s in Davis Commons, and a Baskin-Robbins and the frozen yogurt shop Swirl are right across from each other at E Street Plaza.

Fun

When you’re fueled up and ready to go, it’s time to hit the streets! If your goal is to add art or pizzazz to your abode, or to present said pizzazz as a unique gift, The Artery is a good place to start. This artists’ co-op features decorative and functional works such as jewelry, home décor, glassware, fabrics, kitchenware and, for lack of a better word, doodads from more than 60 regional artists. Other places to check out for home décor include Strelitzia, Bower Bird and The Naturalist.
On a rainy day, you can’t beat book browsing. (Note: As of this writing, there’s no telling whether or not we’ll actually have rain this winter.) Despite the controversy over its opening 10 years ago as Davis’ first big chain store, it’s hard to ignore Borders in Davis Commons. For a more intimate experience and eclectic selection—and to spend your dollars locally—check out The Avid Reader downtown or Sweet Briar, which is slightly off the beaten downtown path. Magazine buffs shouldn’t miss the Newsbeat racks.

Shuz of Davis

(courtesy of Yolo County Visitors Bureau)

Shopping warriors can check out the Davis boutiques, which range from sportsware (Fleet Feet, Ground Zero) to elegant (Five Figs Couture, The Wardrobe) to hip (Pinkadot and Pinkadot 2, its sister store for the younger crowd). Shuz of Davis frequently features drool streaks on its windows; it too has a sister store, 2nd Street Shuz, just down the street and around the corner. For children’s clothing and related products, visit Mother & Baby Source or Just Kidding, both brightly colored and charming shops.
Oh, speaking of kids—are yours with you today? If so, sorry about that, but you can put a cease and desist on any potential whining at Alphabet Moon Toys & Treasures, a whirlwind of fun, creative learning. Its shelves feature science experiments, art supplies, books, games, puzzles, icky slimy stuff and toys with a whiff of nostalgia (Slinky: What a wonderful toy. Just ask the Solano Magazine staff).
And if you then need to tire out those kids, pop in at Rocknasium, the popular climbing gym. It’s a short drive or even walk from Davis Commons; go through the Richards Underpass, then turn right on Olive Drive.

Finer things

One thing about Davis is that even the streets, and what’s around them, are worth studying. Davis has been an artist’s haven for decades, home to such icons as Wayne Thiebaud, Roy De Forest and Robert Arneson, whose Eggheads are strategically placed about the UC Davis campus. But there is also a plethora of public art to discover, such as Anthony Natsoulas’ Joggers at the corner of F and Second streets. There’s plenty of “inside” art as well, such as that at the John Natsoulas Gallery or the Pence Gallery, which also have nice gift shops. The museums on the Davis campus, such as the C.N. Gorman, the Richard L. Nelson and the Design Museum, are also worth a visit but may have limited hours.
If you want to see some natural beauty, the UC Davis Arboretum on campus is a lovely, tranquil stroll for the botany enthusiast. The arboretum also maintains a home demonstration garden, next to Borders, where visitors can learn more about growing and gardening in the Central Valley.

Nagari by Yoshio Taylor, exhibiting at the Natsoulas Center for the Arts,
March 2008.

I often like to close out a hard day of civic adventure with a movie. Davis has three movie theaters: two mainstream Regals and the art house Varsity. Maybe live music is on the menu, and places like Delta of Venus, the G Street Pub or Bistro 33 are singing your name. At certain times of the year, like during the summer, music comes outdoors to places such as Davis Commons and the E Street Plaza. But maybe I’m jumping the gun, and you’ve had tickets for a show all along, at the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, the Davis Musical Theatre Company or the UC Davis Department of Theatre & Dance … in which case, never mind me.

P.S. I had no room to mention Taqueria Guadalajara, but if you’re craving a burrito, go there.

For more information about up-to-date events, eateries, shopping, other resources and more daytrip itineraries visit Daviswiki.org or stop in at:

Yolo County Visitors Bureau
105 E St., Suite 300
Davis
(877) 713-2847