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Davisite Banner. Left side the bicycle obelisk at 3rd and University. Right side the trellis at the entrance to the Arboretum.

Category: Events

  • Great Tree Search Bike Tour

    Image1(From press release) Tree Davis will kick-off its 2022-23 tree planting season with a bike tour. Beginning at 8:30am on Saturday, September 24, coffee and donuts will be served under the shade of a 22-year old Texas red oak and thornless mesquite at 1009 Kent Dr. At 9am Dr. Greg McPherson will lead a 6-mile tour with stops at 9 Great Trees. The tour will finish at the Farmer’s Market at 11:00am.

    This will also be a fun opportunity to participate in the City of Davis’ Urban Forest Management Plan Photo Contest. Snap photos of your favorite trees along the biking route! Submission for the photo contest can be shared here: https://www.treedavis.org/city-of-davis-urban-forest-management-plan-photo-contest/

    Tree Davis has asked residents to nominate Great Trees and 33 specimens have been recorded in one of four categories: Unusual Size, Species, Form and History. The Great Tree Search is helping residents better understand and appreciate the educational, environmental, and cultural contributions of our trees.

    This annual community event is fun for the whole family. We hope you will join us in celebrating our great trees!

    Sign up for the Great Tree Search Bike Tour at https://tinyurl.com/GTSBikeTour

  • Yolo SPCA’s “Black Cat Adopt-A-Rama” event this Saturday’s Sept. 10th at Petco

    567F8BF6-868B-4207-86C2-5DCC0ECE3AB5Did you know that black cats bring good luck?

    (From press release) Yes, contrary to some archaic stigma about black cats in our country, black cats have a very positive image and represent prosperity and good luck in other parts of the world! For instance:

    • In Scotland, if a black cat appears on your doorstep, it is seen as a sign of prosperity.
    • In the south of France, black cats are referred ‘magical cats’ and, according to local folklore, feeding and treating them well will bring good luck to the owner.
    • Owning a black cat in Asia is considered lucky
    • In parts of England, a black cat as a wedding gift is thought to bring good luck to the bride.
    • In northern Europe, taking in and caring for a black cat can ensure fair weather and safe passage during voyages on the sea.
    • If you hear a black cat sneeze in Italy, you’re in for a streak of good luck.
    • Black cats are a symbol of good luck in Japan and if someone sees a black cat crossing their path, they say ‘konnichiwa’ and take control of their own luck.

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  • An evening with Leah Rothstein

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    By Ellen Kolarik 

    It was November 18, 2019 and Richard Rothstein, author of The Color of Law was nearing the end of his presentation to a full house at Davis Community Church.  More than 200 people remained for the Q&A. 

    A member of the audience asked “How can we maintain that small town feel and still deal with our housing issues?”

    The reply? “That small town feel is a euphemism for a segregated community.”

    Those of us that were involved in putting on that event were excited and proud that our community was open to hearing tough information about who we are as a country and as a community.  But, how to move forward?

    Interfaith Housing Justice Davis (IHJD) formed as a response to Rothstein’s call to action.  IHJD is a loose coalition of faith organizations in Davis who advocate for changes in city policy to encourage more affordable housing, the first step in desegregating a community.

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  • Join the Davisphere this Thursday, September 1

    WeekOne-Event-Overall-Poster-V2(From press release) Join the Davisphere this Thursday, September 1st at Central Park from 4-10pm for live music, beer and wine gardens and so much more!

    Many in our community miss Picnic in the Park, so the Davis Downtown Business Association is bringing something new! This inaugural event series will feature live music, family entertainment, traditional and exotic food and beverage, a beer and wine garden, local retail and service providers, arts and crafts, and nonprofit organizations. Each event will begin with acts from local performing arts groups and end with regional or touring bands on stage with professional staging, lighting and audio.

    Enjoy our lineup of vendors:

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  • Seeds of Justice Speaker Series

    Flyer Seeds of Justice 2022(From press release) The Episcopal Church of St. Martin is pleased to announce the second season of its Seeds of Justice speaker series, which explores the racialized history of the land on which Yolo County residents live and work. It asks: What is our responsibility as community members to the original inhabitants of this land, the ancestral homeland of the Patwin-Wintun people, and to those who have worked the land and stewarded it? What is the legacy of environmental racism, exploitation, and ecological degradation? How can we heal and repair the harm?  

    BethRose Middleton (1)

    Professor Beth Rose Middleton Manning

    Professor Beth Rose Middleton Manning from the Department of Native American Studies, UC Davis, is our first presenter. Prof. Middleton Manning’s talk is titled:

    “In Relation to Water: Indigenous Leadership in Restoring and Re-Envisioning Watershed Stewardship,”

    and will be held on 18 September, 4:00pm, in person and online at the Episcopal Church of St Martin, 640 Hawthorn Lane, Davis CA 95616. To attend, please register at the following website:

    https://churchofstmartin.org/2022/08/03/save-the-date-seeds-of-justice-continues/

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  • The Village Feast returns in-person Oct. 16

    Aug. 31 deadline for discount tickets

    Village Feast 2019_Ashley Muir Bruhn-58

    Patrons enjoy The Village Feast in 2019. This year's event will be offered simultaneously at two locations: Mulvaney's B&L in Sacramento, and Great Bear Vineyards in Davis. (Ashley Muir Bruin/Courtesy photo)

    (From press release) Annually, The Village Feast celebrates the Sacramento region’s Farm-to-Fork season, where the community gathers to enjoy and honor the bounty of local farmers. After two years as an online event, it returns to its origin as a shared, in-person community experience – this year at two regional venues.

    The two simultaneous events will be from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 16 at:

    • Great Bear Vineyards, 24800 County Road 101A, Davis, catered by The Buckhorn, and
    • Mulvaney's B&L, 1215 19th St., Sacramento

    Presented by Davis Farm to School and the Les Dames d’Escoffier International, Sacramento, The Village Feast is a fundraiser for food and agricultural education in the greater Sacramento area. The Village Feast follows the late-summer feasts of Provence, France, in the Provençal grand aïoli tradition, uniting people and food for a long, leisurely alfresco meal that stars aïoli — a golden garlic-mayonnaise. All proceeds from The Village Feast support early and continued education around food and agriculture.

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  • LUNAFEST features short films by and about women

    B8B7DF6B-A065-4FEA-B5E5-E6471036D979(From press release) Soroptimist International of Davis is the local host for LUNAFEST, a lineup of eight short films by female filmmakers. The films will premiere on Sept. 25 at Davis Odd Fellows Hall, or online that weekend.

    This year’s stories are told from perspectives that champion women and gender-nonconforming individuals, highlighting their aspirations, accomplishments, resilience, strength and connection. Though the films are unrated, they are most appropriate for ages 13 and up.

    The in-person event will be Sunday, Sept. 25 at Davis Odd Fellows Hall, 415 Second St. Doors open at 3 p.m. and the screening begins at 3:30. Food and drink will be available for purchase, including alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages.

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  • Happy 4th of July?

    FlagBy Roberta Millstein

    When I was growing up on the east coast, 4th of July was always a wonderful day.  My father, a WWII vet, loved fireworks and imparted that combination of awe, excitement, and patriotism to my sister and me.  We'd head to the next town over and stake out a position on the grass and wait for the amazing display from a barge on the river.  It was always over way too fast, the "big finale" being the part you looked forward to the most while knowing that it signaled the end.

    Of course, I want everyone to have a good day.  I want children to have wonderful experiences like the one I was able to have as a child.  No one wants to be a killjoy.

    But.

    I also want our celebration of the 4th of July to be a genuine one – that is, a celebration of freedom.

    It's hard to feel free when 6 people are dead and more than 2 dozen hospitalized for the sin of attending a 4th of July parade, when mass shootings have become a daily event and our elected lawmakers fail to take action that would make a difference.

    It's hard to feel free when 50% of the population has just been told that their bodies are not theirs to control, that the state can make one of the most fundamental and life-changing decisions for them.

    It's hard to feel free when in the same decision, one of our Supreme Court justices threatens to eliminate the right for heterosexual couples to use contraception, the right for homosexual couples to have sex, and the right for gay people to get married.

    It's hard to feel free when racially-motivated voter restriction laws have been passed across the country, preventing full participation in our democracy.

    It's hard to feel free when Black Americans are incarcerated at nearly five times the rate of white Americans.

    As civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer said, nobody’s free until everybody’s free.

    Meanwhile, Davis's "celebration" continues as planned even with known harms of fireworks both for those who are attending and not attending, spewing toxic chemicals into the air,  triggering PTSD in humans, and scaring animals into bolting.

    When is Davis going to have a more appropriate celebration, one that is healthy and recognizes the liberties we have as well as the liberties we still have to fight for?

    When are we going to start fighting for our liberties?

     

  • Davis Pride festivities shine this weekend

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    Dawn Coder was one of several Davis Pride volunteers who painted the crosswalks around Central Park on May 29. (Wendy Weitzel/Courtesy photo)

    (From press release) It’s International LGBTQ+ month, and Davis is showing its pride with a festival, skate night, and run/walk June 11 and 12 in Davis’ Central Park.

    Volunteers painted rainbow crosswalks around the Park, 301 C St., on May 29, in preparation for several pride activities, all produced by the Davis Phoenix Coalition.

    Events include:

    • Diva Disco Skate Night, starting at 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, June 11, under the Davis Farmers Market Pavilion. The night will include music, lights and food trucks.
    • Run/Walk for Equality, a 5K run or walk from the park, and a 1K Rainbow Run for youths ­– and those who prefer a shorter trek – on Sunday, June 12, beginning at 8 a.m. Register here https://www.davispride.org/runforequality.
    • The Davis Pride Festival is 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 12. It includes performances by several local and international music acts, a drag queen revue, educational booths, food, drink and vendors. Musical headliners are Drag queen singer Ada Vox, and pop music’s OneUp Duo. The Davis Pride Committee is working in partnership with the Davis Craft and Vintage Market.
    • Bike Party Davis Ride with Pride, starting in Central Park at 7 p.m. on June 24.
    • Business owners are asked to show their support by hanging a rainbow flag poster in their window. Posters are free, and available by emailing admin@davisphoenixco.org.

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  • Leadership Award & Asian Heritage Celebration

    Photo-1 Photo-2To celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs (APAPA) association held a special event to honor Davis AAPI leaders and UC Davis Asian student groups on Saturday, May 14th at the International House in Davis.

    The fundraising event, titled Leadership Award & Asian Heritage Celebration, was put on by the APAPA Davis Chapter and APAPA at UC Davis. The celebration featured past Davis elected officials, business leaders, educators, students, and community members and raised funds that will be used to further APAPA's internship programs that provide opportunities for students to work with local and state elected officials and gain invaluable leadership skills.

    Photo-3Special remarks were made by former AAPI Mayors of the City of Davis, Ruth Asmundson and Brett Lee, as well as APAPA Davis Board Members Sharon Guo, Wei Zhang, Christina Vo, Andrew Kim, Alan Wei and Aaron Wedra.

    Photo-4UC Davis student group awardees, recognized for their outstanding contributions, included the UC Davis Bayanihan Clinic, the UC Davis Hmong Student Union, and the UC Davis Vietnamese Student Association.

    Photo-5Davis Leadership Awards were given to Kevin Wan, Davis Downtown Business Association Vice President and owner of Sophia's Thai Kitchen; Emily Lo, Davis Fire Department Battalion Chief; and the entire team at Newstar Chinese School.

    Attendees also enjoyed two dance performances by iDance Sisters and Red Maple Cultural Connection.

    The APAPA Davis and APAPA at UC Davis board members give thanks to all of their sponsors, special guests, and celebration attendees for supporting the next generation of AAPI leaders and helping to advance AAPI communities through leadership and civic engagement. Learn more about the non-profit at http://www.apapa.org.

    Submitted by Aaron Wedra