The Dirt Davis

The Dirt Davis Your culture guide to Davis, California: find music, art, food & fun every day. The Davis Dirt. Follow us on Twitter!

Your definitive source for don’t-miss music, art, food & entertainment in Davis, CA. Pick up your free events calendar at numerous businesses throughout Davis.

This month, The Dirt tips its hat to the off beat corners of our region—where art, obsession, and community collide. Our...
07/02/2025

This month, The Dirt tips its hat to the off beat corners of our region—where art, obsession, and community collide.

Our cover story ventures into The Elegant Dollhouse in Sacramento, and we promise: scale does not limit possibility. What looks like a quiet storefront is, in fact, a portal to miniature chandeliers, tiny toasters, and the kind of craftsmanship we might have thought disappeared in the digital age. Sonora Slater’s story on the craft and the sisters behind the shop, on page 22.

Meanwhile, Emme Dunning’s feature on homelessness in Yolo County zooms in on a very different kind of detail: the human complexity behind one of our region’s most urgent, and growing, crises. As funding rises and state programs evolve, the story asks:
What actually works? And who’s left behind? More on page 6.

We also break down the County’s new fireworks ordinance—yes, that sparkler could
now cost you $1,000—and introduce you to a group of young scientists trying to make it to a major climate conference, despite DOGE funding cuts.

We’ll introduce you to a favorite Davis Farmers Market vendor, get a $20 meal rec
from , and hear from Bob Dunning ahead of the 2025-2026
athletic season.

So much more in this month’s issue, including:
⭐ Regional Fourth of July celebrations
⭐ Preview June’s 2nd Friday ArtAbout
⭐ PLUS HUNDREDS OF FREE, LOCAL EVENTS!!!

We hope this issue helps you feel more connected, more seen, and more inspired.

Have you gotten your hands on our June issue?! 📰☀️As we spend this month celebrating all things Pride—from Davis PrideF...
06/06/2025

Have you gotten your hands on our June issue?! 📰☀️

As we spend this month celebrating all things Pride—from Davis PrideFest to the Woodland Pride Parade—we’re proud to feature a special audio story that invites you to listen in on a fun conversation with members of the Sashay Society at Davis Senior High. Just scan the qr code to listen :)

We are also psyched to tell you we’ve launched a summer pen pal club! Whether you’re a kid looking for a new friend or a senior with stories to share, there’s magic in the mailbox waiting to be discovered. Flip to page 16 to get started.

So much more in this month’s issue, including:

⭐️ A powerful reflection on freedom and what happens when it is taken away. Reviewing My Lost Freedom, George Takei’s Golden Poppy Award winner about Japanese American incarceration.
⭐ Davis PrideFest schedule of events.
⭐ Davis Music Fest brings three days of music to town.
⭐ Details on the Davis skate park overhaul.
⭐ Updates on the Natalie’s Corner splash pad.
⭐ Get to know the family behind Hensliegh Health Beef, one of our very favorite Davis Farmers Market vendors.
⭐ A global, weekly 5k experience sets up in Mace Ranch Park—it’s free and you can join!
⭐ Considering trading your vehicle in for bike life? The Bike Campaign introduces us to one of their newly minted “roll models”!
⭐ Best $20 meal in Davis from .
⭐ Bob Dunning celebrates a year of epic success on Substack.
⭐ Preview June’s 2nd Friday ArtAbout.
⭐ PLUS HUNDREDS OF FREE, LOCAL EVENTS!!!

We hope this issue helps you feel more connected, more seen, and more inspired.

https://online.fliphtml5.com/ifice/qqek/

Rainbow crosswalks return to Davis this weekend! 🏳️‍🌈By: Wendy Weitzel, for the Davis Phoenix CoalitionTo set the tone f...
05/20/2025

Rainbow crosswalks return to Davis this weekend! 🏳️‍🌈

By: Wendy Weitzel, for the Davis Phoenix Coalition

To set the tone for Pride Month in June, volunteers will paint rainbow crosswalks around Davis’ Central Park between 6 and 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 25.

The nine crosswalks around Davis’ Central Park will be painted with a temporary spray chalk.

Volunteers start at 6 a.m. at Fifth and C street and work counter-clockwise to the final crosswalk at Fourth and C streets.

The rainbow crosswalks are the first of many Davis Pride events, including:

🏳️‍🌈 May 25: Volunteers will paint rainbow crosswalks around Davis’ Central Park, from 6 to 9 a.m.
🏳️‍🌈 June 5: Sing with Pride at the UC Davis Mondavi Center, 7 p.m.
🏳️‍🌈 June 7: Pride is a Protest rally, Central Park, downtown Davis, 2 to 3 p.m.
🏳️‍🌈 June 7: The 11th annual Davis PrideFest, a community fair and music festival, from 3 to 8 p.m. in Civic Center Park, Sixth and B streets, with title sponsors Dignity Health and Woodland Clinic Medical Group
🏳️‍🌈 June 8: The 11th annual Run/Walk for Equality, 8 a.m. to noon from Central Park
🏳️‍🌈 June 14: Skate with Pride, 7 to 9 p.m. in Central Park
🏳️‍🌈 June 19: Drink with Pride trivia night 6 to 9 p.m. at Dunloe Brewing Co., 1606 Olive Drive
🏳️‍🌈 June 27: Davis Pride Comedy Night presented by Laughs on the Lake, 5:30 to 9 p.m. Stonegate Country Club, 919 Lake Blvd.

May is water safety month and The Dirt has teamed up with to share this essential read for anyone who spends time aroun...
05/20/2025

May is water safety month and The Dirt has teamed up with to share this essential read for anyone who spends time around water with children.

Each year in the U.S., nearly a thousand children lose their lives to drowning. It’s the leading cause of accidental death for children ages 1-4, and the second leading cause for those under 14. These are devastating statistics—but the good news is: drowning is preventable.

➡️ Water safety is about more than just knowing how to swim. A good learn-to-swim program should teach children to:
💦 Roll over and float to breathe
💦 Call for and wait for help
💦 Enter and exit the water safely
💦 Never swim alone
💦 Respect all water: whether it’s a pool, lake, or the bathtub

➡️ If a child is missing—even for a moment—check the water first. Drowning can happen in seconds and is often silent. Always ensure that barriers are secure and pool areas are monitored to prevent accidents before they happen.

➡️ Zoom or tap the link to read more about the five layers of protection every parent or caregiver needs to know.

🔗: https://thedirt.online/may-is-water-safety-month-an-essential-read-for-anyone-who-spends-time-around-water-with-children/

Applications are open for the Davis Odd Fellows Summer Encampments—scholarships for City of Davis Summer rec camps (and ...
05/16/2025

Applications are open for the Davis Odd Fellows Summer Encampments—scholarships for City of Davis Summer rec camps (and pool passes 💦)!

Scholarships are need-based, allowing local children entry to Summer recreation programs and subsidizing cost of pool passes for those hot Davis days.

Check out the camp options and how to apply at the link!

🔗: https://thedirt.online/2025-summer-camp-scholarships/

A family facing immeasurable loss due to a fatal disease that primarily affects premature infants has organized a commun...
05/14/2025

A family facing immeasurable loss due to a fatal disease that primarily affects premature infants has organized a community run in Davis to raise awareness and research funds.

Yolo County parents Jennifer and Noah Canvasser launched the NEC Society—the world’s leading nonprofit advancing for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) research, education, and advocacy—after tragically losing their son Micah to the disease.

NEC is a life-threatening intestinal disease that affects medically fragile infants during their first weeks and months of life. Locally, the UC Davis Children’s Hospital is where families go for lifesaving care for babies at risk of NEC.

This month, the .society and UC Davis Neonatal Intensive Care Unit team up host the first YOLO Run for a World Without NEC, coinciding with Necrotizing Enterocolitis Awareness Day on May 17. The run starts at 8a and has options for 2k, 5k, 10k or virtual participation. Supporters may also donate online.

Most people have never heard of necrotizing enterocolitis. Jennifer and Noah Canvasser had never heard of NEC until Micah was diagnosed.

Micah and his twin brother Zachary were born prematurely at 27-weeks, weighing 2-pounds each. Jenn and Noah did everything they could to help their twins thrive in the neonatal intensive care unit. The twins grew stronger, and by the time they were six weeks old, it seemed Micah and Zachary would be home in a matter of days.

“But everything changed when Micah was diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis. He became critically ill and needed emergency surgery to remove necrotic bowel,” Jennifer explained. “Zachary was discharged from the NICU, but Micah’s complications from NEC continued.”

Tap the link to read more of the Canvassers’ story and to register for or donate to the cause.

🔗: https://thedirt.online/nec-society-yolo-run/

Promo code for The Dirt readers: YoloDirt

Sparkling lights will fill the Davis night sky in a spectacular show as usual after Celebrate Davis this month—but there...
05/12/2025

Sparkling lights will fill the Davis night sky in a spectacular show as usual after Celebrate Davis this month—but there’s an exciting, more earth-friendly twist this year. 💫✨

The grand finale of the 22nd annual Celebrate Davis will feature a live drone show instead of the traditional fireworks!

Eco- and health-conscious event organizers around the country are transitioning to drone shows to lessen the environmental and health problems associated with burning fireworks.

Celebrate Davis 2025
Friday, May 16
5:30p—9p
Community Park

This FREE community celebration features:
⭐️ Bounce houses
⭐️ Live stage show
⭐️ Bike valet
⭐️ Photo booths
⭐️ Local vendors
⭐️ Family fun zone
⭐️ Beer and wine garden
⭐️Food
⭐️ & more!

EARTH TO THE PEOPLE 🌎 One more day to get out and enjoy this year—a Davis Mother’s Day tradition!Whole Earth Festival b...
05/10/2025

EARTH TO THE PEOPLE 🌎 One more day to get out and enjoy this year—a Davis Mother’s Day tradition!

Whole Earth Festival began as a small art class project on the UC Davis Quad in 1969, where students used art to teach about activism, wellness, and environmental sustainability in an interactive and creative way.

Fifty-six years later, UCD students continue the tradition. This year’s WEF features live music on two stages (each with their own diverse line-ups!), more than 15 vegetarian food vendors, more than 100 craft vendors selling handmade goods, an art space, an education space, a kids’ space, an experiential dome, and a staff dome.

>>> Go to for more!

A shooting in Davis during Picnic Day festivities Saturday, April 12 left several injured and exposed children and their...
05/07/2025

A shooting in Davis during Picnic Day festivities Saturday, April 12 left several injured and exposed children and their families to gun violence. No arrests have been made. As Davis gears up for another month of community events and festivals, safety preparations
are top of mind across the City.

By: Sonora Slater

Davis Police say they are reevaluating their safety plan as we approach a month of large city-wide events that often draw in visitors, including Whole Earth Festival, Celebrate Davis,
and the Davis Pride Festival.

“We are actively re-evaluating our process for providing security to events in the City,” DPD Lieutenant Dan Beckwith told The Dirt. “It is always our goal to review events and identify areas where we can improve security moving forward.”

For years, organizers at Davis Pride have worked to keep their event welcoming and safe for everyone by hiring a private security firm to monitor the event and asking volunteers to observe and report anything they think could be
of concern.

“The safety, security and overall enjoyment at any of our events is the Davis Phoenix Coalition’s number one priority,” Sandré Nelson, the director of Davis Pride, told The Dirt. “Both our volunteers and security firm have ensured that we have had limited incidents at Davis Pride and we will continue to do so using the
“See Something, Say Something” model.”

Zoom or tap the link to read the full story.

🔗: https://thedirt.online/safety-in-davis/

There is “ongoing concern about protection from active shooter incidents” on Davis Joint Unified School District campuse...
05/06/2025

There is “ongoing concern about protection from active shooter incidents” on Davis Joint Unified School District campuses, according to a new report from the Yolo County Grand Jury.

The report, published this week, highlights a lack of campus security in Davis schools and recommends improvements for better protection of students and staff. This is the 4th Grand Jury report outlining safety issues on Davis campuses since 2016.

Here’s what the report found:

⚫️ Davis Senior High School, Cesar Chavez Elementary and North Davis Elementary Schools have open access to the public through adjacent parks.
⚫️ Teachers frequently leave their classroom doors unlocked during school hours.
⚫️ Trail cameras do not provide instant communication about intruders.
⚫️ DJUSD allocated $3 million dollars for fencing in 2023 but no fencing has been installed.

The next DJUSD meeting is May 15.

Read the full report at the link.

🔗: https://thedirt.online/yolo-grand-jury-safety-concerns-d/

Pope Francis: A man who cared deeply about our environmentBy: Bob Dunning, The Wary OneI remember a few years ago while ...
05/04/2025

Pope Francis: A man who cared deeply about our environment

By: Bob Dunning, The Wary One

I remember a few years ago while I was walking downtown, a car pulled up alongside me and several people inside shouted out, “We love your Pope.”

They were talking about Pope Francis.

They pulled over and we had a short chat. They didn’t share my Catholic faith, but they did share a fondness for Pope Francis, whose humility and common touch earned him respect and praise from people all over the world, those of different faiths and those who had no religious beliefs at all.

Several years into his pontificate, in May of 2015, he published an encyclical titled “Laudato Sí” subtitled “On care for Our Common Home.”

At that moment, I suppose, he became known as the “Environmental Pope,” as he quoted the Saint whose name he chose as his own, Francis of Assisi.

>>READ MORE: Zoom for an abbreviated version or tap the link to read Bob’s article on Pope Francis in full.

🔗: thewaryone.com

Longtime Davis columnist Bob Dunning is a contributor to The Dirt because he believes in quality local journalism.

Top ten can’t-miss events of MAY 🏳️‍🌈⭐️ The month of May is all about gearing up for Pride in Davis! Join Davis PRIDE in...
05/02/2025

Top ten can’t-miss events of MAY 🏳️‍🌈

⭐️ The month of May is all about gearing up for Pride in Davis! Join Davis PRIDE in the annual rainbow crosswalk painting around Central Park on May 25, starting at 6a.
⭐️ Grab a cold one and support the local LGBTQ+ community all month at Dunloe Brewing. Each Davis is for Everyone beer sold gives back to the Davis Phoenix Coalition.
⭐️ This month welcomes back an epic lineup of Picnic in the Park concerts this summer at the Davis Farmers Market. Cold Shot on May 7, Kindred Spirits May 14, The Teds May 21, and According to Bazooka May 28.
⭐️ The Davis Cherry Blossom Festival returns to Sudwerk Brewing Co. May 3-4, with incredible music, taiko performances, and community art opportunities.
⭐️ The City of Davis hosts a community meeting on the future of the City’s new skate park at Veterans Memorial Theatre May 7. Hear from Grindline Skateparks, who will design the new skatepark, and give your input.
⭐️ A new documentary about homelessness in Sacramento and Yolo County screens at Veterans Memorial Theatre May 8. Out Here presents homelessness through the eyes of a social worker.
⭐️ Avid Reader hosts the kick off of a national tour for the launch of Davis author Jessica Guerrieri’s debut novel, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. Each ticket includes a signed copy of the novel. Event held May 22 at Veterans Memorial Theatre.
⭐️ Enjoy an evening with legendary columnist Bob Dunning as actor Larry Lew presents Bob’s favorite columns and his new writing on Substack. Next, Dr. Andy Jones will interview Dunning in a one-on-one live chat. This free event is May 11 at Sudwerk Brewing Co.
⭐️ When disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder, she is put in protective custody in the one place the cops are sure she won’t be found: a convent! Davis Musical Theatre Company brings Sister Act to life in a divine show recommended for ages 14 & up.
⭐️ Hope Café brings music, conversation & inspiration to International House Davis May 20. Enjoy live music and poetry, community choirs, drinks and snacks, and conversations about care, joy & possibility.

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The Davis Dirt. Your definitive source for music, art, food & entertainment in Davis, California. Pick up your free events calendar each month at 60+ locations throughout Davis and see all that you can do in your community! https://thedavisdirt.com/find-the-print Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @thedavisdirt.