•Rainy season is over and it’s spring in Yolo County! Finally, we’re in the clear to bring our patio cushions outside and get seedlings in the ground.
Seasonal a ective disorder is a real thing, and sometimes you don’t even realize how much weight you’re carrying from it until the sun peeks through. I can feel the cold damp yuckiness of the winter sloughing o of me as I crawl out of my weighted blanket chrysalis and re-enter society.
New Year’s resolutions are hard, it’s so cold and wet outside. Spring resolutions, I can be here for, though and this year I’m committing to: indulging in a matcha latte with almond milk whenever I want, actually nishing the books I bring home from the library, and taking that dog I got in January to encourage me to go on walks… on more walks.
Our Yolo landscape is dressed to the nines this month, dripping in blossoms everywhere you look—and the people of Yolo are about to get busy! Spring time activities are gearing up: more than 200 events printed in this April issue (and by the time you’re reading this—so many more online!).
It’s such a refreshing time of year and I hope you’re leaning into that in your own way. We’d love to hear what brings you joy this time of year! Share a photo and tag us on Instagram, we’d love to say hi! ♥
Editor & Publisher
@thedirt.davis@hannanakano
Promotional image from the band Misner & Smith’s new album release, All is Song. Read more about their music on page 22. Photography by Giant Eye Photography.
The Dirt’s mission is to showcase Davis & Yolo county’s unique people, places & events, inspiring readers & promoting local arts, culture & community.
PUBLISHER/EDITOR
Hanna Nakano hanna@thedirt.online
COPY EDITOR
Jenna Matsubara
EVENTS EDITOR
Allie Wydick
FOOD EDITOR
Sandra Violet Clark
DESIGNER
Kyle Dyer
SOCIAL MEDIA
Isabella Holmes
WEBSITE Spadefoot Studios
FOLLOW US: @THEDIRT.DAVIS #THEDIRTDAVIS
ADVERTISING: The Dirt is made possible by the support of local businesses. If you would like to reach readers and support local arts & culture, please email to request a media kit.
CALENDAR LISTINGS & DETAILS: Submit your event to our website for a free listing in our calendar no later than the 23rd of the month preceding the next issue. We will fill The Dirt with as many events as appropriate & possible, space allowing.
CIRCULATION: The Dirt is distributed with local support. If you can provide a prominent distribution space, please email with subject line “Circulation.” We currently distribute 3,000 copies each month.
ACCURACY: We do our best to fact-check, but events change. We suggest you call venues in advance of visiting. Please let us know of any errors for future printings.
DISCLAIMER: Paid advertisements do not necessarily represent The Dirt’s endorsement of the products or services offered.
1
Get your hands dirty in honor of Earth Day, cleaning up public outdoor spaces in Davis and Winters with the Putah Creek Council and Friends of the North Davis Channel April 13 and 21. Light breakfast provided, register in advance. Details in the event section.
Submit your art for an Earth Day Art Show at Community Mercantile April 21. Selected artists will be offered a speaking opportunity.
Yolo County teens can showcase their bold & creative side with poetry, comedy, rapping, or singing at the Dixon Library’s Teen Open Mic Night April 17.
2
Screen a DocumentaryClimate with the film’s director & producer. The Climate Restorers will play at Davis Veterans Memorial Theatre on April 24.
Observations on the Art Trade with UCD alum and art collector Alan Templeton examines the evolution of the art trade from the 1950s onward in an engaging and insightful presentation at the Manetti Shrem Museum April 16.
9
A new, community game night debuts this month at Three Mile Brewing Co. Play their card & board games or BYO each Tuesday night.
A curated selection of community events, art and music news, locally made products and more, hand-picked by The Dirt’s editorial team.
California Duck Days is back with live animals, wetland themed arts & crafts, environmental education activities, Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area tours, and more on April 27.
8
7
Celebrate Record Store Day at Armadillo Music with rare and limited vinyl releases, in store only on April 20.
6
Light up locally this 4/20—look for brands grown in our region, like Alien Labs (Redding), Seven Leaves (Sacramento), or Paper Planes (Grass Valley).
The whole town heads to campus April 20 for UCD’s annual Picnic Day—a celebration of the community the University has built, showcasing and celebrating the richness of campus life.
Just in time for Spring cleaning season, a new full-service organization business has opened in Yolo County. ink e Home Edit or Mari Kondo, but with a Yolo County twist that focuses on kitchens & pantries, closets, o ces, and playrooms.
Simply Set Spaces works with clients to transform the most important spaces in their homes to create more functionality and beauty. Basically, they do the nitty gritty cleaning and organizing—while you enjoy the aesthetic rewards.
Founders Sarah Eich and Brenna Hughes are both mothers in Davis, and know rst-hand how disorganized a home can become when kids are in round-the-clock activities, parents are both working, and no one has time to take care of the little things.
Because each client, home, and problem area is unique, Eich and Hughes start by assessing the space in real life during a free 30-minute consult.
From there, clients can dig into custom design proposals for their space, choosing to execute the plan on their own or hire Simply Set Spaces to bring the design to life. A la carte o erings include hiring an organizer for a day (or half day) where a team member helps you edit, sort, and reorganize an existing space, leaving you tidied
up and able to focus on the things that really matter. We got to chat with the organizers for a Q&A ahead of their busy season to nd out more about their twofold mission of organizing homes and giving families more time to enjoy life together.
Q: What inspired you to start this project?
A: We share a lifelong passion for organizing because of the calming e ect it creates. Clutter and disorganization can make you feel stressed and overwhelmed. Simplifying a space by using organizational systems that t each client’s needs and lifestyle is very rewarding. We love connecting with our clients and learning about their life, family, schedule, and aspirations. Knowing that we can help declutter and reorganize important spaces in their lives so they can move with ease and e ciency is an honor.
Q: What do you talk about in the free consultation?
A: We like to meet with our clients in person so we can see their space and hear about what is working for them, what is not working, and how we can help. is is a zero
judgment process. Some clients feel uneasy having us in their cluttered garage, o ce, playroom, or kitchen—but we know all-too-well how life can get busy and chaotic in a hurry. By connecting in person, we listen to their story and their goals, then we share our ideas and vision for a re-organized space that will bring them the ease, calm, and functionality they want and need.
Q: How do you help clients keep up the organization you put in place?
A: We customize our designs to t the speci c needs of each client. is personal approach ensures the organizational systems we put in place are easy to maintain and are useful to each individual client.
Q: Why does what things look like really matter?
A: is work is not about perfection or the appearance of perfection. It is about reclaiming function and simplicity in the midst of our ever-moving, busy lives. When the space you inhabit is set up in a way that ts your needs, you can move more freely through your tasks in that space which gives you more time to be present with the people you share those spaces with and the time you spend there.
When I moved to Davis in June of 2020 with a sixmonth-old baby, I wanted to nd a way to connect with other new moms. I posted in the Davis Parents Facebook group, hoping to nd one or two mamas interested in meeting up. Instead, I got so many responses we decided to start a weekly mama/baby support group.
is was in the throes of the pandemic. Our group would meet outdoors in Central Park, sitting 6+ feet away from each other during the hot days of the Yolo County Summer, commiserating over the wild ups and downs of navigating postpartum life during a global pandemic. is group catalyzed because so many of us were desperate for support and camaraderie during this vulnerable season. It has remained a lifeline.
Social isolation is over, but experiences of discon-
nection and isolation are still so present. A Harvard study found that 43% of young adults reported increases in loneliness since the outbreak of the pandemic. In 2023, the U.S. surgeon general, Vivek H. Murthy, released an advisory calling attention to what he called “America’s loneliness epidemic.”
In other words, we have become so disconnected as a society that the experience of loneliness has now been categorized into an urgent public health issue. Not only does loneliness impact mental health, leading to increased feelings of depression, it’s also detrimental to
physical health and can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, dementia and premature death.
It is ironic that there is a collectiveness in this experience of aloneness. e data tells us more people than not are feeling this way, which means most people would love to have more close friends—or a solid sense of community.
e good news is, there is another way. We don’t actually have to stay on our lonely little islands, and it doesn’t even have to take huge e orts to make this change.
Connection that begins in micro ways o en ends up having macro impacts on overall health and happiness. Small gestures like introducing yourself to a new neighbor, or in my case, posting on social media groups have the potential to lead to consistent potluck dinners in the neighborhood, or even lifelong friendships.
STUDENTS: Pick a club that sounds interesting and commit to going to one event next quarter.
PARENTS: Strike up a conversation with another parent at the park—maybe they’d like to go for froyo after.
COFFEE + BEER: Can’t decide if you’d rather grab a cup or a pint with a new pal? How about both. Challenge yourself to check out the new Volt Coffee on Olive Drive in Davis with someone this month. Artisanal coffee every day, and local taps on the weekends.
VENMO: A friend $10 for a morning latte splurge to let them know you’re thinking of them.
AT WORK: Choose an event on The Dirt’s calendar this month and invite a coworker you’ve been wanting to get to know better. That has the potential of making your workplace feel a little more connected.
The Davis Cherry Blossom Festival is back for its ninth year. This free, community festival is produced by young Asian American taiko players focused on building community and solidarity through art and music.
The festival features taiko groups from across California, local bands and musical groups, an artist gallery and craft marketplace, family-friendly activities and games, and a special seasonal beer release by our partners at Sudwerk Brewing Co.
Our springtime festival celebrates artistic and cultural diversity in our community and world.
“Cherry Blossom Festival” pays homage to Japanese American traditions and festivals, including hanami (flower viewing) and hanamatsuri (celebration of Shakyamuni Buddha’s birth).
With our festival, we seek to promote tolerant and peaceful communities, appreciation of natural beauty, sustainable living, and engagement in outdoor and public spaces. Through the festival, we raise money for charities working for greater social or environmental justice in our communities. This year, the festival will be fundraising for two organizations: International Rescue Committee and Asian Resources, Inc. Our festival is publicly funded by grants from the City of Davis and Yolo County, hosted at a private venue gracious enough to let us create in the space, and planned and produced by a volunteer team of young organizers. Like spring blossoms, the third space it seeks to create exists in a fragile balance, but somehow it comes back every year, beautiful each time.
Asian American cultural festival featuring taiko, local bands, artist gallery and craft market, family-friendly activities, and seasonal beer release.
Date: Saturday, April 13 11a—8p & Sunday, April 14 11a—8p
Location: Sudwerk Brewing Company, 2001 2nd Street, Davis, CA 95618
Entry: Free
Age: All ages
○Since 1976, good soil and good humor have been foundations of Good Humus Produce. But in recent years, the farm name is increasingly mispronounced.
Inspired by the vintage Good Humor Ice Cream truck, Good Humus (pronounced HUE-mus) refers to the nutrient-dense topsoil so important to farming.
e 30-acre Yolo County farm is run by owners Annie and Je Main and their three adult children. “As an organic farm, we rely on that rich soil,” Annie explained. “And from the very beginning, we did need good humor. It’s not an easy task.”
She said the pronunciation wasn’t a problem when they started. But as popularity rose for the Mediterranean chickpea dip called hummus, people started pronouncing it HUM-mus, and spelling it with an extra M. e family even made
T-shirts that included the de nition.
In 1976, shortly a er graduating from UC Davis, the Mains helped found the Davis Farmers Market and the Davis Food Co-op. ose outlets remain the core of their business. ey also o er a community-supported agriculture subscription program. Today, their three adult children are integral parts of the farm, which sits in Hungry Hollow, near the Capay Valley. Alison is a full-time farmer who heads up the oral program and handles eld production with Je . Claire manages the shop, marketing, bookkeeping and the CSA—things Annie used to do. Zachary, a re ghter, lives on the farm and helps when he can. e whole family, including grandkids, are regulars at the Saturday Davis Farmers Market.
“For us, the market is the pivotal point of our week,” Annie said. “We have been
there so long that customers are friends, and checking in once a week is as important as selling vegetables. It’s really a part of our family life, that market.”
at’s why they decided to focus on selling locally. Its market booth o ers a diverse mix of seasonal produce and owers, coveted Royal Blenheim apricots and heirloom peaches. Depending on the time of year, shoppers may nd fresh and dried owers and wreaths, beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauli ower, eggplant, gs, grapes, lettuce and greens, melons, peppers, persimmons, pomegranates, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, strawberries, tomatoes and turnips. Specialty products include dried fruit, fresh and dried herbs and herb teas, and jams made from the farm’s bounty.
“It’s quite an opportunity to see who buys your produce, and to talk to them,” Annie said. “We are known in the community because of that market.”
Find them at the Davis Farmers Market every Saturday, rain or shine Farm address: 12255 County Road 84A, Capay
Website: goodhumus.com
Phone: 530-787-3187
Central Park, Fourth and C streets, Davis Saturdays: 8a—1p, year-round Wednesdays: 3p—6p October through April; 4p—8p May through September for Picnic in the Park
Christopher Paolini. S.E. Hinton. Kody Keplinger.
What do these authors have in common? ey were published as minors. While a creative career is hard to achieve, an early one is rare and notable. It’s time to add Zuni Chopra to that list.
Chopra is the author of two poetry collections, a short story collection, and the novel e House at Spoke. Her rst book of poetry, e Land of Dreams was published in 2011 when Zuni was just 9-years-old.
“I just always loved telling stories. at’s always been the part that’s called to me the most,” Chopra said. “I grew up in a really creative household. Both of my parents are involved in creative work.”
Chopra is the daughter of lmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra and journalist Anupama Chopra.
She began writing poetry as a child at the age of six.
“I think it impacted my writing in that I’m really, really descriptive,” Chopra explained. “ at’s one of the strengths of my writing, but it can also become a weakness if it’s not in moderation. I have these really intricate descriptions. I use a lot of metaphorical imagery…and I think that’s in uenced by beginning in poetry.”
Writing and publishing a book at nine years old is an incredible feat, but it also came with lasting impacts.
“It came with a certain level of pressure and self-critique that I don’t know if I should have had at such a young age,” Chopra said. “I’m so glad I put it out there because I do think it put a little fun and silliness into the world…but I feel more proud and connected to my later work.”
Her debut novel, e House at Spoke, published
ONLINE: bubblegumartstudio.com
ON IG: @bubblegum_art_studio
Ashley Arax, for The Dirt
If you’ve driven through Downtown Davis this Spring, you’ve likely noticed a familiar building at the corner of 3rd & D with a fresh new look. Bubblegum Art Studio is a creative space for children and their caregivers focused on the process of making art over the end product.
Process art, as it is known, is all about experimentation, risk-taking, and—yes!— mistakes, making it a welcome break from the pressure to achieve perfection.
Young artists not only experience the sheer delight of making art, but also build their con dence, creativity, and decision-making skills.
Owner Wendy Bayram opened the studio with the goal of fostering the deep sense of community that Davis prides itself on.
“I wanted to create a space where people could come and experience a sense of freedom and inspiration, where they could leave behind their stresses and simply just BE,” Bayram told e Dirt. “And that’s what Bubblegum Art Studio is all about— bringing people together, creating community, and nding joy in the process.”
Bubblegum o ers a variety of classes for kids ages 1—12, plus weekday and weekend open studio sessions. e Studio’s week-long summer camps for kids ages 4—9 ends with an art show on Fridays. And if you’re searching for something fun and art-oriented for your child’s next birthday, Bubblegum hosts parties and has the cra activities covered.
I wanted to create a space where people could come and experience a sense of freedom and inspiration, where they could leave behind their stresses and simply just BE.
WENDY BAYRAMSandra Violet Clark (thekitchennatural.com), forThe Dirt
After a long winter of deep flavors, sturdy greens, hearty squash, and root vegetables, I’m always delighted to get reacquainted with the crisp, juicier produce of spring and summer — especially peas.
Snow, shelling, and sugar snap peas are out and peaking in spring; there isn’t a better time to enjoy them. With peas, the simpler the preparation, the better they show off how refreshing and bright they are.
This snappy slaw doesn’t mess with a good thing, only dialing up the flavor with a brief salting, rest, and almond crunch finish. It’s the perfect spring tonic in salad form.
Salt massaging makes this slaw. By taking the time to rub the salt into the cut vegetables and then letting the salt rest allows the salt to permeate into the snap peas and onions instead of simply sitting on the food’s surface. Just like a meat or tofu marinade that requires time to soak in, even a few minutes of letting vegetables rest in their own salty juices (salt pulls out water), helps them soak in the salt, massively enhancing and mingling their flavors. Taste test as you mix and then five minutes later to notice the difference. It’s striking!
Sandra Violet Clark is a Davis cooking teacher and recipe developer. Find her and her business, e Kitchen Natural, on IG @ thekitchennatural.
5 minutes • Serves 4–6 as a side
ingredients:
•1 pound sugar snap peas, sliced on the bias, ½-inch lengths
•1/2 c. spring or green onion tops, nely sliced on bias
•1¼ tsp. salt
•1 tbsp. olive oil
•2/3 c. sliced, slivered, or chopped almonds
1. In a small serving bowl, combine cut spring onion tops and sugar snap peas. Sprinkle with salt and massage, working the salt through the mixture. Allow the salted vegetables to rest for 5 minutes or more, letting the juices release and mix.
2. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil, stir to coat, and serve.
Add: A squeeze of lemon for interest + thinly sliced carrot or shaved asparagus; even strawberries (but not with the carrots).
is salad holds well and can be made in advance and refrigerated.
Snap Pea Summer Rolls: Stu the slaw into a summer roll rice wrapper with shrimp or tofu, bean sprouts, and wispy thin slices of green apple with fresh mint and cilantro.
Snap Pea Noodle Salad: Serve over rice noodles as a warm dish or cold salad, with chicken or pan-seared tofu, raw carrot slivers, plus a splash of soy sauce & rice vinegar.
1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29
for the latest listings & more thedirt.online
Hand Built Ceramic Class 35301 COUNTY ROAD 31, DAVIS. We focus on hand-building techniques to create a wide range of functional and ornamental ceramics projects and o er all the necessary tools, materials, and instruction. All ages and experience levels are welcome. Sun. 4p–6p; Mon. 6p–8p. $30
Art in Action: Putah Creek Flora “Print or Paint”
PENCE GALLERY. Learn about Putah Creek’s native plants and trees and why they are important to our local ecosystem! Use your observational skills to create watercolor illustrations of owers, branches and pinecones and discover unique patterns of leaves and roots by making rubbings and prints. Art in Action engages kids in art projects that are fun, creative, and collaborative with their family members. is is a drop-in program for ages 5-12, with no pre-registration required. 1p–3p. $4–8
STEPHENS BRANCH LIBRARY. Hosted by the Photography Club of Davis. Attend a presentation by David Kalb, an award-winning street photographer who has had several solo exhibits in Davis and Sacramento including at Logos Books, the International House, and Viewpoint Photographic Art Center. 7:30p–8:45p. Free
SUDWERK BREWING CO. Try the ancient art of printmaking in a casual environment with a pint and a pal. Students will learn how to transfer one of many provided designs (leaves, owers, skulls, tarot, mushrooms, and beer-themes) into their print block, then carve the image as a permanent stamp and print the design. All printmaking designs, tools, and materials provided PLUS a Sudwerk pint. 6p–8p. $40
12
2nd Friday ArtAbout Reception
PENCE GALLERY. Reception for new exhibit, Women’s Work, with sculpture and paintings by 13 artists. Also view Photography by Jacob Brody along the stairway and paintings upstairs in continuing exhibit, Erica Norelius: Natural Places & Urban Spaces. 6p–9p. Free
12
2nd Friday ArtAbout reception: Elly Gould
LOGOS BOOKS. Elly Gould paints only pure transparent watercolor using the white of the paper, no white paint. Meet the artist and view her work in Feathers and Fur. 6p–8p. Free
13
Teen Chalk Art on the Sidewalk DIXON LIBRARY. Express your snazzy style & creativity using colorful chalk to create awesome art on the sidewalk! is event is geared towards tweens & teens ages 10 to 18. 1p–3p. Free
13
Artist Demonstration
THE ARTERY. Watch artist Hannah Klaus Hunter as she works on a monoprint collage. 12p–3p. Free
13, 14
Davis Art Studio Tour
DAVIS. Presented by your local artists, enjoy a self-guided tour of 40 artists’ studios throughout the city of Davis. Visit www.davisast. com for more information. 10a–5p. Free
14
Crochet Club with Tobi Onadeko
PENCE GALLERY. Come join artist Tobi Onadeko for a crochet session at the Pence! With over 10 years of experience crocheting, Tobi is passionate about fostering community and will teach you some helpful tips and tricks. 12p–2p. $15–22
20
CRUESS HALL, UC DAVIS. Fashion created and executed by Department of Design undergraduate students in the Signature Collections course. e theme, “Revival,” explores an improvement, an instance of becoming relevant again, a reawakening, or a restoration of physical and mental vigor to life or sporting success.11a–12p. $12
21
Earth Day Art Show
COMMUNITY MERCANTILE. To celebrate Earth Day, the Merc is inviting area artists to submit work for display at our shop for the entire month of April. On April 21st, a few artists will be selected to discuss their work at an a ernoon program. 12p–5p. Free
28
Clay Fun on G street
THE ARTERY. For the 50th anniversary of e Artery, members of the community are invited to spend an a ernoon a month Making Art on G street. Come and get your hands on clay and have fun with a professional team of artists, Brigitte Chertok, Maggie Crivelli & Emma Luna. Create your own piece or contribute to the community art project. 12p–4p. Free
THRU APR 2
Gina Werfel & Hearne Pardee: Fragments
PENCE GALLERY. Fragments highlights recent paintings, collages, and drawings of Gina Werfel and Hearne Pardee. Both have recently retired from teaching at UC Davis, having spent more than 20 years teaching art, in addition to maintaining busy studio practices. ey each approach their practice with the intent of layering or fragmenting multiple points of view or perspectives. Free
THRU APR 3
Davis Art Studio Tour Preview Exhibit
PENCE GALLERY. Enjoy previewing artwork by 40 artists participating in the annual Davis Art Studio Tour (Tour on Apr. 13–14). A diverse sampling of ceramics, textiles, photography, painting, sculpture, and more will be on display at the Pence Gallery. Free
THRU APR 5
Four for the Figure
JOHN NATSOULAS GALLERY. Peer into the intensely intricate and lyrical worlds of four proli c artists, including Larry Clark, Dr. Clarence Major, Kevin Snipes, and Ira Watkins, all of whom channel their painterly aesthetics through canvas and ceramics to explore the gure character and to celebrate their shared African American identity. Free
APR 5–APR 29
Creative Learning with Clay
THE ARTERY. Under Willett Elementary School teacher’s Judy Catambay’s guidance, students discover their artistic voices as they turn clay into art. e lessons in clay spark their curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world. eir work and Catambay’s are on display. Free
APR 12–MAY 31
PENCE GALLERY. Women artists have long used humor and satire to critique the unequal treatment of women, in areas from reproductive rights to their depiction in the media. Women’s Work is a sampling of contemporary sculpture and paintings by thirteen artists who rede ne gender and femininity through their art. Free
THRU APR 21
STILL: Racism in America, A Retrospective in Cartoons UCD DESIGN MUSEUM. is exhibition explores racism through cartoons, showcasing the work of pioneering father/daughter cartoonists the late Brumsic Brandon, Jr. & Barbara Brandon-Cro who chronicled the nation’s cultural landscape in their comic strips through the lens of racism. 12p–4p. Free
THRU APR 28
Erica Norelius: Natural Places & Urban Spaces
PENCE GALLERY. Erica Norelius’ new series of work o ers an in-depth dive into the natural spaces of the Golden State, reaching from the coastal cities and desert areas, north towards Oregon. Equally compelling are her captivating cityscapes, which capture the busy highways and urban street life of Oakland and San Francisco. Free
THRU MAY 6
Shiva Ahmadi: Strands of Resilience
MANETTI SHREM MUSEUM. UCD Professor of Art Shiva Ahmadi uses painting as a form of storytelling, combining luminous colors & mystical beings with violent imagery to draw attention to global issues of migration, war & brutality against marginalized peoples while featuring the female gure. Free
THRU MAY 6
Malaquias Montoya & the Legacies of a Printed Resistance
MANETTI SHREM MUSEUM. Activist artist & UC Davis Professor Emeritus Malaquias Montoya embraced political printmaking to advocate for social justice. His role as a print educator resulted in artistic collaborations & partnerships with various featured artists. Free
THRU JUNE 1
Alicia Eggert: This Present Moment, 2019–2022
MANETTI SHREM MUSEUM. Eggert uses language & time as her mediums,
playing with our experience of time, using the e ects of neon signage. Free
MANETTI SHREM MUSEUM. Engage in collective speculation on the transformative nature of re & the ways it can change the materiality of California’s landscapes. rough interactive displays & inquiry, visitors can explore the future of re in the Golden State. Free
Deborah Butterfield: P.S. These are not horses
MANETTI SHREM MUSEUM. e artist’s rst solo museum exhibition in California since 1996, P.S. ese are not horses surveys Butter eld’s career from her most recent wild re sculptures to rarely seen ceramics made while a student at UC Davis. Free
4 UCD Softball
LA RUE FIELD. Against St. Mary’s. 3p. $8–10
5 UCD Baseball
PHIL SWIMLEY FIELD. Against Hawaii. 2:30p. $8–10
6
UCD Baseball
PHIL SWIMLEY FIELD. Against Hawaii. 1p. $8–10
7 UCD Baseball
PHIL SWIMLEY FIELD Against Hawaii. 1p. $8–10
9
UCD Baseball
PHIL SWIMLEY FIELD. Against University of San Francisco. 2:30p. $8–10
12
UCD Softball
LA RUE FIELD. Against CSUN. 1p & 3p. $8–10
13
UCD Softball
LA RUE FIELD. Against CSUN. 12p. $8–10
13
FC Davis vs Sonoma County Sol PLAYFIELDS PARK. FC Davis hosts Sonoma Sol in UPSL action. Food and beverages from Woodstock’s Pizza Davis and Sudwerk Brewing Co. 7p–10p. $10
13
UCD Women’s Water Polo
SCHAAL AQUATICS CENTER. Against CSUN. 12p.
17
UCD Softball
LA RUE FIELD. Against Stanford. 1p & 3p. $8–10
19
UCD Baseball
PHIL SWIMLEY FIELD. Against UC Santa Barbara. 2:30p. $8–10
20
UCD Baseball
PHIL SWIMLEY FIELD. Against UC Santa Barbara. 1p. $8–10
21
UCD Baseball
PHIL SWIMLEY FIELD. Against UC Santa Barbara. 1p. $8–10
26
UCD Softball
LA RUE FIELD. Against UC Santa Barbara. 1p & 3p. $8–10
26, 27, 28
UCD Women’s Water Polo
SCHAAL AQUATICS CENTER. Big West WWP Championship. All day. $10–20
27
UCD Softball
LA RUE FIELD. Against UC Santa Barbara. 12p. $8–10
27
FC Davis vs Reno United PLAYFIELDS PARK. FC Davis hosts
1500
Reno United in UPSL action. Food and beverages from Woodstock’s Pizza Davis and Sudwerk Brewing Co. 7p–10p. $10
1, 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29
Reading Buddies
STEPHENS BRANCH LIBRARY. Come practice with a reading buddy! UCD students Lela & Vanessa are available Mon & Sat a ernoons to help improve reading skills. Ages 5-12. Free
4, 18
Poetry Night Reading Series
JOHN NATSOULAS CENTER FOR THE ARTS. First & third ursdays. Each reading contains two featured poets followed by an open mic. 7p–9p. Free
6 Art History Lecture Series: Talinn Grigor
ZOOM. Hosted online by the Pence Gallery, Talinn Grigor, Professor of Art History at University of California Davis, will explore why, given the staunchly nationalist policies of the 1920s-30s, many of the indigenous architects of Iran’s Modern Movement came from the ranks of the country’s religious and gender minorities, including Christian Armenians and Baha’is. 1p–2p. Free, suggested $10 donation
9 Seeds of Justice & YoloSol Reading Group
EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST. MARTIN. YoloSol, a cultural arts and ecology collective, and St. Martin’s Seeds of Justice program will lead discussion of the book Know We Are Here: Voices of Native California Resistance, edited by Terria Smith, a tribal member of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians. 6:30p–8p. Free
Story Time
AVID & CO. Introducing the Avid & Co’s Wednesday story time. No RSVP required! 10a–10:30a. Free
Storytime in Pioneer Park
PIONEER PARK. Every 2nd & 4th ursday for a morning of stories & songs. For ages 3-6. Weather permitting. 11a. Free
13
VETERANS MEMORIAL THEATRE.
First, a local high school actor will read the winning story of our high school writing contest “Dream. Write. Enchant.” Second, an established local actor will read an excerpt from Zuni Chopra’s novel e House that Spoke. Following the reading, Dr. Andy Jones will moderate a Q&A with Chopra. Chopra’s novel will be available for purchase and signing at the event. 7:30p–9p. Free
16
Observations on the Art Trade MANETTI SHREM MUSEUM. Distinguished alum and art collector Alan Templeton (B.A., art history and psychology, ‘82) examines the evolution of the art trade from the 1950s onward in an engaging and insightful presentation. 4:10p–5:30p. Free
25
In Conversation: Kota Ezawa MANETTI SHREM MUSEUM. Kota Ezawa is a Bay Area-based artist known for creating video, animations and lightboxes that explore the mediations of cultural and historical events in an essential, stylized manner. Ezawa will give a free talk as part of the Manetti Shrem California Studio program in the UC Davis Department of Art and Art History. 4:30p–6p. Free
26
Alberini Family Speaker Series in Design: Dr. Elizabeth Tunstall MANETTI SHREM MUSEUM. Dr. Elizabeth “Dori” Tunstall, a distinguished design anthropologist, celebrated author, visionary organizational design leader, consultant and coach, will give a talk titled “Decolonizing Design: A Cultural Justice Guidebook” for UC Davis Department of Design’s Alberini Family Speaker Series in Design. 4:30p–6p. Free
1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Anticipatory Grief Support Group ZOOM. Whether you’re a patient, a family member, or close friend, this support group is designed to help you process what you’re feeling, nd companionship and perspective from others, and nd a pathway forward with dignity and even hope for a meaningful parting and transition to the next stage of your journey. 6p–7p. Free
2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Tough Day P.O.W.E.R. Hour Support Group
1260 LAKE BLVD #201, DAVIS. Learn how you can turn your ‘tough day’ into something that helps you be more strong and durable for your next challenge. Come get tips from a certi ed life coach & your peers. 7p–8p. Free
3, 10
Nursery Volunteer Day
NATIVE PLANT NURSERY, WINTERS. Volunteer & learn about the amazing plants of Putah Creek & meet like minded people! Every Weds. Register online. 9a–12p. Free
6 Metamorphosis: Public Gathering, Art, Music, and Intergenerational Dialogue
DAVIS LUTHERAN CHURCH. ese events are designed to encourage intergenerational dialogue about who we want to be and how we want to live in the world. ese are gatherings where people share art, music, spoken word and guided friendly conversation, and beverages and snacks. 2p–5p. Free
6
Music for Natalie!
DAVIS ODD FELLOWS. is event is to commemorate fallen Davis Police O cer Natalie Corona and the Natalie Corona Davis Odd Fellows Memorial Scholarship. Music by Wealth of Nations, Misner & Smith, and 5 Star Alcatraz. Food trucks providing tasty treats, beer donated by local breweries. 12p–5p. Free
6
Nature Day
THE HIVE. A family friendly day learning about nature, celebrating national garden month and squashing our carbon footprint! Enjoy engaging workshops and activities from local beekeepers and entomologists, farmers, conservationists and horticulturalists. Discover the connection between bees and squash in honor of National Garden Month’s Year of the Squash. 11a–5p. Free
6, 20
West Sacramento
Gardening Q&A Desk
LOWES, WEST SAC. e UCCE Yolo County Master Gardeners Questions & Answers Desk is open at Lowes on the rst & third Saturdays of the month. Led by Master Gardener Janet Branaman and open to the public. 10a–12p. Free
7, 14, 21, 28
Sunday Funday
STEPHENS BRANCH LIBRARY. Drop-in family enrichment programs every Sunday! 2p–5p. Free
8
Meet and Greet with Lactation Consultant
SWEET PEAS DAVIS. Meet our special guest Lisa Paradis, a Lactation Consultant who will be here to answer your questions. Register online. 10a–12p. Free
13
National Park Week: Nature Detectives
EXPLORIT SCIENCE CENTER. Visitors will get to explore skulls, pelts, and track casts of about 40 species from North America, courtesy of Kaotic Mythicals. Children will get to make their own Field Track Guide of 20 species, plus a special cra or a real track cast to take home. 10a–2p. $5
BIRD ENTRY PARK, DAVIS. Putah Creek Council and the Friends of the North Davis Channel are collaborating to host a clean-up event in celebration of April being Earth Month. Light breakfast will be provided. Register at putahcreekcouncil. org/events in advance. 9a–12p. Free
ODD FELLOWS HALL. A wonderful way for the community to support the many needy non-pro t organizations here in Davis. Each month, Davis Odd Fellows Bingo! connects with a local organization that needs assistance. Open to all adults. 12p–4p. $12
DAWN Networking Party
STONEGATE COUNTRY CLUB. Come make new friends, and business connections, and learn about volunteer opportunities and other ways to get involved. Join us for a fabulous and fun evening of building connections. We’re serving mocktails and a spread of yummy treats. 6p–8p. $10–20
18
Davis Women’s ADHD Support Group
STEPHENS BRANCH LIBRARY. e goal of this group is to help women with diagnosed
or suspected ADHD to support one another. A er group agreements are read, we will have a 30–60 minutes ADHD educational component. e remaining time will be for general discussion, sharing resources, and planning for the next meeting. 6:30p–8p. Free
20
UC Davis Picnic Day
UC DAVIS. A celebration of the community that UC Davis has built, showcasing and celebrating the richness of campus life.
27
Coconut Grove
CENTRAL PARK. Experience an evening of live music, delicious food from local food trucks, an exciting silent auction, and a beer and wine garden–all for a great cause! Join us as we support the Davis High Band Boosters in their mission to send talented students to perform at Carnegie Hall in NYC. 5p–8p.
27
California Duck Days
YOLO BYPASS WILDLIFE AREA HEADQUARTERS. is family-friendly event includes live animals, wetland themed arts & cra s, environmental education activities, hourly tours of the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, & much more! 9a–4p. $20/vehicle
27
Soul Awakening Festival
ABELE FARMS EVENTS. Featuring classes in yoga, somatic healing, qigong, group medium reading, sound bath & more (only $10 each). More than 40 holistic and cra vendors and more than 15 practitioners in reiki, tarot & more. 10a–7p. Free
27, 28
Aggie Propulsion and Rocketry Lab
EXPLORIT SCIENCE CENTER. Learn about rockets and the people who create them with the Aggie Propulsion and Rocketry Lab (APRL). 10a–2p. $5
1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Tai Chi Classes
WOODLAND SENIOR CENTER. Tai chi classes on Mondays and Fridays taught by Tina Duan, a former member of the Chinese National Gymnastics team. All levels welcome! 8:50a–9:50a. $10–15
6, 13, 20, 27
Very Beginning Ballet (Adults)
VILLAGE HOMES. Learn ballet basics with instructors from Applegate Dance! Perfect for adults & teens new to ballet. 10a–11a. $15
6, 13, 20, 27
Gentle Barre Exercise Class
VILLAGE HOMES. A slower-paced tness class to gently strengthen, align & mobilize your body. All levels welcome! Bare feet or non-slip socks are recommended. 11a. $15
7
Barre & Bond
YOLO BARRE. Connect with your tween and raise money for Empower Yolo in this special class. Hang out & enjoy co ee and juice a er. Register in advance. 9a–10:30a. $40
21
Yolo Barre + Spring Wreathmaking at the Farm PARK WINTERS. Enjoy a beautiful spring morning at Park Winters, practice outdoor movement with Yolo Barre to the sounds
of birds chirping, then enjoy time in our dreamy ower barn where you will make a spring inspired wreath. 9a–11:30a. $65
APR 1–APR 30
Yolo Vegan Chef Challenge
YOLO COUNTY. Restaurants throughout Yolo will feature special vegan menu items. Diners have the opportunity to visit restaurants and vote. Visit veganchefchallenge.org/yolo for details.
3, 10, 17, 24
Woodstock’s Weekly Pies and Pints WOODSTOCK’S. First pint is full price, but you get to keep the glass–& every pint a er that is 50% o for the night. Ask the bartenders when you arrive. 8p to close.
7 Girls Day at Grindstone GRINDSTONE WINES. A day for wine, mimosas and your girls! Vendors: Linked by Elizabeth Permanent Jewelry, Cleverly Candles, Bloomed in Love Succulents, Biancckaa Bakes Desserts. Food truck Tipsy Cheese food truck & live music from Duo Sonics. 11a–2p.
20, 21
Food Truck Weekend
GRINDSTONE WINE. 4/20 Brunch in a box Food Truck, 4/21 Club Pick up with Buenos Aires Grill + Incorrigable the Duo. 11a–4p.
27, 28
Wine Ramble with Yolo Wines YOLO COUNTY. Create your own wine trail and take advantage of all Yolo Wines has to o er! 14 participating Yolo County
wineries o ering BOGO wine ights with a ramble ticket purchase. 11a–5p. $20
2, 16
Live Jazz: Jim Frink Trio
ROOT OF HAPPINESS. Jim Frink is a drummer and educator based in Davis. e jazz trio plays improvisational music ranging from standards, to modern jazz, to balkan folk and beyond. 7:30p–10:30p. Free
3, 17
Davis Independent Music Initiative Song Doctor
ZOOM. Communal Songwriting workshop & critique. Every 1st & 3rd Wednesday. Have your lyrics ready to screen share! All are welcome! 8p. Free
5, 12, 19, 26
Friday Folk Music Jam Sessions
WYATT DECK, UC DAVIS ARBORETUM. Folk musicians are invited to bring their acoustic instruments & play together informally during this jam session at Wyatt Deck. All skill-levels welcome. 12p–1p. Free
6
Davis High School Jazz Choir
Gilded Glamour Cabaret 2024
EMERSON JUNIOR HIGH. Cabaret is the Davis High School Jazz Choir’s premier bene t event with live song & dance, appetizers & desserts, hand-cra ed mocktails, and a ra e. Enjoy live song and dance performed by the Davis High School Jazz Choir under the musical direction of Natascha Bach, with choreography by Je Teague. 7p–9p. $20–45
12
Muusic at Noon!
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF DAVIS. Maquette Kuper, ute, and LuAnn Higgs, piano, perform works of Bartok, Heggie, and traditional Chinese folk songs. Ms. Kuper performs as principal ute with the Auburn Symphony, is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, and studied in Paris on a Fulbright fellowship. 12p–1p. Free
LOGOS BOOKS. Playing folk music tunes from around the world outside Logos Books during ArtAbout. 6p–8p. Free
MONDAVI CENTER. Presented by UC Davis’ premier all-female-identifying, award-winning a cappella group, e Spokes, HellaCappella is an exciting collaboration between a cappella groups of all shapes, sizes, and sounds. 7:30p–9:30p. $38+
12
Jorge Alabê and Friends PITZER CENTER. Experience the exciting Afro-Brazilian musical traditions, with master drummer and candomblé player Jorge Alabê. Friends of Alabê’s and the UC Davis Samba School will join together under his direction for this concert. 7p–9p. $24+
13
Davis Chamber Spring Concert
DAVIS COMMUNITY CHURCH. Davis Chamber Players is a non-pro t educational concert series featuring professional artists and lecturers from the Sacramento and Davis areas dedicated to the education and engagement of the community in all possibilities that chamber music has to o er. Concert sponsored by the Yolo Community Foundation. 2p–4p. Free
14
2024 Wennberg Orchestra Festival
MONDAVI CENTER. Concert will have performances of the Davis Elementary AllCity Orchestra under the direction of Lydia Cooley, Davis High Strings Tutoring Program
Orchestra, Directed by student conductor Michael Wang, Holmes Advanced String Quartet, Holmes Junior High Intermediate Orchestra, Holmes Junior High Advanced Orchestra, DHS Symphony Piano Quintet, DHS Baroque Ensemble, DHS Chamber Orchestra, DHS Symphony Orchestra, featuring the 2024 Davis High Concerto Competition Winners, Violinist Jenna Son and Pianist Caitlyn Ohler, all under the direction of Angelo Moreno. 2:30p–5:30p. $15–25
17
DIXON LIBRARY. Showcase your bold & creative side with poetry, comedy, rapping, & singing! Acts are limited to 5 minutes. is event is geared towards tweens & teens ages 10 to 18. Sign-ups online. 3:30p–5p. Free
17
DAVIS SENIOR CENTER. e focus will be slower ballads and bossas designed to be a supportive space to get you soloing over jazz standards. 3p–5p. Free
18
Hiromi’s Sonicwonder MONDAVI CENTER. From her debut album to her 2021 performance at the opening ceremonies of the Tokyo Olympics, Hiromi has electri ed audiences and earned the deep respect of jazz icons like Ahmad Jamal, Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke. 7:30p–9:30p. $25
19
Lucian Kano Balmer’s Spruce Ritual
MELON BALL. Lucian Kano Balmer is widely praised for the intricate, deep, soulful, and at times meditative quality of his music, using both his violin and exquisite voice to demonstrate the spiritual power of music for healing and reviving the soul. 8p–10p. $20
21
New Harmony Jazz Band Live
CENTRAL PARK. Two free sets of Big Band, Swing, and Latin jazz favorites during the Davis Cra & Vintage Fair. 11a–1p. Free
24
Experienced Jazz Jam
DAVIS SENIOR CENTER. is jam is for musicians who are pro cient at their instrument and have experience playing in jazz jams, ensembles or otherwise feel con dent to improvise a solo in a jazz jam session. Jam with other Davis musicians who love playing jazz music: American Songbook, Bossa Nova, Django, etc. Register in advance. 3p–5p. Free
DAVIS PARENT NURSERY SCHOOL. Bring a picnic blanket and the kids to kick back, enjoy good food and listen to live music at this fundraiser. Food trucks and a bake sale will be available, along with local live bands. Entrance tickets cover all children’s activities – including rock painting, kids karaoke, face painting and kids music corner. 4p–7p. $7 in advance, $10 at the door
2, 9, 16, 23, 30
G Street Karaoke Night
G STREET WUNDERBAR. Every Tuesday night. 10p. Free
2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Game Night
THREE MILE BREWING. Immerse yourself in a world of board games, card games, & good times! Play ours or bring your own. Plus, enjoy our fantastic Happy Hour. 5p–10p.
3, 10, 17, 24
Trivia & Open Mic
G STREET WUNDERBAR. Every Wednesday trivia starts at 8p & open mic starts at 10p. Free
3, 10, 17, 24
Trivia Wednesday UNIVERSITY OF BEER. 21+. Games @ 9p.
3, 10, 17, 24
The Pub Quiz with Dr. Andy SUDWERK BREWING CO. Local Quizmaster Dr. Andy entertains and challenges teams of up to six with 31 questions on a variety of topics you should know something about, such as history, literature, pop culture, geography, internet culture, and science. 7p–9p. Free
4, 11, 18, 25
Trivia Thursday
WOODSTOCK’S. Trivia, beer, and pizza!
Trivia sign-ups @ 8:45p; game @ 9p. Free
4, 11, 18, 25
No Brain Drain Trivia
SUPER OWL BREWING. “No Brain Drain”
Trivia, hosted by Preacher. Trivia + Comedy + Game Show. 6:30p–7:30p. Free
5, 12, 19, 26
Karaoke Night
TOMMY J’S. Every Friday with KJ Incubus. 10p.
6, 13, 20, 27
Karaoke Night
UNIVERSITY OF BEER. Every Sat. 9p. Free
6, 13, 20, 27
Parkside Bar Themed Party PARKSIDE BAR. Every Saturday, come to Parkside for a di erent themed party. Featuring Sacramento’s best DJs playing
Top 40 Hits & bar anthems. 10p–1:30a.
7, 14, 21, 28
Sunday Trivia
THREE MILE BREWING. King Trivia App. All ages. 6p.
7
Tours of the City of Davis Wetlands
CITY OF DAVIS WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT. First Sundays. In-person tours run rain or shine, except in the instances of ooding. Reservation required. Sep–Feb: 3p–5p. Mar–Aug: 9a–11a. Free
21
Tours of the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area
YOLO BYPASS WILDLIFE AREA. In-person tours run rain or shine, except in instances of ooding. Reservations required. Tours do not run in July, August, & September. 9a–12p. Free
21
Earth Day Creek Clean-up
WINTERS. Putah Creek Council and the Friends of the North Davis Channel are collaborating to host two Winters clean-up events in celebration of April being Earth Month: at Winters Putah Creek Nature Park and at Stevenson Bridge. Light breakfast will be provided. Register at putahcreekcouncil.org/events in advance. 9a–12p. Free
7, 14
Davis Odd Fellows Classic Film Fest ODD FELLOWS HALL. Films are recommended by Film Critic/Reviewer Derrick Bang and selected by the committee. e genre is “Movies which are much better than their remakes”. Derrick will speak before each movie, enlightening those attending on the plot, director, actors, and fun things to look for while watching. He’ll do a quick Q&A a erwards. 6:30p–9p. Free
24
Documentary Screening:
The Climate Restorers
DAVIS VETERANS MEMORIAL THEATRE. e Climate Restorers is a global documentary series with 4 episodes exploring the urgency of climate and ecosystem restoration, where we are now and where we need to be. Screening Part 1, a one-hour lm, and a short trailer for Part 2 followed by a townhall-style discussion with the Director and Producer. 5p–7:30p. Free, donations accepted
3, 10, 17, 24
The Spork Hub Farmstand
SPORK FOOD HUB. Support local farmers! Purchase organic, sustainably farmed fruits, veggies, eggs & baked goods from Upper Crust Bakery. 2p–7p.
3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27
Davis Farmers Market
CENTRAL PARK. Visit the market each week to purchase local produce & artisan goods. Every Wed, 3p–6p & every Sat, 8a–1p.
5, 6, 7
Friends of the Library Sale
STEPHENS BRANCH LIBRARY. e Friends of the Library book sale is the rst weekend
of each month. On Sunday, ll a bag for $10.
6
Armadillo Music Vinyl Fair
DAVIS SENIOR CENTER. More than 50 tables of vendors selling vinyl, cassettes, cds, music merch, equipment, and more. Early Birds at 8:30a, $5. 9a–3:30p.
7 Neighborhood Garage Sale
742 PLUM LANE. Ceramics, toys, kids clothes, art, barbies galore, and other misc. items, plus homemade baked goods! All proceeds go to Camp Okizu, helping families and children a ected by childhood cancer. 10a–3p.
7, 21
Davis Craft and Vintage Fair
CENTRAL PARK. Support local small businesses! Featuring more than 40 booths with local artisans and vintage collectors, food trucks and live music. 10a–4p.
13
Annual Plant Sale and Garden Events
DAVIS UNITED METHODIST
CHURCH. Featuring live music, a lecture on pollinators with Loni Green, and a paint-a-pot fun table. 9a–12p.
20
Record Store Day
ARMADILLO MUSIC. We are excited to participate in Record Store Day. Come by and pick up rare and limited releases, in store only! Find out more info about the day on our website. 9a–12p.
1, 8
Afro Brazilian Dance Workshop INTERNATIONAL HOUSE. Featuring instructor Karla Alarcon Avila, this 8-session session class welcomes drop-ins, but enroll in the full program for a more enriching learning and dance experience. Dress comfortably and dance with sneakers or barefoot. 6p–7:30p. $120 (Drop-in rate: $20)
3, 17, 24
Free Line Dance Class
STEPHENS BRANCH LIBRARY. Free line dancing classes in the Blanchard Room. No experience necessary. 6:30p–7:30p. Free
4, 11, 18, 25
Line Dance Class
DAVIS COMMUNITY CHURCH. Drop-in line dancing classes in the Fellowship Hall on ursdays. First class is free! 3p–4:30p. $5
7
Free Line Dance Class
DAVIS COMMUNITY CHURCH. Enjoy a free line dance class with the Davis Line Dance club. 2p–3p. Free
13
Ecstatic Dance Davis
VILLAGE HOMES COMMUNITY CENTER. An intentional, playful, joyful, freeform, all-ages, substance-free, daytime movement and embodiment practice. We gather monthly for a journey of music, movement, and mindfulness. 11a–1:30p. $15
13, 14
Spring Concert: What if NORMAL, isn’t?
PAMELA TROKANSKI DANCE THEATRE. What if NORMAL isn’t? is a thoughtful and sometimes humorous exploration of the wonderful, yet o en irritating world of living with the personal idiosyncrasies of everyone who isn’t you. rough movement, text, and a diverse range of music, this work looks at what in uences human beings to view the world from a wide range of perspectives and what the implications might be for us as individuals, communities, and a species. 7p–8p. $15–20
17
Dance Theatre of Harlem
JACKSON HALL. Dance eatre of Harlem, an 18-member, multi-ethnic company performs a forward-thinking repertoire that includes treasured classics, neoclassical works, as well as innovative contemporary works. 7:30p–9p. $30+
24, 25, 26, 27
Bedtime Stories
VANDERHOEF STUDIO THEATRE. Conceived by Dutch collective URLAND, Bedtime Stories celebrates the art of the voice to tell engaging and immersive stories. is pitch-perfect narrated performance takes its inspiration from radio plays, using just Dudkiewicz’s voice and well-timed sound e ects to bring to life an enchanting cast of characters. 7:30–9p. $35+
Explore the Downtown Davis art scene in this free, self-guided monthly art walk. Exhibits are hosted by galleries, art studios & businesses in Davis.
ARBORETUM ART WORKS
17 Arboretum Dr, Suites G & H | 5p—7:30p. Visit the working artist collective to meet and see the work of elma Weatherford, Cathie James-Robinson, Schorré Chevalier Oldham, Judy Catambay, & guest artist Amy Teutemacher.
THE ARTERY
207 G St | 6p—9p. Creative Learning with Clay. Judy Catambay, artist and art instructor for Davis schools, showcases ceramic work by her students alongside some of her latest sculptures. April’s Spotlight Guest Artist is Hannah Klaus Hunter, print and collage artist.
DAVIS CRAFT & VINTAGE FAIR
E St Plaza | 5p—9p (weather permitting). Shop from arts, cra s, and vintage microbusinesses’ booths, plus free live music.
DELTA OF VENUS
122 B St | 6p—9p. Kill Hankee Art Show + Will Durkee Book Release. View work by artists Katerina Hanks and Will Durkee, plus the release of Durkee’s self-published book of black & white drawings.
LOCAL KITCHENS
500 1st St, Ste 13a | 6p—9p. Abstract Explorations. Reception for artist Naomi Bautista, whose paintings display an abstract contemporary style with expressionistic energy.
LOGOS BOOKS
513 2nd St | 6p—8p. Feathers and Fur.
Reception for Elly Gould, whose watercolor paintings show her appreciation of the world around her. Gould paints and instructs with the Davis Senior Center Watercolor Group. Enjoy live music by e Folk Music Folks.
THE PAINT CHIP
217 F St | 6p—8:30p. Places of the Spirit Artists Anne Lincoln & Kathleen C. Gamper collaborate to bring viewers the very spirit within nature through oils on wood and chalk pastel artworks.
PENCE GALLERY
212 D St | 6p—9p. Women’s Work features contemporary sculpture and paintings by 13 artists. Photography by Jacob Brody along the stairway merges analogue and digital photography. Erica Norelius: Natural Places & Urban Spaces includes captivating landscape and cityscape paintings.
SECRET SPOT
117 D St | 5p—9p. Art is Dumb. A group show that takes a light hearted and comedic approach to art.
THIRD SPACE ART COLLECTIVE
17 Arboretum Dr, Unit C | 6p—9p. ird Space Members Show. Join for an engaging experience exploring the minds and hearts of their talented members, and view an array of artworks ranging from paintings and sculptures to printmaking and music.
THE WARDROBE
231 D St | 7p—9p. Porcelain Roses Performance Art. Allison Fall will create sculptures with clay and roses while interacting with the audience, plus music by DJ Twilight and e Sound of Fashion.
UNIVERSAL UNITARIAN CHURCH OF DAVIS
27074 Patwin Rd | 12p—1p. (Off-Map Event) Muusic at Noon Free Concert! Maquette Kuper, ute, and LuAnn Higgs, piano, will perform works of Bartok, Heggie, and traditional Chinese folk songs at the UU Church of Davis.
Bellacera Studios
Gayle BonDurant
Wilfred Uecker & Karen Fess Uecker
Northern California-based duo Misner & Smith are one of the most acclaimed acts in the Americana world and e Dirt got a sneak listen to their newest album release, out this month.
Technically precise songwriting mirrored with an improvisatory spirit and soaring harmonies have made the band— consisting of Sam Misner and Megan Smith—truly loved in Davis and beyond.
Blending elements of Americana with bluegrass, traditional folk ballads, and more pop-leaning ideas, Misner & Smith makes music gloriously nonconforming.
A er six long years, the band’s newest album, All is Song, releases April 12.
Misner, guitar, and Smith, upright bass, have been ne tuning this record since 2017, making for a release that feels crisp and magical—from their own
well-cra ed instrumentals to the lyrics.
“ e silver lining of the extra time, though, is that we lived with the songs that much longer, and we got to know them more than we would have otherwise,” Misner told e Dirt. “ eir meaning deepened for us, too, especially considering what we were all going through over the past few years.”
“ at whole time also reminded us of how powerful and healing music can be,” Smith added. “How much it can bring us together, and that we can’t take any of this for granted.”
A beautiful search for humanity, All is Song is a reminder that even our darkest moments can be rescued through creativity.
“We’ve lost some very close friends and loved ones over the last couple of years, and music has been a big part in keeping us grounded and hopeful,” Misner said. “It’s a way of connecting to something intangible and bigger than ourselves. And also a way to connect to other people, to bring us together.“ is album is also a celebration. Proof that art and connection matters.
“We’ve never been more proud of an album—or frankly any creative endeavor that we’ve ever been a part of,” Smith said. “In a way, it feels like one big toast to everyone and everything that has put us on this path and on this journey. Every single moment on this album was cra ed with so much intention and care, and we are extremely grateful that we nally get
to share it all with the world.”
Before the upcoming release of their sixth LP, All is Song, the duo has released ve critically acclaimed records, including Halfway Home (2004), Poor Player (2008), Live at the Freight & Salvage (2010), Seven Hour Storm (2013), and Headwaters (2017).
On All is Song, the musicians build upon that momentum and turn in their nest work to date, an album of inspired declarations to the power of music, song, and, most importantly, collaboration.
* May 2 *
Freight & Salvage
Berkeley, CA
* June 8 *
McCloud River
Mountain Music
McCloud, CA
April 13 & 14
10 AM - 5 PM
The Davis Art Studio Tour returns this month, with a group of forty artists inviting the community to step into their private art studios for a glimpse at their practice.
is free two-day tour of Davis-based artists’ studios is self-guided, allowing you to create your own itinerary and visit participating artists to see where their work is created at your leisure.
Ro Mottsmith is an artist who creates intricate layered cut paper art. It’s a detailed and complex process that isn’t always apparent from looking at a nished piece.
“I’ll be displaying some of my nished work, but I’ll also be giving demonstrations of some of the steps in my process,” Mottsmith told e Dirt “One thing I hope people take away is that you can create art with relatively simple tools. Art is for
everyone and I hope my modest studio inspires people to play with whatever materials they have on hand.”
Artists opening their studio to the Tour this year work in painting, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, encaustic, mixed media, and more.
“ e Davis Art Studio Tour is special because it lets us explore our curiosity together,” Mottsmith said. “Art lovers get to peek at the work that goes into making art, maybe demystifying a process they’ve always wondered about, and art creators get to learn more about how our work resonates with actual real live people instead of spending all of our time in our studios alone.”
Tour maps are free and available at e Artery, Pence Gallery, e Paint Chip, Logos Books, and more. Head to davisast.com for a mobile version.
Deladier Almeida
Ricki Kimball
Troy Boepple
Marianne Kist-de Boer
Gayle M. BonDurant
Alan Klinger
Sue Britz
Robin Kozloff
Marie-Therese Brown
Cynthia Martin Kroener
Roshelle Carlson
Donna Lemongello
Schorré Chevalier Oldham
Jonathan C. Lewis
Magdalene Crivelli
Doriene Marshall
Bunny Jean Cunningham
Jack McTiernan
Marieke de Waard
Laura Morton
Paul Erhartic
Ro Mottsmith
Karen Fess
Jessie Nakahara
Phil Gross
Jord Nelsen
Amina Harris
Natalie Nelson
Wes Horn
Michael Radin
Cathie James-Robinson
Adele Louise Shaw
Nikhil Joshi
Amy Teutemacher
Kristina Kernytska
Stasia Tikkanen
Chris Kidd
Jan Walker
Joanna Kidd
Thelma Weatherford