With businesses open once again in Davis, The California Aggie has created a map of previous Best of Davis winners for information about UC Davis students’ favorite spots. Explore the interactive map for Aggie-approved restaurants, breweries, bars and more, as well as all of the spots’ current hours, locations and COVID-19 policies.

Burgers and Brew

If you’re looking for outdoor dining or a great burger, Burgers and Brew is the perfect spot. Their location in downtown Davis, directly across from Central Park, features ample outdoor seating. Derar Zawaydeh, the owner of Burgers and Brew, emphasized that they have been strictly adhering to COVID-19 restrictions, serving food only in to-go containers and following social distancing guidelines.

“I think the cuisine at Burger and Brew lends itself to to-go boxes and that sort of stuff,” Zawaydeh said. “I think we were very, very lucky [that] 90% of it is outdoors.” 

Burgers and Brew is currency open for takeout and outdoor dining. 

Their hours are:

Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Crepeville

A staple breakfast and brunch location for UC Davis students, Crepeville shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic for about six months before reopening in August 2020. Now, the restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch every day. Owner Derar Zawaydeh said that it is thanks to the Davis community that they were able to reopen during this time.

“The support from the community that we get here has really been wonderful,” Zawaydeh said. “The school is, of course, a major, major player in our business structure here.”

Crepeville is currently offering takeout and indoor and outdoor dining. 

Their hours are:

Monday-Tuesday 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Wednesday-Sunday 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Philz Coffee

Philz Coffee is many students’ study spot of choice, including second-year Emma McNeilly, a global disease biology major. McNeilly said that Philz has been especially great during the pandemic because the routine of going out for coffee has helped her days feel more normal.

“I love Philz because they promote a very supportive and positive environment for me,” McNeilly said. “I’m able to get out of the house and do homework, feel more productive, interact with other people, see familiar faces and enjoy their amazing coffee.”

Philz is open for curbside pickup, mobile order, takeout and indoor and outdoor dining. 

Their hours are:

Sunday-Thursday 6 a.m.-6 p.m.

Friday-Saturday 6 a.m.-7 p.m.

Yoloberry

Yoloberry frozen yogurt is another Davis favorite hangout and first date spot, according to owner Lee Pflugrath.

“This is the go to place in town, pretty much,” Pflugrath said. “There [are] many first dates here. We’ve had three marriage proposals, we’ve had a couple marriages already.”

According to Pflugrath, one of the biggest challenges for Yoloberry during the pandemic has been transitioning from their self-serve model, where customers were able to load up their yogurt with as many of Yoloberry’s 100 toppings that they wanted, to a more COVID-19-safe model. Now, customers can choose a size—small, medium or large—for their yogurt and select toppings in one ounce containers to add on. Pflugrath said that they hope to return to a self-serve model when it is safe.

Currently, Yoloberry is open for takeout and outdoor seating. 

Their hours are:

Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Mikuni

Mikuni has been a popular sushi spot in Davis for years and they even upgraded to a larger location in South Davis right before the pandemic hit in March 2020. The store’s manager, Kimberly Yoon, said that though it has been unfortunate timing for the restaurant’s expansion, they are excited to see its potential as pandemic restrictions loosen.

“We’re very appreciative of the loyalty and dedication of our guests because they all are coming back and it’s still very busy,” Yoon said. “Mother’s Day is going to be the first experience back after the majority of Yolo county is vaccinated, and I think everyone feels a little bit more comfortable being in the public. We’re really excited to see the potential of Mother’s Day because it’s normally one of our busiest days.”

Though Mikuni’s signature sushi and cocktail bars have not yet been able to reopen due to safety and social distancing measures, they hope to return to full operations when it is safe.

Currently, Mikuni is offering takeout and indoor and outdoor seating. 

Their hours are: 

Sunday-Thursday 11:30 a.m.-9:00 p.m.

Friday-Saturday 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.

Sudwerk Brewing Co.

Sudwerk Brewing Company, a Best of Davis best brewery winner, has had to find creative ways to continue operations during the pandemic, since bars and breweries have been some of the most impacted businesses, said Sudwerk’s operating manager, Trenton Yackzan. Yackzan explained that the brewery has had to pivot to stay in business while COVID-19 restrictions have been in place. 

“We put out a pretty cool drive-thru using a conveyor belt that we pulled off of our bottling line so that people pulled up, and we could just roll the beer and food down the conveyor belt,” Yackzan said. “It’s a 10-foot conveyor belt, so people felt safe just pulling up in their car and grabbing and going without getting out. Before [COVID-19], drive-thru beer was not allowed, […] so we jumped on that.”

Currently, Sudwerk is offering takeout and outdoor patio seating. 

Their hours are:

Monday-Wednesday Closed

Thursday-Friday 4-8 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday 12-8 p.m.

Taqueria Guadalajara

Taqueria Guadalajara is a go-to Mexican taqueria for UC Davis students, which has locations in North Davis, South Davis, Woodland and just opened a fourth location in downtown Davis, only a block from campus. Lauren Remish, a second-year communication and psychology double major, said that Taqueria Guadalajara is a staple for her and her housemates. 

“I love Taqueria Guadalajara because the food is seriously so good,” Remish said. “They have the best burritos in Davis, and it’s always ready in like five minutes.”

Currently, their locations are offering both indoor and limited outdoor seating. 

Their hours are:

Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-9:30 p.m.

Friday-Sunday 8 a.m.-10 p.m.

Kim’s Mart

Kim’s Mart has won “best Asian grocery store” in past Best of Davis issues, and continues to be a favorite among UC Davis students. Michaela Koski, a second-year communication and cinema and digital media double major, said that she loves getting produce at Kim’s Mart and that their store has been very safe during the pandemic. 

“I love Kim’s Mart because they’re really affordable, and the customer service is just overall really nice,” Koski said.

Kim’s Mart is currently open for business. 

Their hours are:

Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

T4

T4 is a local favorite for Taiwanese bubble tea. They are one of a few boba spots downtown, but second-year Michaela Koski, a communication and cinema and digital media double major, said that T4 is her go-to for bubble tea.

“I really love boba and T4 is definitely one of the best places to go in Davis,” Koski said. “The atmosphere is great and the boba is delicious.”

T4 is currently open for takeout and delivery. 

Their hours are:

Sunday-Thursday 12-10 p.m.

Friday-Saturday 12-11 p.m.

G Street Wunderbar

A three-time “Best of Davis” winner, G Street Wunderbar is many UC Davis students’ bar of choice. The establishment  has managed to maintain its services throughout much of the pandemic. Kailey Flynn, a third-year environmental policy analysis and planning and economics double major, said that COVID-19 restrictions have actually made G street more fun, as they have opened up an outdoor section.

“G Street Wunderbar is my favorite bar in Davis, and I especially love that now G St is closed to cars because of [COVID-19],” Flynn said.

G Street Wunderbar is currently open. 

Their hours are:

Monday-Saturday 11-2 a.m.

Sunday 11-1:30 a.m.

Davis Creamery

Davis Creamery is a popular ice cream and dessert spot among UC Davis students. Located conveniently in downtown Davis and equipped with outdoor seating in a space shared with surrounding restaurants, it offers fresh waffle cones, French macarons and more. In addition to these treats, according to employee Gabby Glener, there are a wide variety of homemade ice cream flavors. 

“We make all our ice cream here every weekend, and all the flavors switch every week so it’s really authentic, and you can’t find these flavors in stores. A lot of them are made up by the woman who makes the ice cream, so it’s really cool,” Glener said. 

They offer outdoor dining as per normal, like they did before the pandemic. 

Their hours are:

Monday-Thursday 1-10 p.m.

Friday-Saturday 12-11 p.m.

Sunday 12-10 p.m.

Thai Canteen 

If members of the Davis community are looking for delicious Thai food, three-time Best of Davis winner Thai Canteen is the perfect place. They offer a wide variety of options, from their rice plates—that have gluten-free, vegan or vegetarian options—noodles, snacks and more options worth trying. Members of the Thai Canteen team encouraged students to come and visit.

“Welcome back students,” the Thai Canteen Davis team said. “Thai Canteen will be open and [students] can come and support the local business, and we’ll do the best we can.”

Thai Canteen is currently indoor and outdoor dining, takeout and delivery.

Their hours are: 

Monday-Sunday 11 a.m-3 p.m., 4-9 p.m.

Ali Baba’s

Renowned for their breakfast burritos, Ali Baba’s is a popular spot among students. With its famous breakfast burritos, gyros, burger and combo meals and platters, Ali Baba’s has won Best of Davis twice. Owner Ali Moghaddam encouraged everyone to come visit. 

“Thanks for all your support, and come try our breakfast burritos,” Moghaddam said. 

Ali Baba’s is currently offering outdoor dining at its eight outdoor tables and takeout. 

Their hours are:

Monday-Sunday 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

Ike’s Love and Sandwiches

If students are looking for a sandwich spot, Ike’s Love and Sandwiches is the perfect place. Two-time Best of Davis winner, the popular sandwich chain offers a wide variety of meat and vegetarian options, from the “Going Home For Thanksgiving” sandwich to the “Winnie The Pooh” sandwich. Ike Shehadeh, “Founder, Sandwich Wizard and face behind the legendary logo” explained the wide variety of sandwiches offered.

“We put love before sandwiches here,” Shehadeh said via email. “Our goal is to make you feel welcome no matter what you’re craving. With over 800 options and counting on the menu, there’s something for everyone to love at Ike’s. Vegans, gluten-free diets, carnivores—we got you. Go Aggies!”

Ike’s Love and Sandwiches is currently open for indoor dining, outdoor dining and takeout. For delivery, customers can order delivery using the Ike’s Love and Sandwiches app. 

Their hours are: 

Sunday-Thursday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Friday-Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

Sharetea

Though there are various boba spots in Davis, Sharetea is a favorite among students. Not only do they offer drink options, but they are also hoping to begin providing food soon, barista Sara Noren explained.

“I’d say that we’re open pretty much all day, and it’s getting hotter and hotter in the summer so everyone is welcome,” Noren said. “Hopefully in the next couple months, we’ll start serving some food.”

Sharetea currently has indoor seating, outdoor seating and takeout. They also take phone and online orders and use Grubhub and DoorDash. 

Their hours are: 

Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Blaze Pizza

Popular pizza spot Blaze Pizza is a favorite among students, having won Best of Davis for two years in a row. With a variety of 11-inch and their new large pizzas, from the new seasonal Chipotle Ranch Chicken Pizza to the White Top pizza, or the DIY pizza kits, there’s something for everyone. In the 2017 Best of Davis edition, regular customer Madelin Cartoscelli cited Blaze Pizza’s customizable options.

“I love how you can build your own,” Cartoscelli said in the edition. “I’ve had it so many times, and it tasted delicious […] especially when they put parmesan cheese on it.”

Indoor dining and patio dining are available. 

Their hours are:

Monday-Sunday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

In-N-Out

Classic fast food chain In-N-Out is a favorite among students, having won best late-night snack in The Aggie’s Best of Davis three years in a row. With 252 locations in California alone, and even more across other states in the U.S., it is famous for its burgers, fries and shakes. In the 2019 Best of Davis edition, then third-year cognitive science major, Daniel De la Calle said that it is one of the few options open late that offers healthy options.

“They make a good midnight snack because there are not a lot of options out there that are open late,” De la Calle said in the edition. “In-N-Out is better and healthier than many other fast food places.”

In-N-Out is currently offering dine-in seating and drive-thru services. 

Their hours are: 

Sunday-Thursday 10:30.-1 a.m

Friday-Saturday 10:30-1:30 a.m.

Raja’s Tandoor

For two years in a row, Raja’s Tandoor has won best Indian food in Best of Davis. Son of Raja, the owner’s son, highlighted the Build a Box option, which at just $10 has replaced the buffet and can be eaten immediately or later in the day. Customers can choose up to four entrées, allowing them to try a variety of food.

“Raja appreciates all the support the community has given during these difficult times,” son of Raja said. “We sincerely appreciate it.”

The Build A Box option offers “plenty of food” at an affordable price, and son of Raja thinks that people will love it, as more students return to Davis.

“The Build A Box is fantastic,” son of Raja said. “It’s a great deal, I mean it’s really good food, it’s a great variety for 10 bucks. It comes with naan, it comes with the dessert, it comes with four entrées.”

Raja’s Tandoor currently has indoor dining, as well as takeout, curbside pickup and delivery through third party apps such as Uber Eats, Grubhub and DoorDash. 

Their hours are:

Monday-Saturday 10 a.m-10 p.m.

Sunday Closed

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The collection of Egghead sculptures are artistic icons marking important spots on UC Davis’ campus. Out of the seven sculptures, Bookhead, in front of Peter J. Shields Library, won the popular vote with 42.2% of students naming it the best.

The Eggheads started to pop up in 1991 and have brought joy to visitors and students alike. About to enter Shields Library, Daniel Ivashin, a third-year microbiology and global disease biology double major commented on the sculptures. 

“I enjoy the shared common motifs that unites the campus,” Ivashin said.

The Eggheads can be a symbol of inspiration beyond just being unique landmarks. 

“I think the Eggheads are an interesting reminder that students can have their work influence the environment around them,” said Ren Allathkani, a fourth-year transfer art studio major via Discord Direct Message. “Despite how bizarre they were at first, knowing that the artist was able to get their work permanently into this space is a strong reminder to current art students that we can do the same.”

Each sculpture has features relating to its significant surroundings. Bookhead is said to give good luck when a student rubs its head before an exam.

“I haven’t participated in the ritual before, I haven’t even heard of it until now!” Allathkani said via Discord Direct Message. “It’s very precious and endearing that people do those sort of small things! I’m sure the artist would appreciate how people make use of his work, and it’s interesting how people tend to make things up. How wishful students are, that despite working so hard, they still need a little bit of magic or unseen force to grant them wishful guidance.”

The Egghead sculptures are an iconic hallmark of UC Davis. Sumit Basra, a fifth-year electrical engineering and computer engineering double major recently 3-D printed an Egghead sculpture as a graduation present for his friend. His post on Reddit gained praise and interest from fellow peers.

“I really like the eggheads,” Basra said via Reddit Direct Message, “I think they’re a really cool installation around campus. I just always found them to make walking around campus to be so much more interesting.”

Written by: Christine Lee — features@theaggie.org

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Sometimes described as “the Hufflepuff of the UCs,” it’s only fitting that UC Davis students love their plants. Particularly beloved is the UC Davis Arboretum Nursery, winning Best of Davis this year in the category: “Best place to buy plants” with 33.7% of the vote.

Taylor Lewis, the nursery manager of the UC Davis Arboretum Nursery, attributed the win in part to a wide variety of succulent inventory, which he described as “all the rage.”

Lewis elaborated on what he believes makes the Arboretum Nursery stand out among the many other places in Davis to buy plants. 

“We focus on California natives, that’s really our passion,” Lewis said. “I have a lot of stuff other nurseries won’t grow, because I’m not in the money-making venture, so I can experiment a bit more.” 

Michelle Huang, a second-year design and cognitive science double major, hasn’t yet gotten the chance to shop at the Arboretum nursery but loves to buy her plants locally in Davis. 

“I love shopping for plants locally because it supports local businesses and the overall economy of the area I live in,” Huang said via Discord. “You will also be more likely to be offered a selection of plants that are more suited to the conditions of your area. Staff are also really knowledgeable and eager to help.”

Julie Daseking, a fourth-year human development and design double major and avid plant-lover, talked about why she thinks it’s become so popular for college students to own plants.

“I think it’s just nice to get to care for something,” Daseking said. “Especially if you’re stressed and studying, it’s nice to be able to have something that you can stop work and go and water your plant, get to see how it’s growing, and it’s just kind of encouraging to be able to nurture something. It’s also just really neat to see what they do, especially when they get a flower or a new leaf it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, I made that happen, I took good care of it, and it’s happy!’”

In case reading about plants has overcome you with the sudden urge to become a plant-parent yourself, but you simultaneously know that you’ve killed every succulent you’ve ever had, Daseking offered some easy-to-grow suggestions for first-time plant owners. 

“Pothos are the vining plants with the kind of heart-shaped leaves, and they’re great just because they’re easy to grow,” Daseking said. “The rule of thumb with those guys is give it some light, don’t stick it in the bright sunlight, and if it droops, give it some water. And that’s basically all it takes.”

And for the practical people who want their plants to serve multiple functions, she recommended growing herbs. 

 “Those guys do take a little bit more water, but like, they will tell you when they need their water,” Daseking said. “Things like herbs are drama queens, if you don’t water them they’ll completely flop over, and then you give them water, and twenty minutes later they’re back up and normal again.” 

The Arboretum Nursery’s online plant store next reopens from May 20-24, with a special 20% off sale on the entire inventory to celebrate the last shop opening of the season. You can find out more information at https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/online-plant-sales. 
Written by: Sonora Slater — features@theaggie.org

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Looking for a quick escape into nature for a hike? Look no further than Putah Creek, right here in Davis! Accessible from trailheads behind the campus airport, the 640-acre natural riparian and grassland ecosystem runs along the southern edge of the UC Davis campus. 

Putah Creek was awarded best place to go on a hike with 46.5% of the vote. It offers miles of hiking trails along a scenic waterfront filled with grasslands and oak trees. Unlike the UC Davis Arboretum, all of the plants along Putah Creek are native to the region, giving visitors a taste of what the natural California environment would look like if UC Davis was never established. 

“It’s just a nice place to go on a hike, swim and vibe with friends,” said Noah Stern, a fourth-year computer science major. “When you are really stressed or something, it is just a great place to go, get away from everything and clear your head.”

The miles of hiking trails are relatively flat and well-traveled; it’s suitable for nearly all ages and levels of activity. Whether you’re an experienced granola hiker with your dog (on a leash, of course) or a frat boy trying to impress your significant other with your brand new birks, Putah Creek is for you. 

And if hiking alone isn’t enough to draw you in, during the summer the water is warm enough to go for a swim. If you go on a hot summer day, you will probably see kids jumping off the rope swings and if you’re lucky enough, one of them might even teach you how to do a backflip. 

If swimming isn’t your thing, you could bring a paddle board, raft down to the water and float or get a workout in. And if you don’t feel like being active at all, perhaps the picnic tables and fire pits are more your speed. Better yet, bring your hammock down and enjoy the sights and sounds of the water as you take a siesta and forget about your problems. 

“The park benches are my favorite part!” said fourth-year history major Marisa Cardoza. “They are really great to watch the view and put your feet up. Especially late at night when nobody is around.” 

According to Adam Weiner, a Ph.D. student from Weill Cornell who visited Putah Creek while in Davis, “The creek was definitely nicer than I was expecting. The water was clean enough to take several jumps on the rope swing. There’s plenty of shade along the riverbank so this place seems like it would be a great place to hike and swim on hot summer days.”

Overall, whether you are looking for a hike or just to relax and get away from the world, Putah Creek is the best place in Davis to do it.
Written by: Justin Weiner — features@theaggie.org

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The ARC Testing Kiosk was voted by 87.2% of students as the best COVID-19 testing site in Davis. UC Davis’ effort to keep students and the larger community safe from COVID-19 has been recognized nationally. One large contributor to this effort has been the fast and efficient COVID-19 testing sites that the university has implemented—especially the ARC Testing Kiosk.

David Coil, a project scientist at the Genome Center at UC Davis and the project director of environmental monitoring for Healthy Davis Together, explained that throughout the design phase of the testing program, his team strove to come up with a system that was quick and easy. This is why UC Davis uses saliva testing instead of nasal swabs, as the latter takes longer, is more uncomfortable and costs more. 

“[The testing program] had to be fast, cheap and easy,” Coil said. “We’ve seen other universities who have testing programs that have failed for [not being] all of those things, so I think it’s been really successful because we thought about that from the beginning.”

Though the layout of the ARC Testing Kiosk has shifted slightly throughout the year due to weather conditions and the reopening of the ARC for recreational use, the program remains efficient and easily accessible to students. Landry Swenson, a third-year biological sciences major and student COVID-19 testing kiosk worker, expressed that after joining the program, she was able to see the professionalism and speed of the entire testing process.  

“Going into it, I already had high hopes because [UC Davis has] already been recognized by the whole country for how efficient they are and how timely they are, but seeing it in action and who’s doing it, how they’re doing it, was really awesome,” Swenson said. 

Swenson became a part of the program by enrolling in the COVID-19 testing course EVE 198, part of which includes taking on shifts at the ARC Testing Kiosk. She said that the course taught her a lot about how the virus is transmitted and how the vaccines work. 

Jacob Perez, a third-year American studies major, similarly became an active participant in helping the campus conduct COVID-19 testing through this course. 

“[The course has] been impacting me in a very positive way because I’ve also been able to leave with a better understanding of what [impact] viruses have on our society as well as ways to prevent it and how I can be an active participant in preventing a disease actually being spread out and why I need to be an active participant in the community,” Perez said. 

In addition to the multiple stations within the kiosk and the online scheduling system, Perez believes that teamwork and great communication between the campus and the community have allowed for this level of efficiency. Swenson also said that everyone at the kiosk is welcoming and supportive. 

“I think a lot of it has to do with the staff, the dedication that they put into it, meaning that they’re willing to be focused and attentive, as well as the students themselves being patient with the system,” Perez said. “It’s very cooperative and very in sync with everything.”

Perez believes that through volunteering at the kiosk, he better understood the intersectionalities needed within the program between different fields in addition to the pressures in the real world. 

“I would recommend all students even if you’re not interested in the pre-health department to actually take your time and volunteer because it helps you bring a new perspective of how society interacts as well as [the] importance of communication,” Perez said.

Written by: Michelle Wong — features@theaggie.org 

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The California Aggie won best ASUCD unit this year, capturing 34.7% of the student vote. It first launched as The Weekly Agricola in 1915 as a student-run newspaper serving the UC Davis community. The Weekly Agricola published weekly issues focusing on campus news as well as agricultural topics and was renamed to be The California Aggie in 1922. Now, The California Aggie provides many distinct opportunities to students, including reporting, photography, graphic design, editing and more. It is entirely student-run and a primary source of information for UC Davis students.

Anjini Venugopal, the editor-in-chief of The California Aggie and a third-year cognitive science and linguistics double major, said that working at The California Aggie is the best hands-on experience in journalism for UC Davis students. She explained the role of journalism in improving communities through education.

“Having a good understanding of what’s going on around you is really the first step in making any educated decisions,“ Venugopal said.

Margo Rosenbaum, the managing editor of The California Aggie and a third-year communication and evolution, ecology and biodiversity double major, highlighted the importance of students learning about news from their peers rather than from UC Davis administrators. She noted that The California Aggie holds the university accountable for its actions—both good and bad. 

“A lot of times, news coming from the Chancellor’s Office is going to be good news,” Rosenbaum said. “It’s going to be what they want you to hear.”

Rosenbaum said that she originally joined The California Aggie during her first year to experience editing and learning from her like-minded peers. She explained that The California Aggie is relevant not only to UC Davis students but also to the Davis community as a whole. 

“The university is really at the heart of this town,” Rosenbaum said.

She encouraged students to apply to The California Aggie to gain skills such as interviewing and communicating, which can be applied to many aspects of life.

Venugopal shared a similar sentiment, explaining that writers working for The California Aggie gain skills in speaking with strangers.  

“One of the things I took away was: how do you interact with people who you’ve never met and prepare for an interview,” Venugopal said.

Venugopal further explained that she learned other valuable skills with her work as the editor-in-chief including editing articles about controversial topics, putting together the annual budget, reviewing opinion pieces and meeting with The California Aggie’s Editorial Board. She encouraged people to work at The California Aggie to be involved in keeping the community informed.

“Being that source of news and allowing people to know things is really valuable,” Venugopal said. 
Written by: Ellie Lee — features@theaggie.org

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Davis is a great city to bike in, and this year, students voted that the best place to go for a tranquil bike ride is the Arboretum bike path, a 3.6 mile loop that takes 10-20 minutes to bike. This year, 60% of Best of Davis participants voted the Arboretum bike path the best place to bike in Davis. 

Ella Rosenthal, an avid bicyclist and UC Davis first-year student majoring in neurobiology, physiology and behavior, explained that a large part of the bike path’s appeal is the Arboretum itself. 

“[The Arboretum bike path is] close to the Arboretum, which makes it nice because the Arboretum is beautiful and nice to be around, but it’s also kind of removed,” Rosenthal said. “Down in the middle of the Arboretum, there’s always a lot of people and animals, so biking along the bike path on the side is something I enjoy quite a bit.”

The path is too short to make for much of a workout, but there can often be interesting animals roaming about, according to Rosenthal. 

“For me it’s more scenic,” Rosenthal said. “I think it’s nice to pass by all the trees; it’s not the best area for a workout—it’s shorter so it’s just nice to pass through and see everything that’s going on. I’ve seen a bunch of ducks and all the other big birds and stuff that are all around the Arboretum on the bike path.”

Annika Peterson, also an avid bicyclist and UC Davis fourth-year student double majoring in sustainable environmental design and Spanish, added that the Arboretum Bike Path is also shaded, which is a plus. 

“It’s nice because it’s shaded, and especially the south side is a very smooth path and you have two way traffic,” Peterson said. “It’s really nice and peaceful to ride your bike there.  Sometimes after work, I’ll just go ahead and do the whole loop.”

Rosenthal considers the many bike paths to be one of the biggest attractions in Davis, especially since she finds biking to be an excellent way to familiarize herself with the town.

“It’s really fun to do, especially when you first move here, because you can get to know everything that’s on your bike path,” Rosenthal said. “I really like that Davis is a bike town, it’s one of the main reasons I decided to come here.” Written by: Rachel Shey — features@theaggie.org

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With 30 years of creating craft beer with funky names and a taste that Davis students keep going back for, this year’s Best of Davis Brewery goes to Sudwerk Brewery Co., beating out its competitors by 63.2%. Sudwerk Brewing Co. is located at 2001 Second Street in Davis, giving customers their favorite beers and pretzels. According to their website, the brewing company was founded in 1989 by two German descendants.

The brewery is open for outdoor dining Thursday through Sunday. While COVID-19 took a toll on many of Davis’ small businesses, the brewery made the most out of the situation by giving customers a way to order to-go beer and food, providing service for those who miss the business. By placing an online order, customers can get food, beer, merch and kegs delivered to their car.

The brewing company offers a wide variety of beers that Davis students have loved over the years. The business takes brewing to another level with their beers, giving them unique names and flavors such as Sherbie Raspberry Vanilla, Apple Cinnamon Pastry and Rising Together. The company also offers hard seltzers such as their Life is Hard collection with flavors ranging from watermelon to mango. 

Marissa Montano, a fourth-year environmental science and management major, appreciates the originality of the brewery.

“Sudwerks is a great place to go when you want something different,” Montano said. “I love sitting on the patio and having one of their drinks while catching up with friends. Their pulled pork sliders are my favorite.” 

The brewery once held the beloved Astronomy on Tap event where people could enjoy a beer and learn about astronomy from experts while winning prizes. Sudwerk shut down the event due to COVID-19; however, there are still exciting events to come from Davis’ best brewery. The company announced on their Instagram that customers can expect a collaboration soon with Anderson Valley Brewing. 

“I was never able to experience their Astronomy on Tap, but that’s something I’m looking forward to going to in the future,” Montano said. 

For many students, turning 21 means having the ability to bar hop with friends on a Friday night, forgetting about the papers due Sunday night. While the potential for this activity faded away recently, students were still happy to declare Sudwerk Brewing Co. as their favorite brewery in town.

Written by: Itzelth Gamboa — features@theaggie.org

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The campus cows are udderly unbeatable, taking home two Best of Davis titles this year: best campus animal and best Davis quirk with 42.4% and 43.2% of students who participated in the Best of Davis survey, respectively, selecting the cows as the best in these two categories. The hundreds of cows on campus are not only a must-see for students but are also significant contributors to research conducted by the university.

According to James Murray, a professor and the chair of the Department of Animal Science, there are about 500 head of cattle that come through the Feedlot, located by the UC Davis Airport, each year. There are about 75 head of cows that come through the Beef Barn each year, located east of the Sheep Barn near the Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital.

The Dairy Cattle Facility, located near Tercero, milks around 115 cows every day. UC Davis has an additional facility, the Sierra Foothills Research and Extension Center, which maintains a cow-calf herd of about 160 animals.

James Oltjen, the animal management systems specialist and a lecturer in the Department of Animal Science, stated that the cows have contributed to the university’s research in a number of different fields of study, including nutrition, behavior research, gene editing and veterinary medicine.

“Our animal science researchers are very well-known both nationally and internationally,” Oltjen said. “And all the research we’re doing are ways to make the cows feel better or do better. We don’t do research where we’re trying to figure out if something’s going to hurt them.”

According to Oltjen, the cows are very tame and comfortable around people. He shared that he once had a student who was conducting an experiment on the Feedlot, where she would take temperatures of the animals at different times throughout the day.

“After she’d been doing it for about a month, she had to have another student go with her to keep the other cattle away because they’d come up and try to play with her,” Oltjen said. “That’s the thing about cattle: once they get really tame, they want to play.”

Anita Oberbauer, an animal science professor and the Associate Dean for the College of Environmental and Agricultural Sciences, stated that the campus cows are tame because they are handled by students and faculty from the time they are born.

“Being housed on the campus, they have seen it all,” Oberbauer said. “When someone watches them in a pasture, the cows are often keen to visit.”

Students can participate in hands-on learning experiences with the cows under the supervision of faculty members, such as the Beef Operations Manager Marissa Fisher. Fisher oversees all cattle under the Department of Animal Science. She not only takes care of the health and well-being of the cattle but also helps instruct research labs and oversees students as they directly care for the cattle, including feeding, cleaning, pasture movements and health checks.

“I really love watching the students grow in their knowledge and skill set directly pertaining to cattle and just in life in general,” Fisher said. “The responsibility of taking care of livestock is a large one but I am often so impressed by the students’ dedication and passion for these animals.”

According to Alison Van Eenennaam, who runs the Animal Genomics and Biotechnology Laboratory, there are multiple courses that students can take to learn more about the cows. The two introductory courses (ANS 001 and ANS 002) help students become acquainted with cows and their ability to convert indigestible cellulose, or grass, into milk and beef. The upper-division dairy and beef courses explore how cows consume agricultural byproducts to upcycle what would otherwise be waste in the landfill into nutritious dairy and beef products.

“Sometimes I feel cows get a bad rap, but I think they are amazing, self-propelling, self-cleaning, solar-powered, cellulose-driven bioreactors that convert otherwise inedible food and waste products into nutrient-dense and delicious milk and beef for consumers in California and throughout the world,” Van Eenennaam said.Written by: Liana Mae Atizado— features@theaggie.org

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The people have spoken, and with 49.4% of the vote, the best day trip location is San Francisco. It costs just $27 to take an Amtrak down to the Bay, and with a rich tapestry of art, restaurants and local culture, it’s hard to go wrong doing so. The rolling hills and year-round temperate climate make it a fascinating and pleasant—if a bit vertiginous—experience.

UC Davis alumnus Tomas Hoffman described his day trip to San Francisco over text as “Fantastic. It has amazing views of the ocean, the bay has an amazing marine feel and the climate is a great respite from the dry heat of the central valley. The range of food available is amazing as well, from fresh salmon near the piers to amazing donuts sold 24/7 in the city proper.”

Hoffman isn’t alone in his love for San Francisco’s donuts either. Another UC Davis alumnus, Ishan Merkel, said over text that “the donuts were amazing. We made the most of our day trip to San Francisco by taking the pressure off and simply exploring whatever caught our eye. From the cathedral down to the docks, it really felt like an adventure!” 

San Francisco offers memorable experiences at all hours of the day. Shopping districts sell just about anything you could want, from clothes to records to coffee and fresh pastries, and the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system makes getting from one end of the city to another without a car not just easy but kind of fun. San Francisco is also a standard touring stop for bands large and small, so once COVID-19 restrictions ease up, the city will return to being one of the best spots in northern California to catch live music as well.

If you have a day to kill and a few friends to bring along, a trip to San Francisco is guaranteed to be a fantastic time.
Written by: Jacob Anderson — features@theaggie.org

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