Pacific Star Gardens: Love.

If there's anything more amazing than watching your kid run out into a giant strawberry patch and stuff his mouth with handfuls of sweet, ripe, organic strawberries straight out of the ground, I don't know what it could possibly be.  Maybe that's why taking my boys to Pacific Star Gardens for the first time was pretty much like stumbling into paradise.  We stuck our dollars into the self-pay can in the shady, unmanned lean-to, collected our white buckets for filling, and released ourselves on the seemingly endless fields of fruit.  For hours, in the morning, before the heat of the day set in. I could hear the hallelujah chorus playing in my head.

Right now and throughout the summer, the doors to this paradise are wide open. Just take Lake Blvd. straight north out of town (it becomes County Road 99) and look for it on the west side of the road. There's a sign that tells you when you're getting close. Go today for strawberries, olallieberries, and apricots. Later this summer come blackberries, boysenberries, tomatoes, and watermelons. Call Robert (666-7308) for up-to-the minute info on what's available and ready for picking, bring the kids, and literally reap the fruits of summer's labor. No matter what your spiritual orientation, you'll thank God you did.

We are very excited to announce the first ever Street Food Rodeo!

On Friday, June 1^st4-10p, we will be closing off the 800 block of 6^th Street (between the Davis Food Co-op and Hibbert Lumber) to bring something delicious to the city we love – a roundup of the best street food vendors from our region. Davisites are craving innovative, fresh & affordable street food, and we’re answering their call.  

With live music, face painting, hay bale seating, and free admission, it is going to be one fun-filled evening.  But wait, there’s more! This event is also a fundraiser for the Davis School Garden Program – helping kids stay in touch with where real food comes from.

FOR MORE UP TO DATE INFO - CHECK OUT OUR FACEBOOK EVENTS PAGE!

We hope to see you on June 1st! Yeee-Ha!!!

Click the STREET FOOD RODEO tab above for a vendors application.

Fire University.

Fire: one of humankind's first technologies. The early control of fire by humans dates as far as 400,000 years ago, when Homo Erectus first harnessed its power for food, warmth, & light.  Fascination with fire has been a part of human evolution and experience ever since.

Call me silly, but I'm a fire sign (Leo), and until last Thursday, was completely ignorant to the presence of Fire University holding court in the E Street plaza every week for the past three years.  That's right.  Apparently, every single Thursday in the E St. Plaza, from 9p - 12p or later, trained fire-dancers gather in the middle of downtown to practice--and teach--their skills to a small but appreciative crowd of fire lovers and enthusiasts. If it rains, the show moves to Central Park.

The air of mystery surrounding this weekly event is deep; not apt to show up in conversation at your typical town gathering of undergrads, university employees, or local families with small children. And yet, quietly, the power of fire has secretly unfolded into a beautiful sub-village right here in Davis.  Hot!

Come see for yourself this Thursday, prepared for strange and wonderful fire-control performance, hooping, and dancing, with an open mind toward fire-learning & participation.  Davis' Fire University is experienced and ready to welcome new recruits, no matter what your sign.

Of House Music and Dark Dreams.

Two things.

The first, another galvanizing house show from the living room of Villanova featuring a woman named Helga. She performs tonight (Tuesday/27th) as Yek Koo, describing her sound thus:

Resurfacing solo with nothing more than wailing vocals over raw stripped down trance rhythms and nu-psych guitar chant. Its a simple dirty kind of free.

She is joined by two bands out of New Zealand,  Purple Pilgrims and LA Lakers. One woman named Helga + Avant Garde Kiwis + Davis = Must-See Show.  Call off all excuses and come out. All-ages. The starving musician bucket will be passed and grateful for donations.

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Second, a strange and wonderful art opening at the Richard L. Nelson Gallery.  "Dreams of the Darkest Night" features works by Vanessa Marsh and Sean McFarland and will be on view starting this Thursday, March 29th. Marsh's layered photograms pull you in tight as you try to figure out what exactly it is those tiny figures are doing amidst grey, shadowy landscapes underneath the stars. What is a photogram, you ask? Google Man Ray and learn more.

Sean McFarland makes you squint too, but in a good way. From afar his photographs look too dark to see; only by coming closer do you discover the magical forests and foliage that resemble beautiful, thick blankets of night.

Oh, and let us not forget Bruce Guttin, Davis denizen and UCD MFA alum, showing "Headwear Improvisations by a Sculptor" in the gallery display case. See the hats, then go out and look for Guttin around town wearing his own.

Dreams begin at 4:30 on Thursday with a panel discussion by Marsh, McFarland, Blake Stinson of UC Davis and Renny Pritikin, Director of the Nelson Gallery, followed by the opening from 5:30-7:30 pm.

The Work Shop

Ahhhh. We at The Dirt love seeing our fellow Davisites engaging in co-operative and innovative entrepreneurial adventures. That's why we love the Davis Flea (http://www.facebook.com/davisflea) and the new co-working space, The Work Shop, that just opened up downtown (213 E St., upstairs). 

The Work Shop is a flexible drop-in work space for anyone who needs a productive space to work on a short-term or long-term project. It's an escape from the isolation of being alone at your computer at home all day, and the noise and scarcity of power outlets at cafes.

At The Work Shop, you can have your own desk, or share a communal table.You'll find wi-fi, electrical outlets, peace and quiet, and other independent and creative people who are getting their work done.

There's a daily drop-in option, as well as weekly, monthly and “night owl” memberships.

Try it any day in March for a 1/2-day for only $5!

Pricing and other details are at daviscoworking.blogspot.com