F Street Dispensary has implemented many changes in response to COVID-19

From excellent customer service to their large array of products and deals, F Street Dispensary has earned its place as the Best Dispensary of Davis.

Since Yolo County’s shelter-in-place ordinance took effect, the dispensary has had to change its policies in order to allow community members a safe and precautionary method of transaction. Masks are required for entry and there is a limited capacity of people allowed in the store at a time. The rest of the customers queue outside using tape markers to ensure social-distancing.

Due to the unprecedented loss of customer retention, however, F Street has undergone financial and employment difficulties. The dispensary is solely owned by two brothers raised in Davis, and they have had to make difficult decisions because of the pandemic’s impact. 

“It’s been rough financially, but what I really miss is the vibrancy of the community with the students around,” said Rob Reed, an F Street Dispensary owner. “I love Davis and I am excited to see everyone back.” 

Since the legalization of recreational marijuana in California, there has been an increase in accessibility and usage within the Davis community. In the past year alone, six new dispensaries opened in Davis — the closest store to campus is only a few blocks away.

F Street Dispensary was one of the first to pop up within the community. It opened in 2018, with others following suit. Now, the market for cannabis dispensaries has become highly competitive as businesses strive to provide the best prices and services to the Davis community.

F Street Dispensary is currently open for adjusted hours Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Written by: Mariah Candelaria — features@theaggie.org

UC Davis Arboretum claims two titles in this year’s Best of Davis issue

With its serene and earthy atmosphere, filled with a plethora of nature and wildlife, the Arboretum shines through as a favorite spot on campus. Voted as both Best Picnic Spot and Best Romantic Location this year, the Arboretum is a place of relaxation for many, and an escape from the hustle of campus life. Here, you can sit on the grass, admire the beautiful water and friendly ducks and truly let go.

Naomi Rivas, a first-year history major, notes that, as a picnic spot, the Arboretum provides a place with shade where she can read a book or work on an assignment. At the same time, Rivas also enjoys going to the Arboretum with others. Rivas shared her experience at the Arboretum with a significant other, a happy memory that has stood the test of time. 

“The first time I visited Davis with my boyfriend, we sat down on a bench in the Arboretum and watched a family of ducks swim by in the water,” Rivas said. “Even though it’s been almost a year since we visited together, he still remembers how nice it was — and the family of ducks.”

What makes the Arboretum so special to students is the way it differs from the rest of campus. According to Bailey Cohen, a first-year animal science major, unlike the other bike-filled, noisy spots on campus, there is a feeling of tranquility at the Arboretum. 

“I love the Arboretum because it’s such a peaceful area,” Cohen said. “You can go there to clear your mind, study or just hang out with friends. It’s nice to see nature so close by. There’s not as many people walking or biking and you can just sit by the water and look at the ducks and fish.”

Due to COVID-19, nature areas like the Arboretum have become more popular as an escape from quarantine and an opportunity for fresh air while social distancing. In a message posted in April, the Arboretum’s director Kathleen Socolofsky emphasized that while the Arboretum remains open, all visitors must follow social distancing guidelines. 

Whether it’s to picnic or spend time with a significant other, the Arboretum provides a natural escape. For students like Rivas, it is an essential spot on campus. 

“The trees and the little river make me feel like I’m in a different world,” Rivas said. “I like to think of it as a small escape from whatever I have going on where I can just enjoy nature, even if it’s only for a moment. It’s definitely part of the Aggie experience.”

Written by: Nora Farahdel — features@theaggie.org

Owner, employee of buy-sell-trade clothing store Bohème talk about why they love serving the community

The used clothing store Bohème in Downtown Davis often has residents and visitors ogling at its storefront, which is complete with shocking patterns, a vibrant outdoor display of tutus and Snoop Dogg prayer candles. The store sells most of its unique items for $6 to $12 and goes by the slogan “The Happiest Store in Davis.” 

Bohème, located on 409 Third St., was started in the summer of 2012 by former owner Dawn Donahue, who noticed that Davis lacked a clothing store that followed the buy-sell-trade model. A few years later, the store was sold to the current owner, Yelena Ivashchenko, who was inspired by the idea of giving clothing a new life and crafted her own up-cycled additions to the store’s massively diverse selection. 

Ivashchenko discussed how she currently operates her store while the curbside pickup rule is in effect.

“If you need something, just let me know, you can call the store, you can message me, or you can just come by and say, ‘Hey, it’s getting hot, I need some shorts, I need size this, I [prefer these] colors,’” Ivashchenko said. “In the past, I looked through my inventory, I pulled out a few items, and as they came [up] I said ‘Hey, this will fit you, this will fit you, what would you like?’ And then we did it all distantly, and then she picked up two pairs of shorts and then processed the payment right there, and it’s done. So if people are willing to do that, that works great.”

Audrey Salbacka, a Bohème employee and recent UC Davis graduate, said there is new difficulty in helping customers find the fashion they otherwise would have been able to try on for themselves. 

“We’ve been lucky enough to have a few sales through Instagram and Facebook, but it’s really hard to work with people to find something that they’ll actually enjoy when all you can do is send them pictures,” Salbacka said. “We can’t watch people try things on and see how excited they get when they’re putting the clothing on and they look great and they found something new. I really just miss being able to see people happy about their clothing, it’s very distant right now.”

Ivashchenko said she primarily misses the people who contributed to the store’s regular activity.  

“We do have a lot of regular customers, and just like, that whole aspect of seeing familiar faces and just seeing people happy, leaving the store happy — because I love helping dress up people, it’s just my favorite thing to do,” Ivashchenko said. “Just human interaction, that’s my first most important thing I miss.”

Salbacka believes that what the store offers has a different significance than everyday essential items simply picked up as a chore.  

“Clothing is something that you need, but it’s also something you can choose and feel a little bit more leisurely about,” she said. “I definitely feel like it’s very important to [self-interpret] and things like that.”

At Bohème, self-interpretation is not limited. Their Instagram showcases some of their one-of-a-kind items, such as their floaty Hawaiian shirts and atypical hats. More can be found on their site.

“I would say 80% of my customers are students,” Ivashchenko said. “My store is gearing toward the students. I try to have a variety of clothes and different things, but I depend heavily on students. So if they could reach out in any way […] — if they let me know what they are looking for — I ship items, I deliver if they’re not too far away in this area, just stay in touch, even if it’s a small comment on Instagram. I appreciate it.”

With no current store activity due to it not being an essential business, Ivashchenko has taken to utilizing her upcycling talents in her spare time by modifying some of the clothing items in the inventory. She said cravings for hot chocolate and wine have helped drive some of her creative decisions. 

“I decided to tie-dye a lot of items that sometimes come to the store and they have a little stain, or the colors have washed out, so I call it self-therapy quarantine tie-dye madness,” Ivashchenko said. “I have a whole rack that’s slowly scaling up, and I’m afraid by the end of this, my store would be bursting with colors. I have this craving for hot chocolate, so I tie-dye clothes with a color called ‘hot chocolate.’ The same thing for the wine color.”

Written by: Lyra Farrell —  features@theaggie.org 

Handmade, high-quality dumplings beloved by community

On a Saturday morning in Downtown Davis, it’s hard to miss the large white tents and long aisle of stalls adjacent to Central Park. The Farmers Market, a beloved City of Davis institution established over 40 years ago, is normally frequented by university students and locals alike. Although many students have returned home, the market continues to provide fresh produce, hand-crafted treats, home-baked goods and more. 

According to Randii MacNear, the executive director of the Davis Farmers Market, staying open is essential, as the market functions as more than just a source of food for the community.

“The Farmers Market is like family to people,” MacNear said. “We’re really happy to be open, not just because the food is so amazing but because I think it really nourishes people at this time, both emotionally and physically.”

For UC Davis students, a particular favorite of the market is The Dumpling House. The establishment started as a local restaurant, serving customers for eight years, until it closed for repairs in 2018. That same year, they began offering dumplings at their new Farmers Market booth. 

“They have a huge following and people were really happy that they could find them at the market,” MacNear said.

Linda Liu, the owner of The Dumping House, enjoys selling at the market because it provides greater community interaction.

“We like it because we meet a lot of local people,” Liu said. “People like the hand-wrapped dumplings.”

The high-quality dumplings are made with a special recipe and source ingredients for their fillings from the Farmers Market. The Dumpling House also sells dumplings both fresh and frozen with UC Davis students in mind.

“We sell frozen dumplings for students that don’t have time,” Liu said. “They can cook at home.”

Whether she’s making them for the Farmers Market or a holiday with her family, Liu’s love of dumplings started at a young age when she learned to cook from her grandmother. Now a grandmother herself, she makes dumplings for her six grandchildren. 

“I make dumplings at home that I bring to my grandkids,” Liu said. “They all love my dumplings.”

Although The Dumpling House, like many other businesses, has been struggling due to the pandemic, Liu is hopeful and looks forward to the students returning to campus.

“We hope we can open as soon as we can to serve dumplings to the UC Davis students,” Liu said.

Written by: Sophie Dewees — features@theaggie.org

Popular Middle Eastern fusion eatery wins two titles in this year’s “Best of Davis” issue

A debate practically as old as time in the Davis community: the fight over the best breakfast burrito. While there are more than a few contenders in the town, the real battle comes down to two establishments: Ali Baba’s and 3rd and U Cafe. 

These two restaurants have close to a cult following when it comes to their respective customer bases, and I personally have experienced more than a few passionate debates over the subject. Thus, to settle the debate, The California Aggie asked readers their opinions and

Davis patrons have spoken: Ali Baba received 82.2% of votes, with 3rd and U taking 17.8% of the vote. This isn’t the first time the Middle Eastern fusion restaurant has won the title of best breakfast burrito — in 2018 it was also named the winner. 

Ali Baba has been serving the Davis community since 1986, and it is widely regarded as a staple among both UC Davis students and Davis residents. Its menu offers customers two selections for breakfast burrito: regular and vegetarian.

The ingredients the establishment uses aren’t necessarily typical — the regular burrito features eggs, bacon, beef gyro, cheese, french fries, honey and tapatio. The veggie option includes eggs, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, avocado, french fries, honey and tapatio. 

Ali Moghaddam, who took over ownership of the restaurant in June of 2008, emphasized his love and gratitude for the Davis community — especially in a time where the COVID-19 pandemic has hurt local businesses practically everywhere.

“We are thankful for the people in Davis who have voted us number one, and as far as these days — everybody is suffering,” Moghaddam said. “I’m really thankful for our customers for still keeping us afloat.”

The burritos are not only a fan favorite because of their unique flavors — the servings are also hearty, and the service remains unmatched. Courtney VanWinkle, a fourth-year environmental policy analysis and planning major, said she supports Ali Baba for myriad reasons. 

“It’s really about the whole experience,” VanWinkle said. “The people are so nice, the portions are generous and it’s just a classic Davis staple.” 

It’s no surprise that the eatery that won “Best Breakfast Burrito” also won the title of “Best Hangover Food.” Ali Baba won the title with 33% of votes, with Crepeville and and Black Bear Diner coming in at a close second and third, earning 26.7% and 21.4% of votes, respectively.

Despite the current pandemic, Ali Baba is still open for takeout. Hungry customers looking for a taste of the “Best Breakfast Burrito” in town can call the restaurant at (530) 758-2251 or place an order on its website. 

Written by: Claire Dodd — features@theaggie.org