When classes get too hectic, students can escape and relax among the Arboretum’s 100 acres of gardens, beneath towering redwoods or next to the lazy river that hosts occasional groups of otters. With so many unique, natural elements, it’s no wonder that students chose the Arboretum as the most picturesque location on campus.

Whether students are trying to impress a first date or convince their parents that Davis is not just a cow town, the Arboretum offers a tranquil spot for students to relax in nature. Featuring overarching canopies over a bench near the shore of Lake Spafford and the gardens of native Californian flowers, students can enjoy a different part of the Arboretum each time they visit, making it a staple destination to see when friends and family visit from out of town. The Arboretum highlights the mellow vibes of the UC Davis campus.

“Some UCs have beaches, but we have the Arboretum,” said Pahrmis Hashemi, a first-year neurobiology, physiology and behavior science major. “I think it really characterizes Davis as a chill and kind of adventurous school.”

On the weekends and after classes, students can find ways to unwind by napping under trees in the Arboretum or de-stressing via an afternoon run with friends. However, the Arboretum’s tranquil landscape offers a picturesque backdrop for students and the community to enjoy.

Written by: Ally Russell —  features@theaggie.org

At UC Davis, people watching is a fascinating activity that anyone with a bit of free time can partake in. Fortunately, the Quad has constant activity, a laid back atmosphere and people aplenty. Its refreshingly wide open plaza of grass and trees attracts students of all kinds.

“I feel like the Quad gets the most foot traffic and the most variety of different student groups,” said Ivy Feng, a fourth-year political science public service and economics double major. “It’s definitely one of the prime meet-up and catch-up spots on campus.”

The Quad is situated next to the Memorial Union and the CoHo, meaning there is a constant stream of students going to and from classes or enjoying coffee breaks. The on campus clubs and organizations also table on the edge of the Quad — nowhere else can students witness frat bros, robotics club members and non-students preaching the Bible within mere feet of each other.

So, when trying to kill some time before class, consider booking it down to the CoHo and looking out at some of the many interesting people passing through.

Written by: Eddy Zhu — features@theaggie.org

Due to their immense popularity, finding a free hammock on the Quad can be a ruthless endeavor. With a total of only 12 hammocks on both sides of the Quad available to a campus full of thousands of students, it quickly becomes a matter of survival of the fittest.

However, the struggle that goes into getting the best place to nap in Davis makes it all the more satisfying. The reward of a hammock nap is tantalizing — floating above ground, small slivers of sunlight gently sliding through the canopy of trees above, the rustling of leaves with the hustle-and-bustle of the Memorial Union making a background of white noise as one decompresses after class. The experience is picturesque and quintessentially Davis.

“The swaying [makes it the best place to nap],” said Nicholas Garaffo, a first-year genetics major. “You really get in the groove, and it’s also a great cuddle spot.”

Students keep coming back for more, a testament to the comfort and prime location the hammocks offer.

“This is my […] third time this week [getting a hammock],” Garaffo said. “It’s the spot.”

Securing oneself a hammock is like finding a diamond in the rough — when the rare chance to get one is yours, you do as much as you can to make the most out of the precious find. Garaffo, for instance, usually stays as long as an hour and forty minutes.

With the serenity and comfort that are the hammocks on the Quad, a restful nap is in store for UC Davis students. The only complaint: there aren’t enough.

Written by: Caroline Rutten and Dominic Faria — features@theaggie.org

After tallying favorites from students near and far, this year’s Best of Davis Japanese food goes to Mikuni, which can be found in the Davis Commons on First and E streets.

This Japanese restaurant and sushi bar currently has eight different locations, including one in Davis, with a ninth location to be opened in San Francisco soon. Open for over 25 years, Mikuni has mastered the art of creating mouthwatering foods that lure in foodies and sushi lovers.  

From the atmospheric setting to the incredible food, Mikuni reaches new heights of deliciousness. High-quality fish and decadent options make for a tasty meal and a nice night out with a date, friends or family.  

“It lived up to it’s expectations […] The sushi tasted really fresh, and the waiter was so helpful with choosing the rolls,” said Ivan Escobedo, a first-year biochemical engineering major. “The menu was very diverse if you don’t want fish or have specific meal preferences.”

The decor creates a comforting atmosphere, and the waiters make everyone feel welcome.

Written By: Madison Lyznick  — features@theaggie.org

When crossing the border between campus and downtown, one can almost taste the buttery garlic naan accompanied by spicy chicken tikka masala. Upon walking into Raja’s Tandoor, the aroma of spices fills the room, and the atmosphere is friendly with the warm smile and greeting of the owner, Taranbir Chowdhury.

Raja’s, located at 207 3rd Street, is very close to campus and offers a variety of dishes, including aloo gobi, channa masala, dal, bhindi and saag paneer, all of which lend to the reasons why Raja’s has been voted best Indian cuisine in Davis for the second year in a row.

“There’s not just one thing about Raja’s that makes it so good,” said Lily Elisha, a third-year sociology major. “I find that, as new to me as most things were, everything is delicious. Taranbir […] cares about the food he provides as much as he cares about the customers.”

Raja’s’ food not only tastes good, but is also healthy, prepared without the use of food coloring, artificial flavors, MSG or butter. Open every day from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. with the option of take-out, the buffet is all day, every day for only $6.95, with many vegetarian and vegan options. One can also enjoy naan, veggie momos and naanwiches at its booth at the farmer’s market every Saturday.

Written by: Kaelyn Tuermer-Lee & Olivia Luchini — features@theaggie.org

Always active both day and night, downtown Davis — full of restaurants, movie theaters and shops for people of all ages — has been voted this year’s Best Place to Take Your Family.

Davis’ downtown encompasses about five blocks, from B Street to G Street. Downtown has everything from bookstores to ice cream parlors; most shops open as early as 10 a.m., with some closing as late as 11 p.m.

The three movie theaters are on the east side of downtown, including the Varsity Theater on F Street, which hosts the UC Davis Film Festival every spring. Bookstores like The Avid Reader and coffee shops like Peet’s Coffee & Tea are in close walking distance, and popular restaurants such as Black Bear Diner, Crepeville, Woodstock’s Pizza and Burgers & Brew are always full of customers. Boba hot spots, such as ShareTea and Tea 4 U, are spread out across downtown for anyone craving tapioca — even family from out of town.

“I think downtown is a great little square for people to be,” said Melody Sellers, a fourth-year theater and dance major. “It’s small, but it has a lot to offer as far as entertainment, food and interest. There [are] a lot of odd and weird places downtown that people don’t realize are so important to the personality of this town.”

With its numerous places to explore and get a taste of the community, downtown Davis is the perfect place to spend an afternoon with family.

Written by: Caitlyn Sampley — features@theaggie.org

For the third consecutive year, the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center has been voted Davis’ best evening entertainment.

Since its 2002 opening, the Mondavi Center has provided entertainment via a range of different artistic performances. During the 2016-17 school year, the Mondavi Center hosted acts including the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, UC Davis alumni Hasan Minhaj, HellaCappella17 and even Lindsey Stirling.

Students like Matthew Engquist, a first-year materials science and engineering major, appreciate that the center has the sophisticated air of an arts venue while remaining intimate.

“I went to see the Lightwire event in late February,” Engquist said. “I thoroughly enjoyed the Mondavi Center as a performance venue because it is large enough to give the impression of an important venue but small enough to allow those in the back to still see what is happening on stage.”

The Mondavi Center’s two venues, Jackson Hall and the Vanderhoef Studio Theatre, are open to the Davis community as well as students. Jackson Hall is a larger location with 1,801 available seats, while the Vanderhoef Studio seats 250. Regardless of venue, students agree that attending the center is a great way to spend an evening.

“I would definitely recommend it to someone because it has a wide range of performances from various genres of music to comedy to theatre,” Engquist said. ”Besides, UC Davis students get a discount!”

Written by: Emily Shintani — features@theaggie.org

Davis has many places to spend a romantic day — from picnics in the Arboretum to a nice dinner downtown and maybe even petting the Tercero cows. This year, students have decided that the best place to take a date is the Davis Farmers Market.

Open Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Wednesdays from 2 to 6 p.m., the Davis Farmers Market sells a wide variety of locally-grown fruits and vegetables, baked goods, arts and gifts, honey, eggs and more.

The market is also home to the International Food Faire and the beer and wine garden. Children can enjoy the bouncing bungalows, two playgrounds, Cenral Park’s bicycle-powered carousel, face-painting and Dilly Dally the Clown. Local bands also perform a wide variety of music at Picnics in the Park on Wednesdays from 6 to 8:30 p.m., which set a casual yet romantic mood. Performed genres include rockabilly, blues, folk, bluegrass and pop/rock.

“It’s a nice place to take a date,” said Mattie Fritz, a first-year biological sciences major. “The weather is always nice in the spring, and you can sample new food together. Plus, there’s always a booth that’s selling flowers — a nice gesture for your S.O. [significant other].”

So, for anyone heading out for a day of romance with their special someone, consider checking out the farmers market!

Written by: Clara Zhao — features@theaggie.org

The Davis Graduate has Hokey-Pokied its way into the hearts of Davis students — being crowned the best place to dance for the second year in a row.

During the day, The Davis Graduate — more commonly known as “the Grad” — doubles as a bar and restaurant with a wide selection of beers, burgers, sandwiches, salads, pizzas and other foods. But at night, the Grad transforms into a lively club full of energizing music, groups of laughing friends and people breaking it down on the dance floor.

“We’re probably one of the only places that do dancing specifically as opposed to just being a bar that puts a DJ in a corner,” said Danny Ramos, the manager of the Grad.

Since its opening in 1971, the Grad has offered multiple dance genres that change depending on the day of the week. Anyone 21 and over interested in learning how to Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba, Merengue and more can take free lessons at 9:30 p.m. every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday during Salsa Night. Dancers can then show off their new moves on the dancefloor with the accompaniment of either DJ Nehad, DJ j bear or DJ Migz.

Anyone who is at least 18 may also participate in country line dancing during Country Night, which happens every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9 p.m.

“We do Country Night. We do Salsa Night,” Ramos said. “We do it right.”

People looking to get their boogie on can find the Grad on Russell Boulevard in the University Mall. The bar and restaurant opens at 11 a.m. on weekdays and 10:30 a.m. on the weekend, and the dancing carries on late into the night.

Written by: Jayashri Padmanabhan and Taryn DeOilers — features@theaggie.org

The CoHo has a wide variety of food choices, from Cooks’ soups and hot meals to Fickle Pickle’s sandwiches; yet, above them all, stands the TxMx Grill. Be it burritos, quesadillas, tacos or nachos, TxMx has the fix for hungry college students passing through on the way to their next class.

For Zane Daee, a second-year neurobiology, physiology and behavior major, TxMx is high on his CoHo grub list.

“I love Mexican food, [so TxMx] is definitely the go-to,” Daee said. “The burritos are huge; they got some bomb guacamole. They stack those burritos — they don’t just give you a little bit of food; they fill them up.”

A light hunger can be satiated with a black bean taco salad, and if it is lunch time, as Daee recommends, the especial carnitas burrito will leave anyone stuffed.

“You got to get the carnitas burrito,” Daee said. “Get it with guacamole and spicy salsa. It is my go-to.”

Whether in the mood for just a snack or a full meal, TxMx has it covered.

Written by: Nicolas Rago – features@theaggie.org

A stroll down G Street on a warm Friday night is like feeling the heartbeat of Davis. Energetic chatter and music flow out of doorways as UC Davis students enter their bars of choice. Although there are bar options on practically every corner of downtown, at the end of the strip lies this year’s most popular: Blondie’s.

Although relatively new to Davis, Blondie’s is abuzz with people on any given evening. Whether they’re there to enjoy the establishment’s New York-style pizza or the Friday night deal of half-off a fishbowl, people come into Blondie’s ready to have a good time.

“Blondie’s kind of caters to everything,” said John Russell, the owner of the restaurant and bar. “It’s an upbeat hybrid atmosphere that offers a little bit of everything. A lot of people come in here for our famous pizza, […] college kids come for the night life and we have our regulars.”

Although Blondie’s offers a warm atmosphere for those who want to come in and enjoy dinner with friends and family, UC Davis students are particularly attracted to the bar’s Club Nights on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, which feature old-school arcade games and a crowded dance floor.

Happy Hour is Monday through Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m., and patrons can now enjoy a brand new menu item, introduced on Blondie’s’ one-year anniversary on May 5th — the Beergarita, a 30-ounce margarita and seven-ounce Corona — just in time for the warm spring weather.

Written by: MARLYS JEANE and CAMILLE CHARGOIS — features@theaggie.org