Central Davis - Davis, CA

Davis was a sparsely populated town until the establishment of the University of California at Davis in 1909. As the school grew, the neighborhood of Central Davis expanded, becoming a popular place of residence for faculty and students of the University.

Residents enjoy a lively arts scene around the neighborhood and many annual festivals. The Davis Art Center supports local artists by providing studio space and instructing classes. The Center has rotating exhibitions of art and also sponsors a concert series.

During the 2nd Friday ArtAbout, local businesses and galleries display artwork around downtown. Every second Sunday, the Square Tomatoes Craft Fair takes place in Central Park and features crafts made from recycled items. Visitors can also enjoy live music and the culinary offerings of many food vendors. A number of events also celebrate cultures from around the world, such as Native American Cultural Days and Asian Pacific Cultural Week.

The downtown area provides many restaurant options where locals most often go when looking for a meal. Since the area caters heavily to college students, many takeout options and several bars fill the area. People head to Dumpling House for a heaping plate of pan-fried dumplings stuffed with pork and chives with a side of garlic dipping sauce. The crispy green onion pancakes remain a popular side item and complement the dumplings perfectly. The small restaurant tends to get crowded, so many people order food to-go.

For a twist on the traditional burger, stop by Tommy J's where you find creations like the Blue Buffalo burger with bleu cheese and buffalo sauce. The buns really set the burgers apart, which a local bakery hand-makes for Tommy J's. An extensive selection of draft beers and many televisions also make the restaurant a popular spot to grab a drink and watch the game.

Start off your morning on the right note with a breakfast burrito stuffed with eggs, potatoes and peppers from Delta of Venus Cafe & Pub. The restaurant has a decidedly hippie vibe, and provides many vegan and vegetarian options, such as the curry tofu sandwich and lentil stew. Patrons also enjoy listening to live music on weekend nights.

As part of a college town, residents of Central Davis have many nightlife options. The Graduate features one of the largest selections of draft beers in Davis and remains a popular spot to watch football games. The establishment resembles a combination of a sports bar and dive bar, and people enjoy salsa dancing and line dancing at night. Live music draws in customers as well. The place fills up quickly on game day, so be sure to arrive early to get a seat.

With many transportation options, residents of Central Davis can easily get around without a car. Widely recognized as a bike-friendly city, Davis makes using a bike for transportation easy and safe. The city has bike lanes on every road, bike circles and gives bicyclists their own phase in traffic flow at intersections. People also enjoy walking through the neighborhood with many sidewalks and crosswalks. Visitors can use metered parking for cars on most streets or choose to park cars in one of the parking garages for a small fee.

Many people rely on the Unitrans bus system for transportation, which has several routes around town. Uber operates in the area, and residents can also call one of the several taxi companies for a cab ride.

When leaving town, proximity to Interstate 880 makes travelling to other areas easy. People also use the Capital Corridor Train operated by Amtrak for service to Sacramento or cities along the East Bay such as Oakland. The Yolobus carries passengers all around the county, and a shuttle also runs between UC Davis and UC Berkeley.

Residents enjoy recreational opportunities at Davis Community Park. People practice stunts on skateboards in the skate park while children enjoy playing on the large playground. Softball fields and tennis courts attract people to the park, and picnic areas make the park a good place for social gatherings. Residents also enjoy bringing their dogs to the park for exercise. The park fills up on July 4th because it serves as the site for firework launches during Independence Day Celebrations.

Even by California standards, living expenses hit high in Central Davis, and the cost of living sits 24 percent higher than in Sacramento. Gas prices remain about 6 percent higher than the national average, and the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom residence runs around $1090. Expect to pay about $6 for a pint of beer at a local bar. To get from Central Davis to Sacramento, board the Yolobus for $3.

While in downtown, people also enjoy the many shopping opportunities it provides. High-value stores prove hard to come by, limited mainly to a shopping center on the edge of town that contains Target and T.J. Maxx. Popular places to shop for groceries include Whole Foods, Safeway and Trader Joe's. To buy locally grown or bulk food items, people shop at the Davis Co-op. Nearby Central Park hosts the weekly Davis Farmers Market. To buy a new outfit without spending much money, head over to Boheme Used Clothing and Goods, which sells designer clothing at affordable prices. Patrons enjoy browsing the selection of dresses, shoes and jewelry in addition to looking for clothing for themed parties, such as 1980s prom dresses or ugly Christmas sweaters. As an added bonus, you can bring in used clothing and receive store credit to buy more. A Better Place To Bead features an extensive selection of beads for making jewelry that includes many different colors and bead materials. People also stop in to ask for advice from the owners for making their next piece or attend one of the jewelry-making workshops for additional guidance. The store also hosts birthday parties where everyone gets to create and take home a necklace or bracelet as a keepsake.