Guests enjoy the many local offerings at the 2012 Taste of Davis at the Odd Fellows Lodge.
The Davis Chamber of Commerce and the Davis Odd Fellows Lodge today issued a joint announcement regarding the future of “Taste of Davis”. For the past three years, the Chamber has produced this popular community event which brings together about 30 restaurants, caterers, wineries and breweries for an evening tasting party and showcase of the culinary delights of Davis.
In 2013, the Davis Odd Fellows Lodge will assume responsibilities for the production of the 4th Annual Taste of Davis. The event will be held at the Odd Fellows Lodge Hall at 415 Second Street, on Thursday, April 18, from 6 to 9 p.m. Approximately 300 tickets will be available for the Taste of Davis – sales will begin in March.
“The Davis Chamber of Commerce has really enjoyed our role as impresario for Taste of Davis, but it’s time to pass the torch,” said Chamber Executive Director Kemble Pope. “The Davis Chamber is confident that the Davis Odd Fellows will be a great match for this event and will continue the tradition – they have a perfect venue at their Lodge Hall and they have the volunteers to make it successful.” In 2013, the Chamber will decrease the number of public events it hosts in order to focus more of its resources on economic development activities.
“We thank the Chamber for developing this popular event. The Odd Fellows Lodge is delighted that the Chamber has asked us to host Taste of Davis,” said incoming Lodge Noble Grand Bob Schelen. “Eight years ago the City of Davis asked us to host Breakfast with Santa and we have been doing it successfully ever since. Two years ago the Downtown Davis Business Association asked us to take over Breakfast with the Bunny, and we have. Now the Trifecta is complete.”
Heading the steering committee for the event is incoming Lodge Vice Grand Lea Rosenberg, who also heads up the committees for Breakfast with Santa and Breakfast with the Bunny. “We’re very excited. On two floors at the Lodge, ticket-holders will be able to socialize, and sample culinary delights, wines and beers from over two dozen local vendors for only $40. It’s a great community event,” said Rosenberg.
The Davis Odd Fellows Lodge has been a fixture in the Davis area since it was chartered in 1870, before the City of Davis was chartered and before the founding of UC Davis. Today, the Lodge has close to 200 members, including many community and business leaders. The current Odd Fellows Hall on Second Street was built in 1955, but underwent extensive remodeling in the last few years which installed a stainless steel commercial kitchen, new restrooms, an elevator, and major renovations to the Lower Hall and Upper Hall. The Lodge Hall is widely used by community and charitable groups. The Odd Fellows are a fraternal order tracing its history to 18th Century England. The Davis Lodge is dedicated to community and charitable service.
The Davis Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1905 with the primary goal of lobbying the California State legislature to locate the University Farm, now UC Davis, in the Davis community. The independent Davis Chamber of Commerce is a membership-based organization supported by annual investments from over 600 local member businesses. The mission of the Davis Chamber is to promote, support and advocate the general economic vitality of its membership and the quality of life for the community.