For five years, and while living in Davis, Sam McManis wrote a column about traveling through California for the Sacramento Bee. He went beyond the usual subjects to write about places like Nitt Witt Ridge ( a counterpoint to Hearst Castle), Rancho Obi-Wan, and the Museum of History in Granite, and has collected and updated the best stories in his new book, “Crossing California: A Cultural Topography of a Land of Wonder & Weirdness.” He’s back in the area from his current home in Yakima, Wash., for a book tour, and talks about his stories—and what he’d recommend to travelers who visit Davis—today on Davisville.

After rocking their homecoming dance in 2015, The Five Thirty - the name taken from the band's childhood area code - began concocting their diverse style, reminiscent of classic rock, pop and funk in a Heat Stroke inducing loft in Davis, California. The band owes their genre bending capability to a myriad of artists not limited to Red Hot Chili Peppers, Zeppelin, and Paramore. The powerful trio fronted by Ben Simmons (Vocals/Guitar) and joined by brother Brian Simmons (Drums) and Alex Timmons (Bass) all grew up in similar music circles, performing shows from a young age with their own separate groups at RockBand University. Ben began producing music professionally at fourteen and met Alex during a recording session. He has a strong musical gut coupled by a facility of the fretboard, and brings his experience with being a singer-songwriter to the band platform.