Third and B

A drop-in center, that has a pool table, a TV with an X-box, Arcades, etc. for Davis non-college-student teenagers. Sometimes they throw dances for the kids, and there's a basketball hoop out back. College students are ushered out summarily.

I'd assume that there are some volunteer opportunities but i haven't looked into it.

There is also a public internet terminal for the teens to use.

In 2005 Watermelon Music, with help from many of manufacturers, donated over $5,000 worth of musical instruments and gear to 3rd & B to be used by young area musicians. The gear includes Fender and Ibanez electric guitars, Kustom, Fender and SWR amplifiers, and a complete Pearl drumset with Sabian cymbals. Parents should be aware that 3rd & B offers supervised (but unintrusive) time for everyone on these instruments during most of their open hours. If you are a teenage musician looking for a place to play, and new people to play music with this summer, check it out

During the 1990's the Teen Center allowed the basement to be used as a venue, which became popular with many northern California bands. For example, Green Day played several shows at the Teen Center before becoming big. Security concerns caused the venue to be shut down indefinitely.

As of July, 2009, there are plans to convert the center into the semi-permanent home of the US Bicycling Hall of Fame and the California Bicycle Museum. There is no word as to what will happen to the teen center.
Staff and teens are being kicked out by the end of August and in around November, they plan on having the Bicycling Hall of Fame open. There is talk that they are using the teen center for only two years while they build a different location for the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame. Also, they might pick out a school to throw the teen center in, but that still has not been given much thought.

For City information on the closing of the Teen Center, please follow this link : http://cityofdavis.org/cs/3rdandb/statusupdate.cfm The Teen Center will be ending teen services on August 31, 2009.

Read about Third and B in Davis Life Magazine.

Mural painting being done inside front door

I've been told that Thrid and B used to be the place for shows in the area until they cracked down on all the drunk people showing up to the shows. I guess having a bunch of alcohol sort of defeats the purpose of a teen center. — ArlenAbraham

Yep, the basement use to be the place to see the coolest, local death metal, punk and occasional hip-hop show. The accoustics were great, but yeah people showed up drunk. Which again proves, sober venues are not possible. —JimSchwab

Isn't this where Davis is Burning, the annual drag show takes place? That doesn't seem to teen friendly, so maybe I am wrong. -AbbyLawson

Davis is Burning takes place at the Veterans Memorial Theater. A drag show is a lot less sexualized then say, homecoming or prom - which are very well accepted. I'm not saying it's your view - but I don't see how exposing teenagers to people of alternate sexualities having fun is bad. —ChristopherMckenzie

They had Davis is Burning here my freshmen year, if I recall correctly. —PhilipNeustrom

I attended a KDVS record swap at Third and B before and it was great. You can't tell from the photo but the space for events is in the basement. Steps lead down to it from the outside. It would be great if they allowed shows there again since the basement is obviously designed for them. —RiotInDavis

"I have received news that the center has gotten permission to resume shows!" —TobinJones

StevenDaubert was part of a signature drive a couple years ago to stop the city from slashing the teen center hours, or even closing it. They had a PS2, and some hard DDR pads and used to have DDR nights at least last year. Daub remembers when the teen center was brand new, but he wasn't of teen age so he couldn't go for a couple years.

"This is apparently where Green Day did their first out-of-town show! No joke!" —TSaito

Is anyone old enough to pull together a listing of shows that happened here? I just came across a rather pro looking flyer for Sleater-Kinney playing here and was intrigued— CraigFergus