We certainly hope, as the title implies, that this is and will be helpful information for your transition to Charlottesville. This is by no means an exhaustive list of each category, but should be looked at as a point of departure for getting here and then getting settled. We look forward to seeing you roam the halls of Cabell soon…

Graduate Student Contacts 2007-2008:

Ph.D. Representative to the Faculty:
Helen Dunn

M.A. Representative to the Faculty:
Kelly McConnell

Graduate Representative to the Graduate Council of Arts & Sciences:
Elizabeth Head

Mediation Committee:
Danielle Smith

Graduate Labor Union Representative:
Rachel Geer

Arts & Sciences information for Graduate Students:
(who's who, forms, guides, publications, etc.)

http://www.virginia.edu/artsandsciences/forgrads.html

Getting Settled in Charlottesville:

http://www.virginia.edu/virginia/gradguide/settled.html

Transportation:

• Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport is located off 29N. Airports are also not too far away in Richmond, VA (1 hr drive) & Washington, DC (2 hr drive).



• Charlottesville also has a Greyhound station (#434-295-5131) and an Amtrak station (#800-872-7245), both located off West Main, not far from UVA Grounds.



• Charlottesville Transit Service (CTS) and University Transit Service (UTS) work together to provide bus transportation around the city and the UVA Grounds. UTS provides free rides to students on the UVA Grounds (blue, orange, green, Grounds loop, & Central Grounds shuttle). In addition, a free trolley runs from Downtown to UVA. CTS charges nominal fees for all other city buses.



• Off-campus students with vehicles can purchase a commuter parking pass for the U-Hall lot and take the free UTS bus into the Grounds. (Parking office # 434-924-7231). Or you can try your luck at finding a parking space on Jefferson Park Avenue (JPA), or park in the pay parking garage.

Lodging:

• Check with UVA Housing for info on grad student dorms and family housing , or consider rentals. Rental options range from apartments, duplexes, and rental homes, to a room or suite with a local resident, or a current student looking for a roommate. Check the following sources for rental info. (*Note: this partial list does not mean an endorsement of one agency over another).



• Blue Ridge Apartment Council



• Also check the online classifieds of The Daily Progress, The Cavalier Daily, and the C-ville Weekly .

Miscellaneous:

• Obtaining a Social Security number: Application   S.S. Services in France



• Phone: Sprint is the local phone provider #(800) 535-0189.



• Electricity: Virginia Power is the local provider #(888) 667-3000.



• Recycling Center: Your apartment complex may have recycling facilities. Aluminum & paper recycling can be found in many on-campus buildings. A large recycling center is located off McIntire Rd (need a car to get there). They recycle all the standards (glass, newspaper, aluminum) as well as plastics, cardboard, paperboard/card stock, phone books, & magazines. They also have a clothing and book swap shed.



• Trash Removal: Most complexes have their own dumpster. All other individuals must purchase stickers ($.50 per bag) for roadside pick-up.



• DMV (for driver's licenses, VA vehicle tags & registration) is located on 250 East, past Pantops Shopping Center. #(866) 368-5463.

Groceries:

• Barrack's Rd Shop Cntr: Harris Teeter, Kroger's, Rebecca's Natural Foods



• Rt 29 North: Whole Foods, Kroger's



• Preston Ave: Integral Yoga Natural Food/Veggie Heaven



• Ivy Rd: Food of All Nations



• West Main: Albemarle Baking Company
  
  
• Market Street Wine Shop (wines, imported cheeses, tea, coffee, chocolate, & other specialty items)



• Lucky Seven Foods (convenience store on The Corner)

Supplies:

• Rt. 29 North: Walmart, Kmart, Staples, Lowes, etc.



• Barracks Rd Shopping Center: Bed, Bath & Beyond, Barnes & Noble, etc.
  
  
• West Main: Under the Roof furniture; there is also a used furniture consignment store past Star Hill Brewery.

• Charlottesville/Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau: #(434) 977-1783.
  
  
• Check out the latest C-ville for entertainment and dining information. Also pick up a Bites: a Taste of Charlottesville for a breakdown on all the restaurants in the area. Both are free & available on The Corner, at grocery stores, etc.
  
  
• Visit The Corner (University Avenue bordering the UVA Grounds) and The Downtown Mall (a pedestrian open-air area between Water Street & Market Street) for lots of restaurants, shopping, and entertainment options. During the summer, the Downtown Mall hosts Fridays After Five events.

Movies:

• Charlottesville has an annual film festival in November



• Vinegar Hill Theater



• Jefferson Theater (only $2!!! on Downtown Mall)

Shopping:

• The Corner stores and the UVA Student Bookstore (located on top of the parking garage) have plenty of UVA paraphenalia.



• The Downtown Mall has interesting arts and crafts galleries, & unique stores.



• Fashion Square Mall (29 North; Belk, Sears, Abercrombie, SunCoast,etc.)



• Lots of other shopping centers including Barrack's Rd & Seminole Square.

Food:

• The Corner has lots of restaurants, pubs, a pool hall, etc, aimed towards college students (College Inn, Michael's Bistro, Mellow Mushroom Pizza, Starbucks, Espresso Royale, etc).



• Downtown Mall restaurants include: Escafe, Moondance, Rapture, Sal's, Miller's, Revolutionary Soup, and The Hardware Store. South Street Brewery is just below the Mall.



• West Main Street spots include: Continental Divide, Tea Room, Star Hill Brewery, Wild Wing Café, Blue Bird Café, and Southern Culture.

Winery Tours: Several in the area, including: White Hall, Oakencroft, Barboursville, Burnley, Jefferson, and Hill Top (for berry wines). Most offer tours & wine tastings. Keep your eyes open for wine festivals!

Outdoors:

• Carter's Mountain Orchard (near Monticello; apples, cidar, & doughnuts)



• Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline Drive are great for scenic drives in the fall to see the changing leaves.



• Wintergreen provides excellent skiing in the winter (1 hour drive)



• lots of hiking trails in the Blue Ridge, including Humpback Rocks and Old Rag Mountain.



• James River tubing (James River Runners in Scottsville, 30 min South; be sure to rent a floating cooler tube)

Indoors:

• Ice Skating (Downtown Mall)



• Swimming (University Aquatic Fitness Center)

Historical Sites:

• Monticello (Rt 53, off I64. Home of Thomas Jefferson. Free to Charlottesville residents & students with a paying guest!)



• Old Michie Tavern (Rt 53, off I64. 1784 tavern and working restaurant) Montpelier (20 North, 45 min. Home of James Madison).



• Ash Lawn Highland (Rt 53, off I64. Home of James Monroe. Free to Charlottesville residents with a paying guest!).

Museums:

• Bayley Art Museum



• Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Exposition



• Art galleries on 2nd Street & Downtown Mall

Out-of-town:

• Washington DC: no explanation necessary! (2 ½ hours on 29 North)



• Richmond, VA: Edgar Allen Poe Museum, Canal walking tour, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Virginia Historical Museum, Museum of the Confederacy, The Valentine, State Capital, lots of historical houses, etc. (1 hour east on I64)



• Staunton: Museum of Frontier Culture living history farms (45 min west I64) -Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, & Yorktown (I64 east, 2 hours)

Submitted by Larkin D. Murphy, 2002

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