University of Virginia

Hampton Inn

Hampton Inn
2035 India Rd
Charlottesville, VA
United States
38° 3' 45.972" N, 78° 29' 18.8736" W

Located 4 miles from the UVA campus, Hampton Inn has complimentary breakfast and free Wi-Fi

200 South Street Inn

200 South Street Inn
200 South Street
Charlottesville, VA
United States
38° 1' 46.542" N, 78° 28' 58.674" W

This bed & breakfast is located just one mile from UVA and near several bars and restaurants.  The room price includes a large continental breakfast in the morning and wine in the evening.

Cavalier Inn

Cavalier Inn
105 Emmet Street
Charlottesville, VA
United States
38° 2' 23.5068" N, 78° 30' 24.1092" W

Within walking distance to UVA, the Cavalier Inn provides comfortable rooms with complimentary breakfast and free Wi-Fi.

Boar's Head Inn

Boar's Head Inn
200 Ednam Drive
Charlottesville, VA
United States
38° 2' 54.7944" N, 78° 32' 31.146" W

This 4-diamond hotel will break most anyone's budget but it may be worth it.  The Boar's Head Inn is nestled in the countryside but is only 2 miles from the UVA campus.  It has Southern character and charm along with golf and tennis on a 573-acre estate.

Doubletree Hotel

Doubletree Hotel
990 Hilton Heights Road
Charlottesville, VA
United States
38° 6' 3.3516" N, 78° 27' 48.7404" W

Unwind at the re-designed Doubletree Hotel which overlooks the Rivanna River and is about 5 miles from the UVA campus.  Wireless internet access is complimentary.

Ski in the winter or summer

Treat yourself to magnificent mountain views and thrilling recreation at Wintergreen Resort, a four-season recreation area located 30 miles from UVA.  Winter activities include skiing, snowboarding and snowtubing.  In the summer, you can go water skiing, hiking, fly fishing, horseback riding, swimming or mountain biking.

Taste the local wine

White Hall Vineyards is a farm winery located just 13 miles from UVA. At an elevation of 800 feet, the winery has lovely grounds, a pleasantly shaded picnic area, and a spectacular view of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.  The winery has a tasting room and a state-of-the art production area.

Float the James River

Tube, canoe or kayak are all possibilities of navigating this meandering waterway through the wooded foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Bring your fishing tackle along for the best small mouth bass fishing on the east coast or simply unwind with a packed cooler for that picnic and let the James River take you away. As the tall, woodland banks slip past, look for the Deer, Blue Herons, Ospreys and Bald Eagles.  Checkout:  Reeling and Rafting

Visit Thomas Jefferson's home

Tour the house that Jefferson designed and built for himself and his family and enjoy the grounds of the Monticello Plantation. See the books, gadgets, art, furnishings, and objects that reveal Jefferson’s unique mind. The guided House Tour covers the rooms on Monticello’s first floor and lasts about 30 minutes and costs $15-$20.

Rapture-ClubR2

Rapture-ClubR2
303 E Main St
Charlottesville, VA
United States
38° 1' 48.9216" N, 78° 28' 47.3844" W

Located in the downtown pedestrian mall, Rapture and Club R2 are for hip, trendy professionals.  This restaurant and bar feature an New Orleans themed setting with hardwood floors and a wrought iron-trimmed loft. The staff, with their dyed hair, unique piercings, and assorted tattoos, keep pace with the restaurant's artsy attitude.

Biltmore Grill

Biltmore Grill
16 Elliewood Ave.
Charlottesville, VA
United States
38° 2' 11.2056" N, 78° 30' 1.7892" W

Located  in the heart of UVA's  historic corner,  Biltmore Grill offers a wide variety of classic favorites including hand-pattied burgers, flat-bread pizzas, handmade soups, and salads.  You can sit outside on the tri-level patio or inside next to a fire place.

Bar specials include:

Sunday: $3 big bloodies, mimosas, and screwdrivers (brunch)
Tuesday: $2 pitcher night! (Remember when they tried to charge $3?)

Buddhist Biker Bar

Buddhist Biker Bar
20 Elliewood Avenue
Charlottesville, VA
United States
38° 2' 11.9904" N, 78° 30' 1.368" W

Buddhist Biker Bar & Grill is a very popular student watering hole.  This eclectic place is in a cozy brick home is located about half a block off University Avenue.  The menu includes artichokes and parmesan-stuffed mushrooms, baked brie, and a roasted vegetable tostada with marinated black beans.  The decor features a vaulted ceiling with a hand-painted water scene and an old canoe. When the crowd gets too big, which is highly possible on nights when bands play, you'll find that it spills onto the patio out back.

South Street Brewery

South Street Brewery
106 W South St
Charlottesville, VA
United States
38° 1' 45.6168" N, 78° 28' 57.6732" W

South Street Brewery used to be the serious drinkers paradise. You came there to drink beer, you scoffed at those who drank wine and you inevitably ended up with a headache. We often would show up around 9 or 10 and stay till midnight. Oh, and good luck getting to the bar. You had to have some serious skills or know a bunch of people.  Nowadays you have to start early since $2.50 pints last only until 9 p.m.

Courtesy of cVillain

Zo Ca Lo

201 East Main Street
Charlottesville, VA
United States
38° 1' 50.8188" N, 78° 28' 49.1052" W

Zo Ca Lo, which stands for 'center of town' in Spanish colloquial speech, is conveniently located in the exact center of Charlottesville's Downtown Mall.  It has a large outdoor patio, which is open during the warmer months, and a fireplace to warm up by on cold winter nights.  They serve heavy fare, and even the Grouper was accompanied by a bed of corn.

Petit-Pois

201 East Main Street
Charlottesville, VA
United States
38° 1' 50.8188" N, 78° 28' 49.1052" W

Petit-Pois is a French bistro located on the Downtown Mall next to ZO.CA.LO and is a terrific place to enjoy outdoor dining. The informal nature of the bistro is contrasted by its tasty food and drink offerings. Simple dishes adorn what is usually a one-sided menu with selections like:

  • onion soup
  • mussels in a white-wine broth
  • pate du campagne
  • pomme frites (French fries…and yes the French do actually make the best fries, with Five Guys following a VERY close second!)
  • hanger steak
  • roast chicken
  • etc…

Pad Thai

156 Carlton Rd
Charlottesville, VA
United States
38° 1' 28.6608" N, 78° 28' 6.6648" W

Thai food is one of those things you can just eat forever and always love it. That being said, not all Thai food is equal. There is a beautiful establishment in the Belmont area called Pad Thai. It is run by a family: the wife cooks, the husband brings food to the tables, and the sons take orders. There is nothing better to see a family living the American dream, and the citizens of cville supporting it.

The Local

824 Hinton Avenue
Charlottesville, VA
United States
38° 1' 28.0776" N, 78° 28' 31.9836" W

The Local has a very reasonably priced menu in the $13-$16 range your choice of meat including pork, steaks, tuna, chicken.  The cuts for tuna are generous and the plates are very filling. I will say that the short rib is extremely fatty which is a good thing for some, and a bad thing for others. The pasta dishes are excellent and I highly recommend the truffled ragout and the gnocchi.

Raising Cane’s

1805 Emmet St N
Charlottesville, VA
United States
38° 3' 36.468" N, 78° 29' 37.644" W

Cane’s does to chicken what Five Guys is doing to the burger industry.  They bring a fresh product to the masses, do it well and do it cheaply.  It’s not a fancy place, but you will want to go back. Checkout: Raising Cane's

Courtesy of cVillain

Escafe

227 W Main St
Charlottesville, VA
United States
38° 1' 52.1868" N, 78° 28' 59.1276" W

I have never met a salad I didn’t like at Escafe, especially its Asian cabbage toss.  Its menu changes seasonally, so I can’t recall past entrees but do know I’ve liked them all.  The menu has always had appetizers, soup and salads, sandwiches, entrees, and specials, but it’s not overwhelming.  Most recently, I had salmon over seafood risotto, and I’d stopped ordering salmon because chefs invariably cooked it past the medium I requested.  I lightly grilled my server about the fish, and he assured me it would be lightly cooked.

Blue Ridge Pig

2198 Rockfish Valley Hwy
Nellysford, VA
United States
37° 53' 23.8956" N, 78° 52' 25.0248" W

Good barbeque isn’t just about the sauce.  It’s also about the tenderness and infusion of the smoked wood taste.  Blue Ridge Pig ensures that your barbeque experience is as homely and amazing as possible.  Unfortunately, you will have to drive at least 25 minutes from Charlottesville.

Courtesy of cVillain

Blue Moon Diner

512 W Main St
Charlottesville, VA
United States
38° 1' 51.1176" N, 78° 29' 18.1572" W

If you can deal with a little cigarette smoke and some tattoos, Blue Moon is, hands down, the best breakfast place in Charlottesville.  Make sure you look around at all the trinkets and fun decorations. There is always something to discover.

Courtesy of cVillain

Aqui Es Mexico

221 Carlton Rd
Charlottesville, VA
United States
38° 1' 24.942" N, 78° 28' 11.0892" W

Obviously, I was wary of entering this restaurant.  I was expecting the worst and doubted my fellow citizens who had ranked this place an "87.5".  We sampled several tacos, including homemade chorizo, lengua (a.k.a. beef tongue, which is worth a try even if you picture Kevin Costner sucking down freshly slaughtered buffalo tongue in Dances With Wolves), pulled chicken, and carne asada.  They were awesome!  Checkout:  Aqui Es Mexico

UVA: Springfest 2010

UVA SPRINGFEST 2011 on Nameless field

UVA Springfest is one of the biggest events hosted at UVA each year. It is a huge concert held at Nameless field in late March or early April. They have had some great acts in the past like Ben Folds and Ok Go. They have not announced who they have this year yet, but continue to check back here or post it in the comments if you find out.

UVA: "Foxfield has NO S"

We are sick of people saying FoxfieldSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. Get it right people.

UVA Overview

Overview

The University of Virginia (also called U.Va., UVA, Mr. Jefferson's University, or The University) is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, founded by Thomas Jefferson.UVA Grounds in Winter

Location Subsection

  • Overview

    The University of Virginia (also called U.Va., UVA, Mr. Jefferson's University, or The University) is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, founded by Thomas Jefferson.UVA Grounds in Winter

    Throughout its history, the University of Virginia has won praise for its unique Jeffersonian architecture. In January 1895, less than a year before the Great Rotunda Fire, The New York Times said that the design of the University of Virginia "was incomparably the most ambitious and monumental architectural project that had or has yet been conceived in this century"

    Traditions on Campus

    Student life at the University of Virginia is marked by a number of unique traditions. The campus of the University is referred to as "the Grounds." Freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors are instead called first-, second-, third-, and fourth-years in order to reflect Jefferson's belief that learning is a never-ending process, rather than one to be completed within four years. Also, students do not "graduate" from the University - instead they take their degrees. Professors are traditionally addressed as "Mr." or "Ms." instead of "Doctor" or "Professor" in deference to Thomas Jefferson's desire to have an equality of ideas, discriminated by merit and unburdened by title.

    Athletics

    The University of Virginia's athletics program competes in Division I and since 1953 as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The current Athletic Director at Virginia is Craig Littlepage. The Virginia Cavaliers, also called "Wahoos" or "Hoos", have won 19 rUVA Footballecognized national championships, 14 of them since 1980. Virginia has won multiple national titles in five different sports, including three men's sports (lacrosse, 6; soccer, 5; and boxing, 2) and two women's sports (lacrosse, 3; and cross country, 2). It also holds a national championship in track and field. The men's college basketball team has won either the ACC regular season (1981, 1982, 1983, 1995, 2007) or ACC Tournament (1976) titles six times and has been to the Final Four twice, while the women's squad has been three times.

    The college football team is part of the South's Oldest Rivalry with UNC, and tied for a share of the ACC Championship in both 1989 and 1995. After never reaching a bowl before 1984, the team has played in 17 bowl games since. The program is also notable for its recent high draft picks in the National Football League, including the #4 overall pick of 2006, D'Brickashaw Ferguson, and the #2 overall pick of 2008, Chris Long. content via wikipedia

  • Visit Thomas Jefferson's home

    Tour the house that Jefferson designed and built for himself and his family and enjoy the grounds of the Monticello Plantation. See the books, gadgets, art, furnishings, and objects that reveal Jefferson’s unique mind. The guided House Tour covers the rooms on Monticello’s first floor and lasts about 30 minutes and costs $15-$20.

  • Float the James River

    Tube, canoe or kayak are all possibilities of navigating this meandering waterway through the wooded foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Bring your fishing tackle along for the best small mouth bass fishing on the east coast or simply unwind with a packed cooler for that picnic and let the James River take you away. As the tall, woodland banks slip past, look for the Deer, Blue Herons, Ospreys and Bald Eagles.  Checkout:  Reeling and Rafting

  • Taste the local wine

    White Hall Vineyards is a farm winery located just 13 miles from UVA. At an elevation of 800 feet, the winery has lovely grounds, a pleasantly shaded picnic area, and a spectacular view of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.  The winery has a tasting room and a state-of-the art production area.

  • Ski in the winter or summer

    Treat yourself to magnificent mountain views and thrilling recreation at Wintergreen Resort, a four-season recreation area located 30 miles from UVA.  Winter activities include skiing, snowboarding and snowtubing.  In the summer, you can go water skiing, hiking, fly fishing, horseback riding, swimming or mountain biking.

  • Doubletree Hotel

    Unwind at the re-designed Doubletree Hotel which overlooks the Rivanna River and is about 5 miles from the UVA campus.  Wireless internet access is complimentary.

  • Boar's Head Inn

    This 4-diamond hotel will break most anyone's budget but it may be worth it.  The Boar's Head Inn is nestled in the countryside but is only 2 miles from the UVA campus.  It has Southern character and charm along with golf and tennis on a 573-acre estate.

  • Cavalier Inn

    Within walking distance to UVA, the Cavalier Inn provides comfortable rooms with complimentary breakfast and free Wi-Fi.

  • 200 South Street Inn

    This bed & breakfast is located just one mile from UVA and near several bars and restaurants.  The room price includes a large continental breakfast in the morning and wine in the evening.

  • Hampton Inn

    Located 4 miles from the UVA campus, Hampton Inn has complimentary breakfast and free Wi-Fi

  • Foxfield Races: The Preview to End all Previews


  • UVA: Springfest 2010

    UVA SPRINGFEST 2011 on Nameless field

    UVA Springfest is one of the biggest events hosted at UVA each year. It is a huge concert held at Nameless field in late March or early April. They have had some great acts in the past like Ben Folds and Ok Go. They have not announced who they have this year yet, but continue to check back here or post it in the comments if you find out.

  • Aqui Es Mexico

    Obviously, I was wary of entering this restaurant.  I was expecting the worst and doubted my fellow citizens who had ranked this place an "87.5".  We sampled several tacos, including homemade chorizo, lengua (a.k.a. beef tongue, which is worth a try even if you picture Kevin Costner sucking down freshly slaughtered buffalo tongue in Dances With Wolves), pulled chicken, and carne asada.  They were awesome!  Checkout:  Aqui Es Mexico

  • Blue Moon Diner

    If you can deal with a little cigarette smoke and some tattoos, Blue Moon is, hands down, the best breakfast place in Charlottesville.  Make sure you look around at all the trinkets and fun decorations. There is always something to discover.

    Courtesy of cVillain

  • Blue Ridge Pig

    Good barbeque isn’t just about the sauce.  It’s also about the tenderness and infusion of the smoked wood taste.  Blue Ridge Pig ensures that your barbeque experience is as homely and amazing as possible.  Unfortunately, you will have to drive at least 25 minutes from Charlottesville.

    Courtesy of cVillain

  • Escafe

    I have never met a salad I didn’t like at Escafe, especially its Asian cabbage toss.  Its menu changes seasonally, so I can’t recall past entrees but do know I’ve liked them all.  The menu has always had appetizers, soup and salads, sandwiches, entrees, and specials, but it’s not overwhelming.  Most recently, I had salmon over seafood risotto, and I’d stopped ordering salmon because chefs invariably cooked it past the medium I requested.  I lightly grilled my server about the fish, and he assured me it would be lightly cooked.

  • Raising Cane’s

    Cane’s does to chicken what Five Guys is doing to the burger industry.  They bring a fresh product to the masses, do it well and do it cheaply.  It’s not a fancy place, but you will want to go back. Checkout: Raising Cane's

    Courtesy of cVillain

  • The Local

    The Local has a very reasonably priced menu in the $13-$16 range your choice of meat including pork, steaks, tuna, chicken.  The cuts for tuna are generous and the plates are very filling. I will say that the short rib is extremely fatty which is a good thing for some, and a bad thing for others. The pasta dishes are excellent and I highly recommend the truffled ragout and the gnocchi.

  • Pad Thai

    Thai food is one of those things you can just eat forever and always love it. That being said, not all Thai food is equal. There is a beautiful establishment in the Belmont area called Pad Thai. It is run by a family: the wife cooks, the husband brings food to the tables, and the sons take orders. There is nothing better to see a family living the American dream, and the citizens of cville supporting it.

  • Petit-Pois

    Petit-Pois is a French bistro located on the Downtown Mall next to ZO.CA.LO and is a terrific place to enjoy outdoor dining. The informal nature of the bistro is contrasted by its tasty food and drink offerings. Simple dishes adorn what is usually a one-sided menu with selections like:

    • onion soup
    • mussels in a white-wine broth
    • pate du campagne
    • pomme frites (French fries…and yes the French do actually make the best fries, with Five Guys following a VERY close second!)
    • hanger steak
    • roast chicken
    • etc…

  • Zo Ca Lo

    Zo Ca Lo, which stands for 'center of town' in Spanish colloquial speech, is conveniently located in the exact center of Charlottesville's Downtown Mall.  It has a large outdoor patio, which is open during the warmer months, and a fireplace to warm up by on cold winter nights.  They serve heavy fare, and even the Grouper was accompanied by a bed of corn.

  • South Street Brewery

    South Street Brewery used to be the serious drinkers paradise. You came there to drink beer, you scoffed at those who drank wine and you inevitably ended up with a headache. We often would show up around 9 or 10 and stay till midnight. Oh, and good luck getting to the bar. You had to have some serious skills or know a bunch of people.  Nowadays you have to start early since $2.50 pints last only until 9 p.m.

    Courtesy of cVillain

  • Buddhist Biker Bar

    Buddhist Biker Bar & Grill is a very popular student watering hole.  This eclectic place is in a cozy brick home is located about half a block off University Avenue.  The menu includes artichokes and parmesan-stuffed mushrooms, baked brie, and a roasted vegetable tostada with marinated black beans.  The decor features a vaulted ceiling with a hand-painted water scene and an old canoe. When the crowd gets too big, which is highly possible on nights when bands play, you'll find that it spills onto the patio out back.

  • Biltmore Grill

    Located  in the heart of UVA's  historic corner,  Biltmore Grill offers a wide variety of classic favorites including hand-pattied burgers, flat-bread pizzas, handmade soups, and salads.  You can sit outside on the tri-level patio or inside next to a fire place.

    Bar specials include:

    Sunday: $3 big bloodies, mimosas, and screwdrivers (brunch)
    Tuesday: $2 pitcher night! (Remember when they tried to charge $3?)

  • Rapture-ClubR2

    Located in the downtown pedestrian mall, Rapture and Club R2 are for hip, trendy professionals.  This restaurant and bar feature an New Orleans themed setting with hardwood floors and a wrought iron-trimmed loft. The staff, with their dyed hair, unique piercings, and assorted tattoos, keep pace with the restaurant's artsy attitude.

Top Events

Halloween at UNCs Franklin Street
October 31, 2012 3:09 pm
Chapel HIll, NC

Halloween is enormous in Chapel Hill. The city shuts down the main drag, Franklin Street, and people from all the surrounding towns and colleges descend upon Chapel Hill for a night of debauchery. It is a really fun time as there are often upwards of 80,000 in the streets enjoying themselves.

Iron Bowl - Auburn vs. Alabama
November 28, 2012 1:30 pm

The king of all Grudge Matches - Tickets Here

Via Wikipedia

Halloween on Franklin Street
October 31, 2013 10:39 pm

While Lady Gaga may have recently popularized the idea of dressing up as someone (or thing) else, Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, North Carolina is legendary for accommodating college students’ alter-egos every Halloween.

Annual Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk
October 20, 2012 9:00 am


A festival about woolly worms in a little mountain city? What does that have to do with anything?
Kalf Fry at Lone Star Amphitheater
October 5, 2012 8:00 pm
What do you get when you mix sports, food, alcohol and music?

The Kalf Fry of course!

Nothing gets better than country music, calf fries, alcoholic beverages and a fundraiser for the West Texas region of the Muscular Dystrophy Association all rolled into one. What does this create? The annual Kalf Fry!

Annual MusicFest 'N Sugar Grove Music Festival
July 6, 2012 11:00 am
Sugar Grove, NC
Annual Music Festival - Moogfest, Asheville, N.C.
October 27, 2012 12:00 pm

Music? Art? Engaging with other music and art enthusiasts?
Moogfest is for you.

Ball State University Annual Homecoming Bed Race
October 5, 2012 11:30 am

What do you get when you put four people pushing a bed with wheels down the street, one person riding it all while riding on a 100-yard course competing with the clock and against one another? The Bell State University Annual Bed Race, which has been dubbed the zaniest tradition started in the 1980's and continues to the be the longest running Homecoming event.

Traditional Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) Cake Race at Auburn University
October 10, 2012 11:00 am
Annual Music On The Mountaintop in Boone, North Carolina
August 10, 2012 11:00 am
New River Gorge - Bridge Day Festival
October 16, 2012 10:00 am

Check out Bridge Day!