Eating at TJ's

I have an interesting habit when it comes to vacations. I recount my vacations by where I ate. Almost every vacation story has a piece that starts, "And we ate at this place..." Now, I'm not a foodie (I'm more of an omnivore), but enjoyable dinners are some of my favorite things about both vacations AND conferences I've attended.

But, how do you figure out where to eat if you are new to a place? And, how do you find someone with whom to eat if you didn't come with a lot of people from your institution? Your hospitality co-chairs are here to help you with these dilemmas. We have all kinds of information about where to eat and we can help you find colleagues with whom to converse over meals. This last Uniquely Charlottesville blog before you arrive in Charlottesville features food...and a service that hospitality is providing for all conference goers.

First, as you have read in other places on the blog, the regional conference is a friendly gathering. It is very easy to meet someone in a concurrent session and then head out to dinner with them. If you need a little help in coordinating that, Hospitality has a great service for you. On both Wednesday and Thursday night, we'll have sign up sheets for dinner as some of the area restaurants. So swing on by and sing up to have a meal with colleagues.

In terms of eating in Charlottesville, as a graduate student I was amazed by how many restaurants there were in TJ's backyard. Given that new restaurants have opened since I left, the possibilities are plentiful. There is no way I would be able to cover all of your options. Instead, I have chosen to highlight a restaurant in each of the following four categories: Chain restaurants, Ethnic restaurants, Quirky/Downtown Mall restaurants, and Uniquely Charlottesville restaurants. Don't forget that you can stop by the Hospitality Table or the hotel concierge for other suggestions for dining as well.

Chain Restaurant - Bonefish Grill

If seafood is your thing, you might have heard about this chain. New to Charlottesville and just a few minutes from the hotel, this is a great place for a nice dinner. A little pricier option, as entrées are often over $20, this is nice experience with a great atmosphere.

Ethnic - Maharaja (Indian)

One of the first restaurants I went to in Charlottesville was Maharaja. One of two Indian options in C'ville (the other is Milan), Maharaja offers a lunch buffet and dinner. They are open on Monday through Friday from 11:30 to 2 and 5 to 10pm. It will run you between $10 and $30.

Quirky/Downtown Mall - Twisted Tea Bazaar

This is a place for the tea lover. While they also serve food (the menu is on their website), the Tea Bazaar's claim to fame is tea. It is a place that tea lovers in C'ville swear by. It also has a unique atmosphere and a vegetarian friendly menu. It's locate on the Downtown Mall, so if you want to grab dinner somewhere else and then just drop in for tea, you can do that as well. Just a warning, you have to hike up and flight of steps to get into the restaurant, so factor that into your plans.

Uniquely Charlottesville - The Tavern

Not be confused with Miche Tavern, The Tavern is a C'ville institution. On its roof is written "Where students, tourists, and townspeople meet" and that is pretty true. When it is open there is often a line out the door. It was one of my favorite places to eat in Charlottesville, in part because they serve their whole menu the entire time they are open. So, yes, you have have a burger at 8am and scrapple at 2pm. The one drawback? It closes after lunch...which makes it a great place to stop by on the way in to the conference or on the way home. It's on 29 across from Barracks Road shopping center.

Want to go to a Charlottesville institution for dinner and have steak? Try the Aberdeen Barn. It's not that far away from The Tavern and will be open for dinner. Feel free to ask me about it at the hospitality table.

Did anyone say dessert?

Again, I could go on and on about dessert, but there are two places that are definitely worth checking out. If you are on the Downtown Mall, stop in Chap's Ice Cream. It is homemade and good stuff; some of the committee tried it out during a recent trip to Charlottesville on March 16th. Ice cream packing more calories than you would like? Then head to Arch's for frozen yogurt. With three locations (on the Corner, on 29, and on Ivy Rd), Arch's is easy to get to. Not only can you get frozen yogurt, you can get an Archer. Check out their soft serve menu to see what I mean. I can vouch for the Peanut Butter Delight. I had a lot of those in grad school.

Hospitality Events & Community Service Opportunity

With the NCAA tournament – or should I say “March Madness” – in full swing I must admit that it is hard to not get caught up in the excitement. The close games, controversial calls, and pure athleticism shown by student athletes have kept me engaged in a sport that I might not otherwise pay attention to. It also reminds me of the driving force behind our hospitality blog. For those conference goers who are already registered I hope that we have kept you engaged and prepared you to enjoy the rich history, unique architecture, small city sophistication and Southern hospitality this city will provide. Below is a quick schedule of hospitality events that we are hosting –

Wednesday April 6
5:30PM Welcome Reception

Thursday April 7
5:30PM NACADA Mixed Group Dining Experience*
7:00PM Shuttles to Downtown Charlottesville
8:00PM Hospitality Suite, Jam Session & "Taste of C-Ville" Raffle

*sign-up sheets will be available at the hospitality table

In the spirit of “community” and “service” NACADA’s Region 2 wants to do more than just celebrate the city hosting our conference. In an effort to give back to the city of Charlottesville the Region 2 Conference will host a community service project with the Salvation Army of Charlottesville. This non-profit organization supports a Homeless Intervention Program (HIP) which “seeks to prevent the displacement of individuals and families from their homes as a result of eviction or foreclosure, assist homeless families or individuals in securing permanent housing, and provide a training and education component to secure self-sufficiency”.
The Salvation Army of Charlottesville, Virginia administers the program for Planning District 10, which consists of the City of Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson.

All NACADA conference participants are asked to bring non-perishable food items, personal care items and travel size toiletries that will be distributed to those who are in need. We will have a collection box located at the hospitality table to gather items that will be delivered at the end of the conference. Your support in the community service project is greatly appreciated.

More information about the Salvation Army of Charlottesville can be found on their website – http://www.uss.salvationarmy.org/uss/www_uss_charlottesville.nsf/

C-ville for shoppers

I think I have a bit of a reputation. It started in Indy for the 2006 national NACADA conference. I was staying in a hotel near the convention center, but the shortest way to the convention center was...through a three storey mall. So, of course, I did a little shopping and talked about shopping pretty often (just ask Art). The national conference for NACADA was in Chicago in 2008, which has the Magnificent Mile and the big Macy's that used to be Marshall Fields. And San Antonio in 2009? We were on the Riverwalk! Of course, I hit the shopping area. I guess that does make me the best person to discuss shopping in C-ville.

Charlottesville is an eclectic shopping experience. It has everything from local specialty boutiques to recognized national retailers. Although I could go on (and on, and on) about the shopping in the area, I will, instead, focus on the three areas you are most likely to go shop 'til you drop.

The Downtown Mall

In the heart of Charlottesville's downtown, this pedestrian friendly area is full of the quirky and the unique. There are craft stores, clothing stores, stationary stores, and even book stores. This is one of the best places to get something uniquely Charlottesville, even if it is just a picture of the happenings on the mall. As the Downtown Mall is also a great place to eat and grab dessert, it can be a great one stop shop for an evening of fun. The best part? If you don't want to drive to the Mall, there will be a shuttle leaving from the hotel to drop you off there on Wednesday and Thursday evening; stop by the hospitality desk for more information. If you do want to drive, stop by the hospitality desk before you leave and we'll let you know who will validate your parking if you park in one of the two parking decks just off the Mall.

Barracks Road Shopping Center

As a graduate student, I spent so much time here, it was a little ridiculous. A massive shopping area, Barracks Road covers almost ever need. There are two grocery stores, a bunch of restaurants, a FedEx Kinkos, a Hair Cuttery...and I'm just getting started. Head to Barracks if your style is Chicos or Old Navy. Drop on by Barracks if you need a book from Barnes and Noble or ribbon from Michael's. Even if you want Lindt chocolate or a drug store, Barracks has you covered. Barracks is also a great place to grab coffee (at Greenberry's) or ice cream (at Ben and Jerry's). Barracks Road is located down 29, near UVA grounds, so you'll want to drive. If a bunch of you are shopping together, I recommend carpooling. Parking is available (for free) at Barracks, but the parking lot is usually very busy and very full. The hospitality table will also have a list of retailers at Barracks Road; feel free to stop by the table and ask.

Fashion Square Mall

Enclosed, traditional malls more your thing? Then you'll want to visit Fashion Square Mall. Housing three department stores (Belk, JC Penney, and Sears) as well as mall standards like Bath and Body Works, Ann Taylor, and Foot Locker, Fashion Square Mall is Charlottesville's local mall. I've always been a fan of Belk and, since Richmond no longer has one, I have been known to drive to C-ville to go to Fashion Square Mall. The mall is on 29, one block north of the Marriott Courtyard, one of our two overflow hotels. There is plenty of free parking. Mall hours are Monday through Saturday 10am to 9pm, Sunday 12:30pm to 5:30pm

Willing to road trip a bit? There are two other shopping opportunities within an hour and a half drive of Charlottesville that will be available during your stay.

Green Valley Book Fair

Open March 26 to April 10, everyday, form 9am to 7pm

Do you love to read? Then this is the place to go. All kinds of books covering all kinds of topics in all kinds of genres are on sale. In fact, these prices tend to be 60% to 90% off of retail. Both times I've gone in the past, I've lugged a box full of books to my car. It's also a beautiful drive there. So, whether you need six copies of a great book for your book club, a book to read to your three year old niece, or a reference book on a new interest, the savings are worth the drive.

Short Pump Towne Center

Headed I-64 East toward Richmond or points further east? Then, on your way home, you should hop off at the Short Pump exit. A huge outdoor mall with a ton of little shopping areas surrounding it, Short Pump Towne Center is the place to do some shopping. The mall has a Dillard's, Macy's, and Nordstrom's as well as two levels of additional shopping. There are also restaurants, a food court, Starbucks, and Cold Stone in the mall. And, if you love shoes or have a hard to fit foot, Saxon Shoes is a stop worth making. Short Pump is about 10 minutes west of Richmond, Virginia.

Extended Stay Opportunity - Bed & Breakfast

Another exciting feature of Charlottesville and Albemarle County are the surrounding Bed & Breakfast accommodations that are in the area. A Bed and Breakfast (B&B) is defined as a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodations and breakfast to its guests. The facilities are generally private homes with a limited number of rooms so that each guest feels “at home” more so than in a commercial establishment like a hotel.

There are over 30 B&B in Charlottesville and the surrounding counties. The Inn at Monticello was built in the 1856 and is located 2 miles away from Monticello. They have special packages that can be combined with visiting the historical sites in the surrounding area or a special wine dinner getaway that includes dinner at a great restaurant and recommendations for vineyards in the area. For more information please visit their website - http://www.innatmonticello.com/

Many B&B offer discounts and specials during this time of year and have different features that make them special. If you are interested in extended your stay in Charlottesville, please check out the Bed & Breakfast Inns - http://www.bbonline.com/va/charlottesville.html for additional information about B&B in the area. You don’t want to miss out on one of the most unique aspects of this area.

My next blog will showcase the wonderful natural surroundings in the piedmont region where Charlottesville is located.

Speaking C-ville

"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson

Like most friends, my friend C-ville has a language all her own. As I was thinking about ways to continue to share my friend with you, as well as get everyone excited about coming to Charlottesville, I thought I'd share some of this lingo with you. So, borrowing an idea from Style Weekly's "You're Very Richmond If...", "You Know You Are in Charlottesville When You Hear...":

"I was on the Corner until two last night." This doesn't mean the person was standing where two streets meet for hours. The Corner is an area of bars and restaurants next to the University of Virginia. Undergraduate students, graduate students, law school students, and faculty and staff often head to this area for lunch, dinner, or drinks. It includes a variety of options from the famous Bodo's Bagel, to Amigo's (a Mexican restaurant), St. Maarten's (a popular bar) and Arch's (a frozen yogurt hangout).

"I got stuck on 29 after the concert." 29 refers to Route 29, the major highway through the Charlottesville-Albermarle area. When you come in for the regional conference, you will spend some time driving Route 29. Traffic can get heavy on the road at points, especially after UVA sporting events, concerts at the John Paul Jones arena, and during rush hour. (Driving recommendation: If you know what lane you'll need to be in to get somewhere on 29, get into that lane as soon as you get on the highway and stay there. For example, if you have to make a left into the Doubletree hotel, when you turn onto 29, turn into the left lane and stay there. Changing lanes on 29 can be challenging!)

"So, I was on grounds talking with a third year..." UVA doesn't refer to its campus as a campus; instead it uses the term "grounds" to mean what campus means for most colleges. In addition, since Thomas Jefferson didn't believe that someone could be a senior in knowledge, undergraduates are not referred to as freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. They are, instead, identified by how many years they have attended the university. So, a junior would be a third year. This also means that, while UVA may have fifth year students, they don't have any "super seniors"

"My friend, the double Hoo, told me it was on Pantops somewhere." People who graduate from UVA often refer to themselves as Hoos. If someone received more than one degree from UVA, he or she will call him/herself a "double Hoo". Pantops is an area of Charlottesville. Often, when people talk about parts of C-ville, they will mention Pantops, UVA (or "grounds") and the Corner, or the Downtown Mall.

"But Barracks is in the county, right?" In the Commonwealth of Virginia (with the exception of Ashland, VA) our cities are not a part of our counties. Although we'll talk about the greater Charlottesville area like it is all Charlottesville, the city of Charlottesville is surrounded by Albermarle County, which is a separate entity. Our hotel is in the county. As is Barracks - which is short of Barracks Road, a wonderful shopping center with stores like Chioces and Old Navy and restaurants like Hot Cakes and Ruby Tuesdays.

To end this journal, I should probably explain why I led off with a Thomas Jefferson quote. Charlottesville is very much Jefferson Country, and nowhere is this more true than at his university. Thomas Jefferson is quoted very often on grounds and at nearly every occasion. A quote about exercise from Jefferson is even in one of UVA's gyms. Students use quotes from Jefferson to advertise their events or support their point of view. I thought having Jefferson weigh in on the usefulness of sharing some of the style of C-ville would be a good thing.

Looking forward to seeing you in C-ville next month. And, I'll be around the conference if you have any problems translating C-ville language to English. :)

Monticello!

As promised, my blog will feature one of the many extended stay opportunities that are available in Charlottesville.

Let’s turn out attention to the wonderful historical site of Monticello –

The beloved mountain top home was first constructed in 1776 but was constantly rebuilt and redesigned to accommodate Jefferson’s growing taste of Roman neoclassical architecture that he fell in love with during his travels to France. By the time his masterpiece was completed in 1809 it had a total of 43 rooms, 13 skylights, and 8 fireplaces in 11,000 square feet of space! The property also includes a stable, carriage bays, cellars, gardens and plantation slave quarters.

The house was inherited by his daughter Martha Jefferson who then sold the home in order to pay off Jefferson’s debts. The home then passed through a series of different owners, including the confederate army, until it was sold in 1923 to the newly formed Thomas Jefferson Foundation which properly restored the home, gardens and plantation areas to what is seen today.

Do you want to know how the home was heated and cooled? Or how the house was illuminated or what the dome room was used for? You will need to come take part of the fantastic tours of the property. Region 2 NACADA participants have a unique opportunity for a private tour at Monticello. Only 25 people are needed to create a group that will be eligible for a private tour at the discounted price of $15! This will include a tour of the lower level of the house, plantations and gardens on the property. Possible tour times are available at 3:45 PM on April 6th prior to the conference and April 8th at 2PM after the conference concludes.

Please contact Melinda Anderson, mjande@wm.edu, for additional information and to sign up for this great opportunity. You will need to RSVP for this event by March 18th in order to take advantage of the discount and private tour!

My next blog will be dedicated to the wine lovers out there as there are over 20 different vineyards in Charlottesville and Albemarle County.

Have you met my friend, C-ville?

Have you ever wondered how to introduce a friend to a bunch of colleagues?

Here's the situation. You are in the position of introducing a family friend to a large number of work colleagues. Your parents knew this family friend first; growing up you heard stories about her and how much fun your parents had with her. Then, in your twenties, you got to meet her yourself. You were really close for about five years; you even met one of your best friends through her. Because of this extensive experience, you have a lot of stories that start with, "There was that time when...." You also know lots of random facts about her, like her favorite band, whether she prefers the mountains or the ocean, and even her favorite US presidents. You also know that your colleagues might already have some ideas about what your friend is like. Some of those ideas are wrong...some aren't that far off. You want your colleagues to see what a wonderful person your friend is and get to know her. What you don't want to do, however, is overwhelm your colleagues with a lot of information about her. It's an interesting situation in which to be.

Well, that is how I feel about Charlottesville. In writing these blogs, I'm actually sharing my "family friend" Charlottesville with all of you.

My parents both completed some of their graduate education at the University of Virginia. My father went to law school there; my mother did graduate work in education and history. My parents loved living in Charlottesville. My mother told (and still tells) stories about the time she was there. In fact, when I started looking into UVA for my graduate study, she thought about moving to Albermarle County for awhile while I was there.

I spent five years in graduate school at UVA in the early part of this century. Although I lived "on grounds" all five years, I spent a lot of time in and around Charlottesville. (I-64 also became a good friend.) I spent time on the Corner and at the Downtown Mall. I drove up and down Route 29 like a pro. And yes, I went apple picking and got dragged to Crozet for pizza. I heard more DMB (i.e., Dave Matthews Band) in those five years than I have before or since. I also spent a lot of time talking about Thomas Jefferson like he was about to walk down the Lawn to head to a department meeting or a student rally. I wouldn't trade that experience for the world.

So, NACADA colleagues, over the next few weeks leading up to the conference, Melinda and I will work to introduce you to my good friend, Charlottesville. By the time you arrive, I hope you will be excited about getting to spend some time with her. If you want recommendations, feel free to flag me down at the conference and ask, "Hey, what does your friend C-ville know about [fill in the blank]?"

Oh, and by the way, C-ville is more than just history. She also loves nature and wines. She likes shopping, food, the arts, and education. Stay tuned to the blog. Get to know her. And come hang out with us in April. We'll see you there!

Did you know that...

When my husband and I travel to a new location we can’t help but Google about it first. We are self proclaimed travel enthusiast and we are always excited to learn new things about the beautiful places we visit. Yes, I dare say it - we are travel nerds! And when it comes to explore a city’s history, culture, food, and (of course) shopping experiences we are on top of it. Many times our conversations begin with “Did you know that…” as we try to one up each other with our new found knowledge. So with 8 weeks to go before the conference I thought it would be a good idea to share interesting facts about Charlottesville that you might not otherwise know.

Did you know that….

• The city of Charlottesville was formed by charter in 1792 and was named after the Queen Charlotte, the queen consort of George III of the United Kingdom.
• Albemarle County surrounds the city of Charlottesville and was named for a colonial figure, the second Earl of Albemarle, who was then governor of the Virginia Colony.
• The city of Charlottesville has been home to three US Presidents - Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe and other historic figures such as literary giants Edgar Allan Poe and William Faulkner.
• Presently Charlottesville is home to, or has been the home of movie stars Sissy Spacek, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and Sam Shepherd, novelist John Grisham, NFL Hallof Fame member Howie Long, the rock band Dave Matthews Band.
• It is the home of the University of Virginia which is currently ranked as the #2 Best Public University according to US News and Report.
• Monticello, the Rotunda and the grounds of UVA are recognized by the United Nations as a World Heritage Sites.
• There are more than 20 vineyards along the Monticello wine trail and several breweries that make up the Brew Ridge trail.
• The mountains, rolling hills, orchards, and undeveloped forest and fields provide breath taking views and make amazing science drives.

So consider yourself a little more informed about Charlottesville. You will be able to amaze family, friends and colleagues with your superior knowledge. In my future blog posts I plan to go in to detail about the wonderful extended stay opportunities that you can have if you decide to spend more time in the city and surrounding country side. In the meantime I hope I have inspired you learn even more this fair city than I shared with you today and when I see you during the conference please stop me and say – Hey Melinda, did you know…..

Welcome to Charlottesville

Greetings!

Our Region 2 regional conference is fast approaching as it is only nine weeks away! As hospitality co-chairs, we would like to be the first to welcome you to Charlottesville, a beautiful city located east of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the middle of the Commonwealth of Virginia. We cannot wait to share the many exciting features of this historical city, which has been home to several US Presidents. Your regional conference hospitality co-chairs are Melinda Anderson and Edna Renee Macbeth. We are new to the blogging scene and have decided to capture many different aspects of Charlottesville in our blog series to give you a wonderful picture of all that is to be enjoyed during the conference.

We'll first begin with introductions and then share what we love about Charlottesville.

Edna Renee Macbeth is an academic advisor in the University College at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Richmond (UR) and completed her graduate work at the University of Virginia (UVA). While in graduate school at UVA she had the chance to live in Charlottesville for five years. This was a wonderful opportunity that introduced her to a great part of the Commonwealth of Virginia. During her time in Charlottesville, and during her many visits back, she loved how nature and history blended with fun restaurants and places to explore. She loves the various areas of the city of Charlottesville and Albermarle county that have their own unique feel, from the Downtown Mall, to the Corner, to UVA's grounds, and even that strip of road she simply calls "29".

Melinda Anderson is the Assistant Director of Academic Advising at the College of William and Mary. She received her bachelor's and master's degrees at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and is currently working on her doctoral degree at the College of William and Mary. Working in Williamsburg gives her a deep appreciation for small cities rich with history. What she loves most about Charlottesville is the historical sites and beautiful views of nature that can be found in and around town. She loves the quaint shops and wonderful places to eat around town. She is especially found of Cater Mountain, where she picks delicious apples with her family every year. She loves working with people and is looking forward to helping conference attendees feel at home during the conference.

You'll see us at the hospitality table, in the hospitality suite, and a various other places around the conference hotel. It is our hope that you find the Region 2 conference both enlightening and enjoyable. Every Thursday either Melinda or Edna Renee will be updating this blog. Whether you are a lover of history, nature or wineries - Virginia (especially cities like Charlottesville) is for you. We'll have some great tips and suggestions to share with you as we count down to the conference together.

For our final note in this week's post ---

Hospitality can be defined as the friendly reception and treatment of guests or strangers. We consider all of you our guests and look forward to a great time with you at the conference. Although you might arrive as a stranger, we will depart as friends. We look forward to sharing this great gem of a city with you, both in this blog and when you arrive in Thomas Jefferson's backyard.

- Melinda and Edna Renee