Welcome (Back) to Charlottesville

 Part I: What You Missed This Summer

 If you’ve just returned to Charlottesville—or are arriving for the first time—congratulations, you timed it perfectly. Summer 2025 was anything but quiet (relatively speaking of course). Between zoning lawsuits, festivals, bridge repairs, and the occasional foam party, Charlottesville reminded everyone that it is equal parts small Southern town and a laboratory for Very Serious Legal Questions. Think of this as your catch-up briefing and your starter kit to life in Cville.

Number One: Zoning Is Our Local Sport

 You’ll hear people talk about “the code” a lot. They’re not referencing UVA Honor, or some form of Mafia-esque omertà — they mean zoning.

Here’s the short version: last year, the City adopted a brand-new zoning code designed to add housing density and tackle affordability. This June, a judge voided the whole thing—not because it was unconstitutional, but because the city’s law firm missed a filing deadline. Developers, landlords, and renters all scrambled to figure out which rules applied. Then in August, the judge reversed course, and the code is back (for now), with a full trial looming.

If you’re new here, know this: Charlottesville zoning fights are a blood sport. People will cite density maps at dinner parties. You’ll nod politely, then realize they are absolutely serious. Read more here: https://communityengagement.substack.com/p/july-2-2025-city-manager-sanders

Number Two: The Downtown Mall Never Sleeps (except for the fact that everything shuts down at 10pm except for like two bars on Friday and Saturday)

The brick-paved pedestrian Downtown Mall downtown is where everything happens. This summer, the Mall hosted Fridays After Five (free weekly concerts), the Festival of the Photograph, drag shows, and a steady rotation of bands at the Paramount and Jefferson Theaters. Lukas Nelson rolled through; so did plenty of local acts whose amps out-blasted the cicadas, especially over at Whiskey Jar. There’s a lot of charm to the Downtown Mall, but if you’re coming from (or coming back from) a big city, be advised there is approximately no night life. One can only spend $18 on a single drink in an over-crowded Fitzroy so many times before one begins to drink at home. One is told.

As a newcomer, expect the Mall to be your default social hub, aside from the vineyards and of course ScoCo. Coffee shops in the morning, live music at night, political rallies somewhere in between. And yes, you’ll trip at least once on the bricks downtown. Especially if you’re wearing heels. Everyone does. I’m making myself feel better via this article.

Number Three: Tradition I guess? If the tradition is drinking.

Some things never change. The Foxfield Races returned in pastel glory, equal parts horse racing, seersucker, and tailgating. UVA sports may dominate the fall, but Foxfield (and for a time, Fauxfield) is Charlottesville’s spring-and-fall society ritual. UVA Law is participating for the first time in a while, so if you go, wear comfortable shoes (I recommend boots but if you go for dressier shoes, make sure they’re washable, and wedges > stilettos, for the love of god) and prepare to overhear at least one contracts law outline being recited over a mimosa.

Number Four: Nature Is Never Far Away

Summer saw the Rivanna Trail Foundation push forward on its loop that nearly circles the city. Locals love it — runners, hikers, and those just trying to escape West Main construction. Younkin nerfed our new park at Biscuit Run, but it’s still a good time as is.[1] And when you need a bigger escape, Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive are less than an hour away.

If you’re new: get on the Rivanna Trail at least once this fall. You’ll sweat, you’ll get lost, you’ll see a blue heron, it’ll fly angrily way too close to your face, you’ll be like “oh my god was that a dinosaur wtf” and you’ll suddenly feel like you understand Charlottesville a little better.

You could also capitalize on a slow start to the semester (if you have one) and take a leisurely float down the Rivanna River before the weather starts to cool down. Start at Darden Towe and get out at River View Park! It takes three hours to tube down the river, but be prepared to paddle and/or stand and hoof it in the areas where it gets shallow. Be careful of snakes sunning themselves on the big river rocks. Not because they’re going to do anything, but because it’s rude to disturb them by accidentally splashing and yelling. You may blow them a kiss but that is all.

Number Five: Nature Is Never Far Away

Albemarle got a new courthouse! I have very strong opinions about our new general district and circuit court rooms, and I do not want to put those opinions into writing! Suffice to say the courtrooms now look a bit like if an IKEA had a baby with Fairfax County, Virginia. I know there’s more space, but gosh the ceilings feel so low! I don’t like recessed lighting! But my opinion does not matter. The Commonwealth Attorney’s Office did get a new space however, and that is excellent news. No more windows that survey the eternal midnight of a brick wall! You will never see attorneys happier than when they have new office space. It’s cuter than a kid on Christmas.

Part II: Quick Orientation for Newcomers

Here are the basics you’ll pick up fast:

●      The Corner. Across from the Rotunda. A mix of bars, late-night food, and overpriced apartments. You’ll end up here at some point, either for Bar Review or at 1 a.m. If you’re K-JD this will perhaps feel comforting and fun to you, being surrounded by drunk undergrads and college bars. If you’re an older (wiser) law student, you may be struck by how young everyone looks. You don’t have to spend 20 minutes lamenting that fact and telling everyone in your vicinity—one comment is enough. I feel you though.

●      Grounds. Ugh. Yeah don’t say campus I guess. Or do. Become ungovernable! Nothing matters anymore. I’m shocked y'all even have to take Con Law.

●      The Rotunda and the Lawn. Jefferson’s architectural calling card. People picnic here, protest here, and graduate here. You’ll probably do at least one of the three.

●      The Rivanna River. Great for kayaking, risky for flooding.

●      Fall Saturdays. They belong to UVA football. Even if you don’t care about sports, plan your grocery runs around game days. The traffic in this town punches above its weight.

●      City Politics. Oddly riveting, if you like boring shit such things. Zoning cases, school board debates, the Seb/flec tag graffiti drama, the ranked-choice voting pilot program—it’s civic theater, and you’ll get drawn in. Or you won’t. More for me.

The Takeaway[2] 

What you missed this summer was quintessential Charlottesville—so honestly you didn’t miss much. A zoning code tossed in and out of court, music on the Mall, the reality that no construction project will ever truly end here. The lack of affordable housing and low-barrier shelters remain a huge issue, despite the deep pockets in this town.[3] Eternal recurrence.

 If you’re returning, you already know the rhythm: Charlottesville never really takes a break, it just shifts gears. Almost imperceptibly! If you’re new, welcome—you’ll quickly see that this is a place where civic debates, cultural events, and community life all overlap, and it’s small enough that you can actually get a handle on it within your three years here. Show up at council meetings, at concerts, at farmer’s markets, at the trailhead. You’ll start recognizing faces in no time. It’s one of the more overlooked benefits of going to a graduate program in a small town, in my opinion—you get to become a regular here! It’s worthwhile.

And one final piece of advice: if someone starts talking zoning at a party, don’t panic. Just ask which map they’re looking at. You’ll fit right in.

[1] Sean Tubbs, Governor Youngkin eliminates funding that would have gone to a Biscuit Run connector trail, C-VILLE Weekly, https://c-ville.com/governor-youngkin-eliminates-funding-that-would-have-gone-to-a-biscuit-run-connector-trail/

[2] I recommend getting sandwiches from Takeaway.

[3] Nicky Demitry, Cavalier Crossing: The G in Gentrification Stands for Granite Countertops, Virginia Law Weekly, https://www.lawweekly.org/col/2025/1/29/cavalier-crossing-the-g-in-gentrification-stands-for-granite-countertops; Kyndall Hanson, Lack of Overnight Shelter Leaves Few Options for Charlottesville’s Unhoused, 29 News, https://www.29news.com/2025/08/17/lack-overnight-shelter-leaves-few-options-charlottesvilles-unhoused/.