What every first year student should know about Lynchburg
By Jeremy Fogt on Sep. 22, 2008
By Liz Barry
It’s never promising when you’re forced to describe a city by its proximity to others. Or when the biggest celebrity is the late evangelist Jerry Falwell.
But it’s time to face the facts. You have committed to Lynchburg for four years. If you’re a Yankee or big city type, you’re probably experiencing major culture shock. Rest assured, there’s more to Lynchburg than Biscuitville, Wal-Mart and the dollar theater. Between its rich history, historic buildings and quirky population, Lynchburg has a lot of character. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of the Burg.
1 The streets of Lynchburg defy the laws of logic. Seriously. They change names without warning, veer off at odd angles and are downright confusing. (Case in point, Fifth Street is also named Martin Luther King. Jr. Blvd. and later turns into Memorial Avenue.). But don’t let the maze of streets deter you from venturing off campus. The first step is mastering the Lynchburg Expressway. Once you’ve got that down, you’ll be zipping around in no time. Lynchburg is too small to get seriously lost. Worst case scenario: you burn some gas and wind up in Appomattox.
2 If you’re hungry, the T-Room is always open. (Except between 3 a.m. Sunday and 5 a.m. Monday.) You can’t experience Lynchburg without making a late-night stop at the Texas Inn. The greasy diner by the Rivermont Bridge is known for its Cheesy Westerns — an open-faced cheeseburger topped with a fried egg. It’s a great place to meet some locals, but if you go past 2 a.m., brace yourself for the after-bar crowd. The food is cheap, but make sure you bring cash because credit cards are not accepted.
3 Don’t believe the people who say there’s nothing to do in Lynchburg. It goes something like this: “There’s nothing to do here besides the dollar theater and Wal-Mart. This place sucks.” Don’t fall for this. While Lynchburg can sometimes feel like a ghost town, especially at night, change is brewing. Old buildings are being revitalized. New music venues are popping up. The arts scene is growing, especially on Rivermont Avenue. Check out the 500 block of Fifth Street, where you’ll find a mix of college town essentials: a hip coffee shop (Starlight Café), an indie record store (Speakertree), a chic clothing boutique (Folk) and ethnic cuisine (Machu Picchu Peruvian Restaurant). Go gallery hopping on the first Friday of each month, when the art galleries downtown throw opening receptions for their latest exhibitions. Have a picnic at the Old City Cemetery — a destination point for its beautiful gardens, Confederate graves and African American burial grounds. Play Frisbee golf at Peaks View Park. Get out there and explore.
4 Experience the Hillcats. Does “South Paw” mean anything to you? Well, it should. South Paw is the googly-eyed mascot of Lynchburg’s minor league baseball team, the Lynchburg Hillcats, an affiliate of the Pittsburg Pirates. The team was formerly affiliated with the Mets, and Lynchburg was a training ground for former Major League All Stars Dwight Gooden and Lenny Dykstra. Though the team’s record last season was less than stellar, a Hillcats game is all about the experience. (Think juicy hotdogs, views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and people-watching.) When you turn 21, come on “Thirsty Thursdays” for dollar beer night.
5 Know your history. Your out-of-town friends are skeptical. “Lynch-burg?” they say with raised eyebrows. Lynchburg is named for its founder, John Lynch, who established a ferry service across the James River in 1757 and later petitioned the Virginia General Assembly for a town charter. By 1805, the town of Lynchburg was born. The name’s darker connotation, however, is not a complete non sequitur. It was John Lynch’s renegade brother, Charles, whose actions gave rise to the expressions “lynch law” and “lynching.”
6 Get down with American roots music. Americana (bluegrass/folk/blues) is the unofficial sound of the Burg. American roots music is not just for the silver-haired crowd; it’s making a comeback with a new generation of musicians. Young upstarts like bluesman Eli Cook from Nelson County and folk duo The Honey Dewdrops from Scottsville are making waves in Central Virginia and beyond. For a boot-stomping good time, check out the James River Congregation, a band known to pack the house at local bars and coffee shops. Fall is prime festival season, with plenty of opportunities to see some backcountry bluegrass.
7 Visit the Lynchburg Community Market on a Saturday morning. The community market — one of Lynchburg’s oldest institutions — provides a feast for the senses. On Saturday morning it absolutely bustles with people. Come early (before 8 a.m.) for the best selection of produce. Hot items sell out fast. Most of the produce is locally grown, and some is organic. Talk to the farmers for the details about their growing methods. When you’re finished shopping, grab some food from one of the vendors and sit by the fountain to people-watch. If you’re feeling really ambitious, make a day of it with some antique shopping and a jaunt along bike path on Percival’s Island, across the James.
8 The bars get old fast. But there are several good options for the 21 and over crowd. Bull Branch is a hip spot for 20-somethings and young professionals. It gets packed on Friday and Saturday nights, so get there early to claim a table for your friends. The Dahlia is a dive bar with a jukebox and cheap beer. Mudpuppy’s is a popular sports bar, with big screens, darts and shuffleboard. Rivermont Pizza and Vines offer an extensive selection of microbrews. The Cavalier has a lot of character and a friendly staff, but watch your language or risk invoking the wrath of a certain cook. Don’t count on bar-hopping as many bars are spread throughout the city. Designated drivers are a must.
9 Get outside. National Geographic ranked Lynchburg among the nation’s top 10 “small towns” in its 2007 Best Places to Live + Play issue: “This former home of Thomas Jefferson issues pure southern charm. Lynchburg is surrounded by a hundred-mile (161 kilometer) swath of national forest, rivers and recreational areas.” Instead of nursing your weekend hangover watching Saved by the Bell re-runs, get outside and enjoy what Virginia has to offer. Take a walk or bike ride along the Blackwater Creek Trail. If you’re feeling more ambitious, take a drive up the Blue Ridge Parkway or go hiking in George Washington and Jefferson National Forest.
10 Branch out from the chains. Each spring, The Burg asks its readers to rank the best of Lynchburg in categories like best meal under $5, best coffee, and best French fries. We are surprised by how many chain stores and restaurants consistently get high marks with voters, when there are so many family-owned businesses and mom-and-pop joints in town. Case it point: Last year, McDonald’s won for the best meal under $5. Next time you go out, look around and see what else Lynchburg has to offer.
11 Meet the locals. You may think you’re too cool for the townies, but you aren’t. Lynchburg is home to a fascinating cross-section of people. Hanging out at one of the city’s many coffee shops is a good starting place. Meet the farmers at the Community Market. Talk to some of the old-timers at the thrift stores and antique shops downtown. Hit up your neighborhood barbershop/hair salon. Attend a service at one of the nation’s biggest mega-churches — Thomas Road Baptist Church — for the experience, even if you are Jewish/Muslim/
Presbyterian/atheist/agnostic/other. See a live show. Go to an art gallery opening. Volunteer. There are so many colorful people in Lynchburg, it just takes a little effort to seek them out.
What do you think? What Lynchburg wisdom would you bestow upon a first-year college student? Send us an e-mail or discuss it at http://www.the-burg.com, and we’ll publish anything we may have missed in next week’s edition.
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