Driving Directions to CUFF Events
Okay, let's face it: navigating in downtown Charlottesville can be somewhat confusing. Hopefully the directions we provide here will help you reach our events with nary a curse.
General Directions to Downtown Charlottesville
The centerpiece of downtown Charlottesville is its red-bricked pedestrian mall, which extends for about 8 blocks with the Pavilion and LexisNexis anchoring the east end and the Omni hotel and ice skating rink anchoring the west end. If you think of the pedestrian mall as a slice of bologna in a sandwich, Market Street is the top slice of bread paralleling the mall to the north, while Water Street is the bottom slice of bread paralleling the mall to the south. These general directions will get you to either Market Street or Water Street.
To Downtown Charlottesville from the South, West, or East
From Interstate 64, get off at the 5th Street exit (Exit 120) and drive north into town until you pass Tonsler park on the left, then a bit after that come to a traffic light at a five-way intersection with the Lewis and Clark statue to your left. By this time, the name of the street you are on has changed to Ridge Street. Large buildings are ahead and on your right. Turning left would put you onto Main street.
- To turn onto Water Street, take a soft right (a hard right would put you onto South Street).
- To reach Market Street instead, continue straight and turn right at the next traffic light.
To Downtown Charlottesville from the North
If you are coming down Rt. 29, you are on Emmet Street. Watch for the signs that say 250 Bypass east: you will pass Kentucky Fried Chicken, Wachovia bank, and Best Buy on your right. Continue straight under the bridge and turn right onto the cloverleaf. Now you are headed east on the 250 bypass.
You will quickly come to a traffic light. Go through this light, and continue on the bypass for a while. Pass through the second traffic light next to the fire station.
You will come to a third traffic light at the intersection with McIntire Road. You can see a skateboarding park and an ambulance station. Turn right.
Within a mile, as you wind along McIntire, you come to a traffic light (the second) where you intersect Preston Avenue/Market Street.
- Turn left to travel on Market Street.
- To reach Water Street instead, continue straight and climb the gentle hill. Now you come to a traffic light at a five-way intersection with Main Street and the Lewis and Clark statue to the right. Take a hard left at this traffic light (a soft left would put you onto South Street).
Directions to Club 216 (new location>
Note: In June 2009, Club 216 moved to a new location. We expect all subsequent meetings to be at this new location.
Following the general directions to downtown Charlottesville above, take Market Street east several blocks. Be on the lookout for the Market Street parking garage on the right; you may want to park here. Just beyond the parking garage on the right is a police station/City Hall. The entrance to Club 216 is at the rear of the courtyard on the left across from the police station.
Specifically, the new Club 216 location is the former Live Arts space in the Old Michie Building, 609 E Market St, Charlottesville, VA 22902. See Google map of new Club 216 location, Microsoft Live Search map of new Club 216 location (try Bird's Eye view), or look at the detail map provided here.
The detail map is neither precisely oriented nor drawn to scale, but it does show the approximate entrance to Club 216 as well as nearby parking. The parking lot along East Market St. between Seventh St. NE and Eighth St. NE is free (on weekends only) and is probably the best bet. The one-way street which loops around the City Hall annex also has free parking spots. In addition, there is the for-pay parking garage on East Market St. However, if an event is being held at the Pavilion, none of this parking is likely to be available--you are on your own!
Directions to Rapture
Rapture is at 303 E. Main Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902. This is smack dab in the middle of the downtown pedestrian mall, so there is no parking lot. If you follow the general directions to downtown Charlottesville above, you will find yourself on either Market Street or Water Street. You can park in any of the pay lots along these two streets, but on Sunday evenings you should be able to find free on-street parking.
Once you've parked, expect to walk/wheel a few blocks to find your way to Rapture, which is on the north side of the mall at the corner of 3rd Street NE.