Sai Kulkarni '23
Production Editor
Unless you are a new KJD 1L, you probably spent this summer wrapped up in work. It was exhausting, irritating, and any number of words that are negative and end in “-ing.” All of this was immediately rewarded with a return to the joys™ of law school. In between the stresses of studying, networking, or planning your party schedule for the week, we are all under a lot of pressure. By the time you get your head above water, it will likely be time to switch out the shorts and tank tops you are used to for sweaters and sweatpants. The cold, combined with the impending doom of needing to pay attention in class, is likely to ruin your mood. So why miss out on one of the few outside activities available before the cold sets in? Enter: Sunset Series.
If you’ve read this paper over the last two years, you’ve already seen a review of this event. But as a member of the Triumvirate,[1] I can be lazy and redo old articles. What are you going to do, sue me?[2] But there’s a reason I’m writing about this again; it’s because Sunset Series is a unique and fun event. With many wineries around, it’s easy to think they are all the same. On Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m., though, Sunset Series offers live music, great drinks, and the best donuts that this city has to offer.[3] Could I name a single one of the bands that have played there? No, but that’s on me. Could I list all of the flavors of Bold Rock off the top of my head? Absolutely not, there are a lot. Could I tell you any of the food trucks that park there? Not a chance. But all of those things combine to provide the ideal ambiance for an end-of-the-week activity.[4]
One thing you should absolutely remember to bring is a blanket. You might be tricked into thinking that with at least ten picnic tables, there is enough space for you and your friends. You would be wrong. It’s not just law students that go there; it’s not Bar Review. But the mountain has so much space open to lay out a blanket (that will absolutely get wet on the grass) that you could be excused for thinking that you are in the student section of a UVA football game before halftime. Another small thing is to make sure to check your tire pressure before you go.[5] You don’t want to be the person who rolls down the mountain on the drive up because you didn’t press the gas hard enough while absentmindedly flipping through your playlist.[6]
Regardless of the fact that I couldn’t tell you the name of all the Bold Rock flavors available, I do recommend you try out many different flavors across your trips there. It’s a local brand and one of the best available. And if you are sober, the regular cider is no slouch, either. Mixed with a bite of donut, that cider hits harder than watching Appalachian State beating a Power Five team that made the mistake of scheduling them. With a variety of desserts, the built-in food and drink services at Carter Mountain are great, and the rotation of local food trucks only pushes that to the next level. On top of all of this, there is also a fantastic country store. With artisan jugs, freshly picked apples, a number of sweet treats, and anything else you can imagine, this is a great addition to the Sunset Series experience.
One final promo is that taking a trip to Carter Mountain will allow you to experience the local community in all its beauty. I made the big mistake my 1L year, some would say for reasons out of my control,[7] of barely leaving the North Grounds area. Everyone talks a lot about the wineries in the area, but part of these visits isn’t just the chance to dress up with your friends, it’s a real opportunity to see the town we are in. Make sure to take advantage of the opportunity you have to eat, drink, and see everything Charlottesville has to offer—you will be ending up as a joyless cog in the machine either way.
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omk6cg@virginia.edu
[1] We coined this in Issue 1 this year, and I will now be using it as often as I can.
[2] If so, please email editor@lawweekly.org for this and all petty complaints.
[3] Yes, better than Dunkin’ or Krispy Kreme. If you disagree, it’s okay to be wrong, as long as you accept your wrongness.
[4] If you have Friday classes, I feel bad for you. Not too bad, because you did it to yourself . But a little bad.
[5] Yes, this was out of left field. I write after midnight; all of my articles are streams of consciousness.
[6] No, this didn’t happen to me; how dare you accuse me of that?
[7] The pandemic. Remember that?