Oak Ridge Science Semester
The local Oak Ridge newspaper, The Oak Ridger, might be a good place to start getting acquainted with the area. {http://www.oakridger.com/}
Oak Ridge Public Library: (1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike) You can get a library card if you bring your lease agreement or a bill with your name on it to the main desk of the public library. The library has a fairly good selection of books, but also has video rental for $2.00/tape/day. (The selection leans toward family-type and classic movies.) The library also has sixteen public-use computers (with net access; sign up for 30 minute time slots). This is a good place to do your personal e-mailing and web surfing. (Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM; Fri. 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM; Sat. 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM; Sun. 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM).
Oak Ridge Civic Center: (1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike) Contains a recreation building with a swimming pool and gymnasium. Evening and weekend public lap swimming times are available for $2.25/visit. Call 425-3450 for hours and special rate information. Weight training equipment is not available.
American Museum of Science and Energy: (300 South Tulane Ave) An interesting place to spend an afternoon or two. Documents the unique history of the "Secret City" and highlights aspects of the Manhattan Project. Lots of interesting stuff for scientists. Open 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM daily. Note that there is now a modest fee to enter this museum.
University of Tennessee Forestry Experiment Station and Arboretum: (Highway 62, Oak Ridge) This 250-acre arboretum is a nice place to walk and it is close to home.
Oak Ridge Playhouse: (27 East Tennessee Avenue; 482-9999) Fairly good community theater with an eclectic playbill. Additional theater productions from professional to college productions can be found in Knoxville. A lot of really good theater comes through Knoxville.
Tinseltown Cinema: (755 West Main Street--only a couple of blocks from the Woodland View apartment complex--shares a parking lot with the Oak Ridge Mall) About a dozen screens. Try www.cinemark.com for show listings. Additional movie theaters can be found in Knoxville.
Musical Activities: There are three music ensembles in Oak Ridge which past participants have linked up with. All are community groups and rehearse once a week.
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Community Band: The Oak Ridge Community Band rehearses from 7:30-9:30 pm on Thursday at First Christian Church, 203 Michigan. Call Steve "Doc" Combs at 483-4857.
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Community Orchestra: The Oak Ridge Community Orchestra rehearses from 10:00 am-noon Saturday. Call Nancy England, 483-0260 or John McKeever, 483-7208.
A sampling of pizza places:
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Big Ed's. (101 Broadway; convenient to the apartments; closed on Sundays; pop and pizza; local favorite)
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Mr. Gatti's. (100 Wilson St; deliver and dine-in, past students say the dine-in is better than the delivered)
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Papa John's. (324 S. Illinois Ave;483-3232; delivery and take-out; no dine-in)
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Pizza Hut. (244 South Illinois Avenue; 482-4457 or 482-2228 for take-out; delivery, take-out, no dine-in)
A sampling of Oak Ridge restaurants frequented by past students and resident faculty:
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Applebee's (1213 Oak Ridge Turnpike) Typical of the chain, popular in Oak Ridge for "beverages" and appetizers.
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Ruby Tuesday (Oak Ridge Mall--across the street from apartments) Like Applebee's--typical of the chain--has great salad bar (with special deal on Tuesday nights).
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Ryan's (401 S. Tulane Ave.) Popular with students and Oak Ridgers because of its generous buffet (vegetarians and cholesterol watchers beware--you must choose carefully here). If you are interested in "loading up" for a modest price, this is the place for you.
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Jalisco's (212 S. Illinois Avenue) Mexican food--popular with students because of the buffet option; popular with resident directors everywhere because it actually has vegetarian options.
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El Torito's (1140 Oak Ridge Turnpike) Mexican food. No buffet. Bummer. Good food.
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New China Palace (695 Melton Lake Dr.) One of many Chinese restaurants--good Szechuan, good service. Some students thought it was "pricey". If you want a buffet consider a trip to Knoxville to the #1 China Buffet on Papermill Road.
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Saigon #1 Noodle House (697 Emory Valley Road) Good Vietnamese food. Lots of it.
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Kim Son Restaurant (171 Robertsville Road) Hard-to-find, funky little Vietnamese restaurant. Good food. Good portions. Good prices.
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Jefferson Drug Store Food and Fountain (22 N. Jefferson Circle) The best place in town for breakfast. Great service. Yummy grits!
Fast food restaurants are concentrated along Illinois Avenue between the Oak Ridge Turnpike and Rutgers Avenue, though there are also several fast food restaurants along the Oak Ridge Turnpike.
Knoxville has a myriad of really good restaurants. If there is some particular cuisine in which you are interested, ask the Resident Faculty Director, your lab group members, or explore on your own. If you are interested in a university/college type atmosphere, consider some of the places down by the University of Tennessee (try the House of Falafel on James Agee Avenue). A drive along Kingston pike will reveal many good places too. Cozymel's (Mexican), the Stir Fry Cafe (Thai), Altruda's (Italian), Miyabi's (Japanese/Sushi) or the Blackhorse Pizza and Brewery are highly recommended. The Old City area has many good restaurants too, such as Manhattan's Bistro and Bar, Old City Grill, and the Tomato Head. You can find additional information in a local attractions newspaper called the MetroPulse. It is online at www.metropulse.com.