Graduate Student Information Guide

Graduate Student
Information Guide
Welcome to UAMS!
The Graduate Student Information Guide has been created to provide you information
regarding UAMS and Little Rock. We hope that you find this information helpful as you begin
your Graduate School career.
Little Rock is the site of a number of festivals and events throughout the year including
Riverfest held each Memorial Day weekend. The Greek Food Festival is held each May and is
another popular event. If you enjoy baseball, the Arkansas Travelers minor league baseball
team plays at Dickey-Stephens Park. Little Rock is the first capital that President Bill Clinton
called home, and the Clinton Presidential Library is located in downtown Little Rock.
One of my favorite places to visit is the River Market in downtown Little Rock on Saturday
morning for the Farmers’ Market. There are also farmers’ markets throughout the city where
you can purchase fresh produce and other locally sourced items. I also love running and
cycling on the Arkansas River Trail. I hope that you enjoy your time here. If you need any
assistance, please contact our office. We are here to help you!
Sincerely,
Kristen Sterba, Ph.D.
Associate Dean
UAMS Map
UAMS Graduate School
Administration West—2nd floor
P. 501.686.5454
UAMS Campus Dining Options
UAMS has various dining options across campus that are easy to access.
UAMS Cafeteria—Central Building
The cafeteria is located in the Central Building and is open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. They offer the following hot entrees, breakfast, Tex Mex, Gourmet Pizza, Fried Chicken, Grilled Burgers and Sandwiches and have an extensive salad bar.
Lobby Café—Main Hospital
The Lobby Café is open 24 hours, 7 days a week and is located in the lobby of the Hospital. They serve hot
breakfast, sandwiches, salads, and pizza. They also serve coffee.
Doc Java—Ward Tower
Doc Java is located on the first floor of Ward Tower near the chapel. They are open Monday-Friday from
7:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. They have a specialty coffee bar and serve Seattle’s Best coffee. They also serve
burritos, sandwiches, salads, and soups.
The Gathering Place—The Cancer Institute
Located on the 1st floor of the Cancer Institute, the Gathering Place is open from 7:00 a.m. to
1:30 p.m. Monday—Friday. They offer a full selection of Starbucks beverages along with a wide selection of
breakfast and lunch items.
Code Moo/Metro Deli
Hungry for something yummy? This shop features live and active cultured yogurt from Honey Hills Farms in
Russellville, AR. They offer four flavors weekly with a variety of toppings. Metro Deli offers a variety of
sandwiches, along with homemade potato chips and a pickle spear. They are open from 11:00a.m. to 3:00
p.m. Monday—Friday.
MD2
MD2 is located on the 1st floor of the College of Public Health (COPH). Service hours are 7:30 a.m. to 2:30
p.m. MD2 serves hot breakfast, pastries from the bakery, and coffee from Seattle’s Best. Lunch includes
salads , sandwiches, or hot soups.
Transportation in Little Rock
Little Rock does not have a subway or rail system. We do, however, have a bus system that is fairly dependable when you live in the city, especially on or around campus. Central Arkansas Transit (CAT) runs buses
throughout the city, with it’s main hub being with in walking distance to Downtown and the River Market
area. Bus routes, hours of operation, and fees can be found here: http://www.cat.org/ .
Downtown, North Little Rock, and the River Market areas are the home of the River Rail Trolley. Replicas of
vintage trolleys run down through this area with various points of destination. Attractions serviced include
Verizon Arena, the Statehouse Convention Center, the River Market, hotels, restaurants, the Historic Arkansas and Discovery Museums, Robinson Center Music Hall and Riverfront Park and Amphitheater. It costs
$1.00 per ride, with a day pass for $2.00 that includes unlimited rides for one calendar day. Information on
this service can be found here: http://www.cat.org/river-rail.
Uber is also now servicing the Little Rock area for transportation needs. This is a peer to peer company that
is like a taxi shuttle service. They offer reasonable pricing and are easy to set up rides through. For more
information about Uber click here.
Restaurants & Shopping
Restaurants & Dining
Little Rock has an array of food varieties, from Japanese, Vietnamese, Southern cooking, to
well known Steakhouses and Seafood restaurants. There are over 550 choices of restaurants and drinks that you can find in this city. The Little Rock Dining and Entertainment
Guide features all restaurants in Little Rock, and includes information on menus, price ranges, and locations. You can download this guide here.
Shopping
Little Rock also has various areas of shopping. We have one Mall, called Park Plaza Mall,
that is located close to UAMS. Midtowne Shopping Center as well as Park Avenue Shopping
Center are close as well. You can find eateries, shopping, retailers, and office spaces in
these areas.
Venues and Restaurants in Little Rock
Music Venues
Verizon Arena
White Water
Juanita’s Cantina
Rev Room
Stickyz Chicken Shack
West End Tavern and Bar
Bars
Town Pump
White Water
Flying Saucer
Midtown Billiards
The Fountain
Stickyz
Grumpy’s Too
Afterthought Bar and Bistro
Cashé
109 & Co
By the Glass
Dugan’s Pub
Local Breweries and Distilleries
Stone’s Throw
Diamond Bear
Lost 40
Blue Canoe
Vino’s Brewpub
Rocktown Distillery
Coffee Shops
Guillermos Gourmet Grounds
River City Coffee
Mylo Coffee Co
Local Restaurants ($-$$$$)
Hillcrest and Midtown
Big Orange ($$)
Pantry Crest ($$)
The Fold ($$)
Maddie’s Place ($$$)
Loca Luna ($$$)
Faded Rose Restaurant ($$$)
Whole Hog ($)
Damgoode Pies ($$)
The Afterthought ($$$) (great Sunday
brunch)
Ciao Baci ($$$)
Kemuri ($$)
Downtown
South on Main ($$$)
Dizzy’s Gypsy Bistro ($$$)
The Root Café ($)(Vegan options)
Flying Fish ($$)
Vino’s Brewpub ($$)
Bruno’s Little Italy ($$)
Three Fold Noodles and Dumpling Co. ($)
The Heights
Heights Taco and Tamale Co. ($$)
Zaza Fine Salas & Wood-Oven Pizza Co.
($$)
Sushi Café ($$$)
Cheers in the Heights ($$)
West Little Rock
Lazy Pete’s ($$)
Star of India Restaurant and Bar ($$)
Pho Thanh My ($)
Local Lime ($$)
Ya Ya’s Euro Bistro ($$$) (all you can eat
Sunday brunch)
Layla’s Gyros & Pizzaria ($)
Taj Mahal Indian and Mediterranean Cuisine
Istanbul Mediterranean ($$) (lunch
buffet)
Santo Coyote ($$)
* $-$$$$ denotes pricing information for
each restaurant.
River Market Area Attractions
The River Market area, located in Downtown Little Rock, home to various shops, restaurants, museums, used book stores, and holds many events throughout the year.
It is the home to the Market Hall, a well known place for lunch for those who work in the
River Market area. The Farmer’s Market is also housed here and is held beginning May 2,
2015—October 31, 2015 from 7am—3pm every Saturday.
This area is also home to the First Security Amphitheater, the biggest outdoor concert venue in the Little Rock area. It hosts various events throughout the year. It is located in Riverfront Park, which provides 33 acres of parkland for outdoor events, outside activities, and a
glimpse of the state’s history.
Recreation
Arkansas is called the
Natural State for a
reason; we have
beautiful trails and
countless things to
do outdoors. One of
the best features that
we have in the Central Arkansas area is
the Arkansas River
Trail. This 88-mile
long trail includes,
Little Rock, North
Little Rock, Maumelle, and Conway.
Activities that can be found on the trail include: biking trails, walking trails, running and jogging trails, dog parks and dog walking, horseback riding, nature and wildlife viewing, and
bird watching.
From exploring the 450 acres of Two Rivers Park, to watching the sunset on the Big Dam
Bridge, there are countless activities to get involved in.
The Arkansas River Trail website gives information about things to see, things to do, and
events that are held around this area throughout the year. Trail News keeps visitors updated on all events close and on the trail.
Looking for things to do outside of Little Rock? Arkansas has other great areas for hiking,
swimming, and exploring. You can find information about those here!
Arkansas History
Most people know Little Rock for Bill Clinton. But what many people don’t realize is that
Little Rock was where one of the most famous civil rights struggle was held. Arkansas has a
lot of history that is unknown.
Those interested in Bill Clinton can visit the Clinton Presidential Library, located in downtown Little Rock in the River Market. Next to the library is the Clinton School of Public Service, which is part of the University of Arkansas system. This school began in 2004 and is
the only school in the Nation that offers the Masters in Public Service degree.
The William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum opened in 2004 as well. It is home
to many different presidential exhibits, including a replica of the Oval Office, the presidential limousine, and ever changing exhibits. Admission is $7.00 for adults, and children under 6 are free. Hours of operation are Monday—Saturday 9:00am –5:00pm, and Sunday
1:00pm—5:00pm.
Little Rock Central High
School was the site of the
1957 desegregation crisis
that occurred in Little
Rock and is known about
throughout history. The
school is still functioning,
but has a Museum and
Visitor’s Center that tells
the story of the events
during that time.
Events Around Town
Graduate Student Association Events
Fall Semester
Post Orientation Meet Up at Grumpy’s Too August 12th
Game Night August 13th
Pancake Breakfast August 21st
GSA Picnic August 29th
Razorback Tailgate September 12th
Habitat for Humanity volunteer project Early October
Thanksgiving Potluck – November 19th
GSA Bake Sale – Early December
Spring Semester
GSA T-shirt design contest – January
GSA Symposium – February
Playtime Pizza or Paintball – March
Crawfish Boil – April or May
GSA Buffalo River Canoe Trip - June
Festivals & Events
Bacon Fest
September 19, 2015
Little Rocktoberfest
September 19, 2015
Craft Beer Festival
Main Street Food Truck Festival
October 3, 2015
Arkansas State Fair
October 9-18, 2015
HarvestFest in Hillcrest
October 17, 2015
Vendors selling wares, food, fashion, music and more
Boo at the Zoo
Around Halloween
World Cheese Dip Championship
April 2016
Mac and Cheese Festival
April 2016
Arkansas Literary Festival
April 2016
Jewish Food and Cultural Festival
April 2016
India Fest
April 2016
Little Rock Film Festival
May 2016
International Greek Food Festival
May 2016
Riverfest
May 2016
Ongoing Events
Local Live
7:30pm Wednesdays at South on Main
Free live music from regional artists
Farmers Market
River Market: Saturdays 7am-3pm
Hillcrest: Saturdays 7am-12pm
Hillcrest Shop and Sip
1st Thursday of every month
All the local shops, restaurants, and venues are open
after hours until 9pm with discounted prices,
promotions, appetizers and drinks. Have fun
strolling the sidewalks, listening to local bands,
window shopping, browsing the stores or relaxing
on the promenade.
Science After Dark
Last Thursday of the month
Adult night at the Museum of Discovery. Enjoy learning about a new science topic each month. $5
Science Café
4th Tuesday of every month
7-9pm at the Afterthought Bistro and Bar. Each month
we discuss a new science topic with a panel of
experts.
Playtime Pizza Afterhours
3rd Friday each month
10pm-2am, $20 for unlimited pizza, select games and
attractions (laser tag, mini golf, bumper cars, and
go karts).
The Rep
Founded in 1976, the Arkansas Repertory Theatre is
the state’s largest non-profit professional theatre
company.
Arkansas Symphony Orchestra
Attend the Pops, Masterworks, or Chamber series
Travelers Games
Enjoy minor league baseball at Dickey-Stephens Park
in North Little Rock
Looney Bin
Enjoy dinner and a comedy show