Skills, Chills and Winter Thrills

By Megan Schmidt

As 2012 winds to a close and students head their different ways for winter break — held Dec. 19 through Jan. 13 — Virginia Commonwealth University offers many ways to stay entertained, educated and excited.

Whether through intersession classes, a winter ski trip, art, concerts or basketball games, the VCU community provides plenty of ways to stay active during the break. The university revs up for 2013 with basketball matchups that kick off in early January. Soon after classes resume, Homecoming week takes place Jan. 27 to Feb. 2, and Open House reaches out to prospective students on Feb. 2.

Throughout the break, the VCU Medical Center’s clinical offices remain open. Call (804) 828-9000 for more information.

Intersession classes

Holiday Intersession classes meet for 11 days between the fall and spring semesters (Dec. 27 to Jan. 9 regardless of published or added university or state holidays) from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a one-hour break for lunch.

Library hours

Need a quiet place to read or relax over the break?  View the holiday operating hours for James Branch Cabell Library and Tompkins-McCaw Library.

Holiday ridesharing

Want to meet a new friend – and save gas money – while going home for the break? Check out VCU Zimride, a private network for finding and sharing rides with fellow students and staff.

Athletics

As VCU Athletics wraps up its first fall as new members of the Atlantic 10 athletic conference, the men’s basketball team finishes 2012 home play with a Dec. 29 matchup against Fairleigh Dickinson University. The women’s last home court game of the year pits them against New Jersey Institute of Technology on Dec. 21. Then 2013 gets rolling with multiple A-10 challenges in early January for both the men and women. For times and schedules, visit VCU Athletics at www.vcuathletics.com.

Winter ski trip

Looking for a fun winter getaway? After 20 years of traveling to Vermont’s icy slopes, Recreational Sports’ annual Winter Break Ski Trip heads west to the Rockies for the first time. This year’s trip will split its schedule between Keystone and Breckenridge, Colo., Jan. 4-10.

Recreational Sports

If you’re staying in town over the break, feel free to get an early start on your New Year’s resolutions by signing up for any of the limited group exercise classes scheduled between Jan. 2 and the start of the semester. Cary Street Gym is a great place to get your run in when the streets are cold and icy. The pool and hot tub are always open. The gym’s full line of programming — including intramural signups, fitness and aquatic incentive programs, spring trips and full group exercise schedule — resumes Jan. 14.

Art exhibition

In need of a little culture? VCU’s Anderson Gallery will feature Brian Ulrich’s Copia series Retail, Thrift and Dark Stores from Jan. 18 through March 10. This exhibition features 58 color photographs confronting viewers with an in-depth examination of consumerism in American culture.

Concerts

Begin 2013 with an infusion of music. The Atlantic Chamber Ensemble will perform at the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts on Jan. 16 at 8 p.m. A week later, David Robinson presents an afternoon of classical guitar in the same venue on Jan. 27 at 4 p.m.

Open House

VCU’s Open House on Saturday, Feb. 2, will give prospective students and their families an opportunity to meet with VCU faculty and students, view residence halls, tour the Monroe Park Campus and much more.

University events calendar

Visit the VCU calendar to discover more events happening throughout the spring semester.

Subscribe to the weekly VCU News email newsletter at http://newsletter.news.vcu.edu/ and receive a selection of stories, videos, photos, news clips and event listings in your inbox every Thursday.