Sam's Suggestions
A Guide for Students Visiting
Harrisonburg, Virginia
"The Friendly City"
An informal guide for visiting students and future members of #StudioSuggs
The Road to #StudioSuggs
James Madison University School of Music
Dr. Sam Suggs
Associate Professor of Music (Double Bass)
880 S. Main St.
MSC 7301
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
716-207-3157 text/call
My Favorite Places in the 'burg
Edith Carrier Arboretum
My favorite place to unplug on campus. Don't feed the ducks even if they beg!
UREC
Some students prefer this "lazy pool" or the climbing or boldering facilities, but I like hitting the badminton courts at the award-winning University Recreational Center
D-Hall
Brand new award-winning D-Hall dining hall, just over the hill from Wayland Hall. Diverse cuisines and buffet upstairs... Chick Fil-A downstairs
Farmers Market
Reap the benefits of living close to the farms that produce your food: Tuesday/Saturday, 10 minute walk from campus
Shenandoah National Park
Take a hike with friends and be inspired by nature, a short ride from campus. Or go to a football game!
Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance
Explore "the 'burg" as it undergoes an exciting renaissance of culture, events, and great food
My Home, Sweet Home and Yours: Wayland Hall
Arts Learning Community
I am the Programming Director at the Wayland Arts Learning Community for first-year arts students
Wayland Theater
We hold studio classes right in the beautiful Wayland theater space, hosting guest artists like Peter Riegelbauer from the Berlin Philharmonic. There are also classrooms, practice rooms, and art studio, and the "cafeteria" / vending machines.
First-year music majors can be offered the opportunity to live here amongst like-minded peers.
On-Campus Living
5 minute walk to:
Music Building for classes and lessons
Forbes Center for rehearsals
D-Hall for dining
Carrier Library for Starbucks
Football Stadium for #WeBleedPurple
Forbes Center for Performing Arts
The Sam Cross Bass Collection
I am very proud of our 8 fine school instruments procured by the late Sam Cross including those made by Grünert, Pollman, and Lakeberg; with custom purple-and-gold JMU Dukes inspired-cases by David Messina.
You can find this herd (?) in the bass storage room at the Forbes Center where students can store and access instruments for rehearsals and practice easily. Modern practice rooms on the first floor. Otherwise, students can use secure lockers at the Music Building across the street.
Recital Hall
Music majors give their senior recital in this beautiful space - it really flatters the resonance of the double bass. I love playing an annual recital here and have recorded an album in the space with our award-winning Recording Engineer/Sound Designer Tom Carr.
Concert Hall
The Forbes Center Concert Hall is perhaps the finest in all of Virginia. The JMU Symphony Orchestra recently did a earthshaking rendition of Mahler's Resurrection Symphony here, and I was lucky to catch sold-out shows of the Pat Metheny trio and the Berlin Philharmonic chamber players.
Greater Blue Ridge Bass Community
Luthiers and sellers I or my students have worked with along I-81 / I-78:
Luthier / maker Tom Wolf in The Plains, VA
Seller Naj Quereshi at Ottava Imports in Ashburn, VA
Folk instruments at Fretwell Bass in Staunton, VA
Luthier Mike Shank of Shank Strings in Elizabethtown, PA
Luthier / seller Bass Violin Shop in Greensboro, NC
Luthier / seller Bob's House of Basses in Bowie, MD
Luthier / seller Kolstein's in Baldwin, NY
Luthier / seller David Gage's in New York, NY
Luthier / maker Keiran O'Hara in Brewster, NY
Some Local Gig Venues (besides lively DIY house shows)
Clementine's Cafe
Tuesday Nights I am "combo cop" at Clementine's Cafe downtown where student jazz chamber ensembles perform for a live audiences
Pale Fire Brewery
One of three Harrisonburg breweries, Pale Fire hosts musical events including this JMU Contemporary Music Festival Afterhours concert featuring students
Hotel Madison
The new Hotel Madison across the street from the Music Building hosts many corporate events (Here's a candid during a recent gig with jazz faculty Bob Hallahan)
My Favorite Restaurants
Bella Luna Pizza / Bella Luna Gelato [best] - wood-fired pizza that rivals the pizza war rivalries in New Haven (where I used to live), home-made pastas, local gelato across the street
Benny Sorrentino's [quickest] - pizza slices as big as your head, I say "one slice will suffice"
Billy Jacks or Jack Browns [late night] - student-favorite with griddled burgers and exotic toppings
Boboko Indonesian Cafe [best] - slow-cooked beef with homemade hot sauce, homemade pandam ice cream
Cuban Burger [pub] - award-winning flank steak burger
Capital Ale House [late night] - the spot for post-concert hangs, don't sleep on the schnitzel
Hotel Madison's Montpelier Restaurant [proximity to campus] - great food across the street from campus. Breakfast buffet most days!
Joshua Wilton House [brunch] - best brunch in town (make a reservation!)
Little Grill Collective [brunch] - co-operatively owned diner with local menu: Beth's Favorite with seasonal veggies and a seasonal pancake
La Morena [auténtico] - chicken tamales and homemade sauce so good, my girlfriend makes me deliver a half-dozen tamales from here to Brookyln, a bit further from campus but worth it
Local Chop and Grill [nicest] - my go to for a celebration: filet mignon with bleu cheese compound butter and a scallop...
Lola's Deli [quick] - great sandwiches and playlists made with care
Additional Sources of Caffeine
Broad Porch [downtown, best coffee]
Greenberry's [drive thru, 5 minute walk]
Grace and Main Cafe at Hotel Madison [closest]
Bella Luna Gelato [best espresso / shameless affogato's with local gelato]
Black Sheep Coffee or Shenandoah Joe's [relax and sip]
or Nespresso in my third-floor office [free]