IEEE VR 2023 U.S. Satellite Event

Table of Contents

Program

Over the course of the satellite event, we will have exclusive access to three rooms in the Moss Arts Center (MAC). Each of these rooms will stream one of the three main paper tracks. The streams will be shown on a 12-hour delay, allowing us to maintain a standard conference schedule that begins around 8:00AM local time. If you are presenting at the conference, you will still be expected to present online at your designated time in Shanghai time; presenting at the satellite event will not be considered an alternative.


Beverages and snacks will be provided during breaks. On Tuesday evening we will host a banquet, and we are currently arranging lab tours and demos for Monday evening. If you have a poster, demonstration, or 3DUI contest entry that was accepted into the main conference, we will have space for you to display your work. 

Schedule

Below is the event schedule. You can find detailed information regarding the various aspects of the program here:

Reception

We will have a reception on Monday, March 27 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Demonstrations from Virginia Tech researchers and artists will be displayed, and hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be served.

Demos will mostly be held in the MAC lobby, Perform, and the Cube. However, there are also demos at the Visionarium and the Newman Library Virtual Environments Studio. There will be volunteer guides to bring you to the remote demos. The first group will leave MAC at 5:30PM and the second group will leave at 6:30PM. Both groups will meet by the MAC lobby main entrance.

Banquet

On Tuesday, March 28 at 6:30pm we will have a banquet dinner at the Blacksburg Wine Lab. The event will be catered by local chefs serving locally grown fare. Unfortunately, space is very limited, so additional banquet tickets for people not registered for the satellite event cannot be acquired.

Moss Arts Center

The event will primarily be held in the Moss Arts Center (MAC) at 190 Alumni Mall, Blacksburg, VA 24061.


Blacksburg, Virginia

Food and Beverage

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El Rodeo

El Rodeo is a fine Mexican restaurant right close by to the Moss Arts Center. They serve typical Mexican fare and good margaritas for a cheap price.

El Gran Rodeo

Further afield in Christiansburg is El Gran Rodeo. In addition to Mexican food, they also have the wonderful Virginia white dipping sauce.

Substation II

As the local sub sandwich fast food restaurant, Substation II (named ‘II’ because it’s across the street from the VT power station) serves good sandwiches. Check out their specials every day that comes with chips and a drink for $7-8.

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Sharkey’s

Sharkey’s Wing & Rib Joint is a popular restaurant located in downtown Blacksburg that specializes in classic American bar food. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed, with a sports bar vibe and plenty of flat-screen TVs playing the latest games. The menu features a variety of appetizers, wings, ribs, and sandwiches, all cooked to order and served with a selection of sauces and sides.

BOTS

Bottom of the Stairs is a barbecue restaurant in downtown Blacksburg. They, and the accompanying bar Top of the Stairs, are well known for their “rail” alcoholic drink. Be careful if you have one, they’re more powerful than they seem!

The Coop

The Coop is a sports bar and restaurant located in Blacksburg, just a short walk from the Moss Arts Center. The decor is sleek and contemporary, with a mix of high-top tables, booths, and bar seating. The Coop serves a variety of food and drink options, including classic pub fare like burgers and wings, as well as flatbreads and seafood.

The Cellar

The Cellar is a bar and music venue located in downtown Blacksburg. The atmosphere is rustic and intimate, with exposed brick walls and dim lighting. The bar offers a wide selection of beers, cocktails, and wines, as well as a menu of italian fare.

Blacksburg Tavern

The Blacksburg Tavern is a restaurant located in the heart of downtown Blacksburg, Virginia. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with exposed brick walls, a cozy fireplace, and comfortable seating options. The restaurant specializes in American cuisine, serving up classic homestyle dishes like fried chicken or meatloaf. Come here with a group to share a family-style meal!

Zeppoli’s

Zeppoli’s is an Italian restaurant located near the Inn at Virginia Tech. The interior is cozy and inviting, with a warm color scheme and elegant decor. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating, and the menu features classic Italian dishes, such as pasta, pizza, and seafood.

Cabo Fish Taco

Cabo Fish Taco is a Mexican restaurant located in Blacksburg, Virginia. The atmosphere is lively and colorful, with a festive vibe that makes it a popular spot for both students and locals. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating, with a spacious patio area for guests to enjoy on pleasant days. The menu features a variety of Mexican-inspired dishes, including tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. Don’t miss the speciality drinks they offer, including 15 different margaritas!

Eastern Divide

Off in the industrial park behind the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, Eastern Divide Brewing is a craft brewery and taproom. The brewery has a relaxed and casual atmosphere with long bar tables for communal seating. The brewery specializes in brewing a variety of small-batch, handcrafted beers, with a focus on using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. Eastern Divide also offers a limited rotating food menu, featuring a variety of snacks and sandwiches to complement the beer selection.

$$$

Black Hen

The Black Hen Restaurant is a farm-to-table restaurant located in downtown Blacksburg. The atmosphere is cozy and intimate, with exposed brick walls and elegant decor. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating, with a small patio beside the restaurant with a fire pit for the evenings. The menu features locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, with a focus on classic American cuisine. Dishes include starters like soups, salads, and charcuterie boards, as well as entrees like steaks, seafood, and pasta dishes.

622

622 North is a restaurant and bar that offers a sophisticated dining experience. The interior is sleek and modern, with a stylish decor and plenty of natural light. The menu features a variety of American and European-inspired dishes, including starters like calamari and cheese boards, as well as entrees like steaks, seafood, and pasta dishes.

The Maroon Door

An upscale bar and brewery close to Moss Arts Center, the Maroon door offers a selection of craft beers and American pub faire including burgers and bratwurst.

$$$$

Twisted Liquid

A fairly new addition to Blacksburg, Twisted Liquid is an upscale mixology bar and fine dining cuisine. Come to share their small plates and drinks, such as a classic take on a whiskey sour or fascinating cocktail creations. Their ambiance is an experience unto itself, with black walls and a crystal chandelier above their bar.

Traveling to Virginia Tech

The event will be held in the MAC on the Virginia Tech campus, located at 190 Alumni Mall, Blacksburg, VA 24061


If you will be driving to campus during the day, parking can generally be found on the lower floors of the North End Parking Garage, located at 206 Barger St, Blacksburg, VA 24060


Other parking options can be found here and here.


If you do not plan to have a car, Uber and Lyft are both options for getting around Blacksburg.


If you will be flying to attend the event, there are generally two options. First, Roanoke Regional Airport (ROA) is the closest airport, just a 45 minute drive away. Second, Charlotte Douglass International Airport (CTL) is the closest major airport, about a 2.5-hour drive from VT.

Lodging

There are numerous lodging options around Virginia Tech, and we have compiled a non-exhaustive list here:


Announcement

We are excited to announce that Virginia Tech will be hosting a satellite event for the 2023 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces (IEEE VR). This event will be held on Monday, March 27 through Wednesday, March 29. 


Registration

Due to space and funding limitations, we are limiting the number of attendees to 75. To help ensure a diverse attendance, we will limit the number of attendees from a single research lab. Until February 24, 2023, only 4 individuals from a single research lab may register for the satellite event, and registration slots will be given on a first-come first-served basis. After February 24, the remaining registration slots will be made available to anybody, regardless of the number of attendees from their research lab. To assist with this process, there will be a field on the registration form for lab PIs to declare they have more than 4 lab members that wish to attend.


We have come very close to reaching our attendence capacity. As such, we are closing the registration form. If you would like to inquire about registration, email Jerald at jeraldlt [at] vt [dot] edu.