Moving to the Chapel Hill area, any advice or suggestions?

[ElSapo]

My girlfriend is entering the phd program at the Univ. of North Carolina, and so we're moving from Washingon, D.C. sometime in July. Basically, I'm looking for suggestions on where to live, what the housing market is like, and some good places to go and fun things to do down there.

I don't really think "fun things to do" will be a problem give that it's one of the most well-known campuses around and basically shuts down for college basketball, but I'm a little older (30) and coming from D.C., so it will be a change.

Basic questions: Anyone have suggestions on the housing market? The plan now is to rent for a year and then try and buy a place. We're looking at the Carborro area because it seems like a small, fun, possibly-walkable area area that we'd fit with. Is finding an apartment difficult? Anyone have specific suggestions or experiences?

The biggest change will be transportation - haven't needed a car for the seven years I've been in D.C., but we expect that will change.

Anyone have good bar/restaurant suggestions? Not so much looking for the typical college bar, we like to eat out a fair amount. Any wine shop suggestions?

We went down to look at the area a month ago and it seems like a lot of fun, so at this point we're starting to make firmer plans. Probably moving late July or the first week of August, depending on what kind of lease we can get.

Any suggestions appreciated.

ElSapo