Triangle Dopers--Who Wants to Party?!

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Over in this thread, we found out there’s lots of us in the Triangle area. So, who wants to have a party?? :cool:

We’re scattered all over Chapel Hill, Durham, Hillsborough, and Raleigh and everywhere in between, so Durham might be a good place, because it’s in between Raleigh and Greensboro, so it won’t be an extra-long drive for anyone.

If you’re interested, check in and we’ll figure out when and where.

I’m planning on going to the Cat’s Cradle on March 18. They’re having a benefit for the Independent Animal Rescue, and the Countdown Quartet is playing. I don’t know anything about the rest of the bands, but Countdown Quartet is a lot of fun (New Orleans-style jazz). If anyone wants to go, you’ll probably see me there.

ME

2

Well, I’ll be out of town from the 12th to the 19th, but after that, I’m definitely interested :slight_smile:

3

Sounds like fun! Maybe we can pick a restaurant and get a reservation as soon as we have an idea of how many folks will be there. That would probably be better than trying to meet at a club, since you can’t really talk to/hear each other when the band is playing.

We could try Zorba’s in Chapel Hill for Greek food (the service is awesome, there’s a decent price range on the food, and parking is free).

Or, if we have a smaller group, we could try Margaret’s Cantina in Chapel Hill - it’s in the Weaver Dairy shopping center right off I-40, so it would be easy for folks to get to. It’s fairly small, though, so more than 6-8 people might not work out there. Margaret’s has a large menu of Sante Fe Mexican and American food. Parking, again, is free, but it can get very crowded on weekends.

There’s always the Mellow Mushroom too - it’s a chain, but it’s cheap, the beer list is decent and the pizza is good. There’s also Brixx Pizza in Meadowmont, which I’ve heard is good, but I have not been there.

I’m going to pretty much leave out anyplace in downtown Chapel Hill because parking is a pain - there is on-street parking but it’s always full, which means you end up paying for parking and then walking to your destination.

In Durham, I’ve already mentioned George’s Garage on Ninth Street in the other thread, and there’s also the Blue Corn Cafe. Blue Corn is sort of … downscale, and they don’t take reservations, but the prices are reasonable. They offer Mexican and Cuban stuff. Parking is not as easy as the other places I mentioned but it is free.

There’s also Spartacus in Durham - it’s a little pricier and I don’t know if they will take a reservation, but the food is very good and they do well with catering for large groups, so I’d expect them to do as well for a group in the restaurant as they do for one outside.

4

I like Margaret’s Cantina, and Zorba’s is good too. TrinB’Ago in Durham is a good place for a group.

If we’re looking at Chapel Hill, I have to suggest Charlie’s Chinese restaurant. It’s one of my favorite places.

5

Any time after the 14th, I’m in.

6

Dammit, I thought I was the only triangle doper!

7

I like the food at Blue Corn Cafe better than Margaret’s. The quesadillas are so creamy. Mmmmmmmmmmm. If we did something on 9th street, parking is a bit more difficult, but we could go to Francesca’s for dessert. That might be worth it.

Does George’s Garage still have chocolate martinis? That’s tempting!

I was thinking something close to 40 would be good, so I totally agree there. I’ve thought of a few places that are a little harder to get to, but then I thought it would be better to go someplace that’s easier to find and more convenient.

Downscale isn’t a bad thing. It’s not hard to find good places to eat that don’t cost a lot. I can’t afford to spend a lot, and I’m probably not the only one.

A few more suggestions in Durham–Rick’s Diner and Bandido’s–they’re both in the Woodcroft shopping center, at the 54/Jordan Lake Road (751) intersection.

I don’t have much free time for the next few weeks, so maybe after Easter would be good. Except for the first and last weekends, I don’t have anything going on in April. Yet.

Any vegetarians? Do we need to find a vegetarian-friendly restaurant? I think most of the ones we’re talking about have vegetarian options, but we can check to make sure.

:smiley:

8

By downscale, I wasn’t talking about the price of the food, but the Early Salvation Army decor ;). I suggested the places I did so that no one would feel they couldn’t come due to the expense. That would suck.

And I don’t know about Charlie’s … a lot of people seem to like it, but I’ve been very unimpressed by their food, and for the Dopers who like to bend an elbow, well, they don’t serve booze. That would make it cheaper, though :).

9

Ah, I see! I hadn’t really noticed that.

You know, I hadn’t even noticed that. I usually get tea with Chinese food. Yeah, that might not be a good thing.

So, are any Durhamites joining us? Anyone from Raleigh?

10

I just wanted to chime in and say if you do anything in a year or so I am definitely in, unless im off to college then. Got to be legally an adult before I ask the 'rents “hey, I’m going out for lunch with someone I met online whose name is Magic Eyes.”

You have my support, just consider it a rain check.

11

I’m definitely down for a meeting. I’ll be out of town the weekend before Easter weekend, but any other time is cool. Oh, and the weekend after Easter I have to go to my sister’s wedding (stupid important events, always getting in the way of me meeting strangers I met online). But any other time is cool.

12

Well…I ain’t far fom the triangle.

Why not pick a public park and order out?

Is beer really needed?

13

I’d love to join in also–I think I’m free for most of March and April. I’d love an excuse to go to Francesca’s!

14

ZebraShaSha, we can do it again in a year just for you! But we’ll think about you while we’re Dope-Festing.

Reeder, picnic in a park, very interesting idea. How does that sound to everyone else? We could pick up some barbecue or fried chicken, or do potluck. I can bring dessert!

But Francesca’s sounds good, too.

audiobottle, I’m not free until the second weekend of April, so maybe mid-April would be good.

15

The picnic idea sounds good. This is why I love North Carolina. When I lived in Michigan, the idea of eating outside in March, or even April, would be ridiculous. I’m a terrible cook, but I can bring beverages and chips or something.

16

Well, it still can be ridiculous here too, you never know what the weather will do! If it’s going to be outside, we should probably pick a place that has picnic shelters in case it rains (though I suppose we could also just cancel if it does). Lake Crabtree Park in Morrisville is nice and not too far off the highway, though if we were to reserve a shelter they want a security deposit. Otherwise we’d just have to go and hope there’s one not being used. There are numerous other areas with picnic tables and grills there too. Leashed pets are allowed!

Looks like if we’re going to do this thing, it will have to be some time in April.

17

This is very true. After posting that last one, I went to the hospital lobby to look outside, and it was hailing. Hail mixed with torrential downpour. I think I’m going to leave early today. The last time it snowed even an inch here I was stuck on 40 for 6.5 hours. My first day driving stick by myself too! I lost count of the stalls after the first 2 hours.

18

I think a shelter is a good idea. Lake Crabtree Park has a high shelter fee ($60), but that seems to be about average for around here (Eno Park is the same). Jordan Lake isn’t quite as convenient, but it’s cheaper–$40 for a small shelter. The smallest shelter at Umstead Park is $25. I’ll check around and see if there are any other options.

19

:eek: That sounds like a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day! But you’ll forget all about that when spring gets here!

I have a 10-minute drive to work (20 if it’s rush hour). :cool:

20

I could probably make something on a Friday evening, but I have to work on Saturdays and Sundays. I like you guys, but not enough to burn a vacation day for you. I’m saving those for trips home and to go house-hunting.