Raleigh area meet...

[HeatherPage]

DVCajun said I might get more responses with this title than my earlier generic post got, but here was the gist of it:

Anyone up for trying to get together for a DVC meet in our area in the near future. Audrey, I know you're going to WDW soon, but maybe it can be scheduled for after you get back so we can live vicariously through your trip reports. Let me know what you think!


Also I know there are others from Cary, Durham, etc... I just used Raleigh as a general area...thanks! :)

[JonHM]

That sounds great. Since every other local meet so far has been within about 100 yards of each other in the Cary area ;) , perhaps we could do this one at one of the new restaurants by the Streets at Southpoint, the new mall at I-40 and Fayetteville Road, in Durham. It's centrally located within the Triangle, and the new mall looks beautiful. The grand opening is this weekend, and I *think* that there are going to be a bunch of restaurants in it.

Another suggestion would be for us to get a couple of tables in one of the side rooms at Kanki - the Japanese steakhouse - there's the one in Crabtree, and there's a new one almost open in Durham, just off the I-40 intersection with 15-501.

If we're talking about 2-3 weeks from now or more, all of those options should be available to us.

[ripleysmom]

Well I'll be in NC at the end of March to see my mom. Even though it is a shlep (she's by Winston-Salem) I'd be willing to come. I'll be there 3/29-4/2

[marley]

I live in Cary. What are you planning?

Marley

[DVCajun]

Oooooh, Heather gets to plan a party! :)

I think Jon had some great ideas. My vote goes to either the Streets of Southpoint or Kanki at Crabtree.

The last weekend of March looks good to me..... if anyone is interested. ;)

[HeatherPage]

Okay, it's looking like maybe the end of March? Hmmm...I didn't think about the one who brings up the idea gets to be the planner :eek: that's cool though:D Jon, how far of a drive would it be to the Streets of Southpoint coming from Clayton and further off towns, is it right off of I40? Either one sounds fine to me (meaning Kanki or SOS). Do you know what restaurants are going to be there? I'll go try to do a search on the N&O or Citysearch.
Marley, we're trying to plan a meet (normally a casual lunch or dinner) where any Triangle area DVC'rs that want to get together can meet, some people have brought their pin displays and Disney photo albums to previous meets. I'd like to bring my baby who is now 4 months old and possibley my husband. Do we want to do this as a lunch maybe on a Saturday, that way it can be more relaxed for us parents with youngins and other working folk? I normally don't get off work until 5 during the week and by the time I drive back to Clayton, etc. it would just be easier on a Saturday, and also Ripleysmom would be there on a Saturday, but if I'm in the minority on this let me know. Ok I'm going to go do some important research on this new mall. If anyone else has anymore ideas, let me know!

[JonHM]

It is RIGHT at I-40 and Fayetteville Road in Durham. About a few miles past the Durham Freeway split. I'm not sure about the restaurants there - I have to run right now but here is the mall's address:

http://www.thestreetsatsouthpoint.com/

I'm kind of waiting to hear some feedback from people on how the restaurants are - like I said the grand opening is this weekend. I'll try to look into them more later and see if I can find more out.

A Saturday afternoon would probably be fine with us.

[HeatherPage]

Ok, I just looked at that website and perused some the websites of the restaurants that will be there. One of them that looked particularly interesting was Maggianos Little Italy, they serve some meals family style (hey sounds like Disney already) and showed the menu of what you could choose from, salads, appetizers, main courses, etc. There were different tiered prices per person depending on what kind of family style you got. Of course if not everyone likes italian then I guess it wouldn't work (and I guess you're a commmunist!) ha-ha-just kidding :D
Perhaps this will require my husband and I to go over there this weekend for further indepth studies...stay tuned:)

[HeatherPage]

P.S. Big Bowl looks interesting too!

[marley]

If there are a lot of kids coming, I also thought of Kids Together Park in Cary that is about 3 miles from I-40 near Cary Crossroads.

It has several covered shelters and benches. We could bring picnic things, etc.

Only problem is we would have to hope the weather cooperates!

-Marley

[HeatherPage]

True, you never know what the weather will do. Another suggestion if kids will be there is a place called Bullwinkles on Buck Jones Rd. in Cary, I've never been there but it gets rave reviews from my brother and sister in law. Here's what I got about it off of Citysearch:

Bullwinkle's
A theme restaurant gone amuck, Bullwinkle's offers a Disneyesque version of its cartoon namesake's mountain park home--think giant plywood pine trees and log cabin walls. Every 15 minutes window shades roll down and the cabaret begins. Look forward to a colored fountain display, a comedy routine given by the moose and ever-faithful squirrely friend, Rocky, and plenty of cartoons via multiple monitors. Who claims there's nowhere to see a show in Cary?

The Food
Burgers, fries, chicken fingers, PB&J, mac 'n' cheese, hot dogs and pizza. Also: Salads and a select group of entrees that cater to adult tagalongs including North Atlantic salmon, center-cut sirloin and baby back ribs.

Notice the the description of Disneyesque? And it sounds like it has a few more sophistacated offerings then burgers and chicken.

[JonHM]

Ok, but we *really* have had every single meet I can recall in or right next to Cary, within several miles of one spot.

A little diversity might be nice... :D

Heather, I'll see if I can find a link to further info about the Bullwinkle's place. It sounds pretty cool.

[JonHM]

The online reviews are not what I expected:

http://triangle.citysearch.com/user_review?fid=2&id=11496143

Has anyone on the board been there, for a firsthand report?

[marley]

We go there all the time and have gone to many birthday parties there.

It is like a really nice Chuck E Cheese. It has a climbing wall, lots of games with tokens, continuous cartoons running and music videos (mainly N 'Sync), a show every 10 or 15 minutes with Bullwinkle and characters singing on stage, a water show every 10 or 15 minutes and a HUGE TALL maze with lots of slides to come down.

It gets pretty crazy on the weekends. I'm not sure if we could make a reservation.

It is about 1/2 mile off of I-40.

I think the food there is pretty decent. Probably a notch or two above what you would get at WDW :)

--Marley

[DVCajun]

I'd like to add that Kanki is actually a great place to bring kids because the cooking "show" keeps them enthralled. My brother takes his kids (2 and 5) there all the time because it's the only "nice" restaurant that they truly enjoy.

I know that my DS (1 yr. old) would do well there because as long as he has interesting stuff to watch he's great. Plus, the big tables would work well for us-- and might help break the ice too.

Kanki gets my vote.

[jeanneg]

Hi guys,
I can't make any promises, but I will try to make it. This has been a crazy month, and the worst is yet to come, but I truly will try....
BTW, there was an article in the N&O about a Heather Page---that wasn't you, was it?
Anyhow, I'm busy planning my next two trips: Disneyland Hotel in Paris for 2 nights in June (Studios will be open!) and I already have my Thanksgiving ressies for OKW. Anyone else going down for the holiday?
Jeanne

[HeatherPage]

Jon, I definitely don't want to step on anybody's toes, I went and read the reviews you had a link to it was almost like reading reviews on the restaurant board here, they either loved it or hated it. Kanki would also work for me since it would be about 25 minutes from my house. Plus the Disney Store is right in Crabtree, I noticed there wasn't one at the SOS (the nerve). Not that that is a prerequisite to anything. I only threw in Bullwinkles as a suggestion because of the kids aspect, but if Audrey says Kanki is kid friendly then I believe her. (Guys I'm wimpy, I'm not very good at this take charge type thing, that's why I'm a legal secretary not an attorney). Have we at least agreed on a date- the last Saturday in March for lunch? (the 30th).

NOOOOO Jean, that wasn't me. My mom called me at work the day that came out and started off the conversation with "now don't get hysterical but there's an article in the newspaper about another Heather Page blah, blah, blah" (the article was about a 27 year old from Fuquay-Varina who had been on drugs since I don't know when, had an 11 month baby girl last year out of wedlock, etc. etc. but was now in some program and doing better). I'm 29, from Clayton, have a baby boy who is only 4 months old and have never been on drugs but since my work puts the N&O out on there lunch table I had to go get it and go around making sure everyone knew it wasn't me. Plus there was a picture of her in the paper and we don't look anything alike. Hey at least she's turning her life around. Mine's already pretty great:).

[sweetp0618]

We live in Chapel Hill and would love to join you. I have a 9yo daughter--but the last weekend in March won't work for us, it's Easter and we'll be at our home-away-from-home in Hilton Head!

Street of Southpoint sounds good to us. BTW, they expect 40% of the people living in the Triangle to visit the mall in the first 3 days! Not me!

sweetp0618@aol.com
Patti

[HeatherPage]

Whoops! Thanks for pointing that out Patti. Ok how about the next Saturday, anybody?

[DVCajun]

The next Saturday is fine! I have to have some wisdom teeth out that Thursday :( but I should be able to make it anyway.

Don't stress about this Heather.... :) Just list some restaurant choices and take a poll. The winner wins and then you don't have to feel like a "bad guy." No one is going to get mad at you!! ;)

[jeanneg]

Heather,
I'm glad that wasn't you.....the photo was not a good one and when i read the story it certainly didn't sound like a DIS poster, but I will admit the thought crossed my mind!
You can oficially count me out for that date....I will be chaperoning at a national swim competition with the Capital YMCA in Ft Laudedale (no, there'll be no time to scoot over to the parks, darnit). Told you it was a busy month! Keep me posted regarding future reunions....
Jeanne

[JonHM]

I certainly didn't mean to be attacking the Bullwinkle's idea, just wanted to hear some first hand reports, that's all. If we don't go there this time, that's definitely something to keep in mind.

I can't *be-lieve* that Disney didn't put a DS in Southpoint!!! There's one in Northgate, about 10 miles away, and I guess they didn't want to put 2 that close. :( Oh well.

[HeatherPage]

Jon, after reading those reviews I'm thinking Kanki sounds better and better. Does anyone more technically inclined than me know how to post a freakin' poll? I cannot seem to find a link anywhere (of course knowing me I could be staring right at it and not see it). If anyone can do one I figured we could do a vote for SAS or Kanki (at Crabtree) and then a vote for either tomorrow Saturday 3/9, or Saturday 3/30. I know tomorrow is short notice but I know I'm free. Thanks!

[JonHM]

Can we wait just a tad on the poll? We don't know much about the restaurants at Southpoint yet, since they just open today. We're going to try to go out scouting *early* tomorrow morning, so hopefully I can gather enough info to make for a more informative poll. Or else we could always do Kanki this time, and one of the Southpoint restaurants next time. I'll let you know what I find out!

[HeatherPage]

That sounds like a good idea, Kanki now SAS later that way we can have an excuse to do another one soon. Let's just say Kanki at Crabtree and now just figure out a date :)

[DVCajun]

Tomorrow sounds good to me! So does the 30th, for that matter.

I don't really care where we go.... I am just ready to get together! I missed the last one and I'm rarin' to go! :)

Can anyone else do it tomorrow?

Jon, are we driving you nuts? You seem like you're a rather regimented kind of guy... :p Ok, you can shoot a paper wad at me when we get together.

[sweetp0618]

TDS at Northgate closed a few weeks ago and a friend from Cary told me the one in Cary Town Center closed recently, as well. I think the only DS still open in the Triangle is at Crabtree.

sweetp0618
Patti

[RweTHEREyet]

on the date that is decided. Just a couple of thoughts on the places mentioned so far.

Kanki--only 8 or so to a table--not really condusive to conversation and sharing information and getting to know one another. However, I love eating here and would love the excuse to go.

Bullwinkle's--have not been there, but if anything at all like Chuck E. Cheese, I would imagine a pretty high noise level.

Streets of Southpoint--only place open yesterday was Champs and the food court. Other restaurants were handing out menus and saying they would be open maybe by the end of this month--construction going on as they were handing out the menus. If it were going to be at one of the new places there, I have some of the menus with phone numbers. It would be a good idea to maybe do it at lunch, in order to allow for people to allow for arriving early and being assured of avoiding a parking nightmare and to possibly be able to get a reservation for the group.

While my work situation had made it so I could not attend the last few meetings, I too agree that they have all been in Cary and that a change of location might be in order--nothing wrong with Cary--just change of venue.

Just a couple of thoughts and totally my opinion, which I know aren't worth anything to anyone but me :).

[HeatherPage]

Your opinion is very important! I think Bullwinkles has been cancelled out-I too thought about the noise and chaos after I suggested it (sorry). I think at one point in time DVCajun suggested (for a previous meet) P.F. Changs, I've never been there so I don't know how the table situation is. The one we had at Remington Grill in Crabtree was nice because of that upstairs room, but then again we've already done Remington Grill (actually that is the only one I've done so far). I wonder how many people went to the SAS thinking all those stores and restaurants would be open and then they weren't, I was going to venture over there yesterday, but then thought better of it. I'm going to do some more research on Citysearch and see what else is out there:)

[Mommy of Two]

I've been away from the boards for a bit but saw info on the meet. I love Kanki at CVM or Southpoint. The 30th is bad for me, we'll be at the beach for Easter Holiday. If it ends up being some other time though, I'd love to come!

[HeatherPage]

We may have to start looking for dates in April. I'll wait to hear on reviews from Streets at Southpoint also. I'll bring this topic up again in a week or so:) Also, does anyone think we should expand it to other boards and just do a DIS meet not just DVC meet?