Triangle NC Meetup 9/22

August 21, 2009 5:00 AM

Triangle NC-Cortex-Meetup GO!

So Cortex will be gracing us w/ his amazing presence on Tuesday 9/22. Where should we take him?? Do we want to do a Raleigh meetup since it's been a while? Or are the Durham/CH peeps more vocal? What is the best place for a meetup of this magnitude? Vote here, vote now.

At the moment I'm only partially employed and have Mondays and Tuesdays off, so I will be available for Cortex-ferrying, but that could change at any time, so please also let us know if you're around on Mondays/Tuesdays to pick Cortex up and drive him awesome places. I believe he is crashing w/ Stewriffic so I guess Local Yogurt and some other Durham locales are covered already. :)

posted by leesh to MetaFilter gatherings at 5:00 AM (127 comments total)

No, don't do Raleigh, nobody likes Raleigh! Chapel Hill or Durham!
posted by Comrade_robot at 5:40 AM on August 21

Heh. We've got a Durham one coming up at the end of October, and the last one we had was in Durham. Maybe CH?

Leesh, thanks for offering to ferry Cortex around. I'm psyched he'll be staying here, but since I'll be working we do need to get some peeps to entertain during the daytime. Leesh, I can also give you a key to the house here so you can come over to my place and drop his stuff off and hang out or go touring.
posted by Stewriffic at 6:02 AM on August 21

I humbly offer my services of picking up Cortex at the airport and bringing him to the only place that really matters - Chapel Hill. (Sorry, Stewriffic, I know you got your lurve on for Durham, but please, we know where it's at). Now we just have to figure out ways to wow him. I suggest we feed him. Now we argue about which place has the best bbq. Oh shit, is Cortex a vegetarian? Then we may be in trouble. Does anyone know his favorite beverage? At what temperature is he most comfortable? Might we procure for him a pair of comfortable socks? A neckrub?
posted by msali at 7:01 AM on August 21

I may be playing straight man in a gag right here, but to be clear I am very much an omnivore.
posted by cortex at 7:05 AM on August 21

Stupid giantly wide state, mutter mutter, stupid 5 hour drive, stupid Tuesdays, stupid job, mutter mutter.

Y'all have fun! Give the man some barbecue for gods' sake and maybe a pack of cigarettes.
posted by mygothlaundry at 7:13 AM on August 21 [1 favorite]

Go ahead and play straight man, Cortex, as our guest in the Triangle, you can be whoever you want to be. Plus, Leesh, me and you are prolly gonna have a smackdown when it comes to picking up Cortex at the airport. Based upon your profile picture, I am pretty sure I can take you, plus (and I hesitate to bring this up, because it is in poor form), I DO have a lower member number than you, by about 8,000 people, so I have loved Cortex for longer. Need I say more?
Plus, as a freelance translator, I am free pretty much any time. I nominate me!
posted by msali at 7:13 AM on August 21

Hey msali, just b/c I have a cute hat and glasses doesn't mean I'm not a scrapper! Don't make me put on my boots and kick you in the shin. Seriously, don't, it's too hot for boots. You may well end up on airport duty if I manage to score a real job between now and then, anyway.

OK, so meetup in Chapel Hill? Where/what time? We gotta show off some yummy NC food and also get our drink on. Or something.
posted by leesh at 7:32 AM on August 21

I'm in for wherever. Can I bring my six-month-old? Will Cortex kiss him and make goo-goo eyes?
posted by Pater Aletheias at 7:42 AM on August 21

All right. Here are some recommendations:

On the slightly more pricey tip: We could go early and take over part of the bar seating at Lantern. Food's great (the Bento box is delicious and not too expensive) and the drinks are top notch.

If we're going for local, Crooks Corner is rather famous for, more or less, pioneering "New South" cuisine. It would be a conveniently located dinner option in that it would allow for either West Franklin bar options (Wine Bar, Cellar, Crunkleton, Fuse) or Carrboro bar options (Reservoir, The Station, the newly non-smoking OCSC). Acme, in Carrboro, is also pretty great for this kind of food.

On the cheaper end, we could always do Fuse/Milltown/Southern Rail for various varieties of just outside the box bar food. Carrburritos is always great, but not necessarily NC-centric. Likewise Akaihana. Most good Eastern North Carolina barbecue requires a slight detour off the beaten path (The Q Shack is not Eastern North Carolina barbecue).

Panzanella, in Carrboro, is another mid-range option that's pretty good.
This list is hardly conclusive and Chapel Hill/Carrboro is a great town for wandering/ bar-hopping. I'm up for whatever, until late that night when I'm obliged to go see these guys at Local 506.
posted by thivaia at 7:55 AM on August 21

Good Eastern North Carolina Barbecue:

Allan & Sons

The Barbecue Joint
posted by thivaia at 7:59 AM on August 21

Oh, thanks for the heads-up on that show, thivaia! I loved their latest cd and just put that Ghost Town song on a mix cd!

Anyway. Sorry. Back to planning!

I'm not sure Lantern's bar is big enough for a cortex-worthy turnout, though maybe that wouldn't matter on a Tuesday when it will be more dead than usual.

I kind of love Milltown's delicious Belgian fries and other appetizers but would really go any of the places you listed. Anyone else?
posted by leesh at 8:22 AM on August 21

I think we need cortex.metafilter.com.
posted by boo_radley at 9:27 AM on August 21

We can't go low end with Cortex, we gotta show him how it's done. I think an obligatory stop has to be made at the Station/Southern Rail. Dinner at Acme or Crooks Corner would be mighty fine. Towards this end, I think Thivaia's tastes and mine are rather similar.
posted by msali at 9:38 AM on August 21

Seconding the cortex sub-site idea, with the same map thing that the 10th subsite had.
posted by odinsdream at 9:44 AM on August 21

No love for Mama Dip's?
posted by needled at 10:37 AM on August 21

If Pater Aletheis can bring his six month old, I get to bring my 17-month-old!

(I would probably leave him at home with his dad. 17 month olds are much more mobile than 6 month olds)

Msali, I love you for saying what you said about CH. No one ever speaks up for CH - it is all Durham Chamber of Commerce, all the time.
posted by pinky at 11:38 AM on August 21

I can't go (working a nine or ten hour day then driving to the Triangle from Fayetteville just ain't happening) but I think you should take him to Chapel Hill. That's more of a Cortex type place, anyway.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 12:11 PM on August 21

Pinky, probably the reason you hear so much from the Durham Chamber of Commerce :) is because they have to really talk up their town. CH and Carrboro, not so much. The vibe here just speaks for itself. Plus, I bet a few Durhamites would cross the county line of their own volition.
posted by msali at 2:49 PM on August 21

Ah, hell, I hate that I work weeknights.
posted by EarBucket at 2:59 PM on August 21

It's hard to look that far in the future on a Tuesday but I may be in.
posted by hydropsyche at 5:24 PM on August 21

All right, all right, enough intra-Triangle rivalry. I think we can all agree that all three cities have their charms and CH has more than its share of awesome eateries and bars for us to visit (plus the best comic book store in the area).

Do we want to do an Acme/Station thing? Or have more of a pub crawl?
posted by leesh at 9:25 PM on August 21

non-smoking OCSC
HUH?

Let's nix Lantern. It's neat and gorgeous and all, but really, drinks cost an arm and a leg, and as Leesh said, it's really small. But mostly it's over-the-top spendy.

Cortex, I got my furniture today!
posted by Stewriffic at 9:38 PM on August 21

You can still smoke on the patio at OCSC, if that matters to you.
posted by Rangeboy at 1:45 AM on August 22

I was just surprised! It seems like smoking was integral to the entire concept of OCSC is all.
posted by Stewriffic at 4:22 AM on August 22

Happy to let the CH folks dominate, but omnivorous friends tell me The Pit in Raleigh is the only place to go if Cortex wants to do the BBQ thing while he's here. The pigs are massaged with organic scented oils and given pedicures every day of their lives and then shredded in the most loving and delicious way possible. So if he wants the best BBQ experience, he'll need to be in Raleigh; other than that, any Triangle corner will do.

Folks still casually dismiss Raleigh? Huh. Much more interesting scene than Chapel Hill right now. Hands down. Not even close.
posted by mediareport at 6:08 AM on August 22

It seems like smoking was integral to the entire concept of OCSC is all.

I was talking to Tricia last week and she told me (taking a drag off her cigarette) she was looking forward to it and that business would almost certainly go up. They scrubbed the walls and ceilings, too; she says it just feels better in there.
posted by mediareport at 6:14 AM on August 22

If all goes well, I'll land at RDU at about 6:30 pm on Monday, 9/21, so tentative plans for some sort of pre-meetup outing for foodliness that night could totally work, dependent upon the proximity/availability of my host, if that makes diversification of planning any easier.
posted by cortex at 8:16 AM on August 22

Much more interesting scene than Chapel Hill right now. Hands down. Not even close.

According to state historian H. Hubert McMasters the rivalry between Raleigh and Chapel Hill had it's origins in the early part of the 18th century when a fiddler with violent tendencies, by the name of Ephraim Cockaboughbarton from Wake County drove his horsecart down the rural highway to the tiny hamlet of New Hope Chapel Hill to check out the wondrous spectacle he had read about in the broadsheets of the time. There he found a tavern full of the dispsomaniac sons of landed gentry who alternately eulogized the New Hope scene of twenty years ago (despite the fact that few of them had been in breeches then) and swore that New Hope would again rise from the ashes to assume its rightful place as the cultural center of southern colonies. Feeling flush with ale and righteousness, Cockaboughbarton took his place atop a rough wooden bench and offered scientific evidence of why Raleigh was and would always be superior to New Hope. Satisfied with his impassioned plea, Cockabougbarton took his seat, confident that the sons of New Hope would be assured of the veracity of his claims. But lo, he was mistook, for the patrons of the New Hope tavern merely offered him a blank look. "But why, sir, would we ever travel to Wake County? There are far too many wagons clogging the thoroughfares betwixt here and there. And besides, there is nothing at all in Raleigh save farmers and bureaucrats. New Hope is indeed superior!" And with a rousing cheer, the New Hope residents turned back to their mugs, spoke of a pastime involving a leather sphere and a market basket and wondered if would not be more prudent to buy estates in the County of Durham.

Angered, Cockaboughbarton returned to Raleigh determined to print his own broadsheets and open his own taverns. And so he did, until several years later when his beloved Raleigh demolished them in order to build livery stables on the same site.

Cockaboughbarton died in 1817 and was buried in a family cemetery near the Mordecai Estate. They say he was haunted by his inability to prove his point to New Hope for the rest of his life. As evidence of this his epitaph reads: "He dared to show New Hope the light. They failed to notice."
posted by thivaia at 8:25 AM on August 22 [11 favorites]

Thivaia you are the best.
posted by pinky at 9:21 AM on August 22

If only I could favorite that many, many times.
posted by hydropsyche at 9:44 AM on August 22

If all goes well, I'll land at RDU at about 6:30 pm on Monday, 9/21, so tentative plans for some sort of pre-meetup outing for foodliness that night could totally work, dependent upon the proximity/availability of my host, if that makes diversification of planning any easier.

At your service! I'm clearing my calendar other than work.

Mediareport: Yes, The Pit is great. Maybe we could go there Monday night, since I'll already be in Raleigh? Easy enough either for me to pick Cortex up (and risk the wrath of msali and/or leesh) and then take him back here. Unless people want to keep going out after dinner and then they can just take him to my house.

I had an interesting take on cheese fries at The Pit a couple of weeks ago: fries with pimento cheese and BBQ on them. Nom. And disgusting.
posted by Stewriffic at 11:05 AM on August 22

Haha, I'm not really the wrathful type, and I don't mind missing an airport run. I do kind of want some pimento cheese fries though (hold the Q for my vegetarian sensibilities!).

Mediareport, we aren't dissing Raleigh per se, we just mostly all live in or have ties to CH and so obviously would rather show cortex our awesome usual haunts. But I will say that the fried green beans at Raleigh Times are sublime.
posted by leesh at 11:16 AM on August 22

Leesh, if you come out to Raleigh Monday to The Pit (is that part settled?), you could pick up Cortex on the way rather than me backtracking. I'd be happy to do so of course, but if someone's coming from parts West the airport is on their way...
posted by Stewriffic at 3:38 PM on August 22

It's up to you, Cortex. If you want free-range BBQ from this guy, we can do a Raleigh thing Monday night and then you can head home to Durham with Stewriffic, then do something in Chapel Hill on Tuesday. Too bad you're coming after the amazing Aldwyth exhibit closes at the Ackland (if anyone reading this hasn't see it yet - GO - it's a fantastic set of multimedia collage and found object sculpture by a 73-year-old South Carolina woman).

Anyway, thivaia's right; it's hard to get folks from CH/Durham to come to Raleigh and vice versa, so you could hang out with Raleigh Mefites first and have what a lot of folks nationwide are calling some of the best pork in the country. Hell, I'd fall off the veggie wagon for that; I want to try the full Pit experience.

leesh: Really, aside from rolling my eyes at the first "nobody likes Raleigh!" joke, I don't have much of a dog in this fight. Hell, I'm probably the only Mefite who's lived in all three corners of the Triangle, and likes them all (Apex, too). But I will point out Raleigh's artsy sort-of-underground has taken off in a really organic and satisfying way in the past 5 years (Lump Gallery's having its annual benefit party tonight, e.g., and the SparkCon folks are gearing up right now for the third year of their grassroots arts happening). So while Raleigh's obviously still a poor match for the stuff happening in major cities, the vibe here certainly matches anything going on in Chapel Hill. Easily. And hey, I thought of Raleigh as some wagon-clogged collection of farmers and bureaucrats when I lived in Chapel Hill, too. :)
posted by mediareport at 3:52 PM on August 22

Ooh, I just looked at the Pit's menu (pdf link available from here) and I sooo want to go and try their bbq tofu! And their jalapeno cheddar cornbread. I think that sounds totally worth a schlep to Raleigh! (I am joking--one of my part-time jobs is in Raleigh and I drive there once a week. Plus the only Lush store in the area is in the Raleigh mall. Anyway. Much love for all areas of the Triangle! Except Cary, of course. Kidding. Sort of.)

Yeah, I can do an airport run on the way, pending my schedule changing in the next month. It's a great excuse to clean all the clutter out of my car. And beat up msali.
posted by leesh at 4:21 PM on August 22

I am happy to hear that Lump Gallery is still going strong, Mediareport. How many years ago was it that you were fastening fish to a clothesline there? :-)
posted by pinky at 6:15 PM on August 22

We have instant netflix on our tv (ooh technology) and just got thru watching an episode of Man vs. Food (from the Travel Channel) that highlighted the Pit. Cortex, if you don't do another thing in NC, dude, you gotta eat there. REAL PIT COOKED BBQ, WHOLE HOG.

If it's not on your bucket list, it should be!
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 7:29 PM on August 22

OK, NC peeps. I have decided to be the best hostess I can possibly be. That means I need your help. What NC/Southern products and or treats should I be sure to have at the house for our Cortex to sample?

Cheerwine
Cheese straws

Um...
Halp.
posted by Stewriffic at 4:25 AM on August 23

Nabs! (or Lance Cheese Crackers.)

Moon Pies.

(Can you possibly scare up some Blenheim's Ginger Ale?)


And by all means make him some Southern sweet tea. Memail me if you don't already know how to make it authentically. ;-)
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 5:10 AM on August 23

Sun Drop!

Moravian cookies/sugar cake.

Brunswick stew.

Texas Pete.

I'd suggest, if anyone from west of the Burlington area is attending, to also bring some wonderful Lexington style BBQ with slaw. And hushpuppies. And extra dip. (Full disclosure: since I moved to Wilmington, I fantasize daily about western style. I can't eat this stuff here; I have to add massive amounts of Pete just to get through a sandwich...however, I will occasionally humor my Raleigh-born boyfriend and go to Smithfield's with him and pretend that it's the most difficult thing he could ever put me through.)
posted by sara is disenchanted at 1:17 PM on August 23

There's also tons of neat outsider-y art in this area that might make a cool day trip for folks free on Tuesday. Is Clyde Jones' front yard in Bynum still filled with critters? Vollis Simpson's whirligigs in Wilson are 45 minutes east of Raleigh, so that's probably out. Also probably too far out of the way (20 minutes south of Raleigh) is Ben Harris's front-yard sculpture collection in Fuquay. Just got back from a visit after reading this article in the morning paper. Nicest 64-year-old who makes 10-foot-tall scrap metal and glass abstractions you'd ever want to meet, and he says if you call him in advance he'll be happy to meet and show you around his workshop. Point is, the outsider art stuff in the area is great local flavor and might be worth doing.

How many years ago was it that you were fastening fish to a clothesline there?

I can only pray there are no pictures. And it wasn't my idea. Plus, the fish were dead.
posted by mediareport at 3:15 PM on August 23

(Eastern style rocks....but one thing sara is disenchanted and I agree on is you need to feed Cortex some hush puppies!)
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 3:35 PM on August 23

Is Clyde Jones' front yard in Bynum still filled with critters?

As far as I know it is. The one time I went out there, though, it wasn't really that exciting, despite knowing the backstory. I think that may have been because I felt like I was intruding.
posted by Stewriffic at 3:51 PM on August 23

Yeah, it's still there. My friend used to live around the corner from Clyde; I drove by his place about every week.
posted by Rangeboy at 4:48 PM on August 23

Seconding Sun Drop! Cortex will never drink Mountain Dew again after trying Sun Drop.

I'm assuming cortex drinks Mountain Dew because every computer person I know does. If not, he'll still like Sun Drop. I used to take back cases to college in Maryland and my friends would devour it.
posted by hydropsyche at 5:13 PM on August 23

Oh, and I drove by Clyde's yard the other day and there were critters. Be careful with Google Maps--it thinks you can drive over the old 15-501 bridge there in Bynum, the one that's been a pedestrian bridge for 10 years or so.
posted by hydropsyche at 5:14 PM on August 23

I don't really drink Mt. Dew anymore because I drank way too much of it early on in college, but I doubt that's anything against this Sun Drop stuff.
posted by cortex at 5:41 PM on August 23

I'm free both Monday and Tuesday evenings and could probably take off some off either day as well. I'm happy to ferry Chapel Hill/Carrboro people to the far corners of the Triangle and back, as long as I have good directions, so if anyone needs a ride to various festivities, let me know.

I do agree we need to get Cortex some barbecue, but I'm agnostic on Pit vs Allen & Sons.
posted by clerestory at 7:49 PM on August 24

Ok, I propose we finalize this so that those who need to make firm plans are able to.

Monday evening someone will pick Cortex up at the airport, and we will take him to the Pit in Raleigh for dinner. I will take him back to his lodging.

Tuesday day: I'm working. Someone else needs to be the guide and get Cortex to the meetup, since again I work 8-6 in Raleigh. I'll let y'all figure that out. :-)

Tuesday evening Official Meetup: CH/Carrboro. Dinner first for those who'd like that, and then afterwards let's hit Orange County Social Club, Southern Rail/The Station, and anywhere else we'd like to migrate to. For dinner, I propose either Panzanella or Crooks Corner. At Panzanella, we can get that big table if we make rezzies. I'm having a hard time determining which of the two has better options for those of us who may be either un- or under-employed.

Wednesday, again, I'm working 8-6, so I can't be in charge of the airport unless the flight is super-early.
posted by Stewriffic at 6:33 AM on August 31

Hey, I'm going to be in the triangle area most of September for work related stuff. To save anyone the trouble of checking my profile: I'm from Brisbane, Australia. I'm going to be staying somewhere pretty close to RTP and I won't have a car. Any chance someone would be willing to pick me up? I may not be as interesting or popular as cortex, but at least I'm from further away.
posted by plant at 6:02 AM on September 2

My schedule is pretty flexible. I can probably do the airport run on Wednesday if the flight is before 6:00.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 8:46 AM on September 2

Plant, i'm sure someone can! In fact, I'm also sure that if you give one or another of us a ping between now and then we can help get some other social stuff going for you. Even if it's just getting a drink!
posted by Stewriffic at 9:56 AM on September 2

I second Stewriffic!

And Stew, thanks for taking those of us who are poor into consideration. :)
posted by leesh at 6:44 PM on September 2

Leesh, been there.
posted by Stewriffic at 4:48 AM on September 4

My best friend, who is a longtime MeFi lurker and the reason why I ever came to MetaFilter in the first place, is a waiter/manager at Panzanella (and if she's reading this, I invite her to weight in). If you guys want me to reserve the big table, just let me know.
posted by thivaia at 9:38 PM on September 5

Per that last bit: a headcount might be useful.
posted by thivaia at 9:39 PM on September 5

I agree about the headcount thing.
posted by Stewriffic at 5:40 AM on September 6

Count my head, but personally, I think Crook's Corner is better than Panzanella, if for no other reason, than it's got more of a Southern feel. ONTOH, Panzanella is in the Mill, and right next to the Station and the OCSC.
posted by msali at 1:24 PM on September 6

It looks like I'm not going to make it. I'll try to be there the next time cortex comes to NC.
posted by hydropsyche at 2:54 PM on September 6

It looks like I might be able to make it. Are we decided on Panzanella?
posted by Comrade_robot at 6:25 AM on September 7

Count my head, please!

Also, I'm happy to give a walking (or biking, for that matter) tour of UNC Chapel Hill. Suggest interesting things that might be worth seeing and I can plan a bit better. Being a sysadmin my gut is to show silly things like the big red button in the room where ibiblio.org is hosted. Clearly I need objective advice from you normal people.
posted by tarheelcoxn at 1:12 PM on September 8

I'm officially in!
posted by Pater Aletheias at 8:44 PM on September 8

Please count me in for The Pit on Monday, if that's still a possibility. I'm so excited to finally meet some of you Triangle MeFites!
posted by Rock Steady at 8:57 PM on September 8

Please count me in for both days. I work, but I can take off early both days, so I could take a turn at ferrying and/or pick up plant.

It sounds like msali/leesh have pick-up and Pater Aletheias has drop-off in re: airport trips, right?

plant, do you know where you'll be staying yet? Are you interested in joining us both Monday and Tuesday or just Tuesday?

Likewise, anyone from the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area that wants to carpool to The Pit in Raleigh on Monday, let me know - I have room for 3 or 4.
posted by clerestory at 2:26 AM on September 9

I am in for both Monday and Tuesday, officially!
posted by leesh at 5:51 AM on September 9

I'm in.
posted by odinsdream at 8:26 AM on September 9

I'm in for the 22nd only, that is.
posted by odinsdream at 8:28 AM on September 9

I'm in for the pit on monday, I'm a lurker but I'd hate to miss a chance to meet an admin and other triangle mefites.
posted by jbroome at 11:05 AM on September 10

OK, I think I've got all my plans sorted out now. I'm arriving on the night of the 19th after 24hours or so of relaxing economy class travel, staying near.. Brier Creek? Is that a place? Oak Estate St, apparently.

I have no idea what sort of time I'll be getting off work, so while I'd like to be there both Monday and Tuesday I don't know if I'll be able to yet.
posted by plant at 9:34 PM on September 11

Sorry, plant, Brier Creek isn't really a place so much as a huge number of strip malls that got plopped down in a cow pasture a couple years ago and given a name. But it is convenient to both Durham and Raleigh, the airport, and RTP.
posted by hydropsyche at 8:42 AM on September 12

I just called The Pit about reservations for Monday night. The host said they could do a party of 8-12 around 7:45 or 8pm, but not before, and if we got close to 15 she'd have to send us to their "large party coordinator."

Stew, I think we should do a reservation for at least 8; based on folks' comments above, I count 7 definites for The Pit:

cortex
stewriffic
leesh
clerestory
Rock Steady
jbroome
mediareport

Some folks aren't being clear about what their "I'm in"s mean. If anyone else wants to join the Pit party Monday night, Sept, 21, let us know asap and I'll change the reservation. But right now I'm going with a reservation for 8 diners on Monday night at 8pm.
posted by mediareport at 4:09 PM on September 12

Are there currently plans for the Tuesday night, the 22nd?
posted by odinsdream at 4:19 PM on September 12

I just memailed thivaia about going ahead and making rezzies for the big table at Panzanella for Tuesday night the 22nd. I suggested 7-7:30. Does that work? Either she or I will post the details soon.
posted by Stewriffic at 4:26 PM on September 12

Works for me, yep.
posted by odinsdream at 4:42 PM on September 12

plant, I know the Brier Creek area, so just send me the address if you need a ride either night.

8pm for The Pit and 7-7:30 for Panzanella both work for me.
posted by clerestory at 5:00 PM on September 12

Reservations will be made for 15 +/- folks at Panzanella at 7:15 Tuesday, October 22. As a rule, Panzanella is not super busy on Tuesday nights, so if we end up with more people than that, we should be able to make it work.

If you're interested, the menu is here.

As a side note, for those wanting wine and looking to save a little money in these trouble times, wine can be purchased next door at Weaver Street Market and brought to Panzanella for a nominal corking fee (which is sometimes waived).

And finally if you'll forgive me being a little tacky, I recommend that folks bring cash to better facilitate bill-splitting.

Feel free to MeMail me if you have any questions at all.
posted by thivaia at 10:27 AM on September 13

Excellent suggestions, Thivaia.
posted by msali at 3:00 PM on September 13

Reservations will be made for 15 +/- folks at Panzanella at 7:15 Tuesday, October 22.

You do mean September 22, right?
posted by odinsdream at 4:34 PM on September 13

Ok, with marxchivist in via MeMail, we're now up to 8 for The Pit Monday night. If anyone else wants in, just let me know and I'll call to bump up the reservation.
posted by mediareport at 7:18 PM on September 13

Put me down for Monday, please.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 8:53 PM on September 13

Actually, I'm going to have to back out, again. Sorry -- maybe next time Cortex!
posted by Rock Steady at 3:15 AM on September 14

You guys just canceled each other and saved me a phone call. Preesh!
posted by mediareport at 5:27 AM on September 14

I'm in for Tuesday!
posted by wens at 4:24 PM on September 14

I'm also in for Tuesday.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 6:36 AM on September 15

Apologies for the typo. I meant September 22.
posted by thivaia at 9:15 AM on September 16

I'm in for the 22nd in Carrboro. Sweet!
posted by tarheelcoxn at 1:26 PM on September 18

I want to walk around downtown Carrboro with Cortex. I want to see if anybody spots him and goes, "Holy Shit! That's Cortex!"
By the way, I am on for Tuesday, all day if necessary, Stew, I will call you this weekend.
posted by msali at 7:26 PM on September 18

msali, that would be great if you can help coordinate Tuesday.
Since we're not eating until 8 tomorrow night, I can pick cortex up from the airport tomorrow.
posted by Stewriffic at 10:18 AM on September 20

The reservation for 8pm at the Pit Monday is in my name in case anyone gets there before I do. I'll be wearing my "everyone needs a hug" shirt.
posted by mediareport at 5:52 PM on September 20

Stew, are you sure? (That would be great, though, since I have to make another airport run in the morning.)
posted by leesh at 6:08 PM on September 20

Also, if anyone needs rides from the Durham area, let me know.
posted by leesh at 6:10 PM on September 20

yep, i can pick him up, leesh. no problem. It will give me something to do between finishing work and showing up at the Pit. If I end up feeling crashy, I may ask you to take over the ride home, though. I tend to be an earlier-to-bed person than most.
posted by Stewriffic at 7:53 PM on September 20

No problem!
posted by leesh at 7:59 PM on September 20

OK, I have cortex's arrival flight details and an extra key so he can go out and about. Pumpkin choc-chip bread made for breakfasts, Counter Culture coffee, A Southern Season's pimiento cheese and water crackers. Need to get local beer for home.
posted by Stewriffic at 6:08 AM on September 21

I don't know if I am going to make the meetup tonight in Raleigh, most likely not. But I would like to know what plans Cortex may have tomorrow afternoon. I would be willing to pick him up and squire him around Chapel Hill/Carrboro for a couple of hours, if anyone is interested in tagging along, let me know.
posted by msali at 10:50 AM on September 21

Anyone need a ride for tonight from the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area?

plant, are you going to be able to join us tonight? Pick up from hotel or office?
posted by clerestory at 11:41 AM on September 21

Thanks, all! Very pleasant evening, nice meal, good people! Getting to hug cortex will, I'm sure, be the highlight of my week. :)
posted by mediareport at 7:55 PM on September 21

That was a really fun night! Thanks for the hug, mediareport, and thanks for getting me onto 40, Pater Aletheias! (Thanks everyone else for generally being awesome.) And just think, tomorrow will be even cortex-ier.
posted by leesh at 8:02 PM on September 21

Pictures!

Thank you everyone, I had nice time. It was good to meet cortex and some Triangle mefites.

I didn't get a hug.
posted by marxchivist at 8:08 PM on September 21

Very nice dinner, pleasure meeting you all. NC's hospitality was not falsely advertised. Thanks in particular to Stewriffic for the airport pickup and the guest bed, and to Pater for the ride to Stew's after dinner and for letting me yammer exhaustedly the whole way.

Looking forward to tomorrow night.
posted by cortex at 8:18 PM on September 21

Hugs will be available tomorrow as well.
posted by cortex at 8:19 PM on September 21

Alas, I will not be available tomorrow night.
posted by marxchivist at 8:23 PM on September 21

I shall e-hug you then, as a downpayment for future meathugging.

*hug*

My very small set of pictures are now up.
posted by cortex at 8:55 PM on September 21

Sheesh you guys are fast with the uploading!

I had a great time and look forward to seeing even more folks tomorrow. Thanks to leesh, Stewie and mediareport for organizing.
posted by clerestory at 9:20 PM on September 21

I just missed you guys......grrr
posted by pjern at 9:55 PM on September 21

Good times! I have to say, though, that the BBQ is better at Hog Heaven near my house. That's really good 'cue. Also, sorry I bailed early; I was just exhausted. Hope I'm a bit less buzz-killy tonight.

Cortex, don't hesitate to call me today if you have questions about navigating around here, or if you can't figure out the washer/dryer/coffee pot/whatever. Also, make sure you at least taste the pimiento cheese* I left in the fridge since we didn't have any last night. That's another tasty, Southern staple.

(I'm hoping that you used fantastic judgment and the missing photo of me is because I was making some godawful face or some such. I hate bad pictures, so thank you!)

*Don't worry, folks. I didn't get the electric orange kind.
posted by Stewriffic at 3:48 AM on September 22

Have a good time y'all....and Cortex, DO have some of that pimiento cheese!
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 4:25 AM on September 22

I agree, Stew; the BBQ wasn't all that good at The Pit. Not falling off the veggie wagon good, anyway. Sorry for steering folks wrong on that one.

Loved the mac n' cheese, tho.
posted by mediareport at 6:31 AM on September 22

(I'm hoping that you used fantastic judgment and the missing photo of me is because I was making some godawful face or some such. I hate bad pictures, so thank you!)

Pretty much, yeah. I should remember not to try and take pictures of people while they're chewing, and I should also remember not to forget to come back for another round of shots if I think I didn't get it the first time on account of said chewing.
posted by cortex at 6:33 AM on September 22

So if anyone gets up there early, the table at Panzanella is reserved under Alison/Metafilter. And if you get up there super early I recommend the Limoncello cocktail.
posted by thivaia at 10:39 AM on September 22

And again, be advised Panzanella will not split checks for large parties, so bring cash if possible.
posted by thivaia at 10:41 AM on September 22

Just wanted to say I can't make it tongiht--I have some wretched sore throat/earache happening and am going to spend the evening on the couch w/ hot tea. Have a great time and take lots of pictures!!
posted by leesh at 12:59 PM on September 22

Great to see you all again! (And meet new people!) I stand firm in my conviction that the Triangle region has the best MeFites. I can't move away now.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 8:06 PM on September 22 [1 favorite]

Pater Alethias, it was great to meet you, as well as Odinstream, Plant, Clerestory, COMRADE ROBOT, Cortex, et al. I think all in all, it was a great meetup, a very nice, calm and gentle sort of a gathering. Perfect for a somewhat soggy Tuesday night. I look forward to seeing you all soon. Cortex, it was awesome to meet you, and thank you for being so patient with my grilling of metafilter minutae. Much appreciated. I hope our paths cross again at some point. You and your beloved have a standing invite to stay with us in CH.

Plus, and this is somewhat perfunctory, but THIS POST IS USELESS WITHOUT PICTURES. If there is no documentation, it didn't happen. But please, Odinstream and Cortex, no chewing shots, please. Do try and portray the Carolinas and its citizenry in the best possible manner. We are fighting all sorts of prejudices right now (being corralled as we are by our proximity to South Carolina and all...)
Much mefi love to all.
posted by msali at 8:47 PM on September 22

odinsDream, ali!

not STream

Anyhoo, yeah if i can eke out some time tomorrow I'll also put the videos up.
posted by Stewriffic at 8:48 PM on September 22

Thank you all for a lovely evening. Sorry I had to leave early. All of you (including Cortex) are welcome to stop by anytime.
posted by thivaia at 9:10 PM on September 22

Awesome time - thanks everyone, this was a delightful time.

Pictures here. I don't have time to tag the files with usernames at the moment. I'll see if I can get to it tomorrow, but if someone else would like to take a shot, that would be awesome.
posted by odinsdream at 9:22 PM on September 22

OK, odinsdream's photos are identified.

I'm in the process of uploading video, which will be here.
posted by Stewriffic at 5:23 AM on September 23

It was nice meeting all of you -- even the ones with all of the cameras. I am now excessively well moisturized.
posted by Comrade_robot at 5:27 AM on September 23

Stew! LOVE the videos. Odinstream, thanks for the pictures. Comrade, I too am quite well moisturized today, and I think the better for it. Thanks for eating my pizza, which albeit delicious, was just a tad too big.
posted by msali at 6:41 AM on September 23

Photos are in process but I may not get them uploaded before I land in JFK for my (seven hour, I rock) layover in JFK.
posted by cortex at 7:30 AM on September 23

Oooh. I have pizza for dinner. Thanks for reminding me. If anyone needs more moisturizer in the next few days, I have about 5 times the amount I brought to the meetup, all in my car. Tons of fun, but am very tired today. My boss suggested a nap in my office at lunch. What a good boss.
posted by Stewriffic at 7:32 AM on September 23

Um, I just noticed that the first video is of my office, including sex ed accessories. Please ignore the that NSF(anyone else's)W one. I can't figure out how to make it less visible.
posted by Stewriffic at 7:35 AM on September 23

Photos up!
posted by cortex at 10:18 AM on September 23

> Photos up!

Love the caption on this one. cortex++
posted by tarheelcoxn at 10:58 AM on September 23

You guys are all so stinkin' YOUNG.....
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 11:02 AM on September 23

You guys are all so stinkin' YOUNG.....

I think I may have been the old fart at the Monday night pre-meetup meetup.
posted by marxchivist at 4:14 PM on September 23