Bless yerheart, bb -- it's always hard to pull something like this together; people always have a better idea after the fact. However, the parking issue is probably worth taking into account -- when the Cheesecake Factory opens (don't think it'll be as soon as Nov., but might be), it'll be that much worse at Southpt.

But I think whoever is willing to deal with the restaurant people does get to make the final decision re: where. I was just about to suggest one of the RTP hotels along I40 until I saw the Grill and PFChang suggestions, but they always want $ up front.

I'll try to come, with or without my Hallowe'en mask!

Cassandra ... I am very interested in what everyone thinks, and how flexible they are. THEN I'll mull it all over, and decide whether I want to proceed or not; it's possible that someone else may have better ideas or want to handle it, and that would be fine with *moi.* :-)

Guys, when stating your interest, please say if you prefer an early Saturday dinner or a weeknight dinner. Thanks ...

I would love to come but it would need to be a Saturday since it is a bit of a drive from Williamsburg, VA.

It will be difficult for those of us in the Western part of the state unless it is a weekend...

If I could read I guess I would know it is a Saturday, duh..

Ah, gee, I live 5 minutes from the mall and Reneeinva is willing to drive from Williamsburg. I guess I better show.

Cheesecake Factory is scheduled to open in October. I'm not sure if that will happen since they have to remodel the old Big Bowl and bbq spaces.

Since BB is willing to take on all posters, another restaurant in the area is Johnny Carino's (I think I spelled that right). Across from PF Changs on Herndon (and across from the mall). Also Ted Turner's Montana restaurant in the same center as PF Changs.

The PF Chang's at Southpoint is out, folks, because they will not take reservations for more than eight people. However, the manager at PF Chang's Crabtree Valley Mall has a 14-person party table that we can have for at least two hours, will let us pay any way we want, and was very nice and accommodating. Any overflow would just have to another smaller table. Actually, the parking at Crabtree would be easier than Southpoint, and the restaurant is right off Glenwood Ave. (Rt. 70), easy to get to .... How would this grab you ... Saturday, Nov. 12, 5:30 pm, Crabtree??? Just a thought .... if some can drive from another state, I won't complain about a half-hour drive if I need to??? Whaddya think, guys? :-)

I would attend either place;prefer Crabtree over Durham, if you are taking a poll.Keep us posted! Glad to hear the idea has been revived.

Hey y'all as a new North Carolinian I would LOVE the idea of a GTG. We're NW Durham and can get to just about anyplace in the triangle quite easily.

I would LOVE to meet with you all...
I am outside of Richmond...

Renee , if you want to get together locally, let me know!

I'm not a frequent poster, but a die-hard lurker. I would love to meet some of y'all. I would come from Winston-Salem so Saturday would be good best for me. Count me in.

I LOVE the response we're getting ... :-) "Mr. Bonniebroad" has already volunteered to record it all with his digital camera, and set up an album for all to see on Yahoo!:D So I hope no one is camera-shy!

When expressing interest, please let me know if you will probably have a companion or not, so I can judge how much space we'll need.

Now this idea for Chang's/Crabtree is not engraved in stone, it's just an idea ... I'm still looking for suggestions to mull over!!! And if we have this GTG in Raleigh, the next one would be in Durham or Chapel Hill or ???, okay? Thanks for your responses so far, everyone!

Bonnie, email me at [email protected] as I've got some suggestions.

Good luck with the planning, BonnieB! We should trade tips on this organizer stuff. I've never planned a GTG either. Heck, I've never attended one!

First complication: The date would need to be November 19 (NOT November 12, if I handle it), because of a family commitment. And how would you Durham/Chapel Hill/Fuquay folks, who posted earlier, feel about Crabtree? Thanks for your input so far!

Let me know when and where and I will be there!
Audrey

Hey bonniebroad, if you make it on the 19th, I may stop by for a sec...my alma mater plays my DH's Wolfpack on that day, and we were thinking of heading that way!

Hey girl.

Crabtree works better for me and I LOVE PF Chang's!

Too bad Kanki has gone so downhill - now all of us at one of those big tables with shrimp and cutlery flying - THAT would be fun! :)

The 19th works just as well for me.

I will probably bring my DH and two sons (ages 9.5 and almost 6 by then)...come to think of it, I have never seen pictures with children at GTGs. Would this be a problem?

We would probably make it a long weekend trip. Any suggestions on what to do?! Help me sell this crazy idea to my DH!

Reneeinva, I'm sorry to say that I don't believe it would work to include children at the actual GTG because of limited seating space in the average restaurant for a group. Don't know how/if other GTGs have handled any similar situations, but maybe you could stay at one of the hotels with a babysitting service??? (There's a cluster of good ones at Crabtree! :-) ) I love children, believe me, but I believe the numbers would get unmanageable if we offered to include everyone's. Maybe others have different thoughts on the subject???

Great to hear the enthusiasm for Crabtree! :-)