Hi

Sorry cannot do the forum meetup in NY, as I do not live there.

Let me know how the forum meetup goes.

londonicechamp

Say,I myself have always wanted to do a meet-up at my Rink (Newington Arena) near were I live. So if there is anyone here who believes the could make it there sometime for a Public Skate. Please let me know too. I have always dreamed to meeting some of you and becoming friends in real life. I myself would have to let you know when I would be there. Time and Day of the weekend. But it would be and feel great!!! So if you can make it at anytime,please let me know too. Thanks.

__________________
FSWer

Two of our rink's skaters appeared in the rink opening exhibition. They said it's a very small rink (1/4 NHL size) and the crew was using shovels to clear the snow off the surface.

DH and I just synched our schedules and December's going to be too busy for me to get there for a meetup on a Sunday.

The rink is open through the end of January, so I propose the following:

__________________

Someone just suggested (via email) that we EAT first then go skating.

It's a great suggestion (imo) since it gives us a definite schedule.

We can meet for breakfast/brunch/coffee, then the skaters can leave for the rink around 11:30am to make the noon opening time. (Better ice, I think.) Skaters can leave the ice when they want to head for home or chores. This way, no one's waiting around for others.

We still need restaurant suggestions. It would have to be a place that's open early.

How about:

__________________

Hi, guys- thanks for the mesg, isk8nyc! I had my baby on 11/25 and am feeling pretty well, other than slightly sleep-deprived. Since it's going to be on a Sun., I'm sure my husband can take care of our son and let me get away f/a few hrs. I think I can skate too if my fat feet'll fit back into my skates. I haven't tried them on since Feb. & my feet swelled up during pregnancy. Either way, it'll be nice to see you all & see the rink. Some of my friends went there on Fri. and had a good time.

Congratulations!

Make sure you bring pictures of your bouncing baby boy! I'm looking forward to the meetup. jwrnsktr said she can make it that date, too.

I have two Red Cross-certified babysitters for when he gets a little older, lol.

__________________

Yay! It'll be great to see you. I should be able to make it. Only thing that would interfere is a friend's birthday, but I can't imagine it would be that early.

Places that do brunch that early, or close:
Irregardless Cafe (opens at 10)
Humble Pie (opens at 11)
Bogart's (opens at 10)
IHOP (always open)

There may be others, but those are the ones that come to mind.

Great! I love IHOP. There's also Big Ed's City Market at
220 Wolfe St
Raleigh, NC 27601. Anyone have a preference? Looking forward to this!

IHOP was mentioned by someone else as well, so I say we go with that option. The menu has variety, the location's good, it'll be fun.

This is the closest one to the rink - about 6 minutes away, according to the IHOP directions: IHOP #408..1313 Hillsborough Street...RALEIGH, NC 27605-1826...919-821 2242 Restaurant Website

__________________

IHOP works for me.

Judy, FYI, Big Ed's is closed on Sundays. <sniff>

So now that we have a date, time, and place ... let's have a roll call of who is coming.

I'm definitely in!

__________________

I'll be coming off a 24-hour call shift, so not only will I be super-cranky, I'll be tired and behind in class (after the first week of the semester, no less) Wish I could say otherwise...

Come anyway, at least for brunch. A good hot meal will make you feel lots better, and you can leave as soon as the eating is done and go off to your studying. You'll study better on a full stomach.

Yes, the food is great and there's plenty of coffee! I will be there too.

I'd like to come - has this meeting occurred just yet or is it in January?

Nope, you didn't miss the meetup, mskater. The more, the merrier! I'll add you to the list now.






RESTAURANT: IHOP #408..1313 Hillsborough Street...RALEIGH, NC 27605-1826...919-821 2242 Restaurant Website

RINK: AT&T Raleigh Winterfest Ice Rink -- City Plaza situated on the southern end of the 400 block of Fayetteville Street next to the Bank of America building and on top of the Charter Square parking deck.



BarbraM - if you need a ride, let me know and we'll figure something out.

__________________

Six days and counting to the meetup...

__________________

Hey guys,
My baby's gotten fussier so I will only be able to make it to the brunch part before heading home. See you all soon!

See you guys Sunday!

See y'all tomorrow!

__________________

Dang I forgot all about it. How was it?

I had a great time thanks to my well-informed breakfast mates!

Jazz - I think skaternum knows where more bodies are buried (or should be) - I was like this numerous times

skatingatty needed the break from caring for her newborn and she's very sharp. (Remember, babies get easier as they get older!)

We really missed everyone who wanted to come but couldn't. Next month is Adult Easterns at my home rink - maybe we'll have another get together.

Re: Skating
My kids had begged to come with me, but turned them down, saying it was "Ladies Day Out." Since I was the only one who was going to skate, I drove past the rink. It's really nice in the sun - not too windy or anything. I wouldn't have even needed my ski pants and there was plenty of parking.

I felt guilty skating by myself when my kids really wanted to go, so I bailed and tried to get DH his birthday gift. (Massive fail.)

We'll go skating as a family - DH was intrigued by the diner-style IHOP with the friendly staff.

By the way, the rink's website says they're staying open until February 15th, so if anyone wants a romantic Valentine's activity, gotta skate!

__________________

I had a great time too. (And didn't feel hungry until about 6 pm!) I'm glad we could make it, even if we were a small crowd.

The Valentines outdoor skating idea is brilliant. I'm going to suggest it to some friends who are looking for something romantic for V-Day.

See you all at Easterns!

Completely forgot about this I so would have come - although I did have company at my house so maybe it wouldn't have worked out. Nonetheless I'll be at Sectionals so I'll see all you lovely people there:]

How was the crowd? I went with a fellow skater about 2 weeks ago and though the crowd was massive (was a Thursday night) we had a great time skating - I love the rink and the live music and all the lights, etc.

Has anyone tried skating there on say Sunday morning? Is it busy then??

I drove by Sunday morning around 12:30-1:00pm when it had just opened. It's very small (around the size of one corner hockey circle) but it wasn't too crowded, maybe 20 people on the ice around the edges, three kids/ladies who looked like they could skate hanging out in the middle. Lots of parents and little beginners.


I believe the nice people from Skating Club of North Carolina were offering free startup lessons yesterday in honor of National Skating Month. Very generous.

I have a gift - kids at public sessions always come to me and ask me to teach them stuff and I can't say no. I love teaching little girls how to do wobbly two-foot spins. Their faces just light up and then I get asked "Do you give lessons?"

Renatale can testify to this from the seasonal rink in Pershing Field, where there are no lesson programs. When we would hang out and skate, I'd be approached at least three times each session. I'd reply "I teach at () but not here, I'm just having fun skating with a friend."

Since I would have been alone yesterday, it would have looked like I was soliciting and I don't belong to SCNC. It would have been uncomfortable, like I was soliticing people away from other rink's lesson programs.

__________________