Redman84

**Mods please relocate thread if needed** Hello Charleston Board, I am trying to find some information (late decisions here) regarding what kind of activities are going on in Charleston for New Years Eve. I have a group, all from Raleigh that is contemplating making a trip down there next week. Most all of the group are recent college grads, with a couple underage (20 years old) people that are looking to join. Wanted to find out if any bars and restaurants in the Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, or Isle of Palms area offer 18+ admission on NYE. Figured going straight to the locals would be my best bet at finding any information. Any info or places I could contact and inquire about age restrictions would be great. Thanks!

Passed by "The Hook Up" on St. Mary's this evening and paper was over the windows. Checked their MySpace page just to make sure I hadnt mistaken what I saw and comments were left about it being closed. Once again, it seems this location is cursed.

Maybe one of you may be able to help me with this question: I was recently out at the observation park one night, sitting in my car on the phone with the windows down. I heard what sounded like a military helicopter (ie the sound of an Apache) taking off and looked out but it was not a helicopter, it was an airplane with a prop on each wing. My initial thought was that it might be one of those Osprey aircraft that the Marine Corps uses, but couldn't understand why one of those would be at RDU. Other than the sound, the only thing I can really use to describe it (since it was night and I couldn't really see it) was that as the blades of plane spun around, they had a green light on the tips of the blades that made a green lit circle as blades rotated. Strange, but it got my curiosity level up.

I have a friend that is a CPA for Grant Thorton that takes the ExpressJet flight to Birmingham at least a couple of times a month if not more, as one of his biggest clients is located there. Before this flight was introduced he had to fly US Airways to CLT and then to BHM. I am sure that if this is true, he will be quite disappointed with this news.

Doing some of my own thinking about this, I've wondered where in the world would an operation of this nature go on the grounds of RDU. The only logical thing that I can come up with is over there near the National Guard station. But I know that some of that land does back right up to Umstead Park. I think it would be absolutely great for the airport and the area to have NetJets here. It sure would increase the air traffic around here, which at certain times of the day can seem staggeringly slow.

I managed to make it back out to RDU this evening to see the departure. Seemed to be quite a few others who were out there for the same reason because as soon as it took off and cleared runway 5L most people left just as I did. Quite amazing to see such a large plane just lift up and take off just like it was an Embraer 135 or any other small regional jet.

Managed to take a few pictures while I was out doing some Christmas shopping today.

I went out there yesterday to take a peek. It was sitting just behind the fence between the UPS and DHL cargo areas. Absolutely huge and absolutely an incredible airplane. Sure wish we had birds that size flying in and out of RDU on a daily basis. If you're saying it'll be out there again today, i may head back out there to take a few pictures of my own. Saw plenty of 747s at JFK in New York, but I think the only one I may have ever seen here was Air Force One on a few occasions.

When is this taking place today?

I did manage to catch the AAL 777 from London the past two weekends as it was landing on 5L from the parking lot at Triangle Factory Shops. Having a plane that large fly just over your head it pretty cool. I wish there was an area where I could get closer, but anywhere else and I'll have the RDU Police coming after me. I do manage to get by the observation deck from time to time, but nothing compares to having a plane fly above you as compare to in front of you. When I saw that DAL 777 that was departing from RDU to Dubai, I got all excited because I though maybe I had missed some major news and there was going to be another 777 servicing RDU. Guess it was just a rare occasion. ***On a side note. Does anyone know where or have any pictures from when the Concorde came to RDU? I remember it happening and being on the news and I know I've seen a photo in a retail store somewhere in Raleigh, but I cannot remember where I saw it. Any information on that would be great because my searches on Google and Yahoo have turned up no information.****

Just happened to look at Flightaware.com just a moment ago there was a Delta Flight #8, a Boeing 777 that apparently was supposed to go from ATL to Dubai, but stopped here at RDU and then is now enroute to Dubai. Any of you have a clue what this might be about?

Jim Anthony's son is one of my best friends. I've talked with him (his son) briefly about The Warehouse, but nothing substantial about what will be going into the building and its long term plans. With the approval of Mr. Anthony, I will be glad to give you guys updates about the club/venue when they become available.

^Pourch and Bassment is run by Paul that used to bartend at Lucky's. He left there a few months back to start the new bar. Opened last weekend. Haven't been yet, but will try to make it on my stops this weekend on Glenwood.

What kind of jet would Virgin America use if service began at RDU?

I just wish it was like the old days where you could enter the terminal without a boarding pass. I used to always love walking around in the terminal when I was younger. Sad thing is, those day won't ever return.

There is also a Greek Fiesta at Briar Creek and I believe there is still one in the outlet mall on Airport Blvd.

If I'm not mistaken, jetBlue did some time changes within the past 3 or 4 months on their RDU/JFK flights as compared to the original times they started with in the summer of 2006. When I flew to NYC on jetBlue the day after they started service at RDU, I took a 10:50am flight out and returned on the 4:50 flight back, flights 1102 and 1107 respectively. Since then, those times have been pushed back. If your statement is correct regarding the times of the jetBlue and AirTran flights, and seeing that they begin in early 2008, maybe RDU's plan is to redistribute gates in Terminal A accordingly once Terminal C opens next summer with what Delta and United moving to the new Terminal C. If this is the case, then maybe its a "make due with what they have" scenario until gates become available with the movement of airlines from one terminal to another. I could be totally wrong here, just an assumption.

Glad to hear that jetBlue is expanding at RDU! This makes me very happy. I assume this will stick with the E190?

RDUairport: Just curious, do you work for the RDU Airport Authority or at RDU in some way? Even if jetBlue where to take a major hold on CLT over RDU, how likely would you think that the chances are that RDU would be able to pick up some of the other destinations they offer. For example, I'd love to see them add flights to some of their Florida airports such as Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale. As well, a direct Las Vegas flight would be nice. Maybe its my optomistic mind, but I feel like they must have some kind of interest in RDU to add a direct flight to BOS only 4 months after they began service here. Afterall, they started service to CLT before RDU and CLT only has service to JFK. Like I said, I like to remain optomistic. I recently sent them an email asking if they would increase their destinations from RDU in the future, but was given a somewhat vague response basically saying they do not recieve advanced notice of when flights and times are added.

What do y'all think the chances are that an airline such as jetBlue will eventually make RDU into one of their mini-hubs or "key cities" as they title them on their website. When I I've looked at their map of destinations, the closest "key cities" are Washington DC, NYC, and Ft. Lauderdale. I'm not sure how full the flights jetBlue offers from RDU to JFK are daily, but they did add the flight to BOS fairly quickly after setting up here, where as, their service in Charlotte only goes to JFK. I did read somewhere recently that the CLT to JFK service had been upgraded to an A320 rather than the current E190, but everytime I look online I always see an E190 servicing CLT and not an A320 that I read about. jetBlue offers great destinations at great prices and I'd really like to see them add more service out of RDU to many of their other locations rather than having to fly to JFK first and then to where I planned to go. Considering how CLT is already a US Airways hub, I'd like to think that RDU has a better chance at becoming a "Key City" over CLT. I'd also like to think that with the new Terminal C opening it would give RDU room to host a such service. Any thoughts? [link]http://www.jetblue.com/wherewefly/[/link]

Anyone know what kind of "improvements" they're doing to the Observation Park? I tried to go out there once over the Thanksgiving holiday and it was closed with a sign that said something to the effect of "closed until Dec. 4th for improvements." I just wish there was a similar type park that faced Runway 5R/23L (Terminal A side). On a side note, has anyone ever eaten at the Crosswinds Cafe in the General Aviation Terminal?

Don't leave out Bull Durham!! (one of my personal favorites) Everytime I watch it, it takes me right back to going to games at the DAP in my childhood. Durham street scenes are shown throughout the movie as well as some other things you may pick up on. The bar scene was filmed at Mitch's Tavern on Hillsborough St. and well it still looks just about the same as it did in the movie, in there now.

^Kiss the Girls or Along Came a Spider. I cannot remember which one right off hand, but I believe its one of the two.

Great pictures. Must have been taken from the Observation Deck. I love that place. I could go out there and watch planes take off and land for hours... BTW...seeing the picture of the JetBlue plane just reminds me of flying with them to NYC back in July. Great airline if you're heading to NYC anytime soon. They're also adding a direct flight to Boston. Great staff, affordable prices. Very glad to have them flying in and out of RDU

Not that I could do that or anything. I just thought I'd share my story. When I went to Broughton for a year (98-99) before transfering to Cardinal Gibbons (99-02) I always loved walking down the hallway on the 3rd floor on the front of the school and seeing the skyline downtown. Or coming out of one of the stairwell turns that go outside and seeing the skyline. Its just one of those images that sticks very vivid in my mind.