Very good, Henry. I too was hoping that Drowdude would manage to find a way to attend, but we'll just have to try and catch him next time.
I still don't have any strong preference for where we do our Friday night hang out. Part of me would really like to try and have it someplace with outdoor seating, but considering the weather we've been having, that might not be a great plan. I do like Tir Na Nog and the atmosphere is certainly good but my concerns there are that it is fairly "bar-like" and I don't know if they card people on weekend nights. Also, it is a popular place for live music which could mean that it is crowded and loud.
One other place that pops to mind is Newton's Southwest on Harrison Avenue in Cary. It is right off I-40 and should be fairly easy to get to. It has the advantage of a large outdoor patio (assuming no band is playing that night) and huge tables indoors. The food is good and big and it is more a restaurant than a bar. But I still won't be offended if folks would rather we go somewhere else. So long as there are chairs and something wet to drink, I'll be happy.
On the matter of Game Day itself, we're coming down the home stretch so if there are any gamers out there that you know who aren't already coming, invite them along. We've still got plenty of open slots. Also, I've noticed that several folks are signed up for a morning slot or afternoon slot but not both. If that's by design, great. If you're planning on being there most of the day, feel free to grab one of the available slots.
That's about all I've got for now. Expect more messages from me in varying degrees of panic or excitement as we get closer to Game Day.