next week(sunday) my family and i are coming down to visit chapel hill!!!! i cannot say how excited i am, this will be my first time visiting the campus.

now this topic is for those of you who live on or near the campus... whats the scoop?

where is the best shop for unc apparel(im from pa so i dont get much around here and im looking to load up while down at unc)...

what is the cheapest(but not a roach-motel) hotel around, got any hidden gems out there?

how much does a tour of the dean dome cost? is it open on sundays?

what do i have to see when im there?

the plan is to arrive in chapel hill around noon on sunday, and leave monday morning, is that enough time to take in the sites? is everything gonna be open on a sunday?

i really would appreciate any help here guys!

thanks again! cant wait to finally see unc!!!!!!!

<img border="0" alt="[Bow]" title="" src="graemlins/bow.gif" /> UNC <img border="0" alt="[Bow]" title="" src="graemlins/bow.gif" />

Congrats! I remember the first time I visited Chapel Hill... an awesome experience. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" />

First place to shop -- The Shrunken Head Boutique. It's on Franklin Street down near the post office, next to the Rathskellar. This is a Carolina tradition and a must-hit store. There are others along Franklin Street that are good to visit... Johnny T-Shirt is one. That's on the other side of the street near Subway.

The University Inn is a good place to stay without breaking the bank. It's on South/Raleigh Road past 15-501. It still won't be cheap, but I don't really know of any dirt-cheap places to stay around Chapel Hill.

Not sure about the Dean Dome. Sometimes it's open, and sometimes not (you have to luck out to find it unlocked, though).

What do you have to see? Everything!

Spend some time just walking along Franklin street. Go from shop to shop and just check out things. If you are ever on Franklin Street for lunch, it's imperative that you go to Sutton's Drugstore for lunch. Sutton's is right beside The Shrunken Head and is open 'til 4:30, I believe. Order something with cherry or vanilla syrup in it. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Go to Kenan at some point and see if you can get in. Sometimes it's best to go down near the field house where the doors might be open. Even if you can't get in, find somewhere where you can just get a good view of the stadium, and take in the beauty. Hopefully you will see many a good football game there in the future....

If you're walking around Franklin Street late at night, the places to go eat are Hector's and Time Out. They are basically the only places open into the morning hours. I prefer Hector's, but to each his own. Hector's is beside the post office on the second floor (next to the Presbyterian Church). Time Out is near Granville.

Find some time to just walk around the campus, too. Of course, you must go to the Old Well and take a sip of water (smell it to make sure it doesn't have any urine mixed in <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> ). If you're standing on Cameron Avenue facing the Old Well, Old East is the building to the right of it. Take a good look at it -- this is the oldest state university building in the nation.

That's a good start for you. I'll think of more later.... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />

Enjoy!

-JD

<small>[ July 23, 2002, 11:10 PM: Message edited by: JD Heel ]</small>

If you really want some college town flavor, go to The Rathskellar for lunch or dinner. They've been in business since about 1948 and it's been a popular place the whole time. Try the Gambler's steak or the Veal Pargmigian if you like mass quantities.

It's located down an alley called Amber Alley that you can enter from Franklin Street. The entrance is near the Shrunken Head (just a few feet down toward the Post Office).

<small>[ July 25, 2002, 09:05 AM: Message edited by: The Bomber ]</small>

The Bell Tower is cool and it's right next to Kenan Stadium, recently voted the third most attractive football venue in the US. There is a memorabilia room in the stadium that is open only on weekdays, I believe. There is also a UNC museum in town, but I don't know the location. I'm sure someone at The Shrunken Head could tell you or perhaps someone at the stadium.

The planetarium usually has a good show and the Student Store has some UNC apparel, and Ackland Art Museum is, well, an art museum.

<small>[ July 25, 2002, 09:14 AM: Message edited by: The Bomber ]</small>

If you go to the Rat, don't just get the Gambler -- get the Triple Gambler. When they bring it out, it's still sizzling for awhile right in front of you. That's living dangerously.... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

How could I forget Student Stores?! That's the first place you want to go to look for UNC stuff.

You mentioned the Dean Dome -- although you may not be able to get in there, Carmichael Auditorium is almost always open. This is where Jordan played (and a ton of other guys), so it's worth seeing. Carmichael is where South and Raleigh meet -- there is also the dorm Carmichael, which is there too. If you need a better landmark, then stand on the street out in front of the Bell Tower (South), face it, and then turn to the left and walk along that sidewalk. You'll see the SRC, then Fetzer Gym, then Woollen Gym, and then Carmichael Auditorium. If you can't get into Carmichael through the front doors (which are actually on the side), then there's always a way to get in through Fetzer Gym.

Have fun!

-JD

If you plan to eat a triple gambler, make sure your doctor prescribes a cholesterol lowering drug before you go. The tea is pre-sweetened, and it is very good. Since it's hard to get pre-sweetened tea in PA, I thought I'd warn you so you don't dump in a pack or two of sugar before you start. That could lead to immediate pancreatic collapse.

Michael Jordan owns a restaurant called "23" that is located downtown also.

<small>[ July 25, 2002, 05:17 PM: Message edited by: The Bomber ]</small>

just a question on gear here...

i need a new bball jersey, what are my options like? are there any choices when it comes to nike liscenced(spelling, sorry!) gear?

like around here there is just one # (for awhile it was 5 for cota, and 15 for carter), are there any more options in the stores down there?

same thing for football jerseys, im still sportin the old #10 for oscar davenport and that horrid interlocking NC jersey for bball, with #22 for Curry on it.... so u see my need to update my gear! although most of the people around here have no idea anyway!

sorry if this is a weird post guys! hopefully someone will understand what im blabbing about! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />

I understand, but I'm not that familiar with the merchandise. You might want to check the following links:

<a href="http://www.johnnytshirt.com/" target="_blank">http://www.johnnytshirt.com/</a>
<a href="http://www.shrunkenhead.com/" target="_blank">http://www.shrunkenhead.com/</a>

Hope you find something you like.

does anyone have that "jerseys in the rafters" dvd or whatever it is called... do you think it is worth it?

thanks alot for the help guys!

Ben: I've got some free time this weekend (dog and house-sitting at my mom's house), so I'm gonna get my DVD from there and watch it sometime. I'll let you know what I think....

-JD

Wow, JD gave a great run down of this heaven that I live in called Chapel Hill! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[Cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/cheers.gif" />

Ben,
I don't know if you will be able to get into the Dean Dome, especially on a Sunday. Most likely is will be locked, but sometimes you will get lucky and a friendly security guard may let you in to look around, or there will be a camp going on there, etc. The best thing to do if the main doors aren't open, would be to walk around towards the back of the Dean Dome (there is a sidewalk between the Dean Dome and the swimming pool which is directly to the left) and see if the basketball offices are open. If they are, the people may may help you take a peek inside.

<small>[ July 26, 2002, 11:18 AM: Message edited by: hoops13 ]</small>

Ben: You told me you wouldn't be back for a week, but I don't know if you were kidding or not. I ended up watching Jerseys in the Rafters on Saturday night, so I thought you might want my insight about that.

The DVD is mostly interviews of former players talking about each other (plus Dean, Gut, etc.) mixed in with footage. It's very raw in that you can tell they took the first take on these interviews. In one of them, Dean is babbling and tripping over his tongue in typical Dean fashion. Some may have liked it more if it were a little more polished, but I liked it the way it was.

The only issue I had with it at all was that nobody wanted to say anything bad about anyone -- and that makes me question the accuracy (or bias, rather) of some of the comments. I'm not sure everything was as rosy red as it was made out to be....

Overall, though, it seems to be a great firsthand account of former Carolina greats. It's definitely worth getting.

-JD

How about a trip report when you get back, Ben.

BTTT for Ben.

-JD

How'd it go?

Yean, Ben, start a new thread to tell us how it went. I am interestd to hear.

From what I hear, it went quite well. Should be some good stories to hear from our good friend Ben....

-JD