Klemnop needs some (Duke campus) advice

[Klemnop]

Hi all,

I'm bringing the family up to the Triangle this weekend to take in the UNC-Clemson football game. We've got some time to kill on Saturday morning and I'd like to take my kids on an informal tour of the Duke campus (my oldest is a high school Soph, my middle one heading into high school next year) - so they're finally to the stage that they're interested in this kind of thing.

Any advice on how to do this? Where can I park that's central and/or convenient and/or allowed? If I get my hands on a map of the campus are there any places I should make sure to walk by (CIS is an obvious one.)

Is there a place on campus/near campus where you'd recommend a casual lunch?

Basically, any tips are appreciated!

Thanks,

Klem

[El_Diablo]

Quick tour:
You can park at the Bryan Center--the student union--on Science Drive. From there, you can tour the Chapel (it's next to the BC) and then go straight out of the Chapel towards the bus stop. Going left at the bus stop will take you to the academic quad and the libraries (if you want to check those out). Going right will take you to the residential quads. If you go straight through on the main residential quad, you will emerge onto Towerview Rd. Cross the street to get to Wilson Rec Center, and on the right is Cameron. Then on the other side is Wallace Wade football stadium. Make your way back to Towerview, turn back onto Science Drive and go back to the Bryan Center. Buy some Duke gear in the Duke University Store to commemorate your visit and wear it to the UNC game later that day. :)

If you have more time, you could also check out the Nasher Art Museum on Campus Drive between Alexander and Anderson.

There are some good options for brunch/lunch near campus:
-Elmo's (Ninth)
-Nosh (Erwin)
-Mad Hatter's (Main)
-Vin Rouge (Ninth and Hillsborough)

[sagegrouse]

This map (http://maps.duke.edu/)could be helpful, but you may find more detailed ones at duke.edu.

Entering campus: always seems to be the hardest problem on any campus. Lets assume you are at the intersection of US 15-501 and NC-751. Head towards Duke. The second light is Science Drive.

For Plan A, turn left. Proceed several blocks until there is a very obvious parking garage on the right (Bryan Center garage), which has public parking. This is in the center of West Campus (the Gothic Campus dating from ca. 1930).

It is a very short walk to the main quadrangle, headed by the Duke Chapel. You should start your visit there. It is a Gothic chapel, consisting only of stone, mortar, glass and metal (lead?).

As you stand facing the Chapel, the residential quadrangles, Bryan Center (student center) are on your left. The older academic buildings, including the library, are on your right. Immediately to the right of the chapel is (natch) the Divinty School, which has its own architectural attractions. Next is Perkins Library, a mamoth compled and one of the largest libraries anywhere.

There are regularly scheduled tours of the campus, which are on the Web site.

For Plan B, turn right into the parking lot of the Washington Duke Inn and Golf Club (which BTW is worth checking out). Park in the lot there (you probably won't be challenged). Then cross NC-751 and head at a 30 degree angle to the right across the athletic fields.

When you come to buildings, the first one is Cameron. You won't believe how small it looks. The other athletic buildings surround it. Not sure what's open or available for tour.

Past Cameron is a greensward labeled K-Ville. At the left, there is an 8-story tower where K's office is located. Cross the parking lot ahead and then Towerview Drive and enter through the portal into the first residential quad. Keep going straight under the clock tower and you will reach the Main Quad.

Others are far more current than I am, but "Welcome to Duke." :D

sagegrouse

[OldPhiKap]

Make sure to take a stroll around the Sarah Duke Gardens -- there is a path behind the Allen Building that will bring you down there -- very relaxing and there should still be some bloomage left.

Chapel's a must -- beware of weddings on Saturday afternoons where you may not be able to get in or walk around like you would want. So you may want to hit that early.

Have a great trip. Clemson is a beautiful campus as well, and Death Valley overlooking Lake Hartwell is a wonderful venue for sports. (I really like what y'all did with Littlejohn as well -- the Duke game I went to a few years ago was very intense and the facilities were magnificent).

- OPK

[DukieInKansas]

Personally, one of my favorite views is from the circle as you make the turn onto Chapel Drive and get the first view of the chapel at the end of the road.

http://images.travelpod.com/users/modernnomad67/5.1219422480.chapel-drivex-duke-university.jpg

Actually, my favorite view is inside Cameron with the scoreboard showing 0:00 and Duke has more points than their opponent. :D

[30scheyer]

Just a heads up that Duke students are on fall break this weekend, so one might not find the same energy on campus.

[devildeac]

Personally, one of my favorite views is from the circle as you make the turn onto Chapel Drive and get the first view of the chapel at the end of the road.

http://images.travelpod.com/users/modernnomad67/5.1219422480.chapel-drivex-duke-university.jpg

Actually, my favorite view is inside Cameron with the scoreboard showing 0:00 and Duke has more points than their opponent. :D

This view is what convinced me in November of my senior year in HS many decades ago that I wanted to be here for the next 4 years of my life. That and the academics/reputation 'cuz it sure wasn't the MBB at that time.

Oh, and Klemnop, all the above suggestions are great ones, just be sure to wear clothes, even if the Tiggers do beat the 'heels in Chappaheeya.;)

[Indoor66]

I can't add to the advice you have gotten but want to chime in and say it is great to see you with a post on the board. Please don't be a stranger. I keep waiting for the streak! Maybe this is the year.

Go Clemson, Beat the holes.

[Dev11]

Also, don't be scared to try to walk into Cameron. Not sure if it will be open on Saturday (its normally left open during weekday business hours), but try all the big wooden doors on both sides. If its open, you can walk right in and stand on the court, just obey whatever signs are up about staying away from certain spots. Don't be thrown off by the fact that the national championship banners are off center, you're coming a week before they hang #4.

[IrishDevil]

Prior posts have covered the major highlights, but a few other sights to consider:

From the traffic circle there at chapel drive, head down campus drive instead and take a look around East Campus. The Gothic wonderland of West Campus is lovely, but since all freshmen live on East, any prospective student might want to take a look. Lilly Library (North from the bus stop, West end of main circle) and the Marketplace (a sort of freshmen student union, East end of main circle) are the highlights. Baldwin auditorium at the North end of campus is nice as well. With those for a sense of history, the Ark, located behind the Marketplace, was home to the first Duke basketball game. I think it is now a dance studio; Brodie gymnasium functions as the student gym on East Campus. Dormitories

Depending on interests of prospective students, you might also consider the Levine Science Research Center (LSRC), most easily found by walking down the stairs at the far end of the cul-de-sac at the end of science drive, or the Sanford Public Policy building, located at the corner of Towerview and Science Drive.

[OZZIE4DUKE]

Depending on interests of prospective students, you might also consider the Levine Science Research Center (LSRC), most easily found by walking down the stairs at the far end of the cul-de-sac at the end of science drive, or the Sanford Public Policy building, located at the corner of Towerview and Science Drive.
And if science/engineering/medicine oriented, see the Fitzpatrick CIEMAS buildings, located on Science Drive across from Hudson Hall - the (old) engineering school. CIEMAS = Center for Interdisciplinary Engineering, Medicine and Applied Sciences. Built a few years ago to encourage the interaction of E, M and S, the labs there are nothing short of phenomenal. The robotics lab, with their award winning "wall climbing" and "under sea" robotic entries, is just inside the entrance of one of the two buildings and you can look into the lab through a large window facing the lobby (two buildings face each other with a small courtyard in between. The courtyard path also leads up to the Perkins Library on the main quad, so you can access CIEMAS from the Library area).

Have fun and enjoy!

[Klemnop]

Thanks to all. I knew I could count on you.

I especially appreciate the advice about checking the doors on CIS - so long as I won't attract undue attention from officials. I'd love for my family to be able to see the gym.

I, myself, have had the pleasure of multiple trips - including twice as the beat writer for The Tiger - to CIS during my days at Clemson. I wish I knew then what I know now...because I would have tried to enjoy the experience of having The Crazies breathing down my neck for three hours instead of being completely intimidated by the experience. :)

Klem

[DukeUsul]

They never get on people for trying to get into Cameron, unless there's a closed practice going on. Definitely try to get in.

Lots of good advice so far. If you're going in the morning, definitely park on West Campus behind the Bryan Center. I'd recommend touring West Campus and the Gardens. Then hop the bus at the bus stop to take it down Campus Dr. to East Campus. That's where all the freshmen are, so it's important to see. For lunch, I'd recommend not getting in your car and getting off campus - keep that parking spot so you don't have to fight game traffic later. From East Campus it's a short walk two blocks West to get to Ninth St. Some good options there like Elmo's Diner (casual), Vin Rouge (fancier) and Dale's (Indian). Or if you're on West Campus around lunch time, walk out LaSalle St. away from campus (the science-y research-y side of campus) toward Erwin Rd. There you'll find Nosh (casual and good), Friday's, Chipotle, and assorted others.

Nosh:
http://goo.gl/maps/5TZK

Elmo's Diner:
http://goo.gl/maps/YuY1

[DukieInKansas]

When I was there for the Alabama game, I got a chance to see the chapel in the Divinity School. It is very nice. In the courtyard out the back, there is a statue depicting the Prodigal son being welcomed by his father. This is in honor of the Center for Reconciliation.

[Devil in the Blue Dress]

Prior posts have covered the major highlights, but a few other sights to consider:

From the traffic circle there at chapel drive, head down campus drive instead and take a look around East Campus. The Gothic wonderland of West Campus is lovely, but since all freshmen live on East, any prospective student might want to take a look. Lilly Library (North from the bus stop, West end of main circle) and the Marketplace (a sort of freshmen student union, East end of main circle) are the highlights. Baldwin auditorium at the North end of campus is nice as well. With those for a sense of history, the Ark, located behind the Marketplace, was home to the first Duke basketball game. I think it is now a dance studio; Brodie gymnasium functions as the student gym on East Campus. Dormitories

Depending on interests of prospective students, you might also consider the Levine Science Research Center (LSRC), most easily found by walking down the stairs at the far end of the cul-de-sac at the end of science drive, or the Sanford Public Policy building, located at the corner of Towerview and Science Drive.

If I remember correctly, one of the first, if not the first, football game for the new Duke University was on Hanes Field on the East Campus.

[78Devil]

It is Fall Break this weekend, so that is both "good" and "bad". Parking should not be a problem. Restaurants shouldn't be too crowded. My daughter, who is a senior, tells me that almost everyone she knows is leaving.

But it means that student attendance at the football game will be really low, and that your kids may feel like its a "dead" campus because it won't have the hum of a bunch of kids playing frisbie on a beautiful fall day, etc. Make sure they know this won't be typical.

Also, they have really expanded the "hang out space" between Bryan Center and the quad. There are a bunch of swinging covered benches. I was there last weekend, and it was a beautiful day. We just sat on those benches, swinging, drinking a beer and watching the world go by. Lucky for us, that included a bunch of the basketball players doing a photo shoot! Maybe you guys will be that lucky....

[77devil]

Oh, and Klemnop, all the above suggestions are great ones, just be sure to wear clothes, even if the Tiggers do beat the 'heels in Chappaheeya.;)

Beat me to it. :D

Can't add anything to the excellent travel logs already posted unless you want to go tunneling, but you and the brood could end up on double secret probation.

If the doors to CIS are locked try to enter Card Gym next door and go down the stairs where there is an underground passage into CIS. Sometimes its open, sometimes it's not.

[Duvall]

It is Fall Break this weekend, so that is both "good" and "bad". Parking should not be a problem. Restaurants shouldn't be too crowded. My daughter, who is a senior, tells me that almost everyone she knows is leaving.

But it means that student attendance at the football game will be really low...

It's a bye week for Duke.

[SharkD]

Undergraduate Admissions (http://map.duke.edu/?x=469.33&y=-291.44&z=3&w=1163&h=600&new.x=585&new.y=313), on Campus Drive, just east of the traffic circle on Campus drive has an after-hours 'bird house' on its front steps that contains decent walking maps of West and East Campus. (For some reason, though, the map omits Gross Chemistry, which was built in 1968, so you'd think someone would have noticed that it's there by now.)

Parking on campus is nearly impossible (even for employees) Parking Garage IV (http://parking.duke.edu/parking/visitor_parking/index.php), near the Bryan Center (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=bryan+center+parking+garage+duke&sll=36.001466,-78.941719&sspn=0.002621,0.004195&ie=UTF8&split=1&filter=0&rq=1&ev=p&radius=0.14&hq=bryan+center+parking+garage+duke&hnear=&ll=36.001644,-78.941907&spn=0.002621,0.004195&t=h&z=18) is open to the public, though you may have to pay to park.

As for restaurants, I'll quote myself:

Durham has had an explosion of great restaurants over the last couple of years.

See this post in a related thread: http://www.dukebasketballreport.com/forums/showpost.php?p=348635&postcount=17

Around campus, I'd suggest:

Elmo's
Dain's Place (best burgers in Durham, aside from the OnlyBurger truck)
The Mad Hatter
International Palace (ethiopian food)
Alivia's Bistro
Parker and Otis (a boutique grocery with a fantastic sandwich counter)
Tosca (italian) [sadly, sold/closed in August 2010]
Q-Shack
Dale's Indian (though Sitar India Palace is much better)
Guglhupf
El Cuscatleco
Cosmic Cantina
Chubby's Tacos
Rockwood Filling Station (great Neapolitan pizza, from the owner/chef of Nana's) [sold/closed in early 2010]


Further afield, you should consider:

Rue Cler (I think they're serving lunch, now, in addition to dinner)
Dos Perros
Mellow Mushroom (even though it's a chain)
Mami Nora's
Bullock's


http://www.urbanspoon.com/g/25/1900/Research-Triangle/Chapel-Hill-Durham-restaurants -- good list, though not complete

http://carpedurham.com/ -- Durham restaurant blog run by Duke Law students/alumni


A Great General Durham Blog: http://www.bullcityrising.com/

Durham Architectural History Blog: http://endangereddurham.blogspot.com/

Durham Social/Art Happenings: http://www.durhamsocialite.com/

For Duke paraphenalia, visit the University Store (http://www.dukestores.duke.edu/retail/universitystore/) in the Bryan Student Center and the Duck Shop (http://www.theduckshop.net/), located on Ninth Street, across from Perry Street.

When I moved back to Durham, from D.C. in 2006, Gourmet magazine's list of the top 50 restaurants in the nation had more Durham and Chapel Hill selections than D.C.-metro area choices.

Between Four Square, Magnolia Grill, Nana's, Parizade, Revolution, Rue Cler, Piedmont, Pop's, Watts Grocery, Tosca and Parizade, there's plenty of upscale dining.

Satisfaction, Bull McCabe's, the James Joyce, the Federal, Tyler's Taproom (chain), City Beverage and the Green Room, to name a few, there's plenty of good bars.

Lots of good ethnic food too: International Palace (ethiopian), Cosmic Cantina (the original), International Delights (best kebab house south of D.C.'s Moby Dick), Verde (new-wave italian), Sitar India Palace, El Cuscatleco, Chamas Churrascaria, Papas Grille (greek), Taverna Nikos (greek), and Dos Perros.

Dain's on 9th has great burgers. Elmo's has great all-day breakfast.

Plus, you have Bullock's, Old N.C. BBQ and the Original Q-Shack.

Most Durhamites are secretly happy about Durham's "bad reputation" — which is amazing, considering that it's been named the best place to live, the foodiest town and the best educated town in America — it keeps the masses out.

Here's my favorite example of how Durham is depicted:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8-OwTpKvHs (via BCR: Durham & Duke: New web site fans flames of ignorance (http://www.bullcityrising.com/2007/06/durham-duke-whe.html))

[chrisheery]

Personally, one of my favorite views is from the circle as you make the turn onto Chapel Drive and get the first view of the chapel at the end of the road.

http://images.travelpod.com/users/modernnomad67/5.1219422480.chapel-drivex-duke-university.jpg

Actually, my favorite view is inside Cameron with the scoreboard showing 0:00 and Duke has more points than their opponent. :D

I first saw this view with my parents when I was in the 7th grade (went for TIP award, I think), and I thought Duke was magical ever since. I remember going on the tour prior to choosing to go to Duke and seeing that view again. I was amazed that it was unchanged from the image in my mind and it was still magical to me. I used to look out from the East-West bus as it turned right from the circle and stare at the chapel. I still can't believe how lucky I was to go there.

[Jim3k]

I first saw this view with my parents when I was in the 7th grade (went for TIP award, I think), and I thought Duke was magical ever since. I remember going on the tour prior to choosing to go to Duke and seeing that view again. I was amazed that it was unchanged from the image in my mind and it was still magical to me. I used to look out from the East-West bus as it turned right from the circle and stare at the chapel. I still can't believe how lucky I was to go there.

Cherokee Parks often mentioned that view as his 'wow!' when he first saw Duke. I think read one of this year's recruits mentioned it, too...Hairston? Irving? Or maybe Rivers (for next year).

[DukeUsul]

I like it in the snow even better.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4320945127_e1e911d378.jpg

[DukieInKansas]

I like it in the snow even better.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4320945127_e1e911d378.jpg

Yes, it is even better in the snow.

Does anyone have a digital image of the clock tower when it was turned into a Mickey Mouse clock? I need to see if I still have my negatives from that roll of film.