I looked around Raleigh Parks and Rec site some more. Looks like you can get an alcohol permit but it's $50. And other parks say "consumption of alcohol on City of Raleigh property is prohibited and you'll be arrested". So it's $50 plus you have to rent a shelter or a facility. Which might still be cheaper if split than paying $5/pint at a local brewery but probably not worth the hassle.
Dam. Thanks J for heading that up, much appreciated. I'm starting to think that a local brewery might actually be more friendly to bringing in a little homebrew (and letting others purchase if they so choose) than places that are typically not beer-friendly at all.
Now, I have located a place in RTP where we could have a meeting that I know is beer-and-food-friendly, called "The Frontier". But these folks are in the business of selling meeting space - so I'd have to check and see what, if anything, they might be interested in providing for free. The only real bummer about this is gettting there would be equally challenging from all points of the triangle, given that they are located at Park Offices in RTP (near where the old Governor's Inn used to be).
You know, I've often thought I wanted to turn my own garage into a place where I could have friends over, serve them homebrew from a tap and have great conversation, play table-tennis or watch a movie or something. People seem to be so reluctant to allow generally any kind of brew that I'm realizing this is a good idea.
But, I live in Youngsville, which is Bumfuck's Bumfuck for most people, so again we're talking a need to drive a car in many cases....(I would bike it, but then I'm crazy that way... :-) )
Otherwise, I can't really think of anywhere that you can drink (legally) that's free. Although there are always some guys in the park near me sipping on 40's or tall boys, so maybe it's okay? ;)
The way you said that is hilarious, even if the topic isn't. Bwahahaha....