<p>[New</a> Owner Plans $6M Renovation of Hilton Orrington - Business - Evanston, IL Patch](<a href=“http://evanston.patch.com/groups/business-news/p/new-owner-plans-6m-renovation-of-hilton-orrington]New”>New Owner Plans $6M Renovation of Hilton Orrington | Evanston, IL Patch)</p>
<p>No problem, momof3sons, I’m happy to oblige! The first time we went to Evanston (for accepted students weekend in April 2010) we stayed in the Hilton Garden on Maple. They had a special rate ($130ish?) for two nights and a shuttle to the campus, which we didn’t need because, believe it or not, the weather was fabulous. The room was very nice, but we had to pay for parking and there was no breakfast (or just limited continental). While we were there, we went to the AAA office on Sherman to get local maps, and the wonderful Ms. Minsky, whom we now visit every year, said “You know, you can stay in Skokie for much less, and it’s only 3 miles away.” Since then, we have always stayed at the Comfort Inn, which is now the Rodeway, in Skokie. They have rooms with one queen or one king or two double beds. Since my son will join us from the left coast, we will all stay in one room with two doubles. Each room has a frig and a microwave. There is an indoor pool and free breakfast (eggs, make your own waffles, yogurt, limited fruit, cereal, toast, bagels, etc.). The Jewel/Osco is across the street, and it is down the road from the Old Orchard Mall. Is it a little worn around the edges? Yes, but it’s clean, the people are really nice, and it is literally 3 miles from the NU campus. Sure I would rather stay in Evanston, but when I think of what I can do with almost $900 more (and that is not including the $22 a night for parking at the Orrington), I just can’t bring myself to do it. I have also heard from a lot of people that the Best Western in Evanston is awful. I don’t know how the Rodeway (Comfort Inn) compares to the Doubletree, which is right next door in Skokie, but I found this review on tripadvisor:</p>
<p>“I travel to this area 2 - 3 times each year. Heretofore, I have always stayed at the Doubletree Hotel next door, which is a fine place. This time, because of a $50.00/day price difference, I decided to try this hotel (now called simply the Hotel Skokie as, I presume, it is no longer affiliated with the Comfort Inn brand). I really can’t say that my stay here was much different from my previous stays at the Doubletree. Yes, the Doubletree is a bit more “posh,” but my room here was about equally clean, quiet, and comfortable.”</p>
<p>In the summer we have typically rented cabins in NH, Vermont, and the Adirondacks with few/no frills but with a kitchen (that makes me happy), so I don’t ask for much. If anyone else has ever stayed at the Comfort Inn, please add your thoughts. It might not be for everyone, but I thought I’d throw it out there as an option. For the three big grad nights, it’s $189.99 a night. For the Wednesday, it’s $119.99. If you go there when the Wildcats play the Iowa Hawkeyes, the whole place is filled with friendly Iowans (I’m from the east, where no one is THAT friendly). I hope this is helpful to some. And yes, they still have rooms. But if you want the Orrington, I canceled yesterday, so maybe the room is still open.</p>
<p>We loved our son’s graduation from NU last month! The all-NU ceremony on Friday was interesting, but the best part was his Weinberg college’s ceremony, when he got to go (quickly!) across the stage and have his name announced. (On stage, they just got a diploma cover, and got their actual diploma after the ceremony, in exchange for returning their gown.)
My son had a second major in a very small department, and he chose to get his “diploma” on stage from the chairman of that small department. This made it much easier to spot him in the Weinberg crowd of 1,000 or so students. Students in each major walk in behind their major’s “flag” and sit together – though we were sitting with his GF’s family and they spotted her (via her curly long hair) in one of the largest majors.
The professional photos from the Weinberg ceremony turned out beautifully. We got the “background option” of the classic NU arch, and it really does look like our S is standing in front of the arch.
Also liked a reception for the small department and a very nice (free!) luncheon at the Orrington for his large major. It was nice to finally meet a couple of his profs.
Couple words of advice for future graduates’ families – we parked off campus and walked to an NU shuttle in downtown Evanston, and got on quickly. But there were long lines for shuttles on campus, especially on the north end (just like NU football shuttles if you’ve been to a game.) And we ate dinner Friday night in downtown Chicago to avoid the Evanston crowd. (We stayed with relatives, so no hotel issues.)<br>
All in all, a great couple of days.</p>