<p>Well my name is no longer accurate as my daughter is now a senior. Cannot believe how fast the time has gone. If by chance there are any parents on here who have had a child graduate already, (not sure why you would be unless you have another child in the school),a quick question. How far in advance did you book hotels for a May graduation date? Also restaurants for a post ceremony celebration? I know you have to book months in advance for Parent's Wekend and afraid it might be the same for graduation. Thanks so much.</p>
<p>Book both as soon as you can. Good hotels close to campus sell out early. As to restaurants, make sure you get written confirmation of your reservation via email. We had a group of 13 family and friends and needed dinner/lunch/brunch reservations over several days. One of our dinners mysteriously disappeared from the reservation list two weeks before commencement; they had even called my D two weeks before to confirm yet they somehow lost the reservation. </p>
<p>We had to scramble and ended up using a connection my daughter had with a high profile Columbia family that she nannied for to get the new reservation. We ended up in a suburban restaurant and it was the best meal we had in four years of visiting Columbia. It was at a restaurant called Solstice Kitchen and Wine Bar and it was fabulous…food was great, service was outstanding. Every meal came out hot, cooked right and delicious…trying to satisfy 13 people, several of whom are VERY picky is not an easy task and everyone raved about the food and the place.</p>
<p>They are owned by the same people that own Mr Friendly’s in Five Points. HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend Solstice Kitchen and Wine bar</p>
<p>[Solstice</a> Kitchen](<a href=“http://www.solsticekitchen.com%5DSolstice”>http://www.solsticekitchen.com)</p>
<p>Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions. We had mostly good experiences and one AWFUL dinner in a place that was not adequately prepared for the high number of large groups that are seeking reservations that weekend.</p>
<p>Thanks eadad. I better get on it. We are coming from NJ and I have family in other states saying they want to come, need to find a place where I can reserve a block of rooms I think. Great suggestion about written confirmation at restaurants, would not have thought about that. Still trying to get the actual date and time for my DD’s graduation. Not easy booking all this without that, and without a definite number of people coming.<br>
Solstice Kitchen looks good, have not eaten there either.</p>