<p>That time is rapidly approaching.</p>
<p>Anyone find any tolerable hotel deals for that weekend? We can't find anything decent below $200, and most are a lot more.</p>
<p>Any other CC parents going to be there?</p>
<p>Last year the downtown hotels were $200 or more (the Ritz had a great [for the Ritz] deal for U of C parents) for graduation weekend, but the airport hotels were less. The Midway Airport strip of hotels (and some are quite nice) is generally less expensive than the downtown hotels. Have you checked the McCormick Place Hyatt, they sometimes have weekend rooms less than $200, especially if you have AAA or some other loyalty plan. Enjoy graduation..its an incredible experience that I look forward to repeating in 3 years!</p>
<p>runnersmom,</p>
<p>Thanks for the tip. You prompted me to go to the Convocation website, where I found this years list. they have deals at the Hyatt McCormick place, $199/night and the Homewood Suite on east Grand at $179. Homewood sounds like a good deal, but with a longer drive to the campus.</p>
<p>At the actual convocation for undergrads, do they just read off the names and hand out diplomas, or do they have recognition of fellowship winners and such?</p>
<p>Newmassdad,</p>
<p>The Grand isn't far from the Drive if I recall, so the difference in distance won't really matter. Be EARLY on Saturday morning for convocation if you want seats in a favorable area. FWIW we sat just beyond the path surrounding the Harper quad, right next to the recording equipment and in front of the big screen set up for people sitting further back. Although the seats "up front" sound like a good idea, there was absolutely no shade there by the time Convocation actually started and those people were in direct sun the entire time...and it was HOT. We were under a tree, but could still see the whole proceeding without using the TVs. As for the ceremonies, I dug out the program to check about honoraries, fellowships etc. and found, as I thought I had remembered, that they conferred general University Honors on the recipient group as a whole, (i.e., no individual recognition), listed all fellowhips, PBK, grants, Fulbrights etc. in the program, but did not announce, and called each degree candidate to the podium, by name, in their division to receive their (and I mean their, the one with their name, not a blank case) diploma. They alloted enough time for each candidate to cross individually, shake hands, receive their diploma and have their picture taken. Immediately following (it took about 2.5 hours) there were divisional receptions in tents set up on the adjacent quads. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask, and I'll do my best to remember...Oh, if you plan to be there for the Friday Baccalaureate in Rockefeller Chapel, get there EARLY too. The Chapel fills quickly and once full they post students outside to inform you its full. If you made it to the Chapel during O-Week, try to make the bookend for graduation weekend...its worth it.</p>
<p>RM,</p>
<p>Thanks a bunch for the suggestions! Especially regarding the shade. is the ceremony tedious enough that elderly parents may want to skip it and just go to the divisional reception?</p>
<p>It's curious, for the opening speech in O-week, we were able to cram in late and sit just under the podium! Next to me was Ted O'Neill's wife. </p>
<p>How was the event at the Museum of Science and Industry?</p>
<p>If you plan to rent a car anyways, hotwire has 4 star places at O'Hare for about $100 with tax. They all will have free parking. Frankly, if I was coming in June as a parent, I would want to avoid public transport like the plague. Very hot, and parents adding onto ridership that already is barely accomodated in the summer months.</p>
<p>Is parking easily found close to campus for graduation?</p>
<p>As with all events at the University, if you can nab a spot on the Midway, terrific. Otherwise, pay to park at the hospital (we parked one car there for the graduation Baccalaureate) or park in the garage on S Ellis and 57th, across from Ratner. It's free on weekends. That's where we parked for graduation.</p>
<p>rm-- Thank you.</p>
<p>We're going. We always stay at the Midway Strip of hotels. We got two of the small suites -- one for us and one for our son (and our new graduate, I guess) -- at the Holiday Inn Express on Cicero. They were less than $200 per night.</p>