Local hotels full; Union Board plans activities

By Shawn Adderly

Finding things to do this weekend with mom should not be too much trouble. However, finding a room to stay in might prove quite a challenge.

Local calls placed to check for availability at some hotels such as the Hampton Inn and the Holiday Inn Express Hotel did not have any availability for Moms Weekend.

The Illini Union hotel’s website states that all rooms are full for Moms Day 2009, and that the hotel will conduct a lottery on April 17 for room reservations for Moms Day 2010.

The best bet for finding somewhere to stay is in Danville or Rantoul, which appear to have availability after calling a few hotels to check for rooms available. However, these hotels are considerably far from the Urbana-Champaign area.

Jacob Daugherty, manager at Radio Maria in downtown Champaign, said he expects that his restaurant will be busy during Moms Weekend.

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“There are more groups and sororities, organizing events for their moms. We expect to be full that night,” Daugherty said.

Some restaurants closer to campus such as Timpone’s offer a changing menu each day.

Another restaurant, Biaggi Ristorante Italiano, expects to be full, but they will accept walk-ins according to staff.

Some other places students might want to take their moms to are the University’s 57-acre arboretum. The Japan House, located in the arboretum, will be giving free tours of the gardens, and tea ceremonies will be performed at various times of the day.

“The Illini Union Board has many activities that will be held during Moms Weekend that will appeal to a wide range of interests,” said Sayo Chaoka, junior in Engineering, and a student chair of one of the Illini Union Board’s committees.

“If your mother is interested in arts and crafts, we will be having a craft fair. If she likes to bowl, the rec room will be open early.”

There will also be a dance held in the Illini Union Ballroom featuring student performers and live music for moms who want to dance or just sit and relax.

No matter what you choose to do this weekend with mom there is a lot to do in Urbana-Champaign. Even if you can’t find a hotel, many events start early in the day, so a day trip down might still be worth it.