V
My life as graduation planner
Lesson learned: make reservations
By Tracy Brodrick Special to the Kansan
A couple of weeks ago, my friend Amy was complaining about her boyfriend's reluctance to plan any kind of celebration for his graduation this spring.
"He doesn't want to do any big family thing, or anything else, really," she said.
As we discussed the things he doesn't care to do, I realized, Hey! Next year I'm the one walking down the hill, so maybe I should give some thought to what I want to do. And maybe I can help get Amy's boyfriend to change his mind about doing something this year.
With this in mind, I sat down with the trusty yellow pages and spent the better part of two beautiful spring afternoons letting my fingers do the walking.
I started with hotels, because I knew I would need to make reservations early if I didn't want my parents and my four brothers pitching a tent in the park or commuting from a Kansas City area hotel room. I already know I don't want to try fitting all of them in my one-bedroom apartment.
I called every place listed under "hotel," and found, as I suspected, everything full for this year's graduation May 15. Amy's boyfriend is out of luck if he needs to find someplace in town for his family to stay. Overland Park or Lenexa are the nearest possibilities.
For next year, nearly all of the hotels listed recommended making reservations right after graduation this year. The Eldridge Hotel, 701 Massachusetts St., for example, does not book rooms for next year until after commencement, but they already have more than 25 names on a waiting list.
Once Mom, Dad and the boys have a place to stay, what are we going to do to celebrate? Knowing my family, food would have to figure in there somewhere.
I called enough restaurants to learn that reservations should be made at least a month or so in advance, particularly if there will be a large number of people. Groups of four or less can be squeezed in almost any time, but parties of more than 10 should definitely make arrangements ahead of time.
Amy's boyfriend can still plan lunch or dinner now, if he doesn't invite a huge crowd of people.
Some restaurants, I learned, plan special menus for the day. Buffets seem to be popular because they allow a restaurant to feed a great number of people quickly and easily. Fifi's Restaurant, 925 Iowa St., and the American Bistro, 101 W. Seventh St., are two I found having either brunch or dinner buffets for graduation this year. Reservations are still recommended, even for buffets.
On the off chance that my entire family -
aunts, uncles, cousins and all - should decide to make the trip from Nebraska to see me walk down the hill, I looked into larger facilities.
Private dining rooms in restaurants may be hard to find, since many need the extra space for regular diners, but some private clubs offer a variety of options for a private affair.
All that I talked to suggested making plans at least one month in advance, if not sooner. It is definitely too late for Amy's boyfriend to plan anything on this scale.
I spoke with representatives from the Elks (bar and catered buffet are options), the American Legion (no private parties allowed), the VFW (members only may use facility), and Alvamar Country Club(many different possibilities).
I also called Lawrence Parks and Recreation to see what arrangements I would need to make to plan a picnic. I found they have a number of shelters, gazebos, and space in indoor centers available for a fee. Shelters run $20 for a half day, $35 for a whole. Gazebos are $15 for two hours, and are most popular for weddings. Reservations are taken starting Jan. 1, but usually a month ahead will work.
They also have park space, picnic tables, playgrounds and smaller shelters available on a first-come basis. If larger shelters are not reserved, they too can be used on a first-come basis. Just the thing for an informal, last-minute get together.
To keep my brothers entertained, I could get a picnic kit from Parks and Recreation, containing volleyball and softball equip-
ment, frisbees, and a soccer ball – all for a $25 returnable deposit.
Even if I decide to go the easy route of a picnic, I would still need to think about food. I turned to "catering" to see what I could find.
I talked to Chris Lemmon, owner of the Bum Steer Bar-B-Q, 711 W.23rd St. He said that graduation was his busiest day of the year and that he preferred to have arrangements made at least three weeks in advance. He also said it was never really too late to plan something.
I don't think that really includes calling at 8 a.m. on graduation day to squeeze in a party of 300, though, so I'll keep the three-week recommendation in mind.
With a week, or even just a few days notice, I found chicken and the works from KFC and Hardee's, and pizza, pasta, and salad from Valentino's. From those places I called, it looks like fast-food type places can do with the least amount of advanced warning.
After all this calling, I think I have a pretty good idea of what I want to do. And, considering how frazzled I will probably be, it's a good thing I want to keep it simple - a good, old-fashioned picnic in the park with little fuss and little planning.
Amy thinks it's a good idea, too. Now we just have to convince her boyfriend that it's not too late or too much trouble for him to do the same thing.
Tracy Brodrick is a Chadron, Neb., senior majoring in sports information.
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GRADUATION • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN • May 2, 1994