Go Hog Wild 2002

[Christi]

Friday, Sept. 20,2002

Vendor set-up from 1 to 5 pm

Get together at 7 pm, location to be announced

Saturday, Sept. 21, 2002

8:30 am to 5 pm

Seminars and vendors, Union Street Art Gallery, 1655 Union Avenue, Chicago
Heights, IL Topics include: ask a vet, WHS, Alternative Therapies.
Appointments with an animal communicator will also be available on Saturday.

Evening

6 pm banquet at Lorenzetti's - just minutes from the Gallery on Route 30.
Family style, soup, salad, bread, relish tray, roast chicken, roast beef,
Italian sausage, Rigatoni with marinara sauce, potatoes, veggies, beverage,
dessert. $25 per person adults, $12.50 children. Silent auction to be held
at the banquet to benefit multiple hedgehog groups.

Sunday, Sept. 22, 2002

All events at the Union Street Art Gallery

Tentative schedule

Two IHA shows - one at 9 am and another at 1 pm

Mealie Awards (Costume contest) at noon

IHOG from 9 to noon - run the course anytime during the time period

Vendors all day

HOTEL INFORMATION

This has changed!!!!

There are now two hotel choices if you have pets. BUT - there are some other
considerations. So, here's the info:

Red Roof Inn, Lansing, IL. $56.99 for 2 adults and one pet. Call
1-800-733-7663 for reservations. The group code is B078000762 and the group
name is GOHOGWILD. You must reserve your room by Aug. 18, 2002. Torrence
Avenue exit on I-80/I-94.

Baymont Inn, Matteson, IL. $74 per room. All rooms are smoking rooms
because those are the only ones that allow pets. Lobby breakfast, in room
coffee included. In room irons (what are those??) and hair dryers. Call
708-503-0999 by Aug. 18, 2002. Group code is GOHOGWILD. Route 30/Lincoln
Highway East exit on I-57.

Additional places to consider if you are not bringing hedgehogs. None of
these accept pets. We found that the rates available online were generally
the same or better than the group rates offered. All are at exits on I-57 or
I-80 equal driving time from Union Street.

In Matteson (all at the same intersection).

Holiday Inn with Holidome 708-747-3500 (web site says they take pets -
but they definitely do NOT)

Country Inn and Suites 800-456-4000

Hampton Inn 708-481-3900

In Monee at the Monee/Manhattan Road exit on I-57

Super 8 708-534-1900 This one does NOT take pets.

Best Western 708-534-3500 (Has only a few pet rooms available.)

Maybe (if it's ready) the new Holiday Inn Express. They usually accept
hedgehogs.

Lansing at the Torrence Avenue Exit on I-80/I-94

Best Western Chicago South 708-895-7810

Extended Stay America 708-895-6402

Fairfield Inn 708-474-6900

Now some considerations -

The motels are about equal time/distance from Union Street Gallery and The
Ranch. However - if you are NOT driving, there are other considerations.

You can get to the Baymont from O'Hare or Midway Airports using the Tri-State
Coach. It stops at the Holiday Inn across the parking lot from the Baymont
about every 2 hours during the day. The bus is about $30 round trip - but
they were just bought by another company so I'm not sure if that will change
by September. Baymont Inn rates also include a continental breakfast in the
lobby.

There is no scheduled bus service to Lansing - a limo from Midway is supposed
to run about $20 one way. A cab can easily cost twice that depending on
traffic.

Same with Monee - no bus service. Although you could take the bus to
Matteson and then a cab.

We'll have to work out car pools to/from Union Street for those without cars.

All motels are at Interstate Exits.


Bus Info :

Tri-State Coach, the regional bus
from O'Hare and MIdway airports to Matteson for Go Hog Wild. In case anyone
else needs the info --

pets are allowed as long as they are in an airline
approved carrier that will fit under an airline seat (and thus under a bus
seat). They are charged the regular adult bus fare according to the brochure.

However -- Tri State has never charged me when I have had pets on board. My
two carriers look more like luggage (one a Sherpa bag, the other a wheeled
carryon) so that might be the reason. I prefer NOT taking my hedgehogs out
for everyone to see so I'm usually pretty quiet about their presence.

One other note -- the Baymont offers a 10% discount for AAA or AARP members
-- so if you belong to either make sure to ask for the discount. You can use
the extra $7.40 a night for more mealworms ;-)