OK,
Trying to make this work again, as I really want to go. My mom sounds willing to come with me (she split an SSSS membership with me) but wants a proper place to stay, like a Mariott or Best Western. Is there one of those closish by Roto?

Also, do we know how the exclusives are going to work? I've heard you'll likely need to be at Roto earlier in the day to get a ticker for the exclusives line?

Awesome, thanks for the heads up. I think my mom's got the hotel thing figured out to her liking. I know she wants the awesome guitar-wielding suited alien custom that is up on toybot... probably a one-off.

Prometheum5...your mom is waaaay cooler than my mom. My mom's response to my toy collection: "What is this garbage?"

Haha, thanks. She likes the Kaiju stuff and some of the Brayn-Flynn-type stuff, and seems to be more appreciative of the small scale and hand-made artist aspect of it than, say, a stupid vintage robot toy. She made me get a blank suited alien figure to paint up in black-tie formal wear, and was pretty stoked when she saw that guitar-toting custom this morning. She likes the silly and cute side of it all...

I can recommend any of the three Kimpton hotels in Chicago. We usually try to stay at one of them when we go in for a concert or whatever. Especially like the Burnham.

http://www.kimptonhotels.com/hotels/hotels-chicago.aspx

That is great that you Mom shares and is supportive of your interests. I have always had a great relationship with my parents (who are now approaching their 90's), and tried to emulate that relationship with my own kids (who are both in their 20's).

My parents suggested that they take me to the first rock concert I ever attended: the Beatles in Detroit.