Opening Day hooplah

[pravata]

OD starter "After much deliberation," Garner proclaimed, "The gnawing and nashing of teeth, scribbling it out on paper, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, computer analysis out the gazoo, consulting with the powers that be -- my staff -- and the one who really runs the team -- my wife -- we decided upon Roy Oswalt."

"Before you're all upset about this choice ... let me explain why. I think he would pout if he [wasn't].
The Link

The pregame ceremony, which will include the unveiling on the 2005 National League Championship pennant, will honor the 2005 team but also acknowledge previous Astros championship teams. Past and present players expected to attend include Nolan Ryan, Jose Cruz, Larry Dierker, Craig Biggio, Shane Reynolds, Lance Berkman, Brad Ausmus, Jeff Bagwell and Andy Pettitte.
The Link

No eagle, jets.

[JimR]

speaking of hooplah, what is the agenda for the TZ OD festivities?

[JackAstro]

Quote:
No eagle, jets.

No word on the eagle, but...

"Other pregame activities include a flyover by the 147th Fighter Wing of the Air National Guard and an oversized American flag held and displayed by members of the United States Marines."

[das]

Yes to Jets:
"Other pregame activities include a flyover by the 147th Fighter Wing of the Air National Guard and an oversized American flag held and displayed by members of the United States Marines."

Those are not hot air baloons that will be flying over...

Too bad it's not the 94th Fighter Squadron F-22's from Langley.  They're pretty cool to see.

[HudsonHawk]

Quote:
speaking of hooplah, what is the agenda for the TZ OD festivities?

General Agenda:

14:00 - 16:00:  "QuesoFest '06" at  Spanish Flowers Restaurant

16:00 - 17:30:  Beer somewheres.  I'm taking recommendations as the B.U.S. will likely be crowded as shit.  Any other good places within walking distance to have a brew?

17:30 - 18:00:  Find seat at MMPUS, view pregame festivities, jet fly by.

18:05:  First pitch.

[Andyzipp]

I believe the pre-game bullshit starts 1 hour before first pitch, so you may wish to adjust your schedule accordingly.

[Craig]

I doubt we'll make it to any of the "unofficial" pre-game activities, but my wife and I will be at the game. So here are my tourist questions:

1. We'll be coming down Sunday on Highway 59. Where's a good place to look for middle-of-the-road motels?

2. Should we try to park at MMPUS itself, or do something else?

[Arky Vaughan]

Expect to pay $15, $20 or more on opening day if you're parking within four or five blocks of the ballpark.  If you're willing to walk six or more blocks, you should be able to park for $10 or even $5.

Sorry, I accidently hit "edit" on your post rather than "reply."  I think I put it back like it was.

[NeilT]

You don't lose any time by walking 6 blocks or so--It's far easier to get out of town.  Go south from the stadium, I think.  There are lots of $5 lots.

[Limey]

Quote:
I doubt we'll make it to any of the "unofficial" pre-game activities, but my wife and I will be at the game. So here are my tourist questions:

1. We'll be coming down Sunday on Highway 59. Where's a good place to look for middle-of-the-road motels?

2. Should we try to park at MMPUS itself, or do something else?

If you're coming down from the north, take the Hamilton exit and that'll dump you right by MMPUS.  From there, just trawl around for parking, but the others are correct that a block can mean saving a fiver, or to put it in perspective, one Shiner outside the stadium and half a bigger Shiner inside.

I don't know any good motels, and anyone who says otherwise is lying.

Unless there's a major change in pricing policy, the gouging for Shiners is only incrementally higher inside than out, when you take into account the cost per ounce.  Shiner is more readily available outside, however, and the vendors infinitely hotter.

[Rebel Jew]

Quote:

Quote:
speaking of hooplah, what is the agenda for the TZ OD festivities?

General Agenda:

14:00 - 16:00:  "QuesoFest '06" at  Spanish Flowers Restaurant

16:00 - 17:30:  Beer somewheres.  I'm taking recommendations as the B.U.S. will likely be crowded as shit.  Any other good places within walking distance to have a brew?

17:30 - 18:00:  Find seat at MMPUS, view pregame festivities, jet fly by.

18:05:  First pitch.

can i just say that i don't live in texas anymore, and i've never met any of you in person, but i sure as holy hell wish i could be there?

 thanks for all the intelligent talk over the last few years (YEARS!  has it really been years?).

[Limey]

Quote:
can i just say that i don't live in texas anymore, and i've never met any of you in person, but i sure as holy hell wish i could be there?

 thanks for all the intelligent talk over the last few years (YEARS!  has it really been years?).

Here's the cure:  find a bar, have a Shiner (or micheladas...made with Shiner), strike up a conversation with someone sitting near you, then slam them as being an ignorant tosser.  Voila!  Your own OD extravaganza.

For extra credit, have the Air Force fly overhead and unfurl a banner that says "Go Fuck Youself, San Louis!".

[BudGirl]

Stay away from the 1960 and 59 area.  Stay far away from there.

You know, if Limey was nice, he'd offer to let you stay at his house.

[Limey]

Quote:
Stay away from the 1960 and 59 area.  Stay far away from there.

You know, if Limey was nice, he'd offer to let you stay at his house.

Are you fucking kidding?  The last thing I need is CTB reversing into my t-shirt drawer and "marking" 'em!

[NeilT]

Quote:
I doubt we'll make it to any of the "unofficial" pre-game activities, but my wife and I will be at the game. So here are my tourist questions:

1. We'll be coming down Sunday on Highway 59. Where's a good place to look for middle-of-the-road motels?

2. Should we try to park at MMPUS itself, or do something else?

I've been trying to figure the hotel part out, and I'm a bit baffled.  Here's what I've come up with, though.

1.  Go to The Link  You can search hotels in a particular city, and then you can refine your search by price:  <$100, $100-$200, and you get a ranking that's fairly trustworthy.  It also links on maps to Expedia.  We've always had good luck with finding hotels through TripAdvisor.  

2.  The two cheapest hotels I know of downtown are ClubQuarters and I think a Courtyard by Marriot.  ClubQuarters is about $130 or so.  It's a membership deal.  If you're interested, pm me and I'll figure it out--we're corporate members and I think I can make reservations.  If money is not an object I'd get a reservation at the Inn at the Ballpark.  The lobby of that place is cool.

3.  For middle of the road hotels, look out between Reliant Center and the Medical Center, and out near George Bush nee' intercontinental airport.  There's one of everything out near intercontinental, and it's only a short diversion down Beltway 8 off of 59.  The advantage of the medical center would be taking the train downtown, and there's one of pretty much everything over in there, too.  You wouldn't have to worry so much about the number of Shiners consumed with the train.  For two of you you'd save $1 on parking, which is 1/8th of a Ballpark Shiner.  Unless, of course, prices have gone up.

[BudGirl]

Well, then he should be able to stay with Hudson or Zipp.  Foghorn should be included in that.  They are/were series previews partners.

[BudGirl]

There is a Sheraton and Holiday Inn off of 59 between Kirby and Buffalo Speedway.  Shouldn't be too hard to get to the park from there.

I think he'd do better to stay inside the loop.

[NeilT]

Nothing wrong with that.  We took a group of 11-year old boys to spend the night at that Holiday Inn once for a birthday party--10 or 12 boys hanging out at the pool and playing video games.  There was a special transvestite weekend going on.  Transvestites by the pool, transvestites in the lobby, transvestites in the elevator with poodles.  The boys still talk about it.

[BudGirl]

Quote:
Nothing wrong with that.  We took a group of 11-year old boys to spend the night at that Holiday Inn once for a birthday party--10 or 12 boys hanging out at the pool and playing video games.  There was a special transvestite weekend going on.  Transvestites by the pool, transvestites in the lobby, transvestites in the elevator with poodles.  The boys still talk about it.

Sounds perfect for CTB.

[austro]

We stayed at the Holiday Inn at Kirby and 59 a couple of weekends ago and were unimpressed.  No hot water will do that to you.  After 20% off for that inconvenience, the rate was still $80.

My wife and I usually stay at the Hilton on Main in the Medical Center (right across from the Rice track stadium).  It's pretty reliable, but I think we usually pay about $150/night.  You can walk across Main over to Fannin and catch the people-killing train easily (I practiced during the MinuteMaid Classic :-)  $2 for a day pass, I think.

[Craig]

Quote:
Nothing wrong with that.  We took a group of 11-year old boys to spend the night at that Holiday Inn once for a birthday party--10 or 12 boys hanging out at the pool and playing video games.  There was a special transvestite weekend going on.  Transvestites by the pool, transvestites in the lobby, transvestites in the elevator with poodles.  The boys still talk about it.

I'm guessing the Cubs were in town that weekend.

Thanks for the help everyone. We'll find something acceptable I'm sure. Even if it's the set for "Priscilla, Cub of the Desert."

[Craig]

Quote:

Quote:
Stay away from the 1960 and 59 area.  Stay far away from there.

You know, if Limey was nice, he'd offer to let you stay at his house.

Are you fucking kidding?  The last thing I need is CTB reversing into my t-shirt drawer and "marking" 'em!

Well unless you wear Cardinals shirts, you're safe.

[HudsonHawk]

Quote:

Sounds perfect for CTB.

You know, you're the one who should offer up the sofa.  You'd have to pick your underwear off the floor, but you've got plenty of room.

[UpTooLate]

Quote:
I doubt we'll make it to any of the "unofficial" pre-game activities, but my wife and I will be at the game. So here are my tourist questions:

1. We'll be coming down Sunday on Highway 59. Where's a good place to look for middle-of-the-road motels?

2. Should we try to park at MMPUS itself, or do something else?

I disagree with Budgirl about the 59/1960 (Humble) area being terrible.  I would say that is your best option although I can't think of a specific motel to recommend.  What you want to avoid is ANYTHING between Beltway 8 and I-10 (on hwy59).

Neils idea about the med center is pretty decent if you want to catch the train to the park.

[BudGirl]

Quote:

Quote:
I doubt we'll make it to any of the "unofficial" pre-game activities, but my wife and I will be at the game. So here are my tourist questions:

1. We'll be coming down Sunday on Highway 59. Where's a good place to look for middle-of-the-road motels?

2. Should we try to park at MMPUS itself, or do something else?

I disagree with Budgirl about the 59/1960 (Humble) area being terrible.  I would say that is your best option although I can't think of a specific motel to recommend.  What you want to avoid is ANYTHING between Beltway 8 and I-10 (on hwy59).

Neils idea about the med center is pretty decent if you want to catch the train to the park.

I have a reason I don't like that area.  You wonder the reason?  Well, my phone and wallet got stolen in February, guess where the crazy with my phone called from?  Roadway Inn at 1960 and 59.

[T. J.]

Umm....Priceline anybody?  

Check out The Link for suggested bids/areas.

[NeilT]

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:
I doubt we'll make it to any of the "unofficial" pre-game activities, but my wife and I will be at the game. So here are my tourist questions:

1. We'll be coming down Sunday on Highway 59. Where's a good place to look for middle-of-the-road motels?

2. Should we try to park at MMPUS itself, or do something else?

Sounds perfect for CTB.

I disagree with Budgirl about the 59/1960 (Humble) area being terrible.  I would say that is your best option although I can't think of a specific motel to recommend.  What you want to avoid is ANYTHING between Beltway 8 and I-10 (on hwy59).

Neils idea about the med center is pretty decent if you want to catch the train to the park.

I have a reason I don't like that area.  You wonder the reason?  Well, my phone and wallet got stolen in February, guess where the crazy with my phone called from?  Roadway Inn at 1960 and 59.

[BudGirl]

Quote:

Quote:

Sounds perfect for CTB.

You know, you're the one who should offer up the sofa.  You'd have to pick your underwear off the floor, but you've got plenty of room.

underwear?  Girls wear panties.

[NeilT]

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

Sounds perfect for CTB.

You know, you're the one who should offer up the sofa.  You'd have to pick your underwear off the floor, but you've got plenty of room.

underwear?  Girls wear panties.

From what we saw at that holiday inn, they may not be alone.

[JackAstro]

I don't know if anybody's still looking for a hotel, but I just hopped on priceline.com and bid 60 bucks for a 3-star downtown hotel. Surprisingly, it was actually accepted, and I scored the downtown Doubletree at 400 Dallas St. - not too shabby. Worth a try if anyone's not set yet.

[Texifornia]

The Magnolia is very sweet. I stayed there over X-Mas. Walking distance to the Ballpark too.

[loganck]

Quote:
The Magnolia is very sweet. I stayed there over X-Mas. Walking distance to the Ballpark too.

I'll second that.  We stay there whenever we stay in Houston overnight.  If you call and ask about specials you can usually get a room for around $100.  The only time I had to pay $150 was a last minute reservation during the playoffs.

[strosrays]

Quote:
Yes to Jets:
"Other pregame activities include a flyover by the 147th Fighter Wing of the Air National Guard and an oversized American flag held and displayed by members of the United States Marines."

Those are not hot air baloons that will be flying over...

Too bad it's not the 94th Fighter Squadron F-22's from Langley.  They're pretty cool to see.

Should be Stealth bombers (B-2's?).  Because the Astros are going to sneak up on the whole fucking league this year, again.

Fourth place, behind the Brewers?  My ass.

You read it here first.

[Nate in IA]

Quote:

Fourth place, behind the Brewers?  My ass.

You read it here first.

Someone confused the Astros with the sCrubs.

[T. J.]

Somebody please tell me there's going to be a real "pennant" going up today.  I mean one flying in the breeze, not just a metal one on the limestone.  I mean, the Astros won THE PENNANT, not THE SIGN.