Astro Trip May 25th thru May 30th

[AstroNut]

Just thought I would comment on our trip to Houston for the Southland Conference baseball tourney and Oriole series. Drove over Thursday evening after work...for 9am game.

Started off in Sugar Land Tx at Constellation Park, "Home of the Skeeters". Southland Conference Tournament
Beautiful park...hard to get to until you find it...by Imperial Sugar off Hwy 90...think there is a Hwy 6 entrance also...heard it is a AA independent team.
Sam Houston State coach is a little over the top...they won the tourney as a 3 seed...automatic bid to NCAA...think they go to the Texas Tech regional...My New Orleans Privateers #7 seed...made it to semis...good year... beat LSU twice in two attempts.

Stayed at Courtyard in Sugar Land and Fairfield Inn near Channelview...get family discount at Marriotts...like to stay east of city...closer to home and easy ballpark access.

Saturday early dinner before game at Pappasita's...awesome...for all the good places to eat in New Orleans...we have no Tex/Mex that compares to this. Every trip it gets better

Home Plate for drinks and a little rah-rah...picked up a couple tickets there...$30 for two...outfield mezz...all good except for this new step 1,2,3 kiosk to buy drinks/beer...Sec 252...they only take cards...no cash...you walk from window to window with receipt...this old guy hates some of this impersonal technology. Finally found a spot to give someone my $20 bill and get a beer, etc...we quickly moved to ledge by Crawford boxes across from bar...nice and Deb got a sno-cone from the stand there that was real good...New Awlins style. Hot dogs were pretty bad...overcooked or old or both...even though we had eaten...have to have a ballpark frank.

One negative Saturday night...always park in lot coming off ramp from the east for easy access and departure...this night...no police directing traffic and street that runs along right field line blocked off...resulted in cluster fuck trying to get out.  Was not the case on Sunday...maybe cops were on strike.

Sunday was great and although we talked about going out for a steak pregame(lunch)...came to our senses and went back to Pappasita's...another great meal and frozen drinks. Tableside guac !

One thing that strikes me...and I know Sundays are kids day...but the number of kids at the games...thousands...Never see kids at a Saints games...cost prohibitive...really think the NFL is cutting it's throat by not having kids tickets...they use to...a whole generation not going to see the games in person as kids.

We can take the kids...now grandkids...to Houston on a 5 hour road trip and stay at the Marriott...go to 2 games...and spend less than if we all went to a Saints game at home...and it's a better game...its a secret we have been knowing for years...love our Astros.

That's one of the reasons why to me baseball will remain my favorite American sport...thanks again Houston and the Astros for another memorable trip...we will see you again before the summer ends. I'm even coming around to being in the American league.

Go 'Stros

[NeilT]

Just thought I would comment on our trip to Houston for the Southland Conference baseball tourney and Oriole series. Drove over Thursday evening after work...for 9am game.

Started off in Sugar Land Tx at Constellation Park, "Home of the Skeeters". Southland Conference Tournament
Beautiful park...hard to get to until you find it...by Imperial Sugar off Hwy 90...think there is a Hwy 6 entrance also...heard it is a AA independent team.
Sam Houston State coach is a little over the top...they won the tourney as a 3 seed...automatic bid to NCAA...think they go to the Texas Tech regional...My New Orleans Privateers #7 seed...made it to semis...good year... beat LSU twice in two attempts.

Stayed at Courtyard in Sugar Land and Fairfield Inn near Channelview...get family discount at Marriotts...like to stay east of city...closer to home and easy ballpark access.

Saturday early dinner before game at Pappasita's...awesome...for all the good places to eat in New Orleans...we have no Tex/Mex that compares to this. Every trip it gets better

Home Plate for drinks and a little rah-rah...picked up a couple tickets there...$30 for two...outfield mezz...all good except for this new step 1,2,3 kiosk to buy drinks/beer...Sec 252...they only take cards...no cash...you walk from window to window with receipt...this old guy hates some of this impersonal technology. Finally found a spot to give someone my $20 bill and get a beer, etc...we quickly moved to ledge by Crawford boxes across from bar...nice and Deb got a sno-cone from the stand there that was real good...New Awlins style. Hot dogs were pretty bad...overcooked or old or both...even though we had eaten...have to have a ballpark frank.

One negative Saturday night...always park in lot coming off ramp from the east for easy access and departure...this night...no police directing traffic and street that runs along right field line blocked off...resulted in cluster fuck trying to get out.  Was not the case on Sunday...maybe cops were on strike.

Sunday was great and although we talked about going out for a steak pregame(lunch)...came to our senses and went back to Pappasita's...another great meal and frozen drinks. Tableside guac !

One thing that strikes me...and I know Sundays are kids day...but the number of kids at the games...thousands...Never see kids at a Saints games...cost prohibitive...really think the NFL is cutting it's throat by not having kids tickets...they use to...a whole generation not going to see the games in person as kids.

We can take the kids...now grandkids...to Houston on a 5 hour road trip and stay at the Marriott...go to 2 games...and spend less than if we all went to a Saints game at home...and it's a better game...its a secret we have been knowing for years...love our Astros.

That's one of the reasons why to me baseball will remain my favorite American sport...thanks again Houston and the Astros for another memorable trip...we will see you again before the summer ends. I'm even coming around to being in the American league.

Go 'Stros

Thanks for that. This year's kinda brought me around to the American League. It's harder to have 11-run innings when the pitcher bats.


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[BizidyDizidy]

I commend your taste in Tex Mex

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I commend your taste in Tex Mex

It all comes back around.

[Limey]

I commend your taste in Tex Mex

I have been converted to El Real.  I like Pappacito's, but I find their frozen margaritas to be too icey.  My first go around with El Real - when it first opened - was poor: bad queso and bad margaritas is just not going to get it done in Houston.  It was a while before I went back (years) but I can now proclaim that they pass the Limey queso/margarita test.  Service is great (except for the one bitch who works the patio in the evenings) and the prices are far more reasonable than, say, Pappacito's (who follows the Pappas/Landry's philosophy of double-sized servings so they can charge more).  Also, Montrose Mondays is a nice perk: 1/2-priced food all day/night for anyone with a Montrose zip code on their TDL.

[Andyzipp]

I have been converted to El Real.  I like Pappacito's, but I find their frozen margaritas to be too icey.  My first go around with El Real - when it first opened - was poor: bad queso and bad margaritas is just not going to get it done in Houston.  It was a while before I went back (years) but I can now proclaim that they pass the Limey queso/margarita test.  Service is great (except for the one bitch who works the patio in the evenings) and the prices are far more reasonable than, say, Pappacito's (who follows the Pappas/Landry's philosophy of double-sized servings so they can charge more).  Also, Montrose Mondays is a nice perk: 1/2-priced food all day/night for anyone with a Montrose zip code on their TDL.

El Real is our go to on UBEREats, and agreed...it's gotten much, much better.

[Navin R Johnson]

Wife and I have been hitting up El Real since it opened, I have always liked it.  Seemed like there were some critics in Houston rooting for it to fail though, for whatever reason.

I enjoy going up there on a Sunday evening and eating at the bar and watching whatever sport is in season.    We are both enchilada fans, I love their cheese enchiladas.   Love the refried beans too.

Of the 3+ dozen times I have been there, I'd guess 95% of the time I have ordered either the Roosevelt or Leo's deluxe combos.

[Limey]

Wife and I have been hitting up El Real since it opened, I have always liked it.  Seemed like there were some critics in Houston rooting for it to fail though, for whatever reason.

I enjoy going up there on a Sunday evening and eating at the bar and watching whatever sport is in season.    We are both enchilada fans, I love their cheese enchiladas.   Love the refried beans too.

Of the 3+ dozen times I have been there, I'd guess 95% of the time I have ordered either the Roosevelt or Leo's deluxe combos.

Mrs Limey and I favor the bar too.  She gets Enchiladas #10 and I get the Roosevelt's or Leo's.  No egg, because that's just weird.

[MusicMan]

Mrs Limey and I favor the bar too.  She gets Enchiladas #10 and I get the Roosevelt's or Leo's.  No egg, because that's just weird.

Wrong. Egg is the truth.


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[Limey]

Wrong. Egg is the truth.

I find that the egg dominates the flavors.

[Navin R Johnson]

Egg on the side for me.  Its good with some beans on a tortilla, even better if you have some queso left.

[Limey]

Egg on the side for me.  Its good with some beans on a tortilla, even better if you have some queso left.

Eggs with beans, tortillas and queso is great...for breakfast (with some chorizo).  Egg on top of cheese enchiladas with chili gravy, is ruined cheese enchiladas.

[Navin R Johnson]

I like breakfast....whenever.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Eggs on enchiladas is a New-Mex (New Mexico Style) thing that worked it's way east. I eat 'em that way in New Mexico. Just because.

[Duke]

The first time I had New Mexico style enchiladas was in Socorro on my way to the Laughlin River Run.  Stacked blue corn tortillas with chicken, a tomatillo sauce and a fried egg on top.  When the waiter brought it out I thought he screwed up my order.  But I tried and  it's pretty damned good.

[Navin R Johnson]

I'm  hungry now.

[Bench]

I like breakfast....whenever.

The bacon enchiladas on El Real's brunch menu is one of the greatest dishes in the world.