Going to Houston for the first time

Post #1 » by **dream34** » Tue Feb 3, 2009 6:01 am

If you go to a lot of Rockets games you can probably help me.

I go to the Rockets games @ Detroit, Cleveland, and Indiana every year, which obviously means I don't live anywhere near Houston. Me and a couple buddies decided we are going to fly to Houston to catch a game, either the Suns or Lakers. One of them works at an airport so I can fly their for about $100, worth it to me. I can finally see a game where a whole stadium full of people aren't rooting against me.

Anyways, we are only going to be there for the weekend, and won't have a car or anything. We are only going to be able to travel by bus and train.

Is it going to be hard to get from the airport to the game, and back?
What else do we -have- to do while we are in Houston?

And, like we all know, the lower level seats are always so empty in the Toyota Center. How hard is it to sneak down to the lower level from the upper level? I'm debating getting good seats.. I don't want to spend a lot to get to Houston, pay for a hotel, etc and get stuck with crappy seats, but I also don't want to pay an arm and a leg for good seats. Any ideas?

moofs · Post #2 » by **moofs** » Tue Feb 3, 2009 6:39 am

For your bottom question, not too hard. Given that it doesn't usually rob anyone of seats, I don't have much problem with it myself.

For what else to do in Houston, it's a Friday, so depends what kind of stuff you like, how old you are, etc. There's jazz cafes, live music venues, theatre, 19,000,000 restaurants of all types (except rotating atop a needle, but we still have rotating atop a skyscraper, albeit a bit dated), irish pubs, british pubs, the budweiser factory, the third ward, Memorial Park, golf, more golf, outdoor courts everywhere, an ultimate frisbee scene, the skeletal remains of Galveston, Fema Boardwalk, opera, chantilly lace and a pretty face with ponytails hanging down a wigglin walk and a gigglin talk that makes the world go round hey hey hey, the galleria and surrounding area, and pretty much whatever else.

Oh, by foot. Well there goes golf and Galveston, sif it was there anyway. For that, I'd definitely recommend staying in downtown. From there, you're right by Toyota Center, can walk around downtown (where a lot of that is) very easily, take the metro to midtown, the medical center/reliant stadium or wherever the hell else it goes at the other end, catch a cab (i have the number for some cheap motored hansom cabs but don't know when they run or if they still do), or whatever. I've nearly walked from Montrose and 59 to downtown before on foot (daytime, seems like it takes maybe an hour or so - 2-4 miles?), so you have downtown and midtown available pretty easily, just keep an eye to your surroundings if you're on foot after dark (can't say I recommend it, depending on the area).

To get to downtown from the airport... mmmm. You lucky East Coasters... man, there's no "train" here other than the Metro rail, which pretty much runs from nowhere to nowhere on a giant strip of Chicago-style bacon. Afaik, you get the bus (ew), a taxi (expensive!), and rental cars. Public transportation here sucks Chef's chocolate salty whatevers. So to answer that question, um. Good luck! Lemme know if you want any other (slightly more serious) suggestions.

Yao21 · Post #3 » by **Yao21** » Tue Feb 3, 2009 8:37 am

I went to Houston a couple years back for a Rockets game and I stayed in downtown right by the Toyota Center, which was really convenient. However, I had family here so I could pretty much go anywhere I wanted, and from what I remember, Houston is a lot like California: public transport is trash and the best way to get around is with a car.

Lazy Faizy · Post #4 » by **Lazy Faizy** » Tue Feb 3, 2009 8:48 am

Yeah its very difficult to get around Houston without a car. Anyway the Lakers game will probably be sold out, I went to the last one where we lost by 3 points and there was no way to sneak down to the lower level seats, you should be able to do it for the Phoenix game though. Check out the Galleria area, its amazing. And if you go down Westheimer you're guaranteed to find some nice restaurants to grub at.

What kind of things do you like to do anyway?

Post #5 » by **dream34** » Wed Feb 4, 2009 12:26 am

I'm thinking about renting a car for the weekend, it would make things so much easier and you guys have me worried. I'm also thinking that all of these bills are starting to add up.. i might want to wait for a game in the first round of the playoffs. Would it be impossible to buy 4 tickets to the playoffs? They probably sell out pretty damn fast.

If I end up going though, I like to do things most people in their young 20's do. Hit up the bars, go out to eat, etc. All this talk about going out to parks and stuff sounds crazy to me right now, as 8 inches of snow is dropping. Can't wait to get see some nice weather.

coolblade587 · Post #6 » by **coolblade587** » Wed Feb 4, 2009 12:42 am

Don't come to Houston, Ron Artest lives here, he might shoot you. That man has a gun everywhere he goes.

HTown_TMac · Post #7 » by **HTown_TMac** » Wed Feb 4, 2009 1:05 am

moofs · Post #8 » by **moofs** » Wed Feb 4, 2009 3:25 pm

Renting a car would be subsidized by the lower cost of a non-playoff ticket. For bars, http://www.barstoolmag.com/index.php or the bar/nightlife section in chron.com, take your pick of whatever best suits. TONS of places to eat, just depends how much you want to spend. I just went to a sushi bar last week (Tomo I think? ~ 1526 Westheimer)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 5180402338

Great place. Spent $30 there, but so worth it.

jove9 · Post #9 » by **jove9** » Thu Feb 5, 2009 1:45 am

I grew up in Houston, but I don't live there anymore. I personally think the city is horrible [1], but if you're going there for your first time, you probably should check out the Galleria.

If you feel like taking a drive, you should also think about visiting NASA and the Johnson Space Center. If I remember right, it's in Pearland - fairly close to what was left of Galveston.

[1] - The heat and the traffic and the pollution stand out best in my mind and are coloring my judgment at the moment.

HTown_TMac · Post #10 » by **HTown_TMac** » Thu Feb 5, 2009 4:26 am

jove9 wrote:I grew up in Houston, but I don't live there anymore. I personally think the city is horrible [1], but if you're going there for your first time, you probably should check out the Galleria.

If you feel like taking a drive, you should also think about visiting NASA and the Johnson Space Center. If I remember right, it's in Pearland - fairly close to what was left of Galveston.

[1] - The heat and the traffic and the pollution stand out best in my mind and are coloring my judgment at the moment.

its closer to friendswood... Nasa Road One (The Space Center) and I personally love Houston. The places I hang around isnt around downtown

Ribalding · Post #11 » by **Ribalding** » Thu Feb 5, 2009 9:26 pm

Stay downtown. Between the train (downtown to museum district) and the occasional cab, you won't have any trouble finding stuff to do. I live downtown, and can attest to this, personally. No need for a car if you stay downtown.

Just don't go to Cabo's restaurant. That food is beyond atrocious. If you want Tex-Mex downtown, either go to Irma's (lunch only) or Ninfa's on Navigation.