The Children's Museum is a good option if you don't want to drive out to NASA. Combining that with the Museum of Natural Science would be a full day with minimal driving/parking. Both are near light rail stops, too.
I wouldn't call it the best, but the Pit Room is high quality and off the beaten path. Might be best bet for avoiding the crowds and still getting good bbq.
Plan for a whole day at the Space Center. It is not near anything (unless you're staying out that far) so you'll spend at least an hour and a half on the road (min 45 minutes each way). The Museum of Natural Science is definitely worth it, as is the Museum of Fine Arts next door.
When I go back to Houston to visit family, we always eat at Toasted Coconut or Kau Ba. Hugos is another personal favorite from when I used to live there especially if cost is not an issue. All three are relatively close to the museum district.
The Medical Center Hilton right by Rice University and Rice Village. Plenty of good restaurants within about a mile. The Med Center Light Rail Stop is about halfway between downtown and NRG so you can access either pretty quickly without driving. If not there, the Hilton Americas downtown is right in the middle of everything, but a little further away from the stadium.
I lived in Houston for 17 years and recently moved away for reasons you will all experience this weekend:
Hobby - recently renovated and very easy to Navigate
Bush - a lot of construction recently and massive, we used to call it Bush "Intergalactic"
Houston is a very big city, and the usual big city precautions should apply (don't leave things visible in your car etc.). Stay in the "inner loop" I-610 or you will have at least 30 min+ maybe 1 hr + of driving to the game. The Woodlands and Clear Lake (NASA) are 45 min to an hour driving without traffic. Staying downtown might be the best value for the weekend as it has quick access to the light rail and more things to do than by NRG.
There are better quality places for the same price as Pappasitos. It is a big chain now and quality can vary place to place. My favorite was Ninfas on Navigation but everyone will have a different opinion.
Grocery store: H-E-B without question. Grab some snickernut cookie coffee to take home.
The light rail has a stop at NRG. When I used to live in Houston, I would uber/lyft to a light rail stop and take that in for the Rodeo/Texans games. Leave the car at the hotel. If you can't, there are commuter lots a stop or two south of NRG that should have easy parking available. Market Square is a great pregame spot and has a light rail stop nearby. Just make sure you pay for the light rail. Fare enforcement is usually out in force for big events.
I put this into excel and took some averages (both overall and to combine some positions that were analyzed differently in certain years) for comparison purposes. The overall average doesn't include special teams for all years since we don't have 2023 yet.
Michael Woods is also of of the older riders in the Tour. Great seeing a fellow late 30-something haul up a 12% grade to take the win. I might have to try to exercise today.
There was a lot of hype going into that game and we just completely destroyed Notre Dame. Quinn had grass in his helmet for half of the game after that hit. That was always a Mannignham game, but I thought the defense made it happen. 4 rushing yards.
I stopped drinking Diet Coke a long time ago because of the caffeine, but I get what you're saying. I recently had this discussion with a bunch of psychologists (as friends, not in therapy...that's for another thread) and they were saying that it was almost a social crutch of having something in your hand resembling a beverage when everyone else does, or having something that tastes remotely like beer when you get home after a long day of work.
I gave up alcohol for Lent and turned it into 6 weeks of NA tastings. Most of the breweries near me (New Mexico) tend to be a few years behind, so not much in town. Athletic was really the only quality crafty one I liked. Had one from another brewery that tasted like malty orange juice. In general, Germany and the Netherlands have been doing NAs for a long time. I liked anything I got from either place. Functionally, though, I found liked Bud Zero better than normal Miller Lite or Bud Light and kept drinking it after Easter. If I alternate between that and some of the heaver craft beers on the golf course/pool/watching a game it usually makes for a better evening and helped keep some recent weight loss off. I really don't miss the light beer.
*Not completely OT: Michigan Track alum Michael Woods is competing again this year. He's in more of a veteran support role, but he's a climber so should see him near the front for a few stages. I highly support this MGoRideABike content.
For comparison's sake, Mike Hart scored on every 24.7 rushes which will happen when you tote the ball 1,015 times and don't have Northern Illinois on your schedule.
Hart had 117 yards and 1 touchdown against Northern Illinois in 2005. Only reason I remember is that it was my first time watching a game in person...and it was way closer than it should have been.
On a more serious note, my senior year was the first year after the 20+ year run without a bowl game, and I can remember how down I got just missing that experience. I can definitely empathize with the students losing a year. I trust most are smart* enough to realize the consequences, and the MMB facebook page has been doing a good job highlighting alumni that are out in the healthcare trenches fighting this thing.
*when I was in band, I did question my intelligence when it was 35 degrees, raining, we were losing to Northwestern, and we had to stay 30 min after the game for the post-game show.
I graduated from the CEE department at U of M. I really enjoyed the environmental classes (UMich is one of, if not the best EnvE programs in the country), but ended up going more civil/construction.
It sounds like your daughter is prepared for the workload, so really the only advice I can give is to load up on all the calculus, statistics, physics and chemistry (and some biology) as possible. One of the reasons I didn't go the environmental rout was because I wan't prepared technically, even after a boat load of STEM AP courses. We were trying to model the effect of sheet flow of rainwater through a contaminated bog: lots of variables and unknowns across several different sciences (just an example). One of my tests I think I got 9/100...and that was a C with the curve.
I've always been impressed with Iowa fans. I currently work with one, and he actually apologized to me this morning about the game. He almost seemed more broken up about it than I did.
I don't think Houston is a solid Big 12 market. The Big 12 lost a lot of groud to the SEC when Texas A&M left (and when Texas became horrible at sports). LSU has always been a big competing factor in Houston, and so has Alabama to some extent. In that light, bringing in U of H makes a lot more sense to regain some of the market share. I personnally would like to hear less ESSSSSSS-EEEEEEEEE-SEEEEEEEEE chants in the bars on Saturdays.
Upon further consideration, I think wiley economist Harbaugh took advantage of this Big 12/SEC rfit last year with his Houston camp.
As much as I want to this happen, it's got one wrinkle:
University of Houston is sitting at #24 right now. If they run the table, then they will be undefeated with victories over Memphis, Navy and Temple not to mention victories over SEC and ACC teams (albeit not good ones). The question would be, would the committee take an undefeated American Conference champion over a two-loss Big Ten champion?
For the above to happen, we would need them to lose at home vs. Navy or in the AAC Championship vs. Temple…which looks like it would be in Houston, too. Two more games of note to add to the list above.
With my last job I was fortunate enough to travel all over the country, and I alwasy insisted on trying local brews in each place I visited. Personnally, I am not a fan of the over-hopped bitter palate busters. However, the one piece advice I can give is to not shun IPA because they are notoriously hoppy. I've tried some very flavorful IPAs that didn't taste like liquid grass.
Some of my favorites from the business trips: Santo- Saint Arnold Brewery, Houtson, TX, Velvet Rooster - Tallgrass Brewing Company, Manhattan, KS, and a few from Blue Mountain Brewery, Afton, Virginia.
If you have the itch to travel, I'd recommend going to Asheville. It's like Disneyland for Beer. The new Sierra Nevada brewery there is specifically designed for beer knurds and is worth a few hours of your trip. Try the Bigfoot.
My favorite was their cucumber beer, but overall I thought they were just ok. A few of my friends really hyped Wicked Weed up and I felt it didn't quite live up to it. They definitely had some interesting/different fun beers, though. I will admit it was the last brewery I visited that day so my mind may not have been in the best state.
Recent Comments
'17 - '18 basketball:
…
'17 - '18 basketball:
def. #2 MSU and #8 PSU to take the Big 10 tourney
Buzzer beater vs Houston in the second round
99 points on Texas A&M
Slug fest with the FSU Ents in the sweet 16
Crushed the Cinderella dreams of Loyola Chicago
If they had won the Natty it would be up there with this.
'12 - '13 basketball didn't have the Big 10 tourney success, but still had:
Shaka Smart VCU full court press enigma in the second round
Kansas OT stunner
Heavyweight Florida falling
Blue Blood Syracuse falling with Otto the Orange taking a tumble
Trey's block was clean
Edit: presented this as a mechanism to remember the good times and elevate Team 144's place in the context of history, not as a counter argument.
Iowa does add to the narrative that the team had to face the #2, #3, #4, and #8 defense in the country in their last 6 games.
https…
Mr. Johnson is right!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8oaQhTYx2Q&ab_channel=RobertScheer
The Art Car Museum is one of the more unique things to do in Houston, and seems like something the whole family would enjoy.
The Children's Museum is a good option if you don't want to drive out to NASA. Combining that with the Museum of Natural Science would be a full day with minimal driving/parking. Both are near light rail stops, too.
I second Irmas, Saint Arnold's brewery, and the Pitt room.
I thought about this way too much: the lobby at Hotel Zaza.
I wouldn't call it the best, but the Pit Room is high quality and off the beaten path. Might be best bet for avoiding the crowds and still getting good bbq.
Plan for a whole day at the Space Center. It is not near anything (unless you're staying out that far) so you'll spend at least an hour and a half on the road (min 45 minutes each way). The Museum of Natural Science is definitely worth it, as is the Museum of Fine Arts next door.
When I go back to Houston to visit family, we always eat at Toasted Coconut or Kau Ba. Hugos is another personal favorite from when I used to live there especially if cost is not an issue. All three are relatively close to the museum district.
The Medical Center Hilton right by Rice University and Rice Village. Plenty of good restaurants within about a mile. The Med Center Light Rail Stop is about halfway between downtown and NRG so you can access either pretty quickly without driving. If not there, the Hilton Americas downtown is right in the middle of everything, but a little further away from the stadium.
I lived in Houston for 17 years and recently moved away for reasons you will all experience this weekend:
Hobby - recently renovated and very easy to Navigate
Bush - a lot of construction recently and massive, we used to call it Bush "Intergalactic"
Houston is a very big city, and the usual big city precautions should apply (don't leave things visible in your car etc.). Stay in the "inner loop" I-610 or you will have at least 30 min+ maybe 1 hr + of driving to the game. The Woodlands and Clear Lake (NASA) are 45 min to an hour driving without traffic. Staying downtown might be the best value for the weekend as it has quick access to the light rail and more things to do than by NRG.
There are better quality places for the same price as Pappasitos. It is a big chain now and quality can vary place to place. My favorite was Ninfas on Navigation but everyone will have a different opinion.
Grocery store: H-E-B without question. Grab some snickernut cookie coffee to take home.
The light rail has a stop at NRG. When I used to live in Houston, I would uber/lyft to a light rail stop and take that in for the Rodeo/Texans games. Leave the car at the hotel. If you can't, there are commuter lots a stop or two south of NRG that should have easy parking available. Market Square is a great pregame spot and has a light rail stop nearby. Just make sure you pay for the light rail. Fare enforcement is usually out in force for big events.
Thanks, Alex! I now have "Cat in a Pirate Costume" in my search history.
I'm the "Spreadsheet Guy" in my office so this certainly looked like I was still working.
Updated with the specials:
I put this into excel and took some averages (both overall and to combine some positions that were analyzed differently in certain years) for comparison purposes. The overall average doesn't include special teams for all years since we don't have 2023 yet.
I've been trying to work up to Wheeler. Still haven't made it up La Luz yet either (mostly because I don't want to attempt it by myself).
Confucius
OL Isaiah Foote
Confucius
DB Rico Watkins
…
OLB Jack Powers...
Related to Kenny Powers?
Also American Neilson Powless in the Polka Dots!
Michael Woods is also of of the older riders in the Tour. Great seeing a fellow late 30-something haul up a 12% grade to take the win. I might have to try to exercise today.
2006 image of Crable standing over Brady Quinn. https://mgoblog.com/content/quod-erat-demonstrandum
There was a lot of hype going into that game and we just completely destroyed Notre Dame. Quinn had grass in his helmet for half of the game after that hit. That was always a Mannignham game, but I thought the defense made it happen. 4 rushing yards.
punting…
We have to meet our
punting quota or the Big
Ten punts us, who cares?
Now I…
User name checks out
Now I have to write a poem
Go Blue Beat Rutger
I stopped drinking Diet Coke a long time ago because of the caffeine, but I get what you're saying. I recently had this discussion with a bunch of psychologists (as friends, not in therapy...that's for another thread) and they were saying that it was almost a social crutch of having something in your hand resembling a beverage when everyone else does, or having something that tastes remotely like beer when you get home after a long day of work.
I gave up alcohol for Lent and turned it into 6 weeks of NA tastings. Most of the breweries near me (New Mexico) tend to be a few years behind, so not much in town. Athletic was really the only quality crafty one I liked. Had one from another brewery that tasted like malty orange juice. In general, Germany and the Netherlands have been doing NAs for a long time. I liked anything I got from either place. Functionally, though, I found liked Bud Zero better than normal Miller Lite or Bud Light and kept drinking it after Easter. If I alternate between that and some of the heaver craft beers on the golf course/pool/watching a game it usually makes for a better evening and helped keep some recent weight loss off. I really don't miss the light beer.
I do not have the skills, so would someone please photoshop the Corn-Jo photo of the blocked punt into the Sistine Chapel ceiling?
Ok, time for a gold old fashioned wine throw down. Same questions as above:
Favorite grape?
Best bottle under $20?
A good red to pair with fish?
This thread is why the rest of the Big 10 hates us...and I'm here for it!
Favorite grape? (mine's Aglianico)
Best bottle under $20? (but over $10...I didn't go to MSU for a reason)
A good red to pair with fish? (tend to stay away from red meat these days, but prefer red over most white wine)
*Not completely OT: Michigan Track alum Michael Woods is competing again this year. He's in more of a veteran support role, but he's a climber so should see him near the front for a few stages. I highly support this MGoRideABike content.
You can legit hire him to visit your office. That was a very interesting day at work. Not sure it would be good for recruiting.
We do have a basketball team that is 12-1, ranked in the top 10, and just Beat Oh*o. I can’t wait to see what they do with the rest of the season.
Sends the ball…
Lo, Diabate
Sends the ball to the bleachers
Hunter Dickinson
Logged in just the +1 this. I'm actually getting work on a Friday afternoon, too. I think my boss is secretly a sponsor of the blog.
Oddly enough, it was also the last year we won at Kinnick.
Hart had 117 yards and 1 touchdown against Northern Illinois in 2005. Only reason I remember is that it was my first time watching a game in person...and it was way closer than it should have been.
To be fair, if I awoke from a nine month coma I would probably check MGoBlog first.
Playing trombone is a disease per ipsum. /s
(Tubas what!?!)
On a more serious note, my senior year was the first year after the 20+ year run without a bowl game, and I can remember how down I got just missing that experience. I can definitely empathize with the students losing a year. I trust most are smart* enough to realize the consequences, and the MMB facebook page has been doing a good job highlighting alumni that are out in the healthcare trenches fighting this thing.
*when I was in band, I did question my intelligence when it was 35 degrees, raining, we were losing to Northwestern, and we had to stay 30 min after the game for the post-game show.
Oh who is this who’s left for Erie shore?
Our Coach of great accomplishment for sure?
While we once thought near summer was a bore
We now will search through all the left over.
Weth’r Billy, Shaka, Yak, or Christo’ Prohm
Has shown the poise and grit to lead our team
and save us from this dive to march doldrum
this all is much too yet to ne’er be seen.
I hope this all ends well and good by fall
For that is the most important of sport
As long as I have my Michigan ball
Who cares about that scum bag Dan Gilbert
To hell with Notre Dame, and Columbus
And also Sparty No they’re such a lush.
Michigan fans can do better than Haiku
Also logged in for the first time in 2 years to post this. Neg away.
I bought the arm warmers in the last order. I wear them even when it's 80+ degrees.
I graduated from the CEE department at U of M. I really enjoyed the environmental classes (UMich is one of, if not the best EnvE programs in the country), but ended up going more civil/construction.
It sounds like your daughter is prepared for the workload, so really the only advice I can give is to load up on all the calculus, statistics, physics and chemistry (and some biology) as possible. One of the reasons I didn't go the environmental rout was because I wan't prepared technically, even after a boat load of STEM AP courses. We were trying to model the effect of sheet flow of rainwater through a contaminated bog: lots of variables and unknowns across several different sciences (just an example). One of my tests I think I got 9/100...and that was a C with the curve.
Also, please thank your daughter for her service!
I've always been impressed with Iowa fans. I currently work with one, and he actually apologized to me this morning about the game. He almost seemed more broken up about it than I did.
I'm going to be in Austin, TX for the weekend...is it still Pluckers like shown on the map?
I don't think Houston is a solid Big 12 market. The Big 12 lost a lot of groud to the SEC when Texas A&M left (and when Texas became horrible at sports). LSU has always been a big competing factor in Houston, and so has Alabama to some extent. In that light, bringing in U of H makes a lot more sense to regain some of the market share. I personnally would like to hear less ESSSSSSS-EEEEEEEEE-SEEEEEEEEE chants in the bars on Saturdays.
Upon further consideration, I think wiley economist Harbaugh took advantage of this Big 12/SEC rfit last year with his Houston camp.
As much as I want to this happen, it's got one wrinkle:
University of Houston is sitting at #24 right now. If they run the table, then they will be undefeated with victories over Memphis, Navy and Temple not to mention victories over SEC and ACC teams (albeit not good ones). The question would be, would the committee take an undefeated American Conference champion over a two-loss Big Ten champion?
For the above to happen, we would need them to lose at home vs. Navy or in the AAC Championship vs. Temple…which looks like it would be in Houston, too. Two more games of note to add to the list above.
They could spoil a few parties.
I
Devin Gardner lego?
I could all day with this #imanengineer
Charlie Weis lego?
This is my favorite one, mostly because I don't think any MSU fans would get it.
With my last job I was fortunate enough to travel all over the country, and I alwasy insisted on trying local brews in each place I visited. Personnally, I am not a fan of the over-hopped bitter palate busters. However, the one piece advice I can give is to not shun IPA because they are notoriously hoppy. I've tried some very flavorful IPAs that didn't taste like liquid grass.
Some of my favorites from the business trips: Santo- Saint Arnold Brewery, Houtson, TX, Velvet Rooster - Tallgrass Brewing Company, Manhattan, KS, and a few from Blue Mountain Brewery, Afton, Virginia.
If you have the itch to travel, I'd recommend going to Asheville. It's like Disneyland for Beer. The new Sierra Nevada brewery there is specifically designed for beer knurds and is worth a few hours of your trip. Try the Bigfoot.
My favorite was their cucumber beer, but overall I thought they were just ok. A few of my friends really hyped Wicked Weed up and I felt it didn't quite live up to it. They definitely had some interesting/different fun beers, though. I will admit it was the last brewery I visited that day so my mind may not have been in the best state.