Just as my GT friends were leaving Houston, my brother-in-law Scott, nephew Matt and I were arriving. Every summer, I join Scott and Matt (former residents of Space City) for one trip, which includes some work, reconnecting with old friends and baseball.

Before we even reached our hotel, we stopped at Texadelphia for a hearty chicken cheesesteak sandwich. This is a staple of all trips to Houston and one that starts the trip off right.

We stayed at the Embassy Suites, near the Galleria. The hotel features a solid workout room with several machines and free weights, a huge (and free) breakfast buffet, a whirlpool and even swans in a pond in the lobby. Our suite was spacious, comfortable and filled with amenities such as two large flat-screen televisions and a comfortable, functional work space.

Friday night and Sunday afternoon we saw the Houston Astros defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates at beautiful Minute Maid Park, one of my favorite ballparks. The park has a retractable roof and is always very comfortable inside. The food options are tremendous, with my favorite being the hand-carved smoked turkey sandwich.

On Saturday we went to Woodrow’s, a fantastic sports bar close to our hotel. A few delicious appetizers, a couple pitchers of their finest beverages and several baseball games later (many of them simultaneous), we left as very satisfied patrons.

After Sunday’s game we enjoyed an awesome pizza at Barry’s. The Neopolitan is a hand-tossed delight. In addition to the wonderful pizza, we ordered their garlic bread, which is among the best I have ever eaten (and I have eaten a lot).

Before attending Monday’s game, which the Astros lost to the New York Mets, we stopped in at The Balcony, a sports bar across the street from Minute Maid. The Balcony is a lively, open-air sports bar run by Jose, a friendly native Chicagoan. In one corner is a wall and case of Chicago Cubs memorabilia. We renewed acquaintances with Jose and talked about how Houston and Chicago have changed over the years.

Despite the loss on Monday, it was an outstanding game in every way. Steve Grande, Astros media relations coordinator, allowed Global Traveler some extra access to Minute Maid Park. We talked travel with several players and coaches. We checked out the press box and many more food options in the executive area. Next week, I will be sharing the behind-the-scenes report from Minute Maid. We arrived home yesterday, fully satisfied from this trip and already discussing the next trip. I couldn’t ask for more.

— John Wroblewski, distribution specialist