Houston and Toronto: Not So Different!

When I visited Houston in 1990, I received a tour from an old friend who had moved there when she was married in the 60s.

“Well, we just jump from air-conditioning to air-conditioning”, was how she answered my query about the 100 degree plus temperature.

Houston has underground walkways with shops, restaurants and theaters. Toronto also has these underground systems, most connected to the transit system and office complexes. Hot summers send you underground in Houston; cold winters send you there in Toronto!

We are about 100 miles north of Houston.

Both Houston and Toronto have lots of wonderful places to eat, stylish shopping, good theater and live entertainment. Both cities are massive and sprawling, have lots of jobs and high real estate prices. Both cities have excellent medical centers and universities.

You can find a superb corned beef on rye both places!

Both are friendly cities, alive and young but the one thing that really defines the similarity of them for me is BASEBALL!

Many people knew of the Astrodome and its famous Astroturf surface that became very popular everywhere.

Some Canadians might not know that a new park was built in Houston a few years ago. When I first went to Minute Maid Park, I felt very much at home. The dome is a similar design to the one in Toronto in that the roof can be open or closed. So when weather is not comfortable for spectators and players, the roof can be closed.

Both parks are wonderful for TV viewing and when you attend in person, there are “jumboTrons” (large screens) and extensive signage to keep everybody informed.

Baseball is my favorite spectator sport. It’s easy to watch and you can chat to the person beside you without missing any of the action.

In October, 1978, I attended a baseball game in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. (Toronto Blue Jays were a very young team then, but already had recruited players from there.) At that time, they played seven nights a week in an open outdoor stadium. It was an intramural league. Cuba Libras (Rum & Coke) and goat cheese were served instead of hot dogs and beer. They did not realize then how much influence their players would have on the American and National Leagues! They actually thought it odd that we wanted to see a baseball game!

Texas Rangers are the other major baseball team in Texas. They play in the Dallas suburb of Arlington. Most people know that current President George W. Bush was a part owner before becoming president. His parents – former President George H.W. and Barbara Bush (who reside in Houston during cooler months) can be seen at Minute Maid Park in their front row seats behind Home Plate. Barbara – white hair and strand of pearls dazzling - likes to keep an old-fashioned scorecard.

Houston and Toronto: very much alike!