On any other Super Bowl Sunday, it might be nice to use the game as an excuse to get the new HD plasma, but not this year. This time, the New York Giants are in the big game (for the first time since 2000) and it's every New Yorker's responsibility to band together and watch the Big Blue Wrecking Crew derail the Patriots undefeated season. Is there any cause nobler? No.
Don’t know where to go? Here are some suggestions.
The Lighthouse Tavern
Wear your Giants or Patriots jersey to this bar, and you’ll score a free shot when your team scores a touchdown. Considering the score was 38-35 the last time these teams played, there's a chance you may not be walking out of the bar. The Lighthouse will also be serving $2 Buds, and for every beer you buy, you’ll be entered in a raffle to win a free trip to Atlantic City. Reserve your seat now – prices range from $10 to $75. (243 Fifth Ave., Brooklyn. 718-788-8070)
Stanton Public
Stanton will have happy hour all day Sunday ($4 Stella Artois and Yuengling, $3 Bud Light, $5 well drinks), as well offer specials on their 17 tap brews. There's three flat screens in the main room, plus one in the downstairs private room, which can be reserved for free if you can get 15 or more of your pals to show up. If your dream has always been to watch the Super Bowl outside (way to dream big!), check out the projector screen in the outdoor heated back room. (17 Stanton St. between Bowery and Chrystie St., 212-677-5555)
Lansdowne Road
Thirteen HDTV plasma screens are enough reason to hit up Lansdowne, but what makes this West Side hang truly great on game day is "Big Blue," a concoction of some mystery that's served out of a New York Giants ice sculpture. There are also beer specials, cheap wings and tons of other grub deals. They don’t take reservations, so get there early...or at least before that sculpture melts (599 Tenth Ave. between 43rd and 44th Sts.,212-239-8020)
Link
A slightly unlikely venue for Super Bowl Sunday, this Gramercy restaurant and lounge is offering all you can drink Bud/Bud Light and all you can eat wings for $25 per person. (120 E. 15th St. at Irving Pl., 212-995-1010)
MJ Armstrongs
Giants fans should head to this East Village sports bar to take advantage of the long list deals and specials, among them: $4 domestic drafts and bottles, $15 pitchers of McSorley's, Yuengling, Sam Adams and Widmer Hefeweizen, and 50 cent wings. Hurry up and reserve if you’re planning on sitting—it’s a $20 minimum. (329 First Ave. at 19th St., 212 358-9946)
Calico Jack’s Cantina
Granted, this joint is typically filled with post-collegiates looking to recreate Cancun '06, but on game day, expect a diverse crowd to fill the spacious bar. For $30 patrons have access to unlimited drafts and wings for the length of the game. There's eight plasma screens and a giant screen in the dining room will be showing the game as well. Call for reservations. (802 Second Ave. at 42nd St., 212-557-4300)
Katwalk
Not an all-you-can-stuff-in-your-face fan? Patrons here can choose to indulge in an open bar and unlimited wings for $30, or do a pay-as-you-go option, which includes $3 Bud, Coors Lite, and Yeungling drafts, $4 Bud and Coors Light bottles, $4 Katwalk Ale drafts, $3 shots and half-price wings. Either way, you still get to watch the game on two 12’x’12 HD projection screens and participate in the bar's Super Bowl box pool (for $20 a box). (2 W. 35th St. at Fifth Ave., 212-594-9343)
Arctica
A tad more expensive then the average sports joint, although you'll likely get what you pay for at this slightly uninspiring Murray Hill megapub. For $75, there's a premium open bar and grub throughout the whole game, which will be shown on nine 42-inch plasma screens and one big-ass HD projector. (384 Third Ave. between 27th and 28th Sts., 212-725-4477)
Saloon (***WARNING: Unofficial Patriots bar***)
This Upper East Side sports bar and Tom Brady worship house is offering an open bar and light buffet for $40, as well as $5 Bloody Mary’s. (1584 York Ave. between 83rd and 84th Sts., 212-570-5454)
Overlook
Twenty-four flat panels and two giant projection screens dominate the space at this East Side pub. There's no open bar, but there will be discounted prices on pitchers of premium drafts, such as Stella, Hoegaarden, Sam Winter, Brooklyn Lager, Yeungling, Blue Moon, Magic Hat, and Sierra Nevada. Reservations are encouraged, with the bar suggests a member of your party arrives at least an hour in advance to secure your table. (225 E. 44th St. btwn Second and Third Ave., 212-682-7266)
The Gael Pub
Fans flood this spacious yet comfortable Irish pub for pretty much every game played during every sports season—and Super Bowl Sunday is no exception. Offerings include $12 pitchers of Bud Light during the game, $4 Bud Light on tap, free shots for every touchdown, a raffle and a football pool. (1465 Third Ave. between 82nd and 83rd Sts., 212-517-4141)
Rogue
To celebrate Big Blue playing in the big game, this comfortable bar and lounge will be raffling off a Giants' jersey and football. Grab fifteen wings for $8 and pour from $10 Coors Light and Killians pitchers. (757 Sixth Ave. between 26th and 27th Sts., 212- 242-6434)
The Big Easy
Why just party for the duration of the game when you can do it all day Sunday at this raucous UES bar? From 3-6 p.m., partake in the tailgate party package: $20 for unlimited Bud Light drafts and mixed drinks. For $35 a person, you're able to get that same deal from 3 p.m. until the end of the game along with pizza, a buffet, and free “Go Blue” touchdown shots. (1768 Second Ave. 212-348-0879)
Blackstones
This old-fashioned saloon is offering a free open bar from 5-6 p.m., so by kickoff you might not even notice a game is going on. Then, during the game, a free buffet will be offered. Game day also marks the bar's second anniversary party, so it isn’t really all about the Super Bowl. (245 E. 55th St. between Second and Third Aves., 212-355-4474)
BB Kings
It might not be a sports bar, but B.B. King's is offering up a special $55 all-you-can-eat Super Bowl menu (which includes their famed mac and cheese), as well as several other snack, beer and wine treats. (237 W. 42 St. between Seventh and Eighth Aves., 212-997-4144)
Merchants East
Remember when you could smoke in bars? You still can at Merchants in their cigar lounge. If smoking is not for you, stay in the main room and watch the game on two projection screens (and several smaller ones). Believe it or not, they're even offering a section with NO TVs in case people want to, uh, be near people watching the game but not actually watch it. For those who do want to watch, $25 will get a 4:30-5:30 p.m. pre-game appetizer feast, while a fuller buffet of wings, burgers, pizza and pasta will start at 5:30 p.m.. There's also a halftime hot dog and pretzel feast, two pools with cash and prizes and plenty of drink specials. (1125 First Ave. at 62nd St., 212-832-1551)
Side note: Football fans usually sleep outside to get into the ESPN Zone in Times Square to be there when it opens their doors at 11 a.m. If you really want to deal with that crowd, call ahead: groups of eight or more can reserve a table starting at $115 per person, which includes food, beer and wine. They also will be raffling off two recliners, each with one of the team logos. (1472 Broadway at 42nd St., 212-921-3776)
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