Where to watch the Super Bowl in NYC
Forcing New Yorkers to choose between rooting for the New England Patriots or the Philadelphia Eagles is like making us choose between a sewer rat and a super rat. There’s no real winner.
But, despite less-than-stellar seasons from our hometown Giants and Jets, local football fans still enjoy getting together with pals to watch the Super Bowl. Here are some new, elaborate, high-octane or highly unusual spots to watch the big game this year.
A feel for Philly
A Philadelphia expat decided this city needed authentic cheesesteaks, pretzels and “garbage bread” — so he opened Wogie’s in the West Village. Is it going to be crazy on Sunday? “If they win, yes,” says bartender Aaron James. “If they lose, yes.” Reservations for tables; limited walk-ins welcome when the bar opens at 3 p.m. $50 (includes two beers and a shirt). 39 Greenwich Ave.; Wogies.com
Standing Pat
Professor Thom’s, the East Village Boston-sports mecca, is set to party, with New England beers on tap and Pats memorabilia on the walls. Co-owner Chris Byron even sports a fresh tattoo, a version of the old Patriots logo on his arm. “We’ll have a line down the block,” Byron says of his bar, which opens at 10 a.m. to accommodate those who didn’t book VIP seats in advance. Expect drink giveaways, T-shirts, prizes and more. $20 before 3 p.m., $30 after. 219 Second Ave.; ProfessorThoms.com
Keep it cozy
The folks behind Littlefield, in Gowanus, opened nearby Parklife last year. Now the new bar is having its first Super Bowl party, starting at 5 p.m., with an outdoor fireplace to beat the chills and drinks and food from the in-house Taqueria el Atoradero. Free. 636 Degraw St., Brooklyn; ParkLifeBk.com
Guac ’n’ roll
Treadwell Park Downtown, the Battery Park City iteration of the Upper East Side beer hall, opened in June with spacious tables, a dozen TVs, a fireplace, two projector screens, table tennis, foosball and pinball games. Game day specials include the Super Guacamole Bowl, hot dogs and “Team Pride” Jell-O shots, starting at 4 p.m. Free. 301 South End Ave.; TreadwellPark.com/Downtown
Bring on the crazy
Leave it to the House of Yes to give game day a new spin. The Bushwick performance space’s third annual Totally Immersive Superb Owl Experience features the usual buckets of beer and hot wings, but gets weird with live cheerleaders and a bonkers halftime show complete with impersonators of Super Bowl performers past. $20. 2 Wyckoff Ave., Brooklyn; HouseOfYes.org
Get your game on
Fishbowl, the upscale gamecentric bar at Midtown’s Dream hotel, offers all kinds of diversions. Along with Skee-Ball, minibowling and pinball, DJ Lohrasp Kansara will keep you moving before and after the game, starting at 5:30 p.m. $15. 210 W. 55th St.; FishbowlNYC.com
Let the dogs out!
Who needs the NFL when you’ve got puppies? Check out the action at the big Beagles vs. Chew England contest, along with that other big game, at Queens bar Q.E.D. at 6 p.m. There’ll even be a trivia game, with prizes. Free. 27-16 23rd Ave, Astoria; QEDAstoria.com
A good bet​
Giants fans still licking their wounds might want to head to ​the ​Empire City​ Casino​, where fans will have a chance to meet and get autographs from legendary Giants quarterback Phil Simms​, who once won a Super Bowl.​ You can also get your fill with a $30 buffet with sliders, wings and dogs while watching the game on jumbo screens. ​5:30 p.m. at ​Dan Rooney’s Sports Pub at Empire City, 810 Yonkers Ave.,​ Yonkers, NY; empirecitycasino.com​.​ Free.