Bars kicking off Super Bowl parties with contests, bargain eats and brewskies

On Sunday at 6:18 p.m., the kickoff of Super Bowl XLII will take place on a field in Phoenix, Ariz. Two teams, the N.Y. Giants and the New England Patriots, will play a game that surely will go down in the annals of football history.

The Pats come to the stadium with the first ever unbeaten 16-game season and three recent Super Bowl victories behind them. It promises to be an exciting game, even for those Redskins and Ravens fans who dominate the greater Annapolis area, and local bars and restaurants are providing ample opportunities for football fans of all leanings to come out and celebrate this uniquely American event.

The party really starts at 2, when the Fox pre-game show begins. As everyone knows, the football game is only half of the entertainment (less for some people). The pre-game and half- time shows, along with the commercials, are what draw those non-football fans to the show and they get bigger and crazier each year.

This year, the pre-game show includes musical performances by Paula Abdul, Alicia Keys, Jordin Sparks, along with a duet by Willie Nelson and Sara Evans. The separation between celebrity and sport gets narrower all the time, and, throughout the pre-game, Ryan Seacrest, host of Fox's "American Idol," will interview assorted celebrities as they arrive at the game.

So where should you go to watch the game, and the accompanying hoopla? Let's explore…

Downtown

The biggest party of the day downtown will probably be the one at Armadillo's (132 Dock St.) - the Wounded Warrior Super Bowl Bash. This fantastic fun-draiser will feature live music, food, drinks, prizes and, of course, the Big Game. The party starts at noon and goes until after the game.

The Cheaters bring their whiskey-fueled, home-fried rock 'n' roll sound to the stage throughout the pre-game part of the party, making this a Super Bowl bash and then some! All proceeds support the Wounded Warrior Project, which aims to raise awareness and enlist the public's aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women, to help severely injured service members aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. A $10 donation will be accepted at the door.

Those interested in the game will be happy to learn 'Dillo's has six plasma and five flat screens throughout the bar, as well as a nine-foot tall projection screen at the upstairs bar. For more information, call Armadillo's at 410-280-0028.

The Federal House (22 Market Space) will offer a pitcher special during the game - get a pitcher of any domestic draft or Sam Adams and an order of wings or tenders for $15. Over at O'Brien's (113 Main St.), they will be running food and drink specials throughout the game, including a burger and Miller Lite for $6, two hot dogs for $4.50, mozzarella sticks for $4, Miller Lite bottles for $2 and Miller Chills for $3. After the game, hang out and dance the night away to the spinnings of DJ Veritas.

West Street

As you move out West Street, you arrive first at Rams Head Tavern (33 West St.), where appetizers will be half-price, burgers will be $5, Bud and Bud Lights will be $1.50 and Fordhams will be $2.50. During halftime, they'll have a football trivia contest with prizes that include half off your tab and a growler.

Next, at Stan and Joe's (37 West St.), they are throwing a Super Bowlicious Party from open until close. Any pint in the house will be $2.50, as will all Bloody's from Tracy's 40+ item Build Your Own Bloody Mary Bar. Wings will be half-price and there will be other food specials throughout the day and night. The bar will be serving up special Patriot and Giant shooters for $2. At halftime, get ready for giveaways and prizes galore and expect beads, prizes and all sorts of shenanigans throughout the whole day. They'll even hold a rate-the-commercials contest!

Down the street at the Weather Rail bar at the Loews Annapolis Hotel (126 West St.), the match-up will be between not only the two football teams, but also the food of the two areas. During the Super Food Bowl, a different food pairing will be offered each quarter of the game and, during the quarter, bargoers will 'score' their favorite item. The scores will be tallied and the winning food items will be posted in the Weather Rail.

For $12, Weather Rail guests will enjoy foods that have made Boston and New York famous. Beer and themed drinks are available for an additional fee. The line-up features: New England clam chowder vs. Manhattan clam chowder in the first quarter; fried Ipswich clams vs. pigs in a blanket during the second quarter; a New England lobster roll vs. New York-style pizza in the third quarter; and for the final quarter, Boston creme pie vs. New York cheesecake. The food face-off kicks off at 6:17 p.m. For dining or reservation questions, please call 410-263-7777.

TK Sharky's (2072 Somerville Road off West Street) will have the game on all 50 screens, as well as beer and food specials throughout the evening. For the non-football fans, there are plenty of video games and pool tables for your entertainment pleasure.

All sorts of great food and drink specials are on tap at Pesce Grande (2019 West St.) as well. Enjoy $12 buckets of Coors Lights, $15 buckets of Coronas, $8.75 Coors Light pitchers, a large pizza with three toppings and a pitcher of Coors Light for $17.95, wing specials and a $15.95 all-you-can-eat buffet.

Eastport

Heading over to Eastport, you can find a Super Bowl party at The Rockfish (400 Sixth St.) where the game will be shown on all five HD plasma big screens, including the ones surrounded by their most comfortable leather couches and chairs. The Rockfish will be serving up half-price appetizers, $2 domestic bottles, $2 Yuengling drafts, $3 rail drinks and happy hour wine prices. The party starts at 4 p.m. and goes until close.

Eastport's best-kept secret is the Eastport Democratic Club (525 State St.), which will be holding a great Super Bowl Party on Sunday from 3 until it's over. It has all the hallmarks of a good time - free parking, cheap beer, a free half-time buffet and no cover. Now that the EDC is non-smoking, you've no reason not to check it out!

You might not think of Sam's on the Waterfront (2020 Chesapeake Harbor Drive East) as a Super Bowl party place, but they're hoping to change your mind with drink specials and a free deep turkey fry. Come in and find out what the locals know - this is a great place to watch the big game.

Nearby

Out at the Ram's Head Roadhouse (1773 Generals Highway), they'll be serving up $5 appetizers and burgers, $1.50 Bud and Bud Light bottles and $2.50 Fordham drafts. At halftime, the "Are You Smarter than LB in Football Trivia" quiz will be held, with 42 questions in honor of the 42nd Super Bowl. All sorts of great prizes will be given for the winning answers.

Kaufmann's (329 Gambrill's Road, Gambrills) will start their Super Bowl party at 5 p.m. and feature all sorts of drink and food specials, including $2 domestic bottles, $2.50 domestic drafts, 50-cent wings and a $5 hot snack buffet.

Across the bridge, the Jetty (Wells Cove Road, Kent Narrows) will be throwing a great Super Bowl Party, with a free food buffet, $1.25 domestic drafts, $2 domestic bottles, $5 bombers and plenty of Super Bowl giveaways.

At Red Eye's Dock Bar (428 Kent Narrows Way North, Grasonville), the party runs all day long at the upstairs bar, with a free buffet and drink specials to make patrons happy. With each drink you purchase, you get a raffle ticket good for baskets of cheer and other great prizes. Drawings will be held each game quarter.

WHEN YOU GO
WHAT: Azure, in the Westin Hotel at Park Place, Annapolis
WHERE: 100 Westgate Circle  Annapolis MD 21401
PHONE: 410-972-4300
WEB SITE: www.westin.com/annapolis
HOURS: 6 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5-10 p.m. daily (opens 7 a.m. Saturday-Sunday).
EXECUTIVE CHEF: James Barrett
APPETIZERS: $6-$12
ENTRÉES: $22-$27
RESERVATIONS: Accepted
CREDIT CARDS: All major cards accepted.
HANDICAPPED ACCESS: Yes

MINI REVIEWS
Kaufmann’s Tavern
329 Gambrills Road, Gambrills
PHONE: 410-923-2005
HOURS: 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Sunday. Sunday jazz brunch: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
ENTRÉES: $6-$22
REVIEWER’S COMMENTS: General Manager Joe Danahy describes Kaufmann’s Tavern as a place that is proud to have something for everyone, a family favorite establishment meeting the dining needs of a growing area. We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

Federal House Bar & Grill
22 Market Space, Annapolis
PHONE: 410-268-2576
HOURS: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday.
ENTRÉES: $15-$27
REVIEWER’S COMMENTS: The Macadamia Nut Tilapia  was liberally coated with finely chopped macadamias, then served over a flashily delectable peanut sauce and drizzled with teriyaki sauce and mango coulis ... Executive Chef Randy Ballard, who also held that position at Griffin’s (which previously occupied the premises) is making a return engagement and has been given the go-ahead to jazz up the menu, which now has something to appeal to just about any appetite.

Severn Inn
1993 Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard, Annapolis (north end of the Naval Academy Bridge)
PHONE: 410-349-4000
HOURS: Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday brunch. Dinner: 5-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, until 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
ENTRÉES: $22-$40
REVIEWER’S COMMENTS:  We’ve always been impressed by the Severn Inn. The spectacular view is matched by equally outstanding food and service. And on nice evenings, their big, over-the-water deck takes happy hour and riverside dining to another level.

 
Jessica Pachler writes the After Dark column that appears on Page 4 every week in Entertainment.