Both Bay Area football teams, the 49ers and Raiders, failed to make the playoffs this season, but there are still plenty of good reasons to watch Super Bowl XLIX this Sunday.
Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch and Richard Sherman’s Seahawks go for the Super Bowl repeat against Tom Brady and the Patriots, who have lost their two previous visits to the Super Bowl and haven’t won since 2004.
No matter your thoughts on the Patriots, if you're a 49ers fan, it’s hard to root for the Division rival Seattle Seahawks. Most of us can agree that another year of having to hear from jubilant Seahawks fans would be unbearable.
The comparisons between Tom Brady and our San Francisco hero Joe Montana cannot go unmentioned. A couple days ago, Brady (a San Mateo native) shared a photo from 1983 of himself as a six-year-old dressed up as Joe Montana, his childhood idol.
On Sunday, Brady goes for his fourth career Super Bowl victory, which would tie him with Joe Montana for all-time Super Bowl wins for a starting quarterback.
If you're planning on watching the game at home, you're probably already working on your epic 7-layer bean dip and getting ready to settle into the couch. But if you’re going to head out in to the Castro to watch the game (or just interested in the commercials and Katy Perry’s halftime show), here are three of the best spots in the neighborhood:
Hi Tops
You can count on Hi Tops to be one of the busiest bars in the neighborhood this Sunday, so arrive very early if you want to get a table. Just this week, Logo TV voted Hi Tops one of the "Top 7 Best Gay Sports Bars To Watch The Super Bowl." Be aware, though, that Hi Tops tends to draw a lot of Seahawks fans, so if you don’t want to be around the "12th Man" you may want to steer clear. If you do get a seat, order up a tray of nachos and some spicy chicken wings and wash it down with a few pitchers of beer.
Lookout
A good alternative to Hi Tops, Lookout recently revamped its food and drink menu. Owner Chris Hastings tells us that they’ll have shot boys dressed like referees selling $3 chilled Jack Honey shots along with Bud Lite specials and promo giveaways. The Lookout has seven TVs and a projector backed up with its new FunktionOne Sound Systems, and Hastings would like to add that Katy Perry will "sound amazing" during the halftime show. The party goes all day with music from DJ Cubscout playing the Jock, Lookout's weekly Sunday party.
Brewcade
Having opened just in time for the end of the NFL season, Brewcade will likely be another good place to stop in and catch the game. Because there aren't a lot of televisions, people may skip it in favor of more traditional sports bar options, but don't forget that Brewcade has a wide selection of local and craft beer to go along with some light munchies like chips, beef jerky, corn nuts and carmel corn. You're welcome to bring your own food into the bar, and for those not looking to drink beer, Brewcade boasts the popular "Grape Drank" made up of sparkling wine, Riesling and Italian dessert wine Brachetto, plus plenty of non-alcoholic options.
Honorable mentions:
Pilsner Inn, The Mix and The Midnight Sun.
Non-football alternative
Not interested in watching the Super Bowl tomorrow? Check out the 19th Berlin & Beyond Film Festival, which is
taking place all weekend at the Castro Theatre. The festival showcases contemporary film productions from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and beyond, so if you're football-averse, order up some popcorn and settle in for a weekend
of great films.
Super Bowl XLIX kicks off tomorrow at 3:30pm on NBC. Prediction: Patriots 34 - Seattle 21
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