As anticipated, North Beach showed "Strength in Numbers" for the much-anticipated Game 1 of the NBA finals on June 4th, pitting the Golden State Warriors against the Cleveland Cavaliers. And if you’re heading out tonight to watch Game 2, here are a few of the many hotspots in North Beach where you can cheer for the home team.
Columbus Café (562 Green St.) last Thursday was jam-packed with fans that clearly had come in early to secure their spots, and the crowd showed no signs of waning all night. North Beach locals and other city dwellers alike were packed against the long bar and back booths, looking every which way at the six screens positioned throughout the bar.
Columbus Cafe.
Joint owners of The Northstar Café (1560 Powell St.) and Shanghai Kelly’s (2064 Polk St.), will continue to honor their Super Shot Brothers' three-pointer shot special at both locations today. Their $3 blue-and-yellow shot featuring vodka, blue curaçao and lemonade is generously handed out every time a three-pointer is scored. This place has serious sports enthusiasts on both sides of the bar: “We are all huge Warriors fans,” said bartender Caskey.
Northstar Cafe.
Maggie McGarry’s (1353 Grant Ave., at Green), with ample space to accommodate the crowds, proved to be another neighborhood favorite on Thursday. Fans were packed like sardines, shoulder to shoulder, jumping up and down and creating a loud buzz on the streets. “It sounded like a coliseum from my house,” said one fan who showed up in the second half.
"This entire season has been ridiculous as a longtime Warriors fan," said Gabe Haas, an onlooker outside Maggie McGarry's. "They are on the forefront of a new style of basketball: Fast, aggressive, and proving Charles Barkley wrong that a jump-shooting team can't succeed. I also love how the Dubs have unified the Bay... with the football and baseball rivalries between SF and Oakland, the Warriors are truly the only team that can say they are the entire Bay's team." Well put, Gabe.
Gino and Carlo (548 Green St.), a neighborhood staple and a favorite for sports fans, proved to be another packed house. Offering their monthly neighborhood lunch last Thursday with cocktails and food starting at noon, the crowds joined in for some pre-game excitement. The spillover into game time brought a unique energy to the bar, and the crowds showed no sign of slowing.
Gino and Carlo
Crowded, energetic, and loud were the Warriors swag-wearing fans at The Boardroom (1609 Powell St.). Though tucked away from the lively Grant and Green intersection, the bar proved to be another neighborhood nexus, with six TVs and its usual happy hour from 4–7pm. “I’m looking forward to every game being that wild,” said bartender JP.
The Boardroom
It was standing-room only at Giordano Brothers (303 Columbus Ave.), with high-energy fans packed into a tight space. Everyone was “losing it” during the first four quarters, said a bartender on duty. Once the game went into overtime, fans were scrambling to reopen their tabs and keep the celebration going.
Giordano Brothers
Have a favorite North Beach haunt for watching the Warriors? Let us know in comments.
