Who’s playing the Super Bowl? Who cares?! It’s all about the party – especially with these gridiron-ready accessories
Get your head in the game
by Christie Moeller
Whether you’re spilling your beer out of grief or glory, these are handy: Turf football coasters by Tattooed Butterfly, $25, etsy.com
Toast your victory! – or drown your defeat – with these Cathy’s Concepts glass football tumblers, set of four, $58, Nordstrom in the Fashion Show Mall
Blankets are cozy, but also good for chewing on anxiously. “Relax It’s Game Day” throw by Tommy Bahama in Town Square, the Fashion Show Mall, the Forum Shops at Caesars and the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood.
For men and women who approach the Super Bowl like some strange annual religious ritual, read this: The Modern Girls’ Guide to the Gridiron by V.F. Castro, $17.99, Barnes and Noble
Relive the game’s glory, the drama and passion in buzzing plastic and metal miniature with the Tudor deluxe NFL electric football game, $89.95, Nordstrom in the Fashion Show Mall
If you have to eat your feelings, might as well stick to the theme with these football cookie cutters, $1.25 each, Sur la Table in the Fashion Show Mall
Keeps your hands dry, your drink cold, and also cozy and cute. Hope that’s okay! Red Zone knitted beverage covers by Freaker, $12, Tommy Bahama in Town Square, the Fashion Show Mall, the Forum Shops at Caesars and the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood
Super Bowl 101
Or, how to party like a pro (even if you have no clue what’s going on)Each Super Bowl season, I explore ways to get friends who aren’t rabid football fans (like me) to enjoy the festivities without feeling they have to become walking football encyclopedias. Here are some common questions I get:
What should I wear on game day?
I usually suggest coordinating colors for a team you’re rooting for. For last year’s Super Bowl, I suggested pairing blue skinny jeans with white shoes and a white top, with a red scarf to represent the New England Patriots. Or blue skinny jeans and a lime-green top to represent the Seattle Seahawks. (Just) make sure it’s going to be a solid addition to your wardrobe beyond football season.
I’m hosting a party. What should I serve?
A nacho bar is a great place to start. Lay out the chips, then bowls containing salsas, guacamole, beans, jalapeños, sour cream, rice, then have a few crock pots going with shredded chicken, beef and a mild queso dip. This will also give options to those with dietary restrictions. Sure, you can spend months planning a majestic lunch meat stadium complete with celery goal posts. But the most satisfying sustenance is usually the simplest, so spend less time in the kitchen and more time watching the game!
How do I talk to these strange, football-obsessed people?
Go to Super Bowl parties equipped with some historical knowledge on the game. Here are five quick-fire bits of trivia. 1. The $50,000, 22-inch, seven-pound Lombardi Trophy is designed by Tiffany & Co. 2. No NFL team has ever played in a Super Bowl in the team’s home stadium. 3. Of the 32 NFL teams, only the Houston Texans, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars have never appeared in a Super Bowl. 4. The first Super Bowl was on January 15, 1967. Tickets were $6, $8, and $12. 5. There will be 72 Wilson footballs on hand during the Super Bowl.
Vanessa-Franchesca “VF” Castro is the author of The Modern Girls’ Guide to the Gridiron.