Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Bowl Bashes Whether You Like Football Or Not, These Super Bowl Parties Will Be Hubs Of Excitement On Sunday Afternoon

If you like football, then you’re probably frothing at the mouth right now at the thought of Super Bowl Sunday as it hulks like a linebacker just around the corner.

If you don’t like football, you’re probably rolling your eyes, bracing yourself for yet another day of watching your friends and family cheer like loons and slap each other with oft-missed high fives.

Ahhh, the yearly clash of entertainment tastes.

Fortunately there’s one thing that brings the football lover and the football hater together: The Super Bowl Party.

The following are just a few places in the Inland Northwest hosting Super Bowl shindigs. The good thing about these annual events is, even if you don’t like football, you can still head out to one of these fine establishments and take advantage of their food and drink specials.

For those who love the game, most places have multiple televisions and big-screen TVs for the perfect view of that vital touchdown or game-ruining fumble.

For those who don’t care for the game, feel free to ignore the television and move in for the 50-cent hot dogs and dollar pints. After a few of those pints and you won’t mind the mindless hooting and hollering around you.

A designated driver is all you need for the perfect Super Bowl Sunday afternoon. Just make sure the driver is football fan.

In Spokane

KKZX 98.9 FM and The Magic Lantern Movie Bar (123 S. Wall St.) host a Super Bowl movie extravaganza. The game will play on both a 20-foot movie screen and a 16-foot screen for no charge. The Magic Lantern will serve beer, wine and pizza from Europa. Prizes will be given out as well.

Bambino’s (111 N. Post) opens at 11 a.m. for its pigskin celebration. There will be drink and shot specials every hour, $2.50 Bloody Marys and draft beer pints for $1.50. They’ll also hold games and contests throughout the day, with a raffle for prizes as well. Call 835-5481 for reservations (recommended).

Double Dan’s Sports Bar & Grill (1011 W. Broadway) offers happy-hour beer and well-drink prices, $4 pitchers and free appetizers for their Super Bowl party. And don’t miss their cash and merchandise prize giveaways. Doors open at 10 a.m. and reservations are recommended. Call 326-8183.

At Finnerty’s BBQ & Sports Bar (126 N. Division) catch the game on 15 TVs. Happy hour lasts all day and the bar opens at 11 a.m. During the game spend only a buck for domestic pints and $2 for microbrew pints. Appetizers will be up to $2 off.

Fill up on specially-priced beer and food at Pepperdine’s Sports Bar and Grill (2911 E. 57th). They’ll be giving away shirts, hats and mugs as you watch the game on 19 TVs. It’s best to call for reservations. They expect to fill up the place on game day. (448-8111)

The 619 Bar and Grill (619 S. Washington) boasts a 10-foot big screen TV from which to see all the sporting action. They’ll dish out free hot dogs during the game and give away he usual sports paraphernalia - as well as a set of Budweiser skis.

McQ’s Billiards Parlour (9614 E. Sprague) as well as Swackhammer’s (21 E. Lincoln Rd.) will both offer a $15 game-day package that includes a prime game-viewing seat plus buffet dinner. McQ’s offers a 12-foot projection screen as well as three other big screens, putting their total TV count at 22. Swack’s has three big screens and two small ones in the bar.

The Swinging Doors Tavern (1018 W. Francis) will be fencing off an area in their parking lot and setting up tents for a pre-game tailgate party complete with fireplace, television, drinks and bratwurst. Head inside to see the game on 23 screens.

In Idaho

If you want to celebrate the Super Bowl with a little snow, check out Schweitzer Mountain Resort. The game will play in both the Taps bar and Jimmie’s bar. Too Slim and the Taildraggers will perform in Taps from 9:30 p.m. to midnight tonight, 4-7 p.m. and 9:30-midnight Saturday and 4-7 p.m. Sunday.

T.W. Fisher’s Brew Pub (204 N. Second) in Coeur d’Alene will have games, give-aways, shirts and hats as well as food and drink specials. Catch the football action on one of their six TVs.

Casey’s Pub & Grill (315 N. Ross Point Rd.) in Post Falls hosts a Super Bowl party with $2 pints on all draft beers, door prizes and no cover charge. Other food and drink specials will be served up, as well.

KHTQ 94.5 FM will host a party at Templin’s Resort in Post Falls (414 E. First Ave.) starting at 2 p.m. In addition to drink and food specials, there will be prizes and interactive trivia games.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo