Super Bowl 2013 in Borderstan. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Kent Barnes. Follow him on Twitter @KentBarnes, email him at kent[AT]borderstan.com.
It’s that time of year again when more than 100 million Americans gather round the television with family and friends to watch the greatest sporting event of the year, the Super Bowl.
This year’s game brings added intrigue for local fans, as the Baltimore Ravens are one of the two teams vying for football glory.
Here’s everything you need to know to guarantee yourself an exciting Super Bowl Sunday:
Game Day Info
- The AFC Champion Baltimore Ravens take on the NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers
- Sunday, February 3 with kick-off around 6:30 pm.
- Watch the game on CBS (channel 29 in standard definition, 212 or 809 in high definition) with halftime entertainment by Beyonce.
Where You Can Watch
- Lucky Bar – Enjoy Bud Light pints for $3.50 or pitchers for $14, Yuengling pints for $4 or pitchers for $15, and a variety of food specials.
- Buffalo Billiards – Offering Miller Lite and Coors Light pints for $3.50, buckets of the same for $15, $4 bottles of Redds Apple Ale, and a chance to win a flat screen TV.
- The Front Page – Looking for variety? Partake in $21 beer towers, $3 Miller Lite and Yuengling pints, $5 Stoli & Fireballs, $7 Red Bull Vodkas, $6 food specials, and a raffle for a flat screen TV.
- Stoney’s – The perfect neighborhood bar on P Street.
- Judy’s Bar & Restaurant – Offering Happy Hour all night long starting at 6 pm. $3 beers, $5 rail drinks and $15 for Margarita pitchers. “Wear your jersey supporting your team in Super Bowl XLVII and the bartender will buy you a shot! (And remembering that Ethan is from California and a Niners fan, if you wear a Niners jersey you might even get a second shot out of him!)”
- Duffy’s Irish Pub – Gonna need a pitcher? Duffy’s is offering $12 Miller Lite pitchers, and $20 Blue Moon, Heineken, Ranger IPA, Loose Cannon IPA, and Yuengling pitchers.
- The Mad Hatter – Enjoy $5 food specials, $3 Bud Lights, and $5 fireball whiskey shots.
- Public Bar – Offering $3 Miller Lites and Coors Lights, $5 Redbull Vodkas, and other exciting giveaways.
- Touchdown – With a selection of selection of local, domestic, and imported beers.
- Nelly’s Sports Bar – The always fun crowd at the bar with multiple screens and the party starting at 6 pm.
- Solly’s Tavern – Enjoy $3 PBR, Budweiser, Bud Light and Miller Lites, $5 Ya-Hooo Shandies (half Bud Light, half Mountain Dew), “pit beef sammiches” for ravens fans and “mission style burritos” for 49er fans. More importantly, Solly’s will hold a raffle to benefit a friend of the bar who recently lost his mother and sister, and all his belongings in a Falls Church house fire. The raffle will include gift certificates, a gift basket, Wizards tickets, Capitals tickets, and more.
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Football is back to the District. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Kent Barnes. Follow him on Twitter @KentBarnes, email him at kent[AT]borderstan.com.
Hail to the Redskins!
The last time the Washington Redskins had a home playoff game we were only eight days removed from averting the Y2K disaster. Thirteen years and another failed apocalypse later, playoff football returns to the District Sunday afternoon at 4:30 pm.
Hail Victory!
After going through 13 different starting quarterbacks in the last 12 seasons, the Redskins traded several valuable draft picks for the right to select dynamic quarterback Robert Griffin III, otherwise known as “RG3.” RG3 immediately became a favorite of District area fans thanks to his infectious personality and highlight reel play on the field.
Braves on the Warpath!
Despite RG3’s immense potential, the Redskins stumbled to a 3-6 start and appeared destined to miss the playoffs yet again. But Griffin and fellow rookie sensation Alfred Morris led the team on a seven game win streak to end the season. That streak culminated in Sunday night’s thrilling 28-18 victory over the hated rival Dallas Cowboys, which gave the Redskins their first division title since 1999.
Fight for old DC!
FedEx Field is sure to be rocking Sunday night as the Redskins faithful cheer, sing, and will the team to victory against the Seattle Seahawks. If you can’t make it to the stadium, join fellow fans at one of these local bars instead:
Dupont Circle
- Maddy’s Bar and Grille – 1726 Connecticut Avenue NW
- Buffalo Billiards – 1330 19th Street NW
Logan Circle
- Stoney’s Bar and Grill – 1433 P Street NW
U Street
- Touchdown – 1334 U Street NW
- Nellie’s Sports Bar – 900 U Street NW
- Solly’s Tavern – 1942 11th Street NW
- Duffy’s Irish Bar – 2106 Vermont Avenue NW
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Buffalo Billiards on 19th Street NW, south of Dupont Circle. (Scott Leibowitz)
Lebodome is on vacation this week. The following column originally ran October 11, 2011.
From Scott Leibowitz. Find Scott on Twitter @Lebodome. Email him at [email protected].
This is now the third bar I have reviewed and I gotta say I am sorta getting the hang of this. I have had some great feedback from you guys, but feel there are lots of hidden gems of bars and places in our neighborhood I should stop by on game-day.
As long as there are TVs, draft beer, and football on, I am willing to check out anywhere. For this week thought I’d venture south and spend the day in Dupont Circle. Enjoy.
Buffalo Billiards, 1330 19th St NW
General Description:When you hear the term “sports bar”, this is definitely what you would have in mind. It’s got wall-to-wall televisions, tons of different great bar games, lots of space, and fairly standard bar drink and food. If your team makes it to a championship game, and you want to watch with your fellow fans, this is the place to do it.
Scott Leibowitz
Why I Went There: Convenience in Borderstan. This past Sunday was great weather and a walk through the Dupont Circle Farmer’s Market made it quite easy to walk to the south part of the circle for football. I have also been here for a few college games and enjoyed some pretty loud and enthusiastic crowds.
Atmosphere: This is the very spacious and activity filled bar DC needs to be considered a decent sports bar city. First off it is quite large with tons of space, so if you are a group of 25 Cincinnati Bengals fans, there is plenty of room and an available TV. Every game is on somewhere, including the center of the room with a projector screen and six other HDTVs; frankly it’s a lot of stimulation.
Its other big plus is they have so many games and activities including; a dozen billiards tables, shuffle board, darts, ski-ball, foosball, buck-hunter, and that golf video game people like. If your team is getting blown out, chuck some darts. Got a friend or significant other who isn’t a big football fan, there are plenty of games to help their Sunday afternoon enjoyment. (My girlfriend is not like that; instead she blew me out in Fantasy Football this week.)
Food and Beverage: This bar blew their money out on their HDTV’s and tons of games. That said their beer and food menu is not an escape from any other bar in the area or the country. I’d even go as far to say the beer selection, besides Batch 19, was very average (Buds, Millers, Coors, etc.). Menu seemed fairly bar’ish but gotta say for a place this large, table service was nice.
Actual Game Viewing: Tons of space + tons of HDTV + friendly staff = anywhere you sit you can see your game.
Something a Female in My Party Noticed: This was a not just a bunch of dudes watching football. I’d say half the patrons were women, and not just dates, but game invested, wearing their team’s jerseys and cheering all game. This bar is for every fan, every gender.
Overall: If you want a sports viewing bar with tons of games and TVs, this is as good as it gets. Besides that, not much else but an average bar
Total Pigskins: 3 
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Buffalo Billiards on 19th Street NW south of Dupont Circle. (Scott Leibowitz)
From Scott Leibowitz. Find Scott on Twitter @Lebodome. Email him at [email protected].
This is now the third bar I have reviewed and I gotta say I am sorta getting the hang of this. I have had some great feedback from you guys, but feel there are lots of hidden gems of bars and places in our neighborhood I should stop by on game-day.
As long as there are TVs, draft beer, and football on, I am willing to check out anywhere. For this week thought I’d venture south and spend the day in Dupont Circle. Enjoy.
Buffalo Billiards, 1330 19th St NW
General Description:When you hear the term “sports bar”, this is definitely what you would have mind. It’s got wall-to-wall televisions, tons of different great bar games, lots of space, and fairly standard bar drink and food. If your team makes it to a championship game, and you want to watch with your fellow fans, this is the place to do it.
Scott Leibowitz
Why I Went There: Convenience in Borderstan. This past Sunday was great weather and a walk through the Dupont Circle Farmer’s Market made it quite easy to walk to the south part of the circle for football. I have also been here for a few college games and enjoyed some pretty loud and enthusiastic crowds.
Atmosphere: This is the very spacious and activity filled bar DC needs to be considered a decent sports bar city. First off it is quite large with tons of space, so if you are a group of 25 Cincinnati Bengals fans, there is plenty of room and an available TV. Every game is on somewhere, including the center of the room with a projector screen and six other HDTVs; frankly it’s a lot of stimulation.
Its other big plus is they have so many games and activities including; a dozen billiards tables, shuffle board, darts, ski-ball, foosball, buck-hunter, and that golf video game people like. If your team is getting blown out, chuck some darts. Got a friend or significant other who isn’t a big football fan, there are plenty of games to help their Sunday afternoon enjoyment. (My girlfriend is not like that; instead she blew me out in Fantasy Football this week.)
Food and Beverage: This bar blew their money out on their HDTV’s and tons of games. That said their beer and food menu is not an escape from any other bar in the area or the country. I’d even go as far to say the beer selection, besides Batch 19, was very average (Buds, Millers, Coors, etc.). Menu seemed fairly bar’ish but gotta say for a place this large, table service was nice.
Actual Game Viewing: Tons of space + tons of HDTV + friendly staff = anywhere you sit you can see your game.
Something a Female in My Party Noticed: This was a not just a bunch of dudes watching football. I’d say half the patrons were women, and not just dates, but game invested, wearing their team’s jerseys and cheering all game. This bar is for every fan, every gender.
Overall: If you want a sports viewing bar with tons of games and TVs, this is as good as it gets. Besides that, not much else but an average bar
Total Pigskins: 3
Links! Links! Ice Cold Links
- With the Occupy Wall St (also DC), Ben&Jerry’s steps up.
- Attention basketball junkies: Forget the NBA, enjoy this documentary on high school ball.
- Why is college football so inferior to the NFL? Stuff like this. What a dumb rule.
The Blaguard is on 18th Street NW, just north of U. (Scott Leibowitz)
From Scott Leibowitz. Find Scott on Twitter @Lebodome. Email him at [email protected].
Quarter way through the NFL season and I am still thanking the great football gods for bringing it back on time (the same can’t be said about the NBA gods, that sport might never come back). The highly touted Cowboys and Eagles are both 1-3, the Detroit Lions are unbeaten, and the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers appear to have no hangover.
I have the same 3-1 record in my three fantasy leagues and yea somehow the Redskins are 3-1 atop the NFC East (Enjoy it, DC, while it lasts). This week’s football viewing comes from a bar I already have quite a high opinion of, and my game-day experience did not disappoint. So without further ado:
The Blaguard, 2003 18th Street NW
General Description: Your neighborhood Irish pub with the draft beer selection you have always wanted. Always a friendly crowd, plenty of Jameson, and never a crazy line like their neighbor, Jack Rose.
Why I Went There: Sometimes you want to go, where everybody knows your name. To this day I have not found a friendlier staff and fun bartenders in the district. When I asked the owner if he would ever have my football team’s games on, he said come in, and it will be there.
Atmosphere: As this is a neighborhood bar, many of the patrons have been coming to this bar for years on Sunday to watch their teams. In a town like D.C. there were fans from almost a dozen or so teams wearing their colors proudly. There are plenty of TVs downstairs and upstairs so your game is bound to be on somewhere.
Small awesome addition you probably missed. The foot-stool in the downstairs bar is actually a piece of the 18th Street streetcar rail that was torn out of the streets in the last year. It’s a perfect compliment to the high stool and tables, as well the best table in the house that looks right on to the street. Also a strong sense of Redskins camaraderie with their fight song playing after wins and a portrait picture of departed safety Sean Taylor.
Food and Beverage: I’d say there around 20 unique beers (maybe more) on tap with plenty of local and seasonal flavor. On Sunday they have good wing special but their hidden specials are fried macncheese tots and hot pretzels. Also while there Sunday a patron ordered a “Yahtzee,” which turned out to be a Jack Daniels and Red Bull. I asked him why it’s called that and he said when you drink this you are rolling the dice and have no idea where it will take you. Pretty sure he was a Packers fan.
Actual Game Viewing: Plenty of TVs, plenty of space up or down. People shift in and out of the good barstools when their team’s game is over, a high sign of class.
Overall: This is my Cheers bar. I am just glad that the football experience is good as the everyday. Nick should be proud of his establishment, and the people that work there.
Total Pigskins 4.5 
Links! Links! Ice Cold Links!
- Just when you thought the Shake Weight was hilarious, now there is this.
- Beer vendors should be allowed to harass whoever they want.
- Madonna during Super Bowl halftime. AWFUL
Where to watch football? Grand Central on 18th Street NW gets four out of five possible Lebodome Pigskins. (Scott Leibowitz)
From Scott Leibowitz. Find him @Lebodome on Twitter or email him at [email protected].
Football watching is a fairly serious endeavor for the millions who partake in it each week. What to wear, available snacks, beverage selection, good company and a litany of other factors weigh in on the average football fan when they decide where to watch their team, or the big game.
Over the course of the next few weeks, I will be examining various places in Washington, as well as local settings, in a scientific manner to break down the pros and cons of each spot.
Weighing in each factor listed above combined with my general mood from my fantasy leagues, each place will receive a score of Pigskins. I look forward to seeing who has the best barn in town.
So without further ado, my first football viewing…
Grand Central, 2447 18th Street NW
General Description: My kickball bar (great amount of space for Thursday flip-cup) is actually a Buffalo sports bar meaning the Buffalo Bills are always the priority on Sunday. Don’t worry actual locals, Redskins games are always on.
Why Did I Go There? D.C. is a city full of people who aren’t from here. I was looking for a hometown-like experience to enjoy the football game (Like 51st State Tavern is for NYC sports teams). That and my best friend from Buffalo was in town…
Atmosphere: I have been to a lot of cities around this country, but have yet to make it Buffalo. Last Sunday in this bar, I felt like I had walked into the city as it was packed wall to wall with guys and gals all sporting their Bills gear talking about Mighty Taco. I borrowed a Bills sweatshirt so I blended in but it seemed like everyone knew each other by at least 3 degrees.
The bar itself has three different bars, three floors, around a dozen T.V.’s and plenty of space for the many games played on a Sunday; it even has an outside porch for breaks and fresh air. Besides ski-ball, this bar has everything you would want, including a photo-booth like at the mall. There is even a shrine to “The Most Interesting Man in the World” surrounded by Bills’ legends, just great.
Food and Beverage: It’s a Buffalo bar, so there is lots of Labatt Blue. Past that I’d say the taps are fairly standard but extra points go to pitcher availability. Wide food menu too, but people aren’t there for the food. ‘Cept maybe the wings… saw a lot of them around. But they are called “Buffalo” wings for a reason.
Actual Game Viewing: Big screens all around and the sound is of the game at the bar you are closest too so it is pretty easy to follow the game. In a bar like this, unless you get there before kickoff, it is likely that you are standing for the game, but that ain’t so bad (just not your couch).
Overall: I went searching for the hometown bar experience, and I got one. Wouldn’t have minded a bit more seating space, but I won’t let standing get in the way of a great comeback.
Bottom Line: Owner Rashaand’s bar is a topnotch hometown bar and should be considered a great destination for any fan of any team.
Total Pigskins: Four out of Five. Great starting bar for this project.
Thought of the Week
When did Fall show up? Sad day to put away my checkered shorts and sandals for jeans and dunks…
Links! Links! Ice Cold Links!
- I always wondered how Darth Vader would do in fantasy football. Thanks ESPN
- Sperm Banks don’t like redheads anymore. This made me laugh.
- Kim Jong Il: Fashion Icon.
- The new Fifa 12 actually includes “diving.” This is why soccer will never reign in America.
