If You're Not Watching the Super Bowl in the Hamptons...
Super Bowl Sunday can be a little daunting or those who don’t care about football or $4 million commercials. Just because the nation is gripped by this sweat- and sponsor-fueled mania, doesn’t mean you have to enjoy, or even endure, it. Don’t be ashamed because you didn’t by beer, nachos or a single cheese plate during your last trip to Waldbaums. You’re not the only one.
So, instead of feeling like the kid picked last in gym class—because you probably were that kid if you don’t like the Super Bowl—pull up your bootstraps and find some alternative entertainment on Sunday. Here are a few ideas.
Go Shopping
For the ladies, ARF Thrift & Treasures Shop is holding a Football Widows Party on Sunday. The shop, which benefits Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons, will be previewing its spring line of fashion and accessories, and serving light fare, between 12 and 4 p.m. Call 631-537-3682 for more info. 17 Montauk Highway, Sagaponack. Check out this week’s Shop ‘Til You Drop for more shopping ideas!
See a Movie
While your friends and family are gathered around the television or at their favorite sports bar, why not escape to the movies? Check your local listings. Even better, get movie and dinner, or at least a cocktail, at theRiverheadProject, visionary restaurateur Dennis McDermott’s eatery between the Twin Forks.
From 7:15-9:30 p.m.. the restaurant’s theMovieProject is screening Magic Mike, a film featuring Channing Tatum as a studly male stripper. Each movie is paired with a specialty cocktail, and more drinks and small plates are available at theVaultBar during the film. Dinner is optional upstairs. Call 631-284-9300 or visit theriverheadproject.com for more info. 300 East Main Street, Riverhead.
Take a Hike
The Super Bowl begins Sunday evening, but hiking earlier in the day might serve as the antidote for frustrations later. With a little exercise and enjoyment, the night’s inevitable jock-fest may be a bit more bearable. If you do some birding in the morning, use the same skills later and observe the Super Bowl fanfare as an anthropologist studying Cromagnon behavior.
Frank Quevedo, Executive Director of South Fork Natural History Museum (SoFo) is leading a Birding for Beginners: Ocean Waterfowl walk at 7:45 a.m. in Montauk on Sunday. Thousands of birds come to the waters off Montauk Point each winter to feed and you’ll try to identify these arctic visitors as they dive for food and frolic in the surf.
Reservations are required for all SoFo events. Participants must call 631-537-9735 for reservations and information about meeting places.
Also check out Vineyard Field and Poxabogue County Park with the Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt from 10-11:30 a.m. on Sunday. Call hike-leader Dai Dayton for more. Walk meets in the SoFo parking lot in Bridgehampton.
Watch Something Else
Here’s a novel idea—watch a different television show during the Super Bowl on Sunday. Unfortunately, this one sports event has become so important that many other good shows are not airing new episodes on Sunday. Annoying!
If you’re not angry about having to wait another week for the latest episodes of Showtime’s House of Lies or Californication, now’s your chance to catch up. Both shows are available on demand and DVD. On the other hand, HBO and PBS have enough class to ignore the Super Bowl and air their shows anyway. Watch HBO’s Girls and Downton Abbey on PBS, and catch up with previous seasons of both shows if you haven’t seen them. If these don’t tickle your fancy, try something else. Television has been pretty amazing these last 10 years.