Celebrating the Superb Owl*

In case you haven't heard, there's a big football game taking place in New Jersey this weekend. 

That's right.  New Jersey.  MetLife Stadium, where the Super Bowl will be played, is in East Rutherford, NJ.  About 20 minutes away from my apartment, actually. 

It's not in New York.  Despite what all the advertising would have you believe. 

Anyway, to get everyone geared up for the big game, there have been a lot of events going on in both NY and NJ over the last week or so.  A lot of them are outdoors.  Like the Kickoff Concert and Super Bowl Boulevard.  Neither of which I went to, because it's been about 20 degrees for the last few weeks.  Entirely too cold to stand around outside for longer than necessary. 

And I definitely won't be attending the big game.  Even if I had tickets or any interest in going.  Sitting in MetLife Stadium (which, by the way, I still want to call Giants Stadium.  I know it's a brand new stadium with a brand new name, but to me, the football stadium in East Rutherford will forever be known as Giants Stadium.  Who cares if the Jets play there too.) in the freezing cold on a Sunday night sounds like the definition of miserable. 

My dad, who actually likes football, agreed.  But, he figured that we couldn't be total Grinch's about the Super Bowl, so when credentials came across his desk for the Super Bowl XLVII Media Party at Chelsea Piers on Tuesday, he snatched up two. 

We had planned to go to the theater that night, but figured that this would be a good Tuesday night activity.  Plus, it was free (minus the $25 that it cost to park). 

We honestly had no idea what to expect. To the point where, on our way over, we were wondering if there was going to be food.  

That question was quickly answered when we stepped on to Pier 60 and were immediately handed a plate of pork, rice and beans.  

The pier, with all it's amazing food stands.

Oh my gosh, this party was awesome.  It was kind of like a giant tailgate that your really really rich friends threw, and had something for everyone.  In what is usually the parking lot area of the pier, there were about 15 or so restaurants, each serving one of their specialty items. 

Dino BBQ's Booth

I had the most amazing crab cake from the Boathouse in Central park (ok, fine, I really had two).  There was great pulled pork sliders from Dinosaur Barbecue.  Parsnip and prawn soup from Crave Fishbar.  What seemed like half a pastrami on rye from Katz's deli. Yummy yummy banana pudding from Magnolia bakery. 

The only food picture I took. This is clearly why I'm not a food blogger.
(Dino BBQ pulled pork slider)

There was also all sorts of beer, wine, and spirits available. 

And, Jets cheerleaders (who somehow weren't freezing their butts off).

That's my dad. We're actually a Giants family.

In the Lighthouse, which is this huge event space at the end of the pier overlooking the Hudson, things were a big classier.  

This is where all the fancier people hung out.  It's also where the cake was.

There were passed hors d'oeuvres and desserts from Carlos Bakery (you know, the cake boss).  I might have gotten two pieces the first time around, and gone back for a second round of the yellow cake with chocolate icing.  But hey, they were bite sized-ish pieces.  

There were performances by the Newark Boy's Choir and and various Broadway productions (emceed by Constantine Maroulis). 

You are the dancing queen!

There was also activity going on at Bowlmor.  Bowling, beers, pizza, and wings were there for the taking. We didn't bowl.  Or eat pizza or wings. 

I wasn't wearing socks, so putting on bowling shoes was out.  They did have socks to borrow though.

We ended up staying for about an hour and a half or so.  Sufficient time to fill our bellies and marvel at the zoo that was the party.  

And now we get to say that we were part of the Super Bowl XLVII extravaganza.

*Sadly, there wasn't a superb owl at the party.  But there were a few cute police dogs, carrying around what looked like super indestructible Kongs in their mouths.

**Please pardon the horrendous iPhone pictures.  While the event was awesome, the lighting was not ideal.  And I was usually balancing a drink and a plate of food in one hand while trying to snap a picture with the other.  Plus, I just suck at taking pictures.