Corrections or additions?
This article by Jamie Saxon was prepared for the January 28, 2004
issue of U.S. 1 Newspaper. All rights reserved.
Superbowl Revels
OK, so the Eagles aren’t going to the Super Bowl, but
you’re still going to watch the game, aren’t you? And if you’re
drowning your sorrows in alcohol anyway (about the Eagles, that is, or
perhaps your bruised feelings that nobody invited you to a Super Bowl
party at their house), why not drown (and whoop and holler) in style?
Hey, you can’t win a pro helmet at your friend’s house, like you can
at Poor Billy’s in Woodbridge, or a 32-inch television set, like you
can at Hooters. And we bet your friend doesn’t have miniature Tuscan
sandwiches and a 100-inch screen — hands down the biggest in the area
— like Triumph Brewing on Nassau Street does.
So, go alone or go with friends, but if you go, here’s where to go:
Triumph Brewing Company, 138 Nassau Street, Princeton.609-7855. About 18 months ago, Triumph — known for great live bandsand microbrews — converted one of its upstairs rooms into a space forcorporate training by day and private parties by night. One piece ofequipment — a 100-inch screen (that’s about 6-feet-by-8-feet, ifspatial relations isn’t your strong suit), inspired the idea for thebar/restaurant’s first ever Super Bowl Party.According to sales manager Eric Nutt, they had been thinking abouthaving a movie night when the brainstorm hit: a Super Bowl party forthe one night of the year when, let’s face it, size matters. While theparty’s in a separate room, the double glass doors will be open to therestaurant’s balcony, with full view of the bar and the brew pub. From6 p.m. to the 11 p.m. closing, a flat $40 includes all you can eat anddrink (and we’ve seen you eat and drink) — seven beers brewed freshin-house, pitchers on ice, gourmet sandwiches, miniature Tuscansandwiches, and of course, soda and coffee. Even tax and gratuity areincluded.Nutt also encourages Super Bowl revelers to save the date ofWednesday, February 4, at 7 p.m., when Princeton Mayor O’Neill willtap Triumph’s 1,000th brew (the restaurant opened in 1995) — itsfirst blond double bock. Everyone in the house gets a free sample.Created by Jay Misson, Triumph’s new brewery operations manager — 17years of brewing experience and a master of the Bavarian style — theblond double bock is well, let’s just say, strong.Poor Billy’s, 40 Oakwood Avenue at Route 9 North,Woodbridge, right across from the Woodbridge Mall. 732-634-5454.Everyone we’ve spoken to who knows the area, says for true footballfans, Poor Billy’s is worth the 35-minute drive due north ofPrinceton. A combination sports bar, steakhouse, restaurant and nightclub, manager Katie Graciano says, “From the time you walk in everySunday, it’s all football.”With over 100 TVs, you don’t have to worry about a big lug blockingyour view of the halftime show — or the $100 million a minutecommercials. There’s no cover and Super Bowl bells and whistles willfeature an emcee and DJ calling out drink specials; a free halftimebuffet; two real pro helmet (one for each Super Bowl team), which willbe raffled off; giveaway tee shirts, jerseys, and hats; and a25-cent-per-wing special (we’ll do the math for you — that’s 20 for 5bucks).And it gets better. Five-dollar pitchers of Coors, $1.60 draughts, andshot girls walking around with shot specials. And the last reason it’sworth the drive? Princeton bars close at 11 on Sundays; Poor Billy’sis open ’til one or two a.m., depending on the crowd. Graciano saysthat last year, Poor Billy’s brought in the brand new Jets draftplayers for the game and people came from as far away as Manhattan andWestchester. She can’t make any promises for this year, but that’sonly because the ink on the contracts isn’t dry.Directions: Take Route 1 north, past Edison, until you see theWoodbridge Mall on your right. Take the U-turn (there’s a sign),proceed to the stop sign. Make a right on Route 1 south. Get into thelefthand lane for the U-turn and you’ll see Poor Billy’s right on therighthand side. “All you need to know is we’re across from theWoodbridge Mall,” says Graciano.Hooters, 4220 Quakerbridge Road, adjacent to Mercer Mall,West Windsor, 609-520-9464. Hooters is easy on the wallet and, yes,easy on the eyes. We asked manager John McGlothlin — a Chattanooganative who’s worked at 14 Hooters in six different states — about theSuper Bowl festivities, but what we really wanted to know was, arethere physical requirements for the waitresses?”We have a BFOQ (that’s EEOC code for bona fide occupationalqualifications) that says we look for ‘the attractive, athletic,girl-next-door type,’” says McGlothlin. This is totally legit — andHooters even won a lawsuit in 1995 when some men tried to apply forwaitstaff jobs. “It’s no different than the BFOQ for the Dallas Cowboycheerleaders or the Rockettes,” adds McGlothlin.OK, so if you’re not watching the 15 eye-candy waitresses, there aretwo 55-inch screens and 18 TVs in all. Super Bowl extras include CoorLight specials, tee shirt and hat giveaways, and the big door prize —a 32-inch TV, which will be given away at the end of the game. Note:Hooter’s only sells beer and wine. Oh, yes, and champagne, the crownjewel in one more special, available year round. “We call it thegourmet chicken wing dinner,” says McGlothlin. “A bottle of DomPerignon and 20 wings for $149.99.”Yankee Doodle Tap Room at the Nassau Inn , 10 PalmerSquare, 609-921-7500. In this history-steeped watering hole whereNorman Rockwell painted a mural in 1939 and Princeton students haveetched the timeline of their love lives with Swiss Army knives forgenerations, you can watch the Super Bowl on seven TV screens.Good Time Charley’s, 4595 Route 27, Kingston.609-924-7400. Pick a perch in the 41-seat bar attached to a grill roomand check out the game on five 27-inch screens. Dinner will be serveduntil 9 p.m., or order up a burger from the grill behind the bar.Championship Sports Cafe, 931 Chambers, Trenton.609-396-5457. In the heart of Chambersburg, this sports bar at thecorner of Chambers and Morris is another place that’s worth the trip(see the detailed directions below). Championship has a long history,but it was acquired by new owner Heather Ransome in April, 2003,followed by extensive renovations.The crowd is as mixed as the United Nations, but a whole lotfriendlier. It better be. One patron is Donny Mason, a 31-year-oldminister of the Living Hope Alliance Church in Trenton. Mason, adiehard Steelers fan, swears by Championship for all the big games,because the bar is home to its own Steelers Fan Club, 50 membersstrong, who get a room to themselves every Sunday. “Everyone in theplace hates us so it makes for a fun kind of antagonistic feel onSundays,” says Mason. “There’s a lot of energy — it’s not just a deadplace where people are staring at the TVs. There’s lots of banter,especially when someone else’s team is doing badly.” And with twobars, a dining area, two pool tables, and 30 small and threebig-screen TVs, there’s certainly room for every type of fan. WhileChampionship is offering the requisite dollar Coors Light draftspecial on Super Bowl Sunday, what the bar is really known for is itswings. Choose from mild, hot, suicide, barbecue, and garlic parmesan(patrons come from far and wide on friends’ recommendations just forthe garlic parm wings.) Here’s another bennie: Since it’s outside ofPrinceton, the bar doesn’t close til 2 a.m.P.S. Apparently Ransome has a lady’s touch. On Friday, January 30,it’s Championship’s first “pink party” for girls only. Wear pink for adiscount on the nominal cover charge and enjoy an evening of dollarpink drinks, pink Michelob ultra pints, tarot card readings, a DJ andkaraoke, henna tattoes, a Mary Kay rep, and — ready for this? — anadult toy showcase.Directions: Route 1 South, Market Street, at first light make a left,next light go left again, road bends around and come to another light,go right. Go over overpass, at next light the road forks. Stay to theleft (which is Greenwood), go through that light, go straight throughand take second right onto Chestnut. At the following light make aleft onto Hamilton Avenue. At next light, make a right on Chambers, goup four blocks, and Championship is on the right hand side at thecorner of Chambers and Morris.So, there you have it. Go north, south, east, or west, but go in goodspirits and drink responsibly. May the best team win.— Jamie SaxonPrevious StoryNext StoryCorrections or additions?This page is published by PrincetonInfo.com— the web site for U.S. 1 Newspaper in Princeton, New Jersey.
