Maybe you haven’t heard that the Broncos are headed to (actually, they’re already in New Jersey) the Super Bowl this weekend. The good guys are facing off against the Seattle Seahawks in contest that has spurred just about every possible pot reference to a bowl that one could hope to imagine.
If you hadn’t heard about this fact, you know have a very plausible explanation for the entire state turning orange and blue over the last week. Even our fourteeners are joining in the fun and have been renamed to Broncos players for one day only in support of our favorite hometown heroes.
I’m sure many of you are planning epic Super Bowl (and, yes, Super “Bowl”) parties to watch our team take home the win; but with all the traditions of meat and grease and cheap beer, it may seem that the Super Bowl is the antithesis of everything Boulder represents.
Hardly! Super Bowl parties are about community and getting together and giving out overly strong high fives and a few too many bro hugs after a touchdown. There’s plenty of room to give the other aspects of the party a Boulder twist.
Go Green!
No, not Seahawks green; ecologically friendly green. As it turns out, this year’s Super Bowl is set to be the greenest in history by composting food waste, using biodiesel to power the generators and even planting trees to offset carbon emissions. There is no reason you can’t have a green party as well. Compost your food waste as well and, for the love of god, don’t use disposable dishes. Just commit to washing some dishes afterwards.
Go Cruelty-Free!
If you’ve got to have hot wings for the big game, try to make sure your meat is made the sustainable, humane way. That includes hormone-free, cage-free chicken and free roam beef and pork. If you want to go one step further, you can always go vegan or vegetarian. Seitan is a decent substitute for chicken wings and there are some mouth-watering recipes for vegan buffalo sauce.
Go Outside!
Every year, the halftime show gets hyped and every year, most people call it a total let down. Why not do something to counteract all the couch potato face-stuffing activities you’ve been doing all afternoon. Go for an evening run or head outside with your friends to play a little game of sunset football yourself. You likely won’t miss anything life changing during the musical act.
Go Craft!
I’m not going to say you shouldn’t drink Bud Light (insert another marijuana pun here) on game day. I’m just saying that you have access to some of the most delicious craft beer and spirits in the world. Why not grab a few growlers and hit up the local breweries for a wide variety of microbrewed goodness for the game.
Go to a Bar!
If you don’t feel like playing host to a swarm of loud football fans, make plans to meet up at a bar near your home (no drinking and driving, no matter who wins!). In fact, your local watering hole may be having some specials or a party of their own. Shine in Downtown Boulder is having a paleo Super Bowl party, so all you meatheads can get your healthy fix while watching the game.
Whatever you decide to do this Sunday, do it responsibly and be safe. Let’s represent Colorado with pride for our Broncos and not get sloppy drunk by the third quarter.
That being said, GO BRONCOS!
