Cathleen Allison/Nevada Appeal Firkin' and Fox waitress Erin Martinelli serves lunch to Jennifer Westphal and Barbara Durante on Wednesday afternoon. The restaurant is one of many local businesses offering food and drink specials for Sunday's Super Bowl. At right, patrons won't miss a minute of the big game at Firkin' and Fox with the restaurant's 15 HD TVs, in addition to the three in the restrooms.
America's most revered unofficial holiday is this Sunday.
Super Bowl XLII is set to kickoff at 3:20 p.m. in Glendale, Ariz., with more than 135 million viewers expected nationwide including, "all of Carson" according to one local bartender.
"What's bigger than the Super Bowl?" asked Firkin' and Fox general manager Steve Smith. "Well, try watching it on 15 high-def TVs with plenty of beer and wing specials."
Though Smith, with the alluring cadence of an experienced restaurateur down pat, promised an "exceptional game" for patrons, his is not the only show in town.
Carson Nugget spokesman Kelly Brant said the casino always gets a strong turnout of "football fans and regulars."
The casino, which will feature $1 domestic draughts and $2 premium draughts, along with $2 tacos, wings, ribs and shrimp cocktail, will also have plenty of buzz around the game itself.
"Even though we're on the West Coast, I think a lot of people are wanting to see if New England can go undefeated," he said. "This means a lot of people will be rooting against them as well.
"I think we'll have a good game - a close one."
Indeed, the Patriots' pursuit of perfection isn't lost on Carson Station bar back Veronica Vincent, who said she's rooting for "Tom Terrific" because he's "already perfect."
"I'm rooting for the Patriots," she said. "I love the Patriots - and Tom Brady is fine."
Greg Pavlik, bartender at The Old Globe Saloon, didn't quite share Vincent's ardor for the Pats' signal caller, but he too is rooting for America's latest football dynasty.
"I want to see perfection," he said. "Who doesn't? Love 'em or hate 'em - it's something special."
The Old Globe will feature a few drink specials, but Pavlik said most of the bar will be occupied by regulars.
"We're all really concerned about the pools we're in," he said with a laugh. "Isn't everyone?"
Well, there are others with concerns.
Carson City Sheriff's deputies will be fully staffed Sunday evening, and monitoring one of the deadliest days for drunken driving-related incidents nationwide.
"We beef up the shifts and cancel all leave for the day," said chief Steve Schuette. "We have a heightened awareness for impaired drivers."
Schuette said in recent years Super Bowl fans and partygoers locally have been "seemingly good" at designating a driver.
A trend, he hopes will continue this year.
"We're happy about the education and awareness," he said. "But we know the game's starting a little later, and by the time the bars get out, it'll be 9:30 or 10 p.m. That's a long day.
"We just encourage people to be safe and act with caution."
Most bar owners said they'll be running "constant cab service" to their establishment at the game's conclusion and that responsibility for patrons is "priority one."
"We always encourage people to have a designated driver on days like New Year's and Super Bowl Sunday," Nugget spokesman Brant said. "We've got a direct line to cabs and a stand across the street.
"We need people to have a fun day - and a safe one."
• Contact reporter Andrew Pridgen at apridgen@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.
sampling of Super Bowl XLII specials
Carson Nugget
• $1 domestic draughts
• $2 premium draughts
• $2 tacos, wings, shrimp cocktails and ribs
Carson Station
• Win a $5,000 RC Willey shopping spree
• 2-7 p.m.: $1 hot-dogs, tacos, pizza slices, wings; $3 prime rib sandwiches
Doppleganger's
• Beer and food specials throughout the game
El Charro Avitia
• $8.50 domestic pitchers
• $10.50 premium draught pitchers
• $12.50 margarita pitchers
• Free appetizers
Firkin' & Fox
• 1 lb. wings and pitcher for $14.95; 2 lb. wings and pitcher for $24.95
• Raffle