In
1890, Pasadena threw a New Year's parade for the purpose of rubbing their fresh
flowers in the frozen faces of New Yorkers. Then, 12 years later, the annual
California festival added a football game to the celebration, known as the Rose
Bowl. Miami and Louisiana followed suit, introducing the world to the Orange
Bowl and the Sugar Bowl. Cotton, Peach, and Fiesta Bowls appeared on the scene,
adding a variety of flavors to the competition between football teams and the
cities they hail from.
Just
one month after Rosa Parks initiated the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Louisiana's
Sugar Bowl became a barometer of American racism in 1956. The controversy
occurred when Georgia Tech objected to Bobby Grier, fullback for the Pitt
Panthers, on the grounds that he was African American. The Historic New Orleans
Collection's archive of the 1956 Sugar Bowl features a quote from Georgia
Governor Marvin Griffin, saying that "the South stands at Armageddon" on the
matter of integration at the game. Many Louisiana citizens agreed with Atlanta
in demanding segregated sports, but the Sugar Bowl went on with Grier. That
game is now regarded as an influential moment towards breaking the color
barrier in college football.
This
year, the Sugar Bowl turns 85. The milestone year comes at another historic
moment: the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While bars are operating under city- and
state-mandated restrictions and precautions, New Orleans is not out of the
woods. For those continuing to do the good work in erring on the side of
caution, it's possible to have a small taste of normalcy and support a local
business by grabbing your usual order to go from one of these spots and catching
Ohio State vs. Clemson at home. If you prefer in-person activities, all the
places listed here will be open for the game, serving snacks and beverages,
both dine-in and to go.
Bar 1908 at Pythian Market
As
part of Pythian Market, Bar 1908 was one of the early
adopters of outdoor dining. Claiming a small chunk of Loyola Avenue for their
customers to imbibe outside was a big step toward providing New Orleanian
diners an alternative. Pick up one of their ingenious cocktails. Weather
permitting, you might even be in the mood for a frozen Watermelon Paloma to—you
know—rub in the face of all those freezing New Yorkers, as the Rose Bowl
creators intended. 234 Loyola Ave, (504)
481-9599, pythianmarket.com
Martine's Lounge
In
Old Metairie, Martine's
Lounge has all the trappings that go into making a dream
neighborhood bar: darts, board games, video poker, jukebox, free pizza and
snacks, and your favorite liquid refreshments. Martine's Mulled Cider and their
selection of hot drinks will keep you warm—even if you're sticking with outside
for now. 2347 Metairie Rd., Metairie,
(504) 831-8637, facebook.com/martineslounge
Stumpy's Hatchet House
Stumpy's story started with friends who
found a way to turn chopping wood into a game. The game, in turn, became a
business with 27-and-counting hatchet-throwing locations. This wild success
story proves Stuart and Kelly Josberger and their friends Mark and Trish
Oliphant found an untapped market for … axe-throwing! Stumpy's is currently
BYOB, but they will still be serving up classic snacks—think hotdogs, nachos,
and popcorn. 1200 Poydras St., (504)
577-2937, stumpyshh.com/neworleansla
Lots a Luck Bar
Homey
bars like Lots a Luck are community pillars.
Lots a Luck is home to trivia night, table soccer, pool, and the patio where
your friend confessed that *thing* you still can't get over. This is the place
that set the scene for too many nights to count. Even if you're ordering to go,
it's possible to support this neighborhood gem. This is NOLA after all—getting
a drink to go is our thing! New York wishes they were us, and this time, it's
not just because of the better weather. Take that, Rose Bowl! 203 Homedale St., (504) 258-6712, facebook.com/LotsaLuckNOLA
New Orleans Creole Cookery
Blessed
with a beautiful outdoor courtyard and brilliant chefs and mixologists, New Orleans Creole Cookery is a
strong contender. But good thing this isn't a competition. With five categories
of Hurricanes to choose from, your cocktail needs will definitely be met. Gator
bites and their New Orleans bread pudding pair especially nicely with the Sugar
Bowl. 510 Toulouse St., (504) 524-9632, neworleanscreolecookery.com
