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• Friends, food and football come together for the perfect Super Bowl party

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Unlike many championship sporting events, the Super Bowl is one that can be enjoyed by just about anyone. From the actual football to the half-time performers and from the commercials to the wardrobe malfunctions, there’s something for viewers of any age. Many people don’t even care who is playing as long as they have a good time.

This year, Super Bowl XLIII falls on Feb. 1 and features the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals. The game will take place in sunny Tampa. Even though the game will showcase the fabulous weather and excited fans of the teams, we don’t have to feel envious for enduring a cold winter with no local teams representing our area. Instead, we can throw an epic Super Bowl party and have just as good of a time as the fans in the skyboxes ... hopefully.

The perfect party is relatively simple to set up. The most important component, however, is a good television with lots of room to sit and watch. In a perfect world, every party would have a big-screen with the game in HD and big comfy chairs. The goal is to get as close to this utopia as possible. In the end, however, it’s the thought that counts, but don’t insist on having the party if someone else has a bigger television.

No party is complete without the snacks. Some prefer to serve snacks with a dinner at halftime while others rely on appetizers for the entire game. Either option is fine as long as there’s enough good food for everyone. Great party dishes include chips and dip, pizza, hot dogs, beef sandwiches or hamburgers. If it sounds unhealthy, then it sounds like a winner.

Those snacks will no doubt make a party-goer thirsty. Make sure to keep cold beers or a cold keg ready to quench the thirst of your guests. Other people may enjoy sodas or water, so be sure to have those available also. Why not keep ice cream on-hand and serve root beer floats?

For some extra fun during those lulls that inevitably occur during the game, coordinate an activity. Test their smarts by quizzing them on the past Super Bowl winners, or agree to do something every time the announcers say a certain phrase or the cameras show a certain player.

Finally, sit back, relax and enjoy the game. In a few years you might not remember who was playing or who won, but hopefully your guests will remember the great times they had at your party.