Hate Football? Here Are 5 Alternatives For Super Bowl Sunday
6 photos
<strong>Visit a Museum</strong> New York's finer fine art institutions are often at capacity on the weekends, but those seeking solitude with their paint swirls might want to consider a trip to the museum mile this weekend. Sunday is your last chance to catch the special exhibition of Renaissance art at the Metropolitan Museum. Featuring approximately <a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2011/renaissance-venice">50 paintings paintings and drawings by preeminent artists active in Venice</a> from the late fourteenth to the early sixteenth century, the impressive collection brings together works by Giovanni Bellini, the Vivarini, Marco Zoppo, and Vittore Carpaccio. Suggested admission may have been <a href="http://gothamist.com/2011/06/03/met_museum_raises_suggested_admissi.php">raised by 25% this year</a>, but you can get in for loose change if you're willing to subject yourself to a raised eyebrow from a judgemental ticket salesperson. <p></p><p>The <a href="http://whitney.org/Visit/FreeTours">Whitney is offering free tours</a> of their new display highlighting works from the permanent collection in an exhibition dubbed <a href="http://whitney.org/Exhibitions/SingularVisions"><em>Singular Visions</em></a>. The installation currently features works by Alexander Calder, Jasper Johns, and Robert Grosvenor. But good luck getting past security without first forking over the $18 admissions fee. </p>
<strong>Drink Beer</strong>Beer can be a part of Super Bowl Sunday for you even if the big game is not. Fans of Brooklyn brew can watch the game at this first ever the first ever <a href="http://brooklynbrewery.com/blog/events/a-superbowl-option-for-you-and-your-friends/">Brooklyn Bottle Bowl</a> hosted by the Brooklyn Winery. But the <a href="http://brooklynbrewery.com/visit/visiting-the-brooklyn-brewery">brewery will still conduct its ever popular tours</a> on Sunday afternoon. As per usual, reservations are not accepted for tours taking place on the hour from 1:00-4:00p.m., but the line might not be out the door this Sunday on account of XLVI.
<strong>Go to a Rangers Game</strong>Hating football doesn't mean you hate sports. At 1:00 p.m., the New York <a href="http://www.stubhub.com/new-york-rangers-tickets/rangers-vs-flyers-2-5-2012-1122544/">Rangers face off against the Philadephia Flyers at the Garden</a> and there are still plenty of seats available for about $50. <a href="http://gothamist.com/2012/01/05/video_cops_seek_flyers_fan_who_beat.php">Sometimes Flyers fans beat up Rangers fans</a>, but chances are that if you don't already have tickets you're not die hard enough to go fisticuffs after the buzzer anyway. If getting out on the ice yourself after a cocktail or two is more appealing, check out the <a href="http://gothamist.com/2011/11/21/photos_new_standard_skating_rink.php#photo-1/">3,000-square-foot rink at the Standard</a>.
<strong>Live Performances</strong> Class it up at Lincoln Center with any number of reasonably priced performances this Sunday. Soothe you soul with some smooth jazz as one of the greatest clarinet players in recent memory shows off his world-class talent. Sunday is your last chance to <a href="http://jalc.org/dccc/details09.asp?EventID=2959">catch the Victor Goines Quintet</a> with performances at 7:30 and 9:30p.m. Admission is a cool $35 ($15 for students). You can still <a href="http://boxoffice.nycballet.com/nycballet/en/2012-single-tickets/2/05/2012-3-00-PM/prod120205M.html">snag tickets for the ballet this weekend starting at $29</a>, and they're not even terrible seats! And for just a few bucks more, get carried away by the <a href="http://www.warhorseonbroadway.com/">Tony Award-winning <em>War Horse</em></a> at the Vivian Beaumont Theater, now an <a href="http://gothamist.com/2012/01/24/the_2012_oscar_nominations_are_in.php">Oscar nominated film</a> as well.
<strong>Alternative Programming</strong>Don't feel like you have to leave the apartment. Super Bowl alternatives can be equally vegetative with a number of TV marathons to choose from. The seemingly ubiquitous <em>Law & Order</em> marathon begins at noon on USA. Bravo has (shockingly!) opted to air 17 hours of the <em>Real Housewives</em> starting at 8:30am. The second half of Super Bowl XLVI competes with episode five of <em>Downton Abbey</em>. Though, some might contest that a post-Edwardian soap opera in which the beneficent ruling class dispenses noblesse oblige is no competition at all. And lastly, <a href="http://gothamist.com/2012/01/30/photos_behind_the_scenes_at_puppy_b.php#photo-1">Puppy Bowl VIII</a> offers a completely inhumane romp during which adorable (and <a href="http://animal.discovery.com/tv/puppy-bowl/pet-adoption/pet-adoption.html">adoptable</a>) puppies are forced to frolic until they collapse from acute cuteness.