Super Bowl, Schmooper Bowl: Isn't There Anything Else Going On?

Ah, the Super Bowl. For a non-football loving person, it only brings to mind the craptastic television lineup that invariably will be shown in deference to the Big Game. If you are of the same ilk and are looking for something to do other than watch Green Bay and Pittsburgh duke it out, here’s five equally gratifying “Super Bowl Alternatives” to try:

1. Black Maria Film Festival—Enjoy something other than football on a big screen with the Black Maria Film Festival at AMC Essex Green Cinema in West Orange. Since 1981, the Black Maria Film + Video Festival has been an international juried competition of cutting edge works from independent film and video makers. The festival takes its name from the world’s first motion picture studio, built by Thomas Edison in 1893. The festival begins at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 ($8 for members of the West Orange Arts Council). AMC Cinema is located at 495 Prospect Ave, West Orange. For more information go here .
2. Montclair Restaurant Week—Sunday, Feb. 6 is your last chance to hit up one of Montclair’s many stellar restaurants to celebrate the third annual Restaurant Week. You can enjoy three-course prix fixe meals all for under $31, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the Human Needs Food Pantry, Toni’s Kitchen, and The Salvation Army. For a complete list of the participating restaurants go here.
3. Funday Sunday—The Geyer Family YMCA is having another Funday on Sunday, Feb. 6. Parents can drop off kids ages three through Kindergarten for a day of swimming, art, cooking, and gym! (Parents should then take advantage of the #2 activity listed above and enjoy a romantic, if early, meal.) Children who participate need to have turned three by 10/1/2010 and be fully potty trained. Please pack a nut free lunch, bathing suit and towel.  Funday Sunday takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is $35 for members, $45 for nonmembers, $15 each additional sibling. Call 973-783-7640 for more information or to register. The Geyer Family YMCA is located at 159 Glenridge Ave. Montclair.
4. Snow Tubing—OK, so you’ve tackled all the local sledding spots by now. Why not bring it to the next level and go snow tubing? Mountain Creek in Vernon offers several snow-tubing sessions at their Coca Cola Tube Park. Sunday hours are 10:30 a.m. t0 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sessions are $20/person/hour and rotate on one-hour increments from the start times. Reservations are recommended and must be made at least 24 hours in advance.  Maximum of six people per family. Please call 973-827-2000 and follow the prompts for “tickets” to make a reservation, or book online. Mountain Creek is located at 200 Route 94, Vernon.
5. Throw an Anti-Super Bowl Party—Invite like-minded friends over and celebrate the best parts of the Super Bowl: the food and halftime show. Tinga http://tingausa.com/ in Montclair is offering 10 percent off orders of $100 or more, with yummy party food like make-your own-tacos or fajitas, and two bite taco sliders. Or if you want to whip up your own gloriously fattening game day nosh, my seasoned Super-Bowl-Party-throwing brother swears by Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip as his perennial crowd pleaser (see recipe below). And rather than placing bets on the actual football game, wager instead on whether or not Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas will have a wardrobe malfunction during the halftime show. 

We’d love add to this list, tell us your “Super Bowl Alternative” idea in the comments section, or persuade us to convert!

Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip

                        Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lbs chicken breast cooked and shredded
• 1 (12 ounce) bottle hot sauce (use whole bottle or just half, if desired)
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese softened
• 1 (16 ounce) bottle bleu cheese salad dressing (or use ranch or 8 oz blue cheese and ranch combo)
• 2/3 cup chopped celery
• 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese  or 3 cups Monterey Jack and cheddar blend

                                    Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350
• In a large bowl, mix shredded chicken, celery and cheese.
• In a saucepan over med-low heat, combine cream cheese and salad dressing and stir until smooth. Stir in bottle of hot sauce ( don't have to use entire bottle if you want it milder). Pour heated mixture into bowl with chicken mixture. Stir to mix well.
• Pour into a 13" x 9" baking pan. Bake uncovered for 40 minutes or until bubbly----make sure top doesn't get browned. Let stand for 10 minutes. Serve warm OR cold-----tastes best warm--- with celery or other veggies and crackers.