Come to Patch's Football Draft Party!

Following the elimination of the Pittsburgh Penguins from the Stanley Cup playoffs Sunday, the NFL draft set to begin Thursday night couldn’t be happening at a better time.

To welcome the unofficial start of the 2012 NFL season, the Pittsburgh Patch sites are throwing a first-round draft party at the near Bridgeville—and you’re invited!

We’ll be hanging out at the restaurant and pub in Collier Town Square on Route 50 all night Thursday as top picks Andrew Luck, RG3 and others go off the board. We’ll be chatting football and watching as the players are drafted before the Steelers select their new superstar with the 24th overall pick.

If you sign up to receive our morning e-mail newsletter, you’ll also be entered to win Patch swag or multiple drawings for Bottle Shop gift certificates that range from $10 to $50.

If you can’t be there to join the discussion with us over beers, hop onto the Cranberry Patch website and follow our draft-night analysis with our “Cover It Live” blog feature. You can share your thoughts on the draft and interact with our special guests at the Bottle Shop.

We’ll even be engaged in some smack talk with our sister Patch sites in the Cleveland area!

So if you’re looking for things to do to thaw out of this April snowstorm, come down to the Bottle Shop in Collier Town Square, grab a meal, have a beer and say hello to the people behind Patch!