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Florida-Cincy in the Sugar Bowl
A Fan and Party Guide to the Game and New Orleans
The Superdone is a short walk from the French Quarter.
Chomp, chomp.
Tim Tebow's last game as a Gator. (And now, perhaps, head coach Urban Meyer's, as well, at least for a while.)
And the Bearcats from Cincinnati. Do they deserve to be here? Can they beat an SEC team? Can they remain undefeated? Can their fans find their way off Bourbon Street to the Superdome?
The 2010 Sugar Bowl is set.
A different kind of Gator is occupying New Orleans for the 2010 Sugar Bowl.
Florida faithful know their way around the Quarter the way Tebow knows defenses. They know to line up for bargin dinners at the Acme Oyster House, where to go for gumbo (the Gumbo Shop), what a muffaletta is, and can find their way into and stumble out of Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Cafe.
And they certainly know their way around Bourbon Street, so much so they can order a hand gernade at the Tropical Isle without bothering to ask the bartender what's in it.
Part of it is just Southern culture and has nothing to do with a football game – everyone in the South it seems, can connect with New Orleans – but there is something special about being here for the Sugar Bowl.
Mardi Gras beads are part of the Bourbon Street attire.
For the 2010 Sugar Bowl, Florida hopes to send Tebow out a winner. The Gators are 12-1 and spent all but the final week of the season as the #1-ranked team in the nation. They won national championships in 2007 and 2009 and, while disappointed they are not in Pasadena to defend their title this year, will really enjoy their Bourbon Street and New Orleans experience.
Cincinnati fans are elated to be here. They had several close calls during the season but made it to the premer BCS party bowl. Look for fans of both places to sing along to the cover bands in places like the Famous Door or Krazy Korner.
So here is when and where to find the party.
SUGAR BOWL EVENTS
Pose with the trophy or hear a concert (Eddie Money here) at Fan Fest.
• Fan Fest. This is where to get in the spirit of the game. It's an NFL-experience type of corporate happening, though it involves a pep rally and New Year's Eve concert. Plus there's interactive games and other bowl games on a Jumbrotron. Dec. 30 & 31, noon-6 p.m. Location: Jax Brewery parking lot, Decatur Street.
The scene at Fan Fest in the Quarter.
• Fan Jam. The day of the game at the Superdome. Kind of a pre-game pep rally with bands and cheerleaders from both schools, food and a rock-style band. Plaza area, outside Gate C. For a true tailgate experience, tho, it's hard to beat the scene on Bourbon Street.
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The Game, Pre-Party Tailgate, Superdome, Post-Game Celebration. Finding fans on game day will not be difficult. They will be on Bourbon Street. Some will start early but by the time Happy Hour kicks in so, too, will the crowds. Kickoff is at 7 p.m., and since the Super Dome is but a safe, 20-minute walk from, say, Razzo, it will be going strong until about 6. Once at the Superdome the partying doesn't stop there, for beer and alcohol is sold inside the stadium. Afterward, everyone still ready to party – Win or Lose, We Booze! – heads back to, you guessed it: Bourbon Street!
BOURBON STREET
On the balconies, the street and in the bars, the party's on Bourbon Street.
As the name implies, it's the party equivalent of being on the 50-yard-line. And since Florida fans like bsourbon, it stands to reason they love Bourbon Street. The "lower end," that is the part closest to Canal Street, has some of the city's most famous high-end restaurants. But that soon gives way to strip clubs (Jimmy Buffett used to strum his guitar in front of the swinging legs), bars and more bars.
 Bourbon Street has dozens of bars lined up next to each other with music pumping out into the Quarter. It is legal to walk out of bars with drinks (be sure and pour the contents into a plastic cup). It is also legal to drink on the street.
In fact, one does not even have to leave the street to get a drink – there are beer stands between the bars and counters serving all kinds of mixed concoctions in tall containers.
Bourbon Street bars have 3-for-1 drinks from 4-7. Everday. Even weekends. Even on New Year's Eve. And even on game day.
There is no "last call" in New Orleans. Bars close when people leave. And on Bourbon Street, that's rarely before 4 in the morning.
• Related Article: Bourbon Street's Bars
Day and night, Bourbon Street is busy.
• Krystal Burgers and Lucky Dogs. Late at night (or early in the morning, really) find those fans at Krystal Burger at the end of Bourbon Street. They will order a half-dozen or more of the little square patties, then wake up in the morning wondering why they did it. Lucky Dogs are unhealthy but delicious hot dogs sold by street vendors positioned up and down Bourbon Street.
NEW YEAR'S EVE
New Orleans is PubClub.com's #1 New Year's Eve party destination.
The Big Easy is PubClub's #1 destination in the world for NYE. Why? Because it's a huge, open street party that doesn't even require going into a bar to have fun. And getting into a bar is a snap, with the exception of Pat O'Brien's which has a line around the block after midnight. There's a fireworks show at Jackson Square with a live band and countdown, plus countless places to stock up on the "roadies" to enjoy the show. And then it's back to Bourbon Street.
• New
Year's Eve in New Orleans
Jimmy may not be at his cafe, but he has a song about Cafe du Monde.
NEW OREALS HIGHLIGHTS
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Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, Cafe du Monde: New Orleans' Legendary Places. People from Florida love their adopted son, Jimmy Buffett. And the term "Parrotheads" was created in Cincinnati! Maybe they should forget the game and have a big Parrothead concert. That way, everyone would be assured to get along with one another.
Buffett's bar, Margaritaville Cafe, is on Decatur Street. With live local bands and musicians, Buffett concert videos, cheeseburgers, boat drinks and margaritas, it's part of life for Gator and (we think) Bearcat fans.
Conveniently, it's located just down from the Cafe du Monde and its legendary 'too hot to touch" beinets. Appropriately, a Buffett song salutes it with this line: "The coffee is strong and the doughnuts are too hot to touch." The name of the song? "The Wino and I Know." How appropriate for New Orleans.
And Gator fans, there are swamp tours.
Finally, Locals' New Orleans Tips: Walk on the sidewalk to best
avoid betting constantly bumped into by stumbling revelers on Rue Bourbon....It's
quite acceptable to walk out of bars with full drinks in New Orleans.
Just be sure and pour it in a plastic "to go" cup. ...With
all this great food, restaurants close between 10:30 and 11, so eating
late is a definite problem. Go for it early....Wear white when eating
beignets at Cafe du Monde (the powdered sugar really shows up on dark
clothes)...If you ever get in trouble in New Orleans, remember these
key words: "Yes Sir. No Sir. Thank You Sir."
 Related Article: New Orleans Visitor's Guide
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