How to Pull Off a Successful Super Bowl Party

The big football game is this Sunday. No matter who you are rooting for--the Saints or the Colts--chances are, you may be throwing a Super Bowl party for friends, family, and yourself. You may find yourself wondering where, exactly, to start.

Here are a few helpful hints to help you along the way.

1. Food. Since the Super Bowl is around dinner time, and typically, parties have food and drink, you are going to want to make sure you have plenty. I created an event on Facebook in order to estimate how many people are coming. You can do the same or either call around, e-mail, etc. However, do not use your number of guests as a definite number. As a general rule of thumb, I always plan for two to four extra guests, because I never know who might pop up.

What kind of food should you serve?

It is a good idea to serve food that:

a. can be out for a fair amount of time without risking sanitation.
b. can be refrigerated or heated up quickly.
c. is easy to eat (like finger foods and small bite foods) and can be easily handled by the utensils you provide.
d. can be supported by the plates you bought.
e. a variety that suits all attendees, including those with allergies, and for those who don't eat meat.

This year, on my Super Bowl menu, I have:

a. An order of 75 boneless wings (less messy than traditional) in 3 different sauces, to accommodate the palates of everyone. With this, Buffalo Wild Wings is providing celery and ranch and blue cheese dressings.

b. Regular chips with cheddar-jalapeno dip and ranch dip.

c. Tortilla chips and salsa.

d. Club crackers and port wine cheese spread.

e. Red delicious apples with a dip made from a jar of marshmallow fluff and a container of cream cheese.

f. Sausage jambalaya (due to the Saints being in the game.)

g. Red beans and rice (due to the same reason as above.)

2. Drinks. Some parties do beer (especially with wings,) and some parties go the non-alcoholic way. If you are GOING to a party rather than HOSTING one, you may want to check with the host or hostess first to see what you can bring.

However, with all beverages, make sure they are kept cold. I suggest a bucket of ice within easy access. Just be sure that no matter what you use-- cans, bottles, or plastic cups--to recycle them after use. Same goes for if you use plastic utensils and the like.

2. Seating and view. At a Super Bowl party, for those who actually want to watch the game, it is imperative that your attendees have a good view of the television. Therefore choose your room with the biggest television and close proximity seating, to ensure everyone gets a good view.

3. Volume. Some people are there to watch the game, while others also want to socialize. Choose a good volume for the game where the hardcore football fans can hear what's going on, while not stifling people from socializing. Perhaps, even, the ones who just want to socialize can go into the next room to do so.

4. Cleanup. The Super Bowl ends kind of late, so if you have generous friends, ask around to see if anyone wants to help you clean up. However, don't guilt or force people to help. Also, if you're not really watching the game anyway, start cleaning up close to the end. It gets you into bed more quickly. For quick and easy cleanup, have food in resealable containers and make sure everyone knows where your recyclables go.

These are just four suggestions on how to pull off a pretty successful Super Bowl party this Sunday. I hope you have a good time!