If you’re not a fan of big crowds and would rather avoid Chuck’s or Faegan’s to watch the Final Four games, don’t worry. Pulp has you covered on how to throw a successful viewing party in the comfort of your home or dorm room for what’s sure to be a busy weekend.

Snack On

Nothing says game day quite like beer and snacks. Instead of going to the store and randomly choosing what to buy, here are our picks on what drinks would go well with certain types of snacks.

Chips and salsa paired with a Corona Extra and lime
This is easy, and it’s a classic. Grab a big bag of salty tortilla chips and a jar of salsa, then crack open a Corona Extra and garnish with a lime. The spicy-salty taste from the snack will wash away perfectly with a refreshing, crispy sip of Corona.

Buffalo chicken dip and a light beer
Take any light beer — Bud, Coors, Miller, Genesee — and pair it with some warm, gooey buffalo chicken dip. Take some chips, scoop up some dip and wash away the zing with a cold, simple-tasting beer.

Pretzels and an IPA
IPAs are bold in flavor — you’ll want something to cleanse your palate so you can enjoy the other snacks at the party as well. Take a few sips, grab a handful of pretzels and wash the floral flavors out so you can have some of the dip.

Carryout

There are bound to be plenty of orders going to Marshall Street businesses this weekend, so if you’re planning to order, do it as early as possible. Some restaurants will even take orders a day early, so it may be worth your time to call on Friday instead of Saturday to make sure your pizza comes on time.

However, Diana Hester, manager of Varsity Pizza — generally considered a classic among the Syracuse University crowd — said that she’s not sure they will be able to make deliveries on Saturday.

“If we’re not overwhelmingly busy, we’ll probably be able to deliver to Crouse or the cancer center — you know, places over there in that direction,” she said, motioning toward Irving Avenue, away from the SU campus. “I don’t know what time they’re blocking off the streets, if they even will. I just don’t know, we’ll have to wait.”

Insomnia Cookies down the street from Varsity opens at 11 a.m. but won’t be delivering until noon, said store manager J.D. Hovater.

“We know that we’re going to get slammed with business, especially because they’ve made it so far into the tournament, but we’re not going to do anything completely different,” he said.

The good news is that pickup doesn’t seem like it will be an issue. You can call as early as you want, but keep in mind that Marshall Street itself will be as full and as busy as it can be during Final Four weekend. Parking may be difficult if you’re planning to drive there — much more so if they’re closing off streets. So depending on where you live, walking might be a more viable option.

 

Tips and tricks

Have multiple screens
If you’re hosting a party with a lot of people, having more than one screen to watch the game on will make it more exciting every time SU scores.

Charge your phone
This seems like a no-brainer, but keep in mind that if Syracuse wins and you’re heading out to celebrate, you won’t want to do so when your phone battery is at 10 percent.

Bowls, bowls, bowls
When it comes to snacks and drinks, variety is key. But to make them all accessible to your guests, set out plenty of bowls with all sorts of options. It’s always a good idea to make sure guests have a lot to choose from. Plus, it just makes you seem more impressive.

Spare a thought for decorations
To really set the tone, make sure you have Orange paraphernalia set up around your viewing area — even if it’s just one flag or a poster. The SU Bookstore has also been selling Final Four gear all week, so take advantage of the limited edition shirts and use them while they’re still relevant.

Don’t forget

To clean
If you want to make a good impression, don’t forget to tidy up before your friends come over. Yes, they’re your friends and will likely not care about your mess — but keep in mind you have to clean up afterward, too. See if you can recruit any of your friends beforehand to agree to stay behind and help you tidy up once the party is over.

Non-alcoholic drinks
Keep in mind not everyone drinks alcohol. Make sure to have a variety of choices as well for your friends who don’t drink. You can’t go wrong with water, Gatorade (or other sports drinks) and soda.

Ice
This can be one of the most overlooked things when it comes to throwing a viewing party. Make sure you have enough ice, not only to keep your coolers cold, but also for anyone who may want ice in their beverages.

Bottle openers
You can’t drink beer if you can’t open the bottle.

Ample seating
We’re not saying go and buy another couch, but keep in mind how many people are coming to your place. Make sure everyone can stay in a spot that’s comfortable and where it’ll be easy to see what’s happening during the game. This might involve some furniture rearranging. Even if people are sticking to sitting on the floor, throwing a couple of pillows in their direction goes a long way.

Utensils
It’s easy to focus on what kind of food you’re going to serve, but let’s not forget about paper plates, cups, napkins and anything of the sort. If you really want to sport your Orange pride this weekend, Tops has Syracuse-decorated paper plates for about $3 per pack.

Published on March 31, 2016 at 9:59 pm