Touchdown! Where to Watch the Game on the Hill

Originally uploaded to flickr by David Clow - Maryland

At long last and despite the still-warm weather, football season has been underway for a few weeks now. While we may not be able to throw on our sweatshirts just yet, we can still head out to the bars on the Hill to watch the games and grab some beers. I’ve compiled a quick list of where to go to watch your favorite team in the neighborhood. Of course, there are lots of other great spots to watch football in the neighborhood, but these are the ones with specific team affiliations.

Pour House: Yinz all know the Pour House is Steelers-central on Sundays in the fall. Bring your Terrible Towel; leave the Roethlisberger jersey at home. Discuss the Batch v. Leftwich battle of the backup QBs.  On Saturdays, the Pour House is now home to the  Florida Gators (sorry Michigan fans; I know this used to be your spot, but you might have to venture off the Hill for your games these days. Try Buffalo Billiards in Dupont.)

18th Amendment: Who Dat? On Sundays, the Saints share the 18th with the Carolina Panthers. Revel in last year’s awesome season and Super Bowl win and discuss whether or not the Reggie Bush thing is really that big a deal (everyone does it, right?) and should he have become the first player in history to have returned the Heisman.  I’ve never actually met a Carolina fan, so I have no idea what you all talk about it. Didn’t a bunch of your cheerleaders get arrested a few years back? Saturdays bring more Louisiana pride, as the 18th is home to the LSU Tigers. (FYI, the Battle for the Golden Boot is on November 27th this year.) Geaux Tigers! 

Trusty’s: Sundays are open at Trusty’s, but they’re looking for a team to partner with. If you’re interested in making Trusty’s your team’s home on the Hill, hit up Adam next time you’re over there. In the meantime, I dig the vibe at Trusty’s on Sundays and have found that they reliably have the ‘Phins game on for a small group of Miami fans in the neighborhood. (I have a friend who’s a long suffering Dolphins fan, so I tend to notice these things.) Saturday though the bar belongs to the Arkansas Razorbacks. (I believe I mentioned the Battle for the Golden Boot is on November 27th this year.) Go Hogs!

Star & Shamrock: This is the Star & Shamrock’s first football season. They’ve currently got a small group of Giants fan calling the bar home, but would be looking to expand that and/or add other NFL teams. Same goes for NCAA. If you’re interested in setting this up, talk to Jay.  In the meantime, they’ve got all the packages and a lot of tvs.

Biergarten Haus: Hail! Biergarten Haus is a Skins bar first and foremost. Good thing they have those litre beers for all the tears you Skins fans are likely to shed this season!

Union Pub: Can the Bears actually put together a season that doesn’t fall apart as the playoffs draw near? With a 2-0 start, it’s possible, but I think you guys have seen this before. You can have this conversation every Sunday at Union Pub with all the other Bears fans in the city. On Saturdays, you can watch the Nebraska Cornhuskers last season in the Big 12, before they jump to the Big 10 next year.

Are Hamilton’s and My Brother’s Place considered Capitol Hill? For purposes of this exercise, I’m going to include them. Badgers should check out Hamilton’s on Saturday for University of Wisconsin games. My Brother’s Place keeps it Texan, with Longhorns football on Saturdays and the Cowboys on Sundays. It must’ve been pretty sad there the last two Sundays…

Capitol Lounge: The Lounge calls its basement “Losers Lounge.” I can only assume this is because it’s home to the Detroit Lions on Sundays. I’ve also heard that my Ravens have a small but loyal group of fans who gather there each week, but I haven’t ventured over yet to check that out. The Michigan State Spartans take over the entire bar on Saturdays. Like, every square inch. It’s nothing but a sea of green and white. I have no doubt that the cheers that erupted last weekend after that overtime win against Notre Dame could be heard for blocks. This week, drink to Coach Dantonio’s speedy recovery!

Hawk & Dove: Cheeseheads unite! Hawk & Dove is where Packers fans gather to continue to try to come to terms with a post-Favre world over brats and Leinies.

Kelly’s Irish Times: The last time I was there, I was still using a fake ID. Not so for Patriots fans who come from all over the Metro area to watch Tom Brady and Randy Moss do their thing and watch Coach Belichick cheat call genius plays that he came up with without the aid of illegal sideline videotaping.

Molly Malones: I don’t watch football at Molly’s anymore (that story is here), but I know that a lot of Eagles fans head over there on Sundays. They’re also looking for an NCAA alumni group to partner with, so if you’re in the market for a bar with a lot of tvs (and honestly, most of the staff there is great), ask about setting something up the next time you’re in.

So that’s what I know. Am I missing anything? Where’s your favorite place to catch the game?