Philadelphia Freedom
Fly, Eagles, Fly, The Super Bowl "Flu," Carvel Football Ice Cream Cake, and a Salute to Two of My Favorite Philadelphia Bars
Philadelphia Freedom

Even though the strongest thing I drank all day Sunday was a six-pack of Zero Sugar A&W Root Beer, I admit to feeling a mild case of the Super Bowl “Flu” yesterday and wasn’t as productive as I should have been. I blame it on all the build-up and excitement around the Super Bowl. And maybe those pulled-pork nachos with queso, Buffalo Wings with blue cheese and celery, and that slice (or two) of Carvel Football Ice Cream Cake had something to with it.

On Saturday, I used the occasion to fire up the Substack Chat feature for the first time to check in with LAST CALL subscribers to see what they had planned for their Super Bowl spread. Friend of LAST CALL Gaby Scelzo came through with her MVP special-order 3-foot-long semolina loaf from Mazzola Bakery, which she transformed into a giant Buffalo Chicken & Carrot-Celery-Fennel-Blue Cheese Slaw hero. I’ll definitely dip into the Chat feature again. Right now it’s open to all subscribers though future chats may be exclusive to paid subscribers—and note that it’s only accessible via the Substack App.

Though I really could’ve used at least one Saquon Barkley TD to cinch up a couple of my Draft Kings parlays, I was thrilled that the Philadelphia Eagles handily defeated the Kansas City Chiefs to win their second Super Bowl. And how about that electric halftime show with Kendrick Lamar? There’s a guy who knows how to take holding a grudge to the next level with style and panache.

Hailing from Central New York, I grew up in a Knicks, Yankees, Giants household. I remain a lifelong Knicks fan but after living in Seattle for more than a decade my allegiances have shifted to the Mariners (though I still love watching and going to Yankees games) and the Seahawks. I do still love my memories of the SuperSonics (RIP, 1967-2008). By the end of their run I had worked my way up to half-season tickets at the Key Arena. Here’s to bringing them back to Seattle in the 2027-2028 season expansion.

Lest anyone thing I’m a front-runner for rooting for the Eagles throughout the playoffs, it’s because they’ve always been my second-favorite Birds team to root for after my beloved Seahawks, who sadly didn’t make the cut this season.

Plus, I love Philadelphia. I spend a lot of time in Lancaster these days, but I’m way overdue for a proper weekend in Philly sometime soon. I have a lot of good friends who live there (and many LAST CALL subscribers) and I love their sense of pride and undying support of their city, and the local teams, even if some citizens of the City of Brotherly Love tend to get a little out of hand celebrating. The Eagles’ victory parade this Friday falls on Valentine’s Day and I suspect it will make for some very rowdy, a little sloppy, and highly entertaining romantic dinners out on the town.