With each tick of the clock — though our office clock doesn’t tick anymore because someone hit it with a football — we get closer to the best unofficial holiday of the year.
And as usual, the Appeal-Democrat is going to put out a special, all-encompassing sports section on Sunday to fully prime you for Super Bowl XLIV. We’ll have preview stories, columns, predictions from local community leaders and sports figures and the BEST DARN GOING OUT GUIDE AROUND.

Angelo Guillory, left, and his son Jake, both of Yuba City, celebrate at The Happy Viking in Yuba City following a San Francisco 49ers touchdown. This Sunday, people will hit the town to watch good teams play. (Photo by Chris Kaufman/Appeal-Democrat)
People like to leave the confines of their homes for the bowl and have fun, so we decided last year to call up all the Mid-Valley watering holes to see what they had planned. It worked out so well that we’re bringing it back.
And after calling a number of bars on Tuesday — not exactly Woodward and Bernstein-esque work, I know — I was pleasantly surprised to hear that many establishments are going out of their way to do this day properly.
The first two places I called had legit drink specials and even better food options (rotisserie duck!? shrimp alfredo, what!?) and many more local establishments are offering sweet deals.
As a kid coming from a college town to here, it’s nice to see area businesses make an effort to have some fun on this most awesome of Sundays. Sadly, one bar in downtown Marysville that shall remain nameless (hint: their name includes the words ‘box’ and they sell cigars) had an employee that would rather cuss me out and hang up than let people know what they’re doing for the bowl.
So, aside from that anonymous establishment– besides, inhaling Cohiba smoke for five hours isn’t exactly my thing — Sunday’s Appeal will have a list full of Mid-Valley spots containing food and drink specials and other vital information like television counts.
If you plan on going out — and be safe, DD’s and cabs if you’re drinking — be sure to pick up Sunday’s paper.
–Ryan Klocke





