Sisters gets set for Super Bowl Sunday

It's a kind of national holiday, a gathering of tribes - and a chance to eat, drink and be merry.

Super Bowl LI is set for Sunday, February 5, with the New England Patriots facing off against the Atlanta Flacons in Houston. Sisters will be ready. Some will watch the game at home; some will venture out to Sisters eateries to enjoy the game.

If you're entertaining at home, some Sisters outfits have party platters to make the job easier. Sisters Meat and Smokehouse is putting together signature meat platters to order - give them a full day of lead time. They'll also fill your growlers.

Owner Jeff Johnson doesn't have a strong rooting interest in the game.

"I'm actually pretty ambivalent about it," he said. "I wanted to see the Packers against the Steelers in there," he said. He did note that, "I probably won't be rooting for the Patriots."

The four-time Super Bowl winners are having a tough time getting any love.

Javier Luna at Rancho Viejo said, "You know, I want the Falcons. I'm tired of the Patriots. They're like the Yankees, there every year. But they're there because they're good."

Luna is serving up a fiesta platter of nachos, taquitos, quesadilla and guacamole fresco to go. He's also got five TVs in the bar and margarita specials on tap if you want to get out of the house for the game.

Cascade Trailstop Market knows that last-minute shopping is bound to happen on Super Bowl Sunday.

"If you need to run out and get something, we've got it," said Erin Chapman. "We've even got the game on so you don't miss a moment."

The market is offering some specials for the day, as well.

You can order the Sisters Saloon Party Pack for take-home food - or you can head down to the watering hole and watch the game on their 80-inch big-screen TV. It's going to be a party, with prizes on tap on the "prediction sheet" and plenty of company.

Saloon proprietor Aaron Okura explained that the prediction sheet will be fun for anyone - even if you don't know a lot about football. Not all the questions will be about the game. There's no cost to play. Sheets are handed out starting at 3 p.m., a half-hour before kickoff.

Okura took a diplomatic line on the game.

"As the new person in the community, I should probably stay politically neutral," he joked.

Actually, he's been too busy launching the new restaurant to closely follow football, so, "I'm not emotionally invested either way," he said. Nevertheless he, like the others, comes down on the side of the Falcons.

"It would be less exciting if the Patriots won," he said.

The Gallery, Takodas, and Lake Creek Lodge will also have the game on. In addition, Lake Creek Lodge will feature chef-created football fare.

So whether you want to watch at home or in town with your friends and neighbors, you'll know at least that you will be well fed on America's sporting national holiday.