When Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio takes the stage in San Francisco for the Super Bowl LX halftime show on Sunday, the artist better known as Bad Bunny won’t just be performing for the fans in the stadium. He’ll also be bringing much of New York City along with him.
In living rooms and bars, restaurants, and house parties across the metro area, the NFL’s big game will double as a wintertime Puerto Rican Day Parade. It’s been dubbed the “Benito Bowl” on party flyers from Times Square to Staten Island.
A halftime show from one the planet’s most popular artists has sparked global excitement. But the Puerto Rican rapper and singer’s connection to NYC and its huge island community runs deeper. “NUEVAYol,” the first track on his latest album, is an ode to the city, with shoutouts to Willie Colon, Juan Soto, Toñita’s in South Williamsburg, and Puerto Rican and Dominican enclaves in Washington Heights and the South Bronx.
Bad Bunny recently told ‘i-D’ magazine that he’s not touring in the mainland United States due to fears of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement targeting his fans, so this may be New Yorkers’ only chance to “see” the performer live this year.
Here’s a roundup of some public events where fans are gathering this Sunday.
The big blowout parties
Major venues are going full throttle. In Times Square, Dramma is hosting a Benito Bowl with drink specials and a reggaeton-heavy soundtrack. And downtown at The DL on Ludlow Street, partygoers can expect a post-halftime bash.
Sanger Hall in Sunnyside, Queens, is showing the game on a 100-inch projector screen, with beer buckets and a pre-game playlist honoring Bad Bunny. Uptown, Sushi Mambo in Inwood is promising live DJs, firework visuals and VIP bottle service.
And at BarCode in Elizabeth, New Jersey, where admission is free until kickoff, the event is being billed as “El Super Bowl de Los Latinos.”
A halftime show with benefits
An undisclosed location in Bushwick (until you purchase tickets) is hosting a COVID-safe, wheelchair-accessible, substance-free and queer-friendly watch party. Funds raised from ticket sales will go toward humanitarian aid in Sudan, the Black Zine Fair, and COVID mask distribution.
As the organizers wrote, the event is “open to people who do not know much about sports and who may have questions during the game about game play.”
No cover
At SOB’s in SoHo — long a hub for rap and Latin music — entry is free all night with an RSVP. The event promises a pre-game playlist, free shots whenever anyone scores, and a live host.
On Staten Island, a local Puerto Rican community group is organizing its own watch party, calling it a “celebration of Puerto Rican pride.”
Laid-back in Brooklyn
Across the East River, Brooklyn fans have a few flavors to choose from. Evalyn’s Tap House in Boerum Hill is offering a straightforward viewing experience with a full bar and multiple screens.
In Bushwick, Mexican restaurant La Loncheria has food and drink specials and expects a crowd to pack the taqueria-style venue. It’s a more casual but very much Bad Bunny-devoted setting.
