There may only be a week left of Olympics spectacle, but there is still plenty of action left to go.
The lucky among us may have scored a trip across the pond to watch the Olympics in person in foggy London-town. England prepared for waves of visitors and local Olympic fans with more than 60 big screens set up in parks and squares in London and throughout the United Kingdom.
Even if you couldn’t make the trip to London, you don’t have to watch all the excitement from your couch. If you happen to be traveling around the world or the country, here are a few cities that will let you enjoy the Olympic spirit in style.
Paris – The French certainly know how to celebrate the Olympics in style. Throughout the games, you’ll be able to watch full coverage of the 30th Olympiad at outdoor viewing parties along the Seine River. As part of the city’s Paris Plages 2012 series of events, Parisians and visitors can watch full coverage of the Olympics in front of the Hôtel de Ville metro in central Paris. The events also include free concerts, a photo marathon hunt and more entertainment. With a giant screen in the heart of Paris, you won’t miss a beat!
Beijing – As the last host of the summer games, Beijing knows a thing or two about the Olympics. The Beijing Hotel City Wall is one of the best places to watch coverage throughout the rest of the contests. China is always an Olympic powerhouse, and they bring the same prowess to watching the games. The Hotel features full coverage of events, along with a range of Olympic themed food and menus. At the hotel’s three restaurants, you can get global fare with Olympic flair.
New York – There is no shortage of great bars at which to watch the Olympics in the City that Never Sleeps, but you’ll want something more than the typical bar scene in New York City. In a city with such a unique cultural mix, there is no shortage of places to experience some international flair. For a chance to mingle outdoors for free, check out the Eventi Hotel near the New York Theater in Chelsea (conveniently named after the London neighborhood). The Eventi set up a big screen in an outdoor plaza for the Opening Ceremonies, including events like Beer Olympics and movie screenings. The Eventi will be showing full coverage of events, including a big celebration for the Closing Ceremonies.
Buffalo – Buffalo took a page from London’s book with an outdoor viewing party in the heart of Buffalo’s Larkin District. Larkin Square is home to plenty of shops and restaurants and features a ton of live entertainment. Buffalo isn’t a huge competitor in this field of big cities, but it will stick the landing every time.
Washington, DC – It’s only fitting that they nation’s capital should have some gold-medal events during the Olympics, and you’ll have plenty of fun watching the games in the District. There will be no shortage of bars with Olympic coverage, but for a truly American experience, check out Capitol City Brewing Company
San Francisco – The Bay Area will host a number of outdoor viewing parties for residents and visitors to stay in the Olympic spirit during the last week of the games. On Aug. 7 and 11, San Fran will host two parties in front of City Hall that will include live broadcasts as well as gourmet food, skill games and more. The events are partly sponsored by Olympic advertisers Visa and Coca-Cola, so you know they’ll put on a show.
Chicago – In a city like Chicago, you’ll have plenty of international bars to watch the Olympics, but why just limit yourself to one? On Aug. 12, PubCrawls.com is offering a crawl through some of Chicago’s best bars and restaurants, finishing at Navy Pier to view the closing ceremonies. Navy Pier is one of Chicago’s finest attractions and you’ll see some fireworks for the closing ceremonies. Olympic pub crawls are happening in most cities, from Chicago to Los Angeles, so you and your friends can compete for gold whichever city you’re in. Just make sure to do it responsibly!
Author: Brian Russell is a freelance writer for Whitman Publishing, a leading publisher in coin collecting books and supplies. They also publish Vault Books of sports teams and historical events.
