Adam Jacobs was known for his Super Bowl parties.
From rushing around, making sure that every single guest was having the best possible time, to changing shirts postgame depending on which team won, Jacobs supplied his friends with more memories of their beloved Super Bowl party host than they can count.
Jacobs died suddenly in 2008. But every year around this time, wonderful memories of him come flooding back.
We gathered those memories from his friends and family, as well as his infamous kamikaze recipe, as a tribute to the local Super Bowl party hero and a how-to for those looking for the best game day tips.
Kris Covi, Adam's friend: Adam invited everyone he knew to everything he did. His parties were known for trays of frozen kamikazes, different colored cups for each team, copious amounts of food, and the infectious joy with which Adam lived his life. After the game Adam always had a movie or concert cued up and it always tough to leave. One Monday morning after a particularly late Super Bowl party I walked into court for a hearing. The judge looked at me, shook his head, and said, “How was Adam's party?”
David Jacobs, Adam's brother: Where to begin and end? I always helped pick up the keg or brought ice for it. I would arrive early and pick out my colored cup matching my team (a requirement). Whether it was a blizzard or sunny and warm, the party would go on. Adam always had what everyone liked, even down to individual preferences for many of his guests. He would call me multiple times during the week to tell me where he was shopping and what he was buying. Adam was the consummate party planner and host who made sure all had a good time. I was usually the first to arrive and one of the last to leave. Halftime shows were louder than if you were at the game. As his brother, I did not have special treatment because he treated everyone like family. Multiple TV's in multiple rooms with hot and tasty finger food being served up throughout the evening (Adam's wife, Christine, did most of the cooking so Adam could keep making frozen kamikazes). Chips, dips, choice of drinks. Halftime dinner. Babysitters in the basement so whole families could attend. My best memory is the famous shirt switch. If Adam's team lost he would disappear for a moment and come back into the room wearing the other team's shirt as if he wanted them to win all along. It was awesome.
Tom Incontro, Adam's friend: I never had to think twice about where I was going for the big game. Adam's Super Bowl parties were legendary and there was never a place I'd rather go for the game. I think Adam spent every other day of the year adding people to his list to invite. It was never just his softball buddies or work friends or family friends, etc. ... He invited everyone he knew from all parts of his life and we all gathered once a year at his house. The Super Bowl marked time in a lot of ways. You'd see people you hadn't seen in a year and quickly catch up over shrimp cocktail, nachos, pretzels and keg beer (by the way, the beer cups were of two different colors and you would identify to everyone at the party who you were rooting for with that selection). Adam was the perfect host. He never sat down and worked the party like he was getting paid. He is missed. Never will a Super Bowl go by where I don't think of Adam rushing around his own house making sure everyone is enjoying the big game
Joe Risko, Adam's friend: Hands down the best host and hostess I know/knew. Liquor ice luges, Boulevard in a keg, frozen kamikazes, and some game on TV. Adam's parties, like so much in his life, were always turned up to 11. I find myself bragging, for lack of a better description, about his parties, and having the fortune to be there. It was one of the few times each year I knew exactly where I would be and what my plans were. It was like having a standing New Year's Eve party in in January/Feb. Hell, when it fell on my birthday, that's what Carla and I and the kids would do for my birthday.
Spencer Jacobs, Adam's uncle: This was Adam's last great Super Bowl party. Everything you could possibly want was there, including the great Lingerie Bowl, which had nothing to do with skill. Every year there was a large assortment of fantastic thrills for the mind, stomach and imagination. One year I was so excited I left wearing someone else's leather jacket. It took two weeks to figure out I was wearing Chad's coat and he was wearing mine. It was a good thing I was Adam's uncle and not one of his wild friends or I'd still be wearing someone else's clothes.
Scott Lautenbaugh, Adam's friend: There really wasn't anything unique about the party food or venue. It was Adam that made it what it was. In his own way, he pretty much insisted that we all enjoy ourselves - and we always did. That's why no one else has tried to take over as the host - the best part of the party will always be missing.
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Adam's Infamous Kamikaze recipe
• 1 cup vodka
• ½ cup lime juice
• Ice
• Sprinkle of sugar
• Combine in blender and blend until slushy, adding ice or vodka as necessary. Serve on tray in mismatched shot glasses, walking around the room until they are gone. Repeat often.
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Click here to see the invitation to Jacobs' last Super Bowl party in 2008.
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