Anchin Pavilion Residents Have Super Party

While it was certainly not the most rambuncious Super Bowl party Sunday night, the seniors at had a blast watching the game.

The New York Giants' 21-17 win against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI meant a lot to several residents at Anchin.

For Flora Fox, the New York Giants means home as she went to some of the games while she lived there. The Brooklyn native glowed with what the team represents to New Yorkers — her mother, father and entire family would enjoy the Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers.

"It meant our home team, our home place was on top, and they played hard," Fox said. "They played very hard. I remember going to the games in East New York, it was very good."

Marvin Kleiman grew up in the Bronx and watched the Giants ever since he was a kid, going to games to Ebbets Field and the Polo Grounds in Harlem. The Super Bowl is the first game Kleiman has watched since leaving New York a year ago.

The games are too long ago for him to remember, he said, but the Giants still hold a special place in his heart.

The Anchin Pavilion on Honore Avenue is part of Kobernick-Anchin, which is a non-profit retirement complex developed by the Sarasota Manatee Jewish Housing Council. The party was complete with chips and dips, O'Doul's non-alcoholic beer and Ben the poodle performing a kick-off to celebrate the start of the big game.

Some residents even got into the betting act, putting down a dime for the team they think would win.

The complex routinely has get togethers, and recently, one for the final episode of "All My Children." Even if the residents don't follow football like Fox and Kleiman, they enjoy the cameraderie.

"To be truthful, I just don't understand the game," said Sandra Goldsmith, laughing, who rooted for the Patriots, as she's a Massachusetts native.

Carolyn Fraiden is originally from Brooklyn and is a Giants fan, and the Super Bowl is the first game she's seen this season, but she's there for the atmosphere.

"Those that live here are very nice and congenial, and they'll buy anything. They're so marvelous," Fraiden said. "I think it's the best spot in the world."

Fox agreed.

"I like to watch the game but at the same time," she said, "it's a very warm group."