Super Bowl XLII is just around the corner in Glendale, Arizona, just west of Phoenix in the new home of the Phoenix Cardinals, University of Phoenix Stadium. The new digs are a replacement to the Cardinal’s long time home at ASU Stadium in Tempe and the 88 luxury suites and 25 acres of surrounding retail and entertainment make for the ideal destination for this year’s big game.

We all, perhaps, think of the Super Bowl not for the game itself but the commercials, half time show, and guacamole (it has been said that American’s eat more guac on Super Bowl Sunday than the rest of the year combined) but we at Zvents noticed that it isn’t about Sunday as much as as the amazing list of things to do in Phoenix leading up to February 3rd.

Catch Chris Rock, February 2nd, at The Best Damn Super Bowl Party Period as he performs at their after party live at Ultra Lounge at Prive Super House. If you are lucky enough to score tickets, go for the entire event which starts Thursday with Jenny McCarthy, Ludacris and Holly Robinson Peete of the Hollyrod Foundation who is in town for fashion show fund raiser, “Gridiron Glamour.”

If fashion is your thing (wait… this is a football game isn’t it?), players wives come together to host the Off the Field Fashion Show, a benefit for the Phoenix Children’s Hospital on February 1 from 10am - 2pm. The event gives attendees an opportunity to visit the new SouthBridge real estate and retail development in Scottsdale, said to rival Beverly Hills’ Rodeo Drive.

Rather party with the celebs? Just opened Taste Ultra Lounge is hosting Friday Night Lights on February 1st with Hugh Hefner, Jessica and Ashlee Simpson, and Jamie Foxx making an appearance. The “Tao inspired nightclub” has been one of the hottest places to be in Arizona since its opening in October, 2007.

On January 31st, P. Diddy (or is it just Diddy now?) is hosting a block party outside mega club Axis/Radius in Scottsdale. This two-story dance club has been a Scottsdale epicenter for over a decade and continues to throw the best party in town. You might as well bring a sleeping bag (or Red Bull) to stay first in line for Snoop Dogg on Friday night, Kid Rock and Bud Bowl on Saturday, and (ahem) Girls Gone Wild after the Super Bowl.

If you get past the crowd and inside Axis/Radius on Thursday, you’ll find Nick Lachey hosting the Super Skins Kick Off Party while P. Diddy performs under the stars. We encourage you to find a moment of peace from all this hype and sign up with Nick for the Superskins Celebrity Golf Classic. Multi-platinum recording artist Nick Lachey and two-time reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion, Jimmie Johnson have partnered with Prime Cuts Productions to form the Super Skins Celebrity Golf Classic prior to Super Bowl XLII. Proceeds from the event, a special Super Skins Online Auction and Super Skins Party, will benefit multiple charities including “The Nick Lachey Foundation” and ” The Jimmie Johnson Foundation.”

Believe it or not, we’ve just scratched the surface and we’re out of breath. Take advantage of Navteq’s Map Network Super Bowl XLII Event Guide which covers just about everything going on in Phoenix related to the game; otherwise, search Zvents for much more in town or stay tuned and we’ll share other opportunities to party in desert.

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What a weekend for college football in the San Francisco Bay Area!

• The Cal Bears are have the top-ranked team for the first time since Truman was president.
• Stanford follows up the biggest upset in college football history (over #1 USC last week) with a big win over TCU at beautiful new Stanford Stadium.
• San Jose State upsets undefeated Hawaii in front of a national TV audience (and frenzied Spartan Stadium crowd), derailing golden-armed Warrior WB Colt Brennan’s Heisman hopes.

Well… almost. Those are three things that almost happened this weekend. Instead, Cal blew a chance to complete a miracle late-game comeback in front of their Memorial Stadium fans by letting time expire without managing to kick a game-tying field goal, Stanford gave up a two-touchdown second half lead to lose by two, and San Jose State squandered a 14-point advantage in only the last four minutes, losing in overtime (by the way, Brennan finished 44-for-75 for 545 yards, 4 TDs, and 4 INTs - a busy day, to be sure).

Even with the disappointment, this is an exciting time for football in the Bay Area. Cal is on the verge of being a perennial national power, Stanford is showing signs of rapid improvement under first-year coach Jim Harbaugh, and San Jose State is always competitive in the WAC.

Next week, all three teams take their show on the road: Cal travels south to take on in-state rival UCLA, Stanford heads to Tucson for a matchup with the Arizona Wildcats, and San Jose State is off to Fresno State for a fight with the Bulldogs.

By the way, if you’re a Bay Area football fan, it’s never too early to start making your plans for Big Game!

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