Long Island prepares for the Big Game

It's game day.

And with a trip to the Super Bowl one win away, Long Island's Giants fans are gearing up for the NFC Championship.

They're keeping hoagie platters flying out deli doors, decorating firehouses and planning a night out at a favorite bar.

At Lynbrook Bagels, work started at 4:30 a.m. Sunday. Bakers turned out roughly 360 bagels dyed Giants blue -- a creation that dates back to the team's 2008 Super Bowl victory. Employee Marykate Regan said that shortly before 2 p.m., there were only about 60 left.

"It's so hectic," said Regan, 17, who like other employees wore a shirt that read 'Let's Go Big Blue.' "There's been a line to the door all day."

Kevin Eccles, manager of Ben's Kosher Deli in Carle Place, said he expects his dining room to clear out Sunday evening around game time, but was doing a brisk hero and cold cut platter business.

Everyone at the deli, he said, is eager for a Giants victory.

"Even the Jets fans here are praying for the Giants to win," said Eccles, 31.

At Changing Times Pub in Farmingdale, owner Jeff Egan has put up a tent outside to handle the overflow crowd he expects. A local team in the playoffs is a big boost for Egan's business, but there's still no taking patrons for granted. Egan is holding a spot for one fan who insists on sitting at the same table where he caught the Super Bowl win four years ago.

So who is Egan rooting for?

"Being in the sports bar business," said Egan, 50, "I love the Giants right now."

At Oyster Bay Fire Department, Company 1, the upstairs floor of the firehouse is decorated in clipped newspaper headlines that celebrate the Giants, said EMS captain Sassan Mesbah. There's a bar, two big screen televisions are in place and "basic bar food" is on the menu.

Mesbah said the fire company expects to have about 20 to 30 people on hand for the game. Though he's not a big football fan himself, plenty of local fire volunteers are and Mesbah said he knows the gathering is good for department morale.

But what if there's a fire? Mesbah said having everybody in one place rather than at home or elsewhere actually helps with response times.

"We know that if we have a call we will have people out immediately," said Mesbah, 23, "rather than waiting five or six minutes for a response."