Creating a Happy Valley icon at The Corner Room
By Holly Riddle Photos: The Corner Room Every Penn Stater knows The Corner Room. The iconic restaurant, located right on the corners of West College Avenue and South Allen Street, and directly across from Old Main, has been featured in a bevy of tourism-adjacent promotional materials for the city throughout the years. Established in 1926, […]
Ironman Triathlon rekindles love of Happy Valley
By Ben Lawrence Ben Lawrence in the Happy Valley Half Ironman Triathlon. Photo: Jim Valent. Call it a midlife crisis, but after a couple decades of living in Happy Valley I’d reached the point of, “meh.” Don’t get me wrong, I still marvel at our beautiful surroundings, the allure of Penn State, and – at […]
Outdoor recreation is a key perk for workers in Happy Valley
By Nikki Ciecierski Last November, Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources reported that Pennsylvania sported the sixth-largest outdoor recreation economy in the nation. There are big numbers involved — outdoor recreation contributes $13.64 billion to Pennsylvania’s economy and accounts for 152,000 jobs — but even more important is the immense good that outdoor recreation […]
Happy Valley Infrastructure: innovating Downtown State College
By Gracie Mullan The 5½ square mile radius that includes State College Borough and Penn State has attracted billions in investment over the last decade and with good reason. Happy Valley is in demand. As part of an initiative to grow State College, numerous 12-story highrises have popped up in downtown State College in recent […]
History is big business in Bellefonte
By David Rockower Co-owners Dustin Elder and Matt Maris believe that one of the best ways to connect with a community is to learn its local history. Credit: Local Historia. When people ask me where I am from, and I answer, “State College, PA,” most people will steer the conversation toward football or Penn State. […]
Boomerangs combat brain drain, plus advice for winning talent over larger cities
By Holly Riddle Photo: The Corner Room “Having experienced another city, I came to realize that Happy Valley is a true gem,” Katelyn Stark said of her move back to the area to take a job at Restek in human resources following a stint on the West Coast. “I grew up in State College and […]
The benefits of highrises in downtown State College
By Gracie Mullan The HERE building seen from Beaver Ave and Garner Street. Image: Chuck Fong. With Penn State’s rapid growth in recent decades, faculty, staff, students and visitors continue flooding into Happy Valley. As you’d expect, both housing and visitor accommodations are areas that have required particular attention downtown. According to the Downtown State […]
Herlocher’s Dipping Mustard: The nationwide brand launched by Penn State love
By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger Most Penn State alums — or anyone who’s spent even a small amount of time in Happy Valley — know Herlocher’s Dipping Mustard. The bright yellow mustard stands out through the glass jar emblazoned with Penn State blue and white. However, while the brand is irrefutably tied to Penn State, its reach […]
Climb Nittany growing as a top Happy Valley destination for recreation
By Timothy Kelly Some of the Climb Nittany community. Photos provided, collage by T. Kelly In the latter half of the last decade, Josh Helke, owner of Philipsburg-based climbing gear company Organic Climbing, reached out to the owners of the Vertical Adventures climbing gym (now 5.Life, based in Columbus, OH) and suggested that State College […]
