Valentines Day in Happy Valley

Are you making your Valentines Day Plans yet?  Happy Valley has many options that you can look into to make this year the best Valentines Day ever.  There are places for singles and couples to have a great night out.  Check out the list below to start making your Valentines Day plans.

Single? Dating? Married? Engaged? Whatever your relationship status may be, let Happy Valley take care of your Valentines Day plans.

Many men (and women) struggle with how to make Valentines Day special; what gifts to buy, where to eat, what to do, etc. Plan your evening in Happy Valley with your significant other, or a group of friends!

Some of the best places to take a date for dinner include, The Tavern (http://thetavern.com), Spats Café (http://site.spatscafe.com), Zola Bistro (http://www.zolabistro.com), Kelly’s Steak & Seafood (http://kellys-steak.com/content/home.php), Harrison's Wine Grill & Catering, and Otto’s Pub & Brewery (http://ottospubandbrewery.net). Most of these restaurants come with a fully equipped bar where, if you are over 21, can enjoy a class of wine or indulge in a festive cocktail. If drinking is not an option, dessert is just as pleasing. State College’s fine dining restaurants take Valentines Day seriously so expect more than just a store bought box of chocolates.

If you are having trouble thinking up that perfect gift for your loved one, you can’t go wrong with jewelry. Kranich’s Jewlers (http://www.kranichs.com) downtown has a wide selection of necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and, yes, rings too. If you don’t find what you’re looking for there, walk down the street and try Moyer Jewelers (http://moyerjewelers.com), also located on East College Ave. downtown and reasonably priced. If you are looking for other gift ideas besides jewelry, downtown shopping offers many other places to come up with some good gift ideas. Pick out a celebratory cigar at the Cigar Den (http://www.yourcigarden.com) for your man or get him/her some memorable Penn State paraphernalia at The Old State Clothing Company (http://www.oldstate.com). Flowers are never a bad idea either. Create a fixture at Avant Garden (http://www.avantgardenfloral.com) and surprise your date with some classic V-day roses and pair it with a bottle of wine from the Mount Nittany Vineyard & Winery (http://www.mtnittanywinery.com).

If you happen to wander slightly out of downtown State College, here is another great date idea- the movies! Invite a group of friends, couples, or go as a duo and enjoy an early or late showing at any of the venues State College has to offer. Premier Theater (http://www.statecollege.com/movies/theater_detail.php?id=8) has several theater rooms within the building and enough show times to make it easier to decide on the question of, when? With stadium seating and a full snack bar, you will be surprised by how comfortable you can be! If they don’t have what you’re looking for, try College 9 Theatre (http://www.statecollege.com/movies/theater_detail.php?id=10), which offers similar accommodations and a few different movie options.

Also, don't miss these great winter romance and Valentine's packages from around Happy Valley.

So, this Valentines Day, don’t worry too much about who, what, when, where, or why. State College has got you covered. Try a restaurant, grab a drink downtown, exchange gifts, or go to the movies. Whatever your desires may be on this Valentines Day, make sure you plan your night in State College. You and your date(s) will not be disappointed.

Start planning and making reservations for Thursday, February 14, 2013!
Specials Around Town!


Carnegie Inn & Spa Indulge your Valentine with one of the romantic opportunities at Carnegie Inn & Spa in Toftrees. From February 14 through the 16th, Carnegie will offer a special dinner menu in their award-winning fine dining restaurant. In addition, their overnight Valentine Package includes dinner for two, sparkling wine with dinner, chocolate dipped strawberries, and a full breakfast. The Carnegie Inn and Spa is sure to impress your special someone. Make your reservations today! 814-234-2424

Ramada Conference Center: Sweep your valentine off their feet with one of the Ramada's Valentines Day Specials. This year they are offering three specials -The Love and Laughter Package, the Sweetheart Package, and the Ultimate Love and Laughter Package. Indulge on valentines day this year and celebrate at the Ramada with your loved one! Call (814) 238-3001 to book your reservations. More information (pdf)

The Atherton Hotel: Whether it's a celebration of many happy years together, a romantic proposal or a fun night out with a good friend, show your special someone a delightfully sweet time at The Atherton Hotel. Offering their Sweetheart Package this year for Valentine's Day, The Atherton Hotel is the perfect place to celebrate. Call to reserve a spot (814) 231-2100

Gigi's Restaurant and Wine Lounge: Gigi's features and atmosphere "where old world sophistication meets modern elegance." Gigi's is featuring a five-course special Valentine's menu which you can view in full here. They are offering two different seatings on Valentine's night, 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Call to reserve your table today. (814) 861-3463

The Nittany Lion Inn: Take your special someone to the Nittany Lion in on Valentine's Day, and enjoy a candle-lit dinner and the finest dining. Their courteous staff and skilled chefs will be sure to create an evening to remember! They are featuring a specialized Valentine's Day menu, which starts at $35 per person. Call (814) 865-8500 for more information.

Dinner:

- The Tavern (http://thetavern.com)

- Spats Café (http://site.spatscafe.com)
- Zola Bistro (http://www.zolabistro.com)
- Kelly’s Steak & Seafood (http://kellys-steak.com/content/home.php)
- Harrison's Wine Grill & Catering (http://harrisonsmenu.com)
- Gigi's Restaurant and Wine Lounge (http://www.gigisdining.com/pdf/red_menu.jpg)


Gifts:
- Kranich’s Jewlers (http://www.kranichs.com)

- Moyer Jewelers (http://moyerjewelers.com)

- Cigar Den (http://www.yourcigarden.com)

- The Old State Clothing Company (http://www.oldstate.com)

- Avant Garden (http://www.avantgardenfloral.com)

- Mount Nittany Winery (http://www.mtnittanywinery.com)

Things to Do:
- Premier Theater (http://www.statecollege.com/movies/theater_detail.php?id=8)

- College 9 Theatre (http://www.statecollege.com/movies/theater_detail.php?id=10)

- Mount Nittany Winery (http://www.mtnittanywinery.com)

For more information see Happy Valley.

Unique Winter Drinks in Happy Valley

If you are looking for more of a unique taste this winter, Happy Valley taverns are the place to go.  Their unique brews are great to try on a night out, and they will be different from the other tastes you have had before.  Keep reading to learn about some unique drinks that you can try this winter.

While it’s true that a draught of stronger stuff may not fend off the winter wind—in fact, alcohol can lower your body temperature— you may want to trek to your favorite cozy inn for something to break up the monotony of the cold and snow.

Fortunately, some of the taverns of Happy Valley offer spirits that go beyond the norm, such as unique libations to celebrate the season and warm your spirits, if not actually your body.
The Elk Creek Café in Millheim is already one of our favorite locations for farm-to-table fare, but it’s also an established boutique brewery with some notable offerings.

“Oh, Tim has big plans for this winter,” Genny Uhl, assistant general manager of the Elk Creek said, speaking of Café brewmaster Tim Yarrington. “We have plenty of new things on tap and quite a few ‘beer-centric’ events coming up.”

Tim talks about brewing with the reverence of a true beer believer, but seemed most excited about their new beers aged in bourbon barrels.

“When you age a beer in a bourbon saturated barrel, it infuses the beer with some of the essence of the bourbon. It can add a certain smoothness, sometimes with tones of vanilla and a little more alcohol content,” Tim said.

On December 2nd, the Elk Creek will be celebrate the repealing of prohibition with an event featuring period costumes, an authentic still on display, live music, and “all that jazz.”
Tim also looks forward to the “Day of Darkness” on December 23rd, which celebrates the darkest days and longest nights of the year. Elk Creek will be offering five varieties of black beer which “don’t tend to get that kind of spotlight, so that will be an interesting opportunity for real enthusiasts,” Tim said.

In 2012, Elk Creek Café worked with Zeno’s Pub to celebrate with a unique Zeno’s 40th Anniversary Black Ale, an “up front and assertive blend with the characteristics of a black beer.”

“Dave Staab from Zeno’s said he wanted the beer equivalent of an espresso with a twist of lemon,” Tim said.

Meanwhile, the Tavern Restaurant in downtown State College has the perfect solution to a cold winter’s night—a roaring fire in their popular bar area, known as the Adam’s Apple, and just a little bit of sin.

Eric Tishler, manager of the Tavern Restaurant, told us that people come to the Adam’s Apple from all over the area to try their unique liquid creation, the Original Sin.

“People love it. It’s definitely a fan favorite,” Ishler said. “We serve hundreds on football weekends.”

The patented cocktail includes brandy, cherry brandy, cherry schnapps, triple sec, sours and soda water, topped off with a little champagne. The result is a sweet drink, enjoyed equally by male and female tavern goers, that packs a punch close to a Long Island Iced Tea.

The Autoport Restaurant, just off of South Atherton in State College, has its own panacea to the winter blues with new seasonal martinis.

Robert Monzillo, manager of the Autoport, told us that when patrons are gathered on the outside deck warming themselves by the fire pit, the pumpkin pie martini seems to be among the favorites.

“It’s really pretty popular around the holidays,” Robert said.

“We use Three Olives Vodka, vanilla Crème De Cocoa chocolate liquor, fresh cream, and pumpkin puree. It really does taste like pumpkin pie—and, after a few, you may start to feel like a pumpkin.”

For more information see Happy Valley.

Questions to Help You De-Clutter Your Apartment

Do you have trouble getting rid of objects in your house?  Perhaps it is that sweater from 1982 or that old TV from the nineties.  Here are some great questions you can ask yourself to help get rid of the things you do not use anymore. 

During the first week of the January Cure, one of the main tasks was to set up an Outbox to help clear out items that you no longer want or need. I'm a die-hard devotee of the Outbox, but it can still be somewhat difficult to figure out what items belong there. Here are some questions to ask yourself if you're stuck.

Questions to ask when evaluating a particular item:

• Have I (or anyone else in my home) used this item in the last year?
• Is it broken, and if so, is it worth fixing? And will I actually do so?
• Do I have a particular use for this in the near future?
• Would it be difficult or expensive to get another one, or would I sincerely regret parting with it?
• Do I love it? (Or does someone else in the family love it? We don't want to start any family feuds here, much as you may wish to rid yourself of a leg lamp or, in my mom's case, my dad's taxidermy pieces, which she calls "D & Ds" (Dead and Dusties).)
• Does it make my life easier?
• Do I need it (either for function or, with paperwork, for legal purposes)?
• Would I rather have this item or the space that it occupies in my home?
• Would I keep this if I were to move? In other words, would it be worth packing up, carrying around, and unpacking in a new space?
• Would someone else I know enjoy it more than I do?
• How many other items do I have that serve the same purpose?
• Is it my style now, or is it just something that I liked at a previous point in my life?
• Does it fit (your body, your space, your style, your needs)?

A "yes" to any of these questions might constitute a reason to keep the item in question, while a "no" might be a good reason to toss it, but remember that it's ultimately up to you to decide if the item should stay or go. There are no hard-and-fast rules here. If you're still undecided, why not err on the side of putting it in the box for now, just to see if your emotional attachment to it fades over the next few weeks. There will be a time that you can rescue it if you change your mind.

As you evaluate, try not to think about how much an item cost. Just because it was expensive does not mean that it's useful or relevant to your life now. Also, when you go through items that are particularly tough to part with, I suggest not holding them for lengthy amounts of time. Set them on a counter and look at them, or leave them where they are. Holding items can temporarily heighten your emotional attachment to them. It's part of the (very clever) reason that salespeople try to get you to try things on or to test them out.

As a parting tip, if you are really having a hard time paring down your possessions, you might want to set aside a block of time and invite a close friend over for tea or cocktails and a de-cluttering party. Your friend won't share the same emotional attachments to items and might be able to give you some unbiased perspective on their use or beauty.

For more information see Apartment Therapy.