Celebrate Labor Day All Weekend

Make sure to stay in Happy Valley this Labor Day Weekend.  There are a bunch of great events going on that you and your friends can attend.  These are not just University events.  There are also community wide events that you can attend, when there you are not cheering on Penn State.  You can learn more at Happy Valley.





Labor Day Weekend starts a little bit early in Happy Valley. That’s because it’s important to celebrate the end of a great summer the right way. It all starts on Thursday, August 28 with the WingFest Finals at Tussey Mountain starting at 5:30 p.m.. You’ll be perched on the mountainside to help determine who has the best wing sauce in the area. There will be live music, a setting sun, plenty of wings, other good food and beer. Just be careful, things could get rather messy.


Friday night, August 29, Mount Nittany Winery will host their End of Summer Gala at 6 p.m., complete with a jazz quartet to set the mood for the evening.


Saturday, August 30 kicks off the 2014 football season bright and early, with an 8:30 a.m. ET game time for the Croke Park Classic. Watch the game in your jammies at home with a cup of coffee in hand, or head to one of the many local bars and restaurants that will be serving up plenty of early-morning specials for this unique kickoff time. Stay tuned to HappyValley.com for a list of establishments and specials.


Sunday, August 31 starts early with the Mt. Nittany Marathon. The 26.2 mile race meanders around the beautiful scenery of the mountain. Those who do well enough will qualify for the 2015 Boston Marathon. Runners will enjoy the loading up on carbs, compliments of local restaurants, the night before at the Pasta Dinner. The day moves right along, so you’ll have to stay on your toes (but if you’re in the marathon you might be too tired, no need to apologize.) Crickfest 2014 is a fun, family event celebrating the Penn’s Creek Watershed at Coburn Park from 12-6 p.m. In addition to the food, silent auction, and new information, there’s a petting zoo.


Afterward, head to Bellefonte for a community pig roast from 5-8 p.m. Bring a non-perishable food item for the Faith Centre Food Bank as your admission. In addition to the delicious pork, enjoy beer from the historic Roopsberg Brewery. The night ends with the Aurigids Meteor Shower, which you can watch at Black Moshannon State Park. This small shower often produces a plethora of meteors, so come prepared to be wowed.


Labor Day on Monday, September 1 provides several great options for fun, too. Celebrate the end of summer at Lakemont Park. There will be free ride and slide passes for everyone all day. If that’s not a fantastic deal, I don’t know what is. Del Grosso’s Amusement Park is having their Labor Day and Customer Appreciation Day for $5.99 all day long. There will be plenty of fun and entertainment. At those prices, you can bring the whole family to both on the same day! In addition to the great parks, you can get a little time with nature. There is a Labor Day Float at Bald Eagle State Park that will take you out on a kayak. Experts on natural and cultural history of the area will join the group, so it will not only be fun, but informative.


Labor Day Weekend in Happy Valley has plenty for you to do between the picnics. Take the whole family out for a day, two days, or a weekend of fun and memories. There will be delicious food, and plenty of activities. Enjoy the last days of summer!

The Homecoming Schedule Is Here!

Homecoming at Penn State is one of the best times of the year.  The Homecoming schedule has been released for this September, and we have all of the information below.  You can learn more at Happy Valley.


September 20-27, 2014
Football Game: Saturday, September 27 vs. Northwestern


October in Happy Valley means trading your sunscreen for sweatshirts and seeing the green foliage of summer turn into a mosaic of colors draped over Happy Valley. It also means football, and specifically Homecoming weekend for Penn State.


This year's Homecoming weekend will be on September 26-28, with the Nittany Lions taking on Big Ten rival Northwestern on Saturday the 27th.


Homecoming is one of the toughest weekends to get a hotel in State College, so start making your plans now!
Homecoming Week Schedule of Events


Important Event Dates:
Penn State Homecoming week is September 20 - 27
East Halls Celebration - September 22
Past to Present - September 23
For The Glory Talent Show - September 23
Best of Penn State Carnival and Field Day - September 24
Student/Alumni Ice Cream Social - September 26
Homecoming 2014 Parade - September 26
Student/Alumni Tailgate Competition - September 27
Homecoming Football game against Northwestern - September 27


Visit the PSU Homecoming Site

Improve Your Iced Latte

We love a good caffeinated drink to wake up in the morning!  However, there are ways to make your normal iced latte even better! This blog will tell you how to make your own homemade iced lattes better than ever. You can learn more at The Kitchn.

Here are five things to try to make that homemade iced latte oh so worthy worthy of a warm summer afternoon.

Now of course, there are those who will tell you that putting milk and a sweetener in good coffee is practically sacrilegious. I agree.

Only 35% of Americans take their coffee black, which I think has more to do with the fact that we're used to bad coffee than it does that we love milk and sugar.

But really good coffee doesn't need to be diluted with milk and sweetener; it's good on its own; in fact, if it's made with quality beans, it's better on its own. Adding milk and sweetener is almost a must if you're drinking cafeteria style coffee that's been sitting on the warmer for too long, but when you're going for a pour over of craft roasted beans, you want the coffee all to itself.

That being said, I do have one exception: iced lattes. Because come on, an iced latte is a tasty thing, especially on warm summer days. It's sort of like if you're a wine lover. Inevitably when it's hot out, and you need a refreshing late afternoon drink, you'll take the sangria now won't you?

So, how to make the best iced latte? The standard milk and sugar route is boring and expected, you need something different.

1. Create homemade syrups

Forget sugar, make your own simple syrups. All you have to do for homemade syrups is to start with a basic simple syrup (1:1 sugar to water ratio) and then figure out a flavor that will pair well with your iced coffee or cold brew.

→ How to make simple syrup: Straight Up: DIY Simple Syrup

Here is where you can get creative. I am intrigued by the blackberry syrup fromHow Sweet it Is, made with fresh blackberries, sugar and water. Cardamom syrup perhaps?

→ Try a recipe: Recipe: Homemade Caramel Syrup for Your Coffee
2. Pair almond milk and a dash of almond extract

You can easily make your own almond-flavored creamer by adding in a few drops of pure almond extract. Pair it with almond for an extra dose of almond flavor.
3. Use coconut milk

Coconut milk is a popular iced latte ingredient in the non-dairy crowd. It works well because of its very creamy consistency. In fact there's even a recipe for making coconut cold brew by adding in toasted coconut with the coffee grounds before adding in the cold water.
4. Use your blender

If you want the ultimate in a summer drink then you're going to want your coffee blended. It's easy to make blended coffee drinks at home, which allows you to make them cheaper and healthier than they would be at a cafe. Try this recipe for a Mint and Choco Frappucino, made with dates instead of sugar and cocoa nibs as well.
5. Spike it!

It's summer after all, and if you want to add a little booze to your iced coffee then have at it. You can make your own coffee liqueur and mix that in with your iced drink, or take a tip from the bartenders making craft coffee cocktails and experiment with flavor combinations. Amaretto perhaps?