The Palmer Museum: World-Class Art in Our Own Backyard
The first time I walked into the new Palmer Museum of Art, I was amazed. The attention to detail, and the architectural ingenuity required to protect the art from light while still maintaining a bright, inviting space, was breathtaking.
The Strength of a Sticky Community
A few weeks ago, I was watching an interview on the Clarity Compass with community builder Erica Quinn when a simple phrase grabbed me by the heart and wouldn’t let go:
“Sticky community.”
She wasn’t talking about size or status. She was talking about depth. About what it means to belong to a place where people don’t just live near each other. They hold on to one another. Where neighbors become lifelines and kindness becomes muscle memory.
That phrase stuck with me because, in Happy Valley, I see that kind of community every day.
The Little Engine That Does
The State Games of America, coming to Penn State July 24–August 2, 2026, will bring more than 8,000 athletes and thousands of fans to Happy Valley. Tens of thousands of room nights and millions in visitor spending are expected. For the Happy Valley Sports & Entertainment Alliance (HVSEA), the small nonprofit that helped land the event, it is proof that measurable, visitor-driven growth works.
The Power of Place: How Happy Valley Connects Us All
By Ellen Matis If there’s one thing I’ve learned from living and working in Happy Valley, it’s that connection doesn’t just happen by chance. It’s built through the people, stories, and places that make this region so special. Everywhere you look, there’s a sense of pride in place. It’s in the small business owner sweeping […]
Downtown State College Is Buzzing with Growth in 2025
New energy is running through the heart of downtown State College, and 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting years for local business growth. With new eateries, boutiques, specialty studios, and nightlife spots opening their doors, the downtown core is bursting with creativity, flavor, and community pride.
The Fight to Stay Open: Why Local Restaurants and Venues Need Us Now More Than Ever
They feed our community, create our culture, and carry quiet burdens. Bubba’s Eggs, Steaks and Shakes is the latest to show up for us. By Greg Woodman We’ve all seen the hashtags and window signs: Shop Local. Eat Local. Love Local. But real support for locally owned restaurants, retail stores, and music venues cannot live […]
Football? Recharge in the Centre of Adventure: Discover Fall in Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
This fall, Happy Valley, Pennsylvania, welcomes travelers with the simple pleasures of the season, crisp air, quiet trails, and the satisfying crunch of leaves underfoot. There’s a beauty in the texture of the landscape and the rhythm of rural life that makes this time of year ideal for slowing down, recharging, and reconnecting.
It Will Change You If You Let It
“When he first came here, he thought, ‘Oh my heavens… woods, hills. Don’t they ever stop?’ But he grew to love (Mount Nittany), and he loved just looking at it during practice, during games he’d glance over, and Mount Nittany was there… to Joe, it was a symbol of Penn State.”
Groundbreaking Set for Nittany Residence Club in Downtown State College
Innovative Condo-Hotel Blending Penn State Legacy, Walkability, and Smart Investment Has Already Sold Over One-Third of Units
The skyline of downtown State College is changing again. This Friday, October 10, at 2:00 p.m., local leaders, developers, alumni, and future residents will gather to officially break ground on the Nittany Residence Club, a nine-story luxury condominium-hotel just one block from Penn State’s campus.
