Know or Go: Downtown State College

Only so many more days until you are moving into your dorm and time is running out! Time is flying by and I don’t want to waste another minute, because I feel like dropping some knowledge on you about the Downtown atmosphere. That’s right, it’s time to play Know or Go: Downtown State College! 

Now since we don’t have Ellen Degeneres’s resources and technology, we sadly won’t be dropping anyone. However, if she were to ever visit our campus (fingers cross) and did a State College edition of Know or Go, these tips will help you outlast your competitors. Or, if you just need some help navigating the general downtown area, hopefully this helps! 

Let’s start by mapping out downtown. There are two main roads that are both one way. Starting with College Avenue, this street is closest to the college and runs towards West Campus (engineering buildings). It helps to know that the Blue Loop (CATA bus) travels along College Avenue and goes up and around campus to the library, hits the Pollock dorms, and close to the HUB. Along College Avenue, you will find a Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, the Corner Room, The Student Bookstore, Taco Bell, and McDonald’s. There are also these delicious smoothie bowls further down College where you get fresh fruit and nutella or peanut butter on it, to die for! If you are really struggling with a class, LionTutors is even on the east side of College Avenue. Fun things to do along College Ave. include going with your friends to paint pottery at 2000 Degrees. And if you love screeching at the top of your lungs, like me, check out Icy Snow for some rocking karaoke. Also, be sure to catch the Homecoming Parade as is rolls through College Avenue, and keep an eye out for SWE’s winning float! Throughout the year, as you walk along College, you will pass the Farmer’s Market where you can purchase fresh flowers for your dorm, homemade breads, fresh produce, and in the fall...there may be a Coach Franklin spotting! Not trying to brag, but I may have bombarded Coach Franklin at the taco truck stand. Got a picture and tweet out of it!

Now onto the other road, Beaver Avenue. Beaver is above College Avenue, running towards East Campus (more towards Beaver Stadium and BJC). The bus that runs along this street is the White Loop that will bring you and around to East Campus, the library, Rec Hall, and back downtown. Along Beaver Avenue, you will find a Panera Bread, Rita’s Water Ice, Target, Webster’s Used Bookstore, as well as multiple churches. One of the main churches that everyone mentions is the Dorito Church (Grace Lutheran Church). This church is at about the middle of Beaver Avenue and is often used for a reference in direction downtown, so become familiar with where our favorite Dorito shaped church is located. 

Also, you need to check out the painted mural on the side of the Student Bookstore, always amazing to admire the historic influences of Penn State. A hidden gem is Abba Java at the back corner of St. Paul United Methodist Church. It is a free coffee house where students can go to study and relax, while getting yummy free snacks and drinks from friendly faces. You may even see my face behind the counter this year volunteering! 

Side Warning: In the winter, when weather is being less than friendly, be careful on the crosswalks. The white paint becomes very slippery. 

Reach out to me if you want to know more details on anything I mentioned above (mvh5725@psu.edu) 

By: Maria Haddad (Mentor Team D)