Confession: I never ate at the downtown Waffle Shop until college. I never wanted to eat there before college. Actually, I still don’t want to eat there.

True, they have the best waffles downtown. But if you limit your breakfast options to College and Beaver, you’re missing out. Know this indisputable townie fact: the North Atherton Waffle Shop is better.

I know, I know. Who am I — a middle-aged New Yorker claiming to know where the best New York pizza is? But trust me. The minute you step inside the North Atherton outlet, you’ll understand.

First off, it’s bigger. There are cozy booths lined up along a row of wide windows. Then there’s the atmosphere — cheery and bright. It’s like you’re swimming in a warm cup of coffee. Welcome to the world of breakfast.

If you haven’t stepped foot in any Waffle Shop, then what have you been doing? The Waffle Shop is a State College tradition. Waffles may have given the restaurant its name, but people line up for its pancakes, omelets and homefries just the same. The Shop serves freshly squeezed orange juice and arguably the best coffee in town. Not to mention, it’s all affordable.

So, when you’re looking for a cute way to catch up with friends, suggest a lunch date at this charming eatery. Just beware if it’s a weekend — there’s bound to be a line.

Photo by Sam Florio

10,686,924.83 reasons to smile.

10,686,924.83 reasons to say “We Are.”

10,686,924.82 dollars raised.

THON 2012 has defied the odds, yet again. After the year the Penn State community has gone through, everyone was relying on the last three days to lift spirits and show the world what Penn Staters were truly made of.  Did we ever show them in a better way?

This weekend, we all came together as the largest family on earth. We witnessed the strength of over 700 dancers as they stood to fight pediatric cancer. We felt the honesty of the Four Diamonds Families as they shared their heart wrenching stories with the entire BJC. We appreciated the wisdom of the 15 overalls, nearly 300 captains, and thousands of committee members to keep THON weekend running. And most importantly, we saw the courage of children as they showed us all why we THON.

Remember those 46 hours, always. Remember how thousands, upon thousands of Penn Staters, came together in a time of adversity to accomplish the impossible. Remember the kids, the families, and all of their stories. Remember the four diamonds in your own personal times of struggle. But most importantly, remember that you showed the world what Penn State was truly made of.

…THON ON.

Photo by Kaitlyn Knopp

THON is upon us.

In less than a week, Penn State will dance for a cure for pediatric cancer.  In the meantime, here are tips for a healthier mind, body and soul when heading into THON weekend.

#1: Avoiding coffee completely may seem impossible to the average (and very busy) college student; so if you still need at least a little bit of a pick me up, try mixing half of your regular coffee with half of a decaf version. You’ll still get the extra energy while cutting down on your overall consumption prior to THON weekend.

#2:  It’s cold outside and you have a ton of homework to do—working out is the last thing on your mind. Convincing yourself to work out for a half hour or so a few days during the week though, will work wonders on your body and make you feel like a healthier you. Try hitting the gym or even going for a run outside. Make sure to grab your earphones and put on some motivational tunes!

#3:  Penn State is party heaven but drinking the week before THON is a bad idea. Not only will you feel yucky and hung over, but the alcohol will also weaken your immune system, putting you at risk for a cold (a big no-no during the weekend).  Try abstaining from alcohol for the next few days.  You’ll be able to make up for it on State Patty’s Day – promise.

#4:  Sleep is usually hard to come by for a college student. This week, try getting a solid eight hours of sleep a night. If you can’t get that many, some moralers recommend trying to at least stay on a steady sleep schedule. It’s amazing what a good night’s sleep can do for your physical and mental wellbeing.

#5:  This is college, but try being as stress free as possible. THON weekend is going to be one of the best experiences of your life! Get ready to enjoy every moment and don’t sweat the small stuff. There’s truth in the power of positive thinking.

Follow these simple tips and get ready for one of the best weekends of your life.  FTK!

Photo by Ian Lopera

OK, five reasons. But if I had time, I seriously could find a million things to love about this place. In fact, the only annoying thing about Wegmans is I always awkwardly bump into professors there, but then that only shows how popular it is.

For those who don’t know, Wegmans is a grocery-store chain that is three steps above Weis groceries and one below Whole Foods. (To quote Goldilocks, “just right.”) Here are five reasons to venture out of downtown to this State College favorite:

Picky paradise

Maybe you have a food allergy or a dietary restriction. Or maybe you’re like me and sometimes go through “I think I’ll try cutting out gluten” phases. Either way, Wegmans has you covered. Just behind the produce, you’ll find a cutesy, wood-shelved section packed with special food products, from organic granola to gluten-free brownies (yes, that’s a real thing).

Café time

Sometimes group lunches are conundrums. Your best friend wants a salad. Your boyfriend wants a burrito. Your roommate wants Chinese. Wegmans, thankfully, solves your problem with a huge selection of ready-to-eat food in its Café. What makes this Wegmans’ Café and not a cafeteria is the cozy atmosphere and delicious food. Enjoy everything from subs and soup, to sushi, smoothies and snacks.

Bulk means “candy”

The word “bulk” sounds unappealing, to say the least. But did you know that Wegmans’ bulk section is actually a room full of candy? Head to the back corner of the store, grab a plastic bag and fill it with jelly bellies, chocolate peanuts or whatever strikes your sweet tooth’s fancy.

Taste some culture

When your language class gets you inspired, pop over to the international section to check out food products from Latin America, Europe and Asia. You can’t find this stuff at any other grocery store in State College. Not to mention, you’ll seem cultured and sophisticated when someone spies the French soda or Swiss candy in your apartment pantry.

Wegmans is at 345 Colonnade Blvd. Take the N or V bus lines.

Photos by Ann Sciandra

Do you know what I don’t love? Economics. Mostly because of the graphs … too many graphs.  And is it just me, or do most of them look exactly the same anyway?

But I make one very special exception to my usual aversion to economics for one of the best classes at Penn State: ECON 102 with Dirk Mateer.

Originally planning to avoid taking economics for as long as possible, the one piece of advice my older brother gave me before scheduling my classes was this: Take ECON 102 with Dirk … just do it. I couldn’t argue with that, so I registered. Needless to say, best advice EVER.

I’m definitely not the first to say it, and I definitely won’t be the last, but Dirk Mateer is the man. If you’ve taken his class, you know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t taken it, go register for it now. And if you already took ECON 102 with another professor, what were you thinking?

The perfect combination of professor, comedian, economist and just a really cool guy, Mateer manages to take “Introductory Microeconomic Analysis and Policy” and make it accessible and relatable to life, beyond Wall Street and supply and demand.

Between the games we played in class and his real life examples that actually — wait for it — made sense, Mateer gets the prize in my book for best ECON professor ever. I mean, how could you not love a professor who starts every class with a song (that actually relates to class)?

Clearly, ECON 102 with Dirk Mateer is just one more reason we love Penn State.

And if you miss your weekly dose of ECON with Dirk, don’t forget to “like” him on Facebook (you know you’re awesome when you a fan page) and follow him on Twitter.

Photo by Sam Florio

Stop and think for a second. How many times have you been to Cozy Thai? Panera? Chili’s?

Look, we love those places, but every date or birthday dinner seems to end up there. Chances are, you have your own go-to dinner spot, and it’s getting boring. That’s why, this week, I’m suggesting three date spots that aren’t as frequented by our college-aged crowd. Your valentine will thank you for breaking out of the mold.

Faccia Luna — 1229 S. Atherton St.

State College may be a haven for cheap pizza slices, but Faccia Luna is a classy exception. Grab a cozy booth for you and your date, and choose from over 10 varieties of pizza to split. You can even watch a chef roll out your pizza dough and shovel it into a large wood oven, a lifesaver when you’re running low on conversation topics. Share a pizza for under $15.

American Ale House & Grill — 821 Cricklewood Dr.

Be prepared to spot some professors at this bustling Toftrees restaurant that’s fancy, but not stuffy. Ale House is known for its delicious burgers, sandwiches and salads. The obscure location tends to keep the college crowd away, so that makes it an excellent choice for a Valentine’s date you’re looking to impress. Bonus: It’s only a five-minute drive from campus. Enjoy the Soft Shell Crab Sandwich or — if you’re feeling adventurous — the Oyster Po Boy for $11 each.

India Pavilion — 222 E. Calder Way

Don’t have a car? India Pavilion is right on Calder Way. Enjoy the romantic, dimly lit atmosphere as you munch on State College’s tastiest Indian food. Split an order of samosas for your appetizer, and don’t forget to order naan (bread) with your meal. Try the Navratan Korma or Chicken Tandoori for about $10 each.

Photos by Sam Florio

If you’re reading this right now, chances are you go to Penn State (and if you don’t, I know you wish you did). And if you go to Penn State, you ‘re already aware of one fact: Penn State is AWESOME.

That’s why “500 Things to Love about Penn State” is finally here to pay homage to the little things you probably take for granted every day that make life as a Penn State student complete. Whether you’ve experienced these 500 things for yourself or I inspire you to take a closer look at what makes this the happiest of valleys, every week I’ll feature just one of the thousands of splendid things about dear old State.

Being that this is my first column post, I knew I needed to come up with something about Penn State that truly is the definition of awesome. With such high expectations, I decided to use this as an opportunity to highlight a key part of Penn State culture that just isn’t appreciated enough.

Without further introduction, I give you the first of 500 Things to Love about Penn State:

#500: Penn State Squirrels

…and I know you know what I’m talking about.

I’m not entirely sure what’s in the acorns around here, but seriously, Penn State squirrels are a species all their own.

I’m from Connecticut, where suburban woodland creatures are, well, normal. If you so much as think about a squirrel the wrong way, they’re already halfway to China, eager to get as far away from you as possible. Penn State squirrels? Not so much.

Somewhere along the line, Happy Valley’s squirrels got an extra-large dose of friendly in them. Think moving closer and closer to them will instill any sort of panic? I’m pretty sure they actually enjoy it. If you try to turn the other way, they’ll just mosey on down your way (you have to admire their determination).

I’ve seen squirrels run over my friends’ feet, jump out of trashcans at passersby and perch themselves in trees making war calls (who knew squirrels made sounds?). Needless to say, they’re nuts.

But probably the best part about PSU squirrels is that they’ll eat absolutely anything that comes their way. Cheese-Its, French fries, apples, ice cream, etc. You name it, I’ve seen a squirrel veraciously chowing down on it.

So, the next time you’re walking down College Ave or past the HUB on the way to class, watch out for everyone’s favorite, furry PSU friends (especially whichever one is on Twitter …. #impressive).

Photo by Jill Podhor

You know that awkward moment when you’re at a party and you realize the guy you’re talking to is TA-ing your dad’s class? Or when you run into your mom on your way to Willard? Or when you step on the CATA bus and notice 10 people from your high school?

Oh, you don’t?

Right. These are the uncomfortable situations State College natives like to call “townie problems.” (And yes, it’s a Twitter page.) But despite these mild moments of awkwardness, I wouldn’t trade my hometown for anywhere else in the world. And any Penn State student who’s grown to love the Valley as his or her second home can understand why.

When I became one of those students last year, I noticed I also became the resident “townie.” Friends would come to me for advice, and oftentimes I’d get asked the same questions. Where’s the best place to grab groceries? Which Thai restaurant is better? Where can you get a nice haircut? What is Bellefonte?

To put my townie knowledge to work, I’ll be answering all those questions and more each week. There’s more to State College than what’s downtown, and sadly, a lot of students don’t realize it. So consider this column your tour guide and start exploring.

It’s called “Happy Valley” for a reason.

Got a question you’d like to see answered? Send it to entertainment@valleymagazinepsu.com. 

Photo: Noelle and her grandparents at her high school graduation — with a familiar stadium in the background.

You bleed blue and white. You attend sporting events, read up on them and flaunt your undying devotion to Penn State athletics through the clothes you wear and the words you tweet. But while Nittany Lions in the spotlight are scoring touchdowns, winning matches and taking penalty shots, some unsung heroes of PSU sports are throwing discs forehand and backhand up at Bigler Field three nights a week.

Named Isis after an Egyptian goddess of healing and magic, the Penn State Women’s Ultimate Frisbee club team gears up in both the fall and spring semesters. Like other club sports, they travel all over the East Coast for their tournaments. And they have a tendency to win.

For the past three years, the team has consistently remained in the top five teams of the region. Next season, hopes are high for making it to nationals.

“The fall season is pretty much when we teach everyone how to play and welcome [them],” explains President Kelsey Baumes. “The spring season is competitive.”

Though Baumes, a sophomore, picked up ultimate frisbee in high school (and founded her school’s team), many of the girls are new to the sport when they join Isis.

In the fall, they perfect throwing the disc and other basic skills, including the “stack,” an offensive technique, as well as various types of defense. Baumes describes the fall as a “clean slate.” It’s still competitive, but the spring is much more serious — only the top 18 girls will compete in spring tournaments.

Reflecting on last spring, Baumes insists it was a fluke that the team didn’t make it to nationals. She says that she knows the girls have definitely learned from mistakes made in the deciding game and that they’re ready for this spring.

After five starting seniors graduated, the team managed to pull in a bunch of freshmen, and everyone has stepped up, Baumes says. The fall season went well — the team was victorious in a couple of tournaments. And even though its last tournament was in early November, the team continues to practice. Now that the weather has begun to turn, its practices are based on conditioning to stay in shape for the spring.

“When it gets cold, we just condition,” Baumes says. “[We] just run and run.”

For more information on Isis, visit its website.

Photo courtesy of Stephanie Stewart