Weekend Plans: Jan. 15-17

It’s that time of year that quickly follows New Year’s Day: Penn State students are back in State College after a long, relaxing break.

Both students and residents are looking to recover from that holiday spending by finding some fun and inexpensive weekend activities. The opportunities are endless in State College, and there is something for everyone!

Don’t forget to check the StateCollege.com Community Calendar for more information and events everyday.

Friday

The skies are still cloudy, but it’s certainly warmer in State College than it was last weekend. Why not get out of the house for a while and enjoy the great outdoors?

• Mt. Nittany is open and free to the public. A hike is about two to eight miles long, depending on which path you take around the mountain, and it will take no more than five hours to see the entire mountain. If you are not feeling that adventurous, just hiking to the top of the mountain will take two hours at most.
• Not feeling adventurous enough to hike a mountain but still want to enjoy some fresh air? Take a trip to the Penn State Arboretum on Park Avenue. Even though it is winter, there are plants and flowers that survive State College’s harsh winters.
• It might still be a little too cold to take the kids for a walk outside. Lionsgate’s new film, The Spy Next Door is opening in theaters. It is a fun, action-packed film starring Jackie Chan, Billy Ray Cyrus and George Lopez. It would be a great movie to treat the kids to on a Saturday night.
• If you prefer a movie for more mature audiences, The State Theatre is showing The Big Lebowski at 7 and 9 p.m. for only $5.
• Need a sports fix now that football season is over? The men’s volleyball team takes on St. Francis at 7 tonight at Rec Hall. Go show your support and cheer on the Lions!

Saturday

• It may be time to get the kids out of the house for a while, and there is no better way than free cartoons at the State Theatre. The Bill Welch Memorial Cartoon Series starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday and it is a FREE event.
• If you’re looking for a live performance, Acoustic Brew Presents: Verlon Thompson at 7:30 p.m. at the Center for Well Being in Lemont. Verlon Thompson may be best known as the lead guitar player and sideman for Guy Clark.
• If you are a Penn State student that does not have the cash or the car to enjoy these live acts, take a trip to the HUB-Robeson Center Auditorium and see a free showing of Zombieland in the ARHS Movie of the Week. The movie plays at 7 p.m., 9:30 p.m. and midnight.
• Late Night: Check out Family Brew at 10:30 p.m. at the Brewery, or find your new favorite watering hole at the StateCollege.com Bar Tour. 
• Not in the mood to leave your warm living space? Order food online and rent a movie.

Sunday

• Wake up early and eat a good hearty breakfast in downtown State College.
• The Palmer Museum of Art is having a free showing of Kung Fu Hustle at 1 p.m. as part of the Asian Film series. Kung Fu Hustle takes a comical look at Asian gang culture. It’s not a movie for the kids, but it is a good Sunday afternoon activity.
• Those Lady Lions can make for one exciting afternoon, and their 1 p.m game against Michigan state is the StateCollege.com Game of the Week. 
• In the mood for some classical music? The Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra is presenting Symphony “Le Matin” at the Penn State Music Building at 3 p.m.