Spot 5

When life gets stressful, meditation, fresh air, and exercise can often help relieve the tension. Sue Melbourne prefers to do all three at the same time, through kayaking. “It’s about connecting to the river and being in the flow. Specifically with whitewater kayaking, you have to concentrate on the waves and rapids; it requires…

Colombia’s rich food culture is a harmonious blend of Spanish influence, with the indigenous plethora of ingredients from the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Caribbean Sea to the north, and the biodiverse regions of the Andes Mountains and the Amazon rainforest.  The secret is out – Colombian cuisine has finally arrived in State…

In June 2018, Shizuka Buckley, her husband, Sam Buckley, and their friend, Christian Baum, launched Giv Local – a State College-based credit card processing company with a socially responsible twist. Giv Local charges businesses a credit card processing rate that is equal to or less than the rate the merchant is currently paying. In…

It’s that time of year when, besides all the holiday celebrations, we reflect on the past 12 months and see countless lists of the best movies, books, TV shows, events, and more. So why not a look back on the year that was in beer? For that, we wanted to hear from beer…

For the first time in seven years, the Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra will feature a family concert. As part of it 2018-19 season, the orchestra will present The Snow Queen Past and Present at Park Forest Middle School in State College on November 3 at 3 p.m. “We decided to pattern it after a…

“I have lived a great life. This is how I give back,” says a committed volunteer. A transplanted Canadian from Nova Scotia who has lived in numerous places in this country, she finally plopped down in State College three years ago, to be near a daughter and granddaughter. Marie Cameron, 82, represents one of…

Adam Swartz is living a dream many fail to achieve. He didn’t have to really grow up. As a puppeteer for his company, Adam Swartz Puppets, Swartz has taken a youth mindset into the ‘grown-up’ world, creating a successful venture that reaches out to children across the area. ‘Back when I was 9…

To celebrate the State College Brew Expo’s 20th year, Michael Martin, who runs the expo with his wife, Malissa, didn’t look too far when it came to deciding which breweries would be showcasing their beers at this year’s expo. Martin made the decision to make the State College Brew Expo an event that featured…

“Mr. Bell,” writes a New York Times critic, “doesn’t stand in anyone’s shadow.” The Mr. Bell in question is Joshua Bell, the most celebrated and popular violinist of his generation. Bell makes his first Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State appearance in more than seven years when he performs in recital with a…

While Christmas is the “most wonderful time of year,” for those who enjoy trying new beers, it’s tough to beat summer. Beer goes with the other three “Bs” of the season — barbecues, beaches, and baseball games. According to a 2017 story by the National Beer Wholesalers Association, beer sales, on average, are 20 percent…