Spot 9

Even if you’ve never attended The State Theatre’s annual end-of-the-year concert, chances are you’ve heard Rick Hirsch’s work. Hirsch is the chief music arranger for Penn State’s Blue Band (he also works with Big Ten rivals Wisconsin and Iowa, though we try not to hold that against him), writing much of their halftime music.…

Pike Street in Lemont, has been a staple in the central Pennsylvania arts community for more than 30 years. The shop features works of 50 artists and craftsmen, from an array of paintings to glass pieces. Visitors can find jewelry, handmade paper, mirrors, pottery, weavings, woodwork, quilting, scarves, and other unique items. Ann…

Itzhak Perlman will return to Penn State’s Eisenhower Auditorium November 14 for a special evening of live music (announced from the stage), stories, and projected film and photos celebrating a storied career launched with his televised U.S. debut more than 60 years ago. The world’s most famous violinist, who will be joined for An…

A century ago, in the aftermath of World War I, a predominantly African-American neighborhood in uptown Manhattan emerged as one of the leading cultural centers of the country. Harlem 100: Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance, which features the nine-member band Mwenso and the Shakes, will bring the sound and spirit of the…

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma has spent a lifetime transcending cultural divides and bringing people together, so it’s only natural that the musical organization he founded at the turn of the century is devoted to relationships that cross borders. The Silkroad Ensemble, named for the ancient trade route that exchanged commodities and innovations between southern Europe…

A few months ago, I read a quote on social media that immediately sparked attention in my spirit and has stayed with me ever since. “Comparison is the ultimate form of self-loathing.” In all of the self-help books I have read and in my personal and professional life, I have never heard comparison…

June is Men’s Health Month and the perfect time to take control of your personal health. If you haven’t already had or scheduled an annual wellness visit with your doctor, there’s no time like the present to get it on the books. Before your scheduled appointment, there are a few things to keep in…

Often, society associates art with a beautiful painting or an intricate drawing. However, there are some people, such as Marilyn Seeling, who can find art in just about any tangible material. Whether it’s trash, an old piece of wood from her barn, or simply an old newspaper, it can be art. For 10 years,…

A community makerspace called The Rivet is coming to life at Discovery Space on North Atherton Street. The Rivet’s construction, getting under way this spring, is spurred by the maker movement sweeping the country as a do-it-yourself lifestyle. “The maker movement, it’s bigger than you realize,” says Camille Sogin, the assistant director of…

Some alarming data in 2015 from the Pennsylvania Youth Survey prompted the State College Area School District to take action.   According to anonymous responses, 40 percent of students in grade 12 reported feeling that “life wasn’t worth living.”  The district took steps including implementing universal screening to help confidentially identify at-risk…