Seasoned hospitality veteran Becky Burger is the General Manager at the Allen Street Grill in downtown State College. With 40 years of experience in the restaurant and hospitality business (19 of them with the Allen Street Grill), Burger feels she can truly make a difference by treating staff and customers with compassion and care. Years ago, she was nicknamed “Momma Bear” by her team, and she feels it has been a fitting title... her door is always open to council, to mentor, to encourage.

Penn State third-year student Kristina Goldhorn has been living the iconic Penn State experience since she transferred from the Brandywine campus to University Park in 2021. While she studies Supply Chain Management, she serves as a tour guide with Lion Ambassadors on campus, and is the director of Brotherhood for the professional development fraternity Omega Chi Sigma, and works at The Corner Room. “The Corner Room is the place where I made my first friends in State College, the place where I immediately felt comfortable, and the place where I can positively affect my customer’s day with just a smile,” she said.

For Brian Adair, his career in hospitality started two days after graduation. “I started working as a doorman at Zeno’s Pub on the Monday after commencement,” he said. That was five years ago. From that first job, he moved to serving, and then bartending. “Zeno’s Pub has been the place where I have celebrated my undergraduate and graduate graduations, family reunions, and was my usual hangout spot during my college career. I made countless friends and witnessed awesome musical performances. It has a special place in my heart and I am happy to contribute to the sense of community I have found there,” he said.

The changing colors of the leaves, the crisp fall air and Penn State football are just a few of the many reasons that there is nothing like fall in Happy Valley, PA. Across the region, many local establishments make the most of local agriculture to create harvest-time menus, featuring one-of-a-kind entrees and seasonal craft cocktails.

Ellen Braun’s hospitality story started with a detour. “I graduated from Penn State in 1984 with a degree in English and quickly realized that I was so shy and introverted that I wasn’t emotionally prepared for any of the career paths I’d dreamed of,” she said. So, to overcome it, she got what she calls “assertiveness training” — a job at The All American Rathskeller. The job turned out to be a crash course, not only in confidence, but also in her career path.

Mount Nittany Winery is a family farm winery nestled in the side of Mount Nittany. The winery produces exceptional, locally-produced wine from their 65-acre mountainside setting that’s just minutes from State College. With breathtaking views across Penns Valley to the Tussey Mountain Range, you’ll find the perfect setting for gatherings with family and friends. This fall, try one of their wine and food pairings to make your visit even more memorable.

For sports fans, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. Football returns and with it comes tailgate season. These days, tailgating has moved well beyond the stadium parking lot and into homes everywhere. Here are our best suggestions to easily satisfy an appetite for victory and great food.

Anna from StuckOnTheGo.com recently visited for a #hosted trip to Happy Valley, Pennsylvania. Anna was kind enough to share her first impressions of her trip with Dispatch.HappyValley.com. Read on!

Third-year Penn State student Hunter Porcano is studying Biological Engineering with a focus in Food and Bioprocessing. This year, a love for kombucha, a spontaneous Instagram message and a job as a brewer assistant has changed the course of her career.