Melanie Versaw

Leaving Penn State was tough. I made so many memories in Happy Valley that it was a difficult transition to go through. Though I lived up all four years I spent at PSU, I can’t help but occasionally think, “Why did I ever leave?” I thought I’d reflect on my current life and college life and give some advice to those of you who still have time at PSU.

My freshman year I came to Penn State expecting the best time of my life. Since then, I have met some of my best friends I will ever have, some of the most brilliant professors I will ever have the opportunity to interact with, and some of the most talented people around. I had the opportunity to interview Russell Brand and Jonah Hill, photograph a Penn State vs. Michigan game under the lights, and party with the best people in the world. And I don't regret a minute of it. After the jump is a summary of some quotes from important people in my life that have guided me through my wonderful experience at PSU.

A recent buzzfeed article led us to ask: What are the absolute worst things in State College? This is what we came up with.

Unfortunately, my two original partners in crime could not make the second adventure to Cafe Laura due to paint parties and matzo times. But I am a woman of my word, so I went back to Cafe Laura to the same Se7en: Food to Die For meal to see how the HRIM students improved from their first meal to their second. Let's get critiquing.

This week's competition is between the two most well-known outdoor patio bars in State College: Cafe 210 West and Mad Mex. Let's be honest, when it's 75 degrees and sunny outside, there are few things better than (legally) drinking outside. The two downtown establishments with the largest outdoor seating areas are Cafe 210 West and Mad Mex. Both of these places have large patios which are perfect for soaking in the sun and downing a few choice beverages. Let the battle begin.

This week's showdown is against two of the classier bars State College has to offer: Bill Pickle's Tap Room vs. Inferno. Our ratings, tips, and more after the jump.

The first thing to come out of our waiter’s mouth at our Cafe Laura experience: “Welcome to the Seven Deadly Sins… thing. I’m bad at this. What can I say?” And that quote pretty much sums up our evening at Cafe Laura.

For those of you who do not know, each HRIM student is required to work a semester at Cafe Laura. Each student learns how to cook, serve, take reservations, and plan a whole dinner with a selected group. Onward State decided to check out the Se7en: Food to Die For dinner that took place on March 14th. Check out our collaborative review of the evening after the jump.

Okay, so we're starting off our "Bar Wars" series backwards here...but let's be honest: you have to end up at a club at the end of the night. It's important to conclude any night in a fun atmosphere, especially a bar tour. After drinking all day, you'll want an exciting environment. The club selection at PSU is... let's go with, limited, so we took the two clubs downtown and put them head-to-head in this week's Bar Wars challenge. So what's it gonna be? Indigo or Levels? Andrew Tarr took the task of going to both Indigo and Levels to rank the two via several categories. The results are after the jump.

Ever wonder why that drunk guy was getting kicked out of Indigo? Some pretty dumb things happen inside the club, and we decided to do some research to figure out the most effective ways to get kicked out of Indigo.

Last night, SPA and the Lion Ambassadors provided Penn State students with some Founder's Day entertainment as Parachute and fun. played in front a large crowd at Alumni Hall.

Other than just photographing yesterday, John O'Brien and myself decided to interview whatever students were willing to talk about their State Patty's Day thus far. The interviews took place from 2-3PM on Saturday, and most students we interacted with were very kind (some a little bit TOO nice...).

Fellow photographer John O'Brien and I decided to brave the cold weather and aimlessly wandering drunken mobs to take some photographs--for the sake of never having to use that same balcony photograph for each SPD post. Green is flowing through the streets of State College, evidence that despite evidence to slow it down, State Patty's Day has not been stopped. Check out the slideshow below, to see some of the colorful characters walking around downtown.

A lot has been said about the status of the Dayglow concert in April being tied to the behavior at tonight's Alesso concert. Our own Melanie Versaw asks that you please stay under control so she and many others can participate in April's paint party.

I'm in love with my GoPro camera. I decided to strap it on one of our own staff members, THON 2012 dancer John Tecce for the final four hours of THON. We got his point of view of the final Slide of Strength and the THON total reveal. Watch the videos after the jump.

One of my personal favorite little cameras is my GoPro. With that in mind, I wanted to find a good use for it at THON. Morale Captain Shannon Holzer was kind enough to let us use her as an experiment. We strapped a GoPro to her head and let her do her thing!

You can always tell that the career fair has arrived when flocks of students in wrinkly suits are seen carrying around bright tote bags filled to the top with cup koozies, water bottles, pens, notepads, and t-shirts. Yesterday, I was on a mission: No, not to get a job, but to find the best free swag the career fair had to offer.

The Pennsylvania State Marketing Association is hosting a free rave tomorrow night, glow sticks included, featuring DJ F.L.Y and TAXIDERMY.

So, with the Philly/Pittsburgh rivalry at Penn State, there's no way you didn't see this post coming, right? Here's a list of things to do this break in Pittsburgh.

Okay. So, you did it again this year. It's two days before costume parties begin and you don't have a costume. It's not that you aren't excited about Halloween...perhaps you just didn't have time to go pick something out, or maybe you just have no idea what you want to be. Either way: you are in quite the predicament. The line to get into the Halloween Store on Beaver Avenue, Gift Adventures, is going to be out the door, and there just isn't enough time! Where do you go?

Urban Outfitters opened its doors yesterday to greet a few of the finest hipsters into the popular store. We have some photos of the new spot after the jump.

Keith Somers (senior, finance) has created a company that will service the finest Penn State students. Party Service Unlimited LLC's first installment is a white, 14-seater bus that can be rented out for tailgates. You may have seen this bus blaring Ke$ha and promoting itself while traveling around campus. DJ services by resident DJ D-Goodz are included with the bus rental, as well as snacks and drinks! The bus service aims to create a fun, safe environment for Penn State students. I had a chance to meet with Keith and take a ride on the bus last Friday night (cue Katy Perry music) and had a blast. Both Keith and DJ D-Goodz have great energy and know how to take care of their clients.

From YouTube videos to Comedy Central Specials, Bo Burnham has really pulled himself together as the ultimate comedy package. He can sing, improvise, write incredibly witty lyrics, and is a hell of an entertainer. Friday night, Bo sold out the State Theatre, returning to Penn State after his first appearance in the spring of 2009.

An a cappella YouTube sensation, Straight No Chaser, took to the Eisenhower Auditorium stage on Friday night to perform for hundreds of fans. The auditorium announced at the beginning of the show that photographs and videos were allowed to be taken throughout the whole show, and Straight No Chaser explained that since they were discovered by going viral, that it was encouraged to take and post videos online.

You know when you can just look at person and tell that he or she is a freshman? For all of you freshmen out there, if you want to avoid being labeled, follow these five simple steps after the jump.

I am a big Arts Fest fan. I flew in late Friday night and was extremely pumped to be back at Penn State. Here are my top 5 things I loved about this year's Arts Fest. 1. Chalk. Italian Painting. Whatever it is, it's awesome. I actually bought (okay, my boyfriend bought) a $5 block to do our own drawing in (my boyfriend just made me include that he, indeed, made the ocean look so beautiful). See photo on the top to see our masterpiece. See the ones on the bottom to see what a real artist does. Read on for the full list as well as more pictures from Saturday's festivities.

Over the past two days, I went to the Get Him to the Greek advanced screening and met with Jonah Hill and Russell Brand. Here are my thoughts: Get Him to the Greek was awesome. I laughed my ass off, and I would give it a 4.5/5. I had the opportunity to interview both Jonah Hill and Russell Brand this morning. I decided to go outside the box from the normal interview questions; instead, I played "would you rather..." with them. The results after the jump.

Less Than Jake is headlining Movin’ On, if you haven’t heard. I’ve seen them a couple of times live, and they’re a pretty decent live show. Though I don’t like their new stuff nearly as much as their old stuff (newer is much more punk than ska, in my opinion), I believe they will still put on a great show.


Read on for my thoughts on the other confirmed acts.

What: Three national champions of their arts, P.J. Maierhofer (better known as the Blue Sapphire, or 3-baton twirling, award-winning Miss College Majorette of America), David Clavens (freestyle footbagger) and Nathan Kepner (magician) join forces with fellow variety artists Joe Scholz, Mike Simon and Morgan Tsu-Raun in a performance showcasing an array of talents rarely seen on a single stage.


Where: The State Theatre


When: Tonight, 8pm


Why: Because it’s going to be unreal.

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus performed in HUB Alumni Hall on Saturday night and once again they earned my respect.

• Ronnie Winter (lead singer) has perfect hair. Always. Every time I have seen them, his hair has been beautiful.
• Winter also had one of the coolest belt buckles I’ve ever seen.
• They sang all of the Fresh Prince of Bel Air theme song with the audience.
• It was the Jack Black look alike’s birthday.  They smashed cake in his face.
• They not only played almost all old songs, but they took audience requests.  Though almost everyone was yelling, “Face Down,” Winter heard “Cat and Mouse” and the band played it beautifully.
• If you ever just sat and watched Jon Wilkes (drummer), he constantly licked his drumsticks.  Props…I would get so many splinters.

If the dance pits and crowd surfers galore are any indication, the crowd enjoyed the concert. The band looked like they were into the atmosphere as well. And I for one absolutely approved of their performance. Well done, Red Jumpsuit.  Well done.

I was browsing some MySpace sites (call me old school) looking for some good tunes, when I came across The Dangerous Summer. In their tour list, Movin’ On is definitely listed.


They aren’t headliner material, so they will be apparently opening for the festival.


Found other hints of openers or *gasp* the headliner? Post them in the comments.