Monday night's "A Taste of Pennsylvania" showed the governors that Happy Valley could hold its own with Silicon Valley.

The HUB-Paul Robeson Cultural Center hosted "A Taste of Pennsylvania," a show of technological and regional food. Names of famous Pennsylvanians such as pioneer and wilderness scout Daniel Boone, President Dwight D. Eisenhower and basketball hall-of-famer Wilt Chamberlain lined the lobby where students usually lounge and study.

The event was intended to give the 40 state governors, family and attendees of the National Governors' Association annual meeting a 'taste' of foods, industries and technology native to Pennsylvania.

"Pennsylvania is in the vanguard of states in the New Economy," Gov. Tom Ridge said in a news release. "Tonight, we show our distinguished friends from around the country the Pennsylvania pride and passion we bring to the new millennium."

Those who could pass through tight security and afford the $40 price to the event listened to the sounds of the United States Army Chorus, the Nia SteelPan Ensemble, Music at Penns Woods and Luis Biava, conductor in residence and principal second violin for the Philidelphia Orchestra while dining on smoked trout and Philadelphia cheesesteaks and drinking their choice of alcoholic beverage at one of the many bars set up for the occasion.

Dave Will, general manager of the Center for the Performing Arts and facilitator of the evening, said he predicted the event would be delightful.

Some of the technology partners involved were worldwide known companies such as Apple Computer Inc. and the more locally based Videon Central Inc.

After leaving Penn State's Research Park three years ago with virtually no staff, Todd A. Erdley, president of Videon Central Inc., said the business has reached sales of almost $2.5 million.

One showcase that nearly stole the show was the Sony robotic pet dog: Aibo, a robotic dog that can play with a ball, follow a person around and mark his territory.

With 10,000 of the robots already made, the Japanese use the dogs for actual pets while the dog remains a novelty in the United States.

After the dog fell on to its side, attempting to get up, Dennis Yablonsky, president and chief executive officer of Pittsburgh Digital Green House Inc., asked, "he'll get up, won't he?"

Yablonsky demonstrated to the press earlier in the day an MP3 wristwatch that wearers can plug ear phones into and listen to high quality MP3 music.

Ridge, who was accompanied by Penn State President Graham Spanier, paid particular interest in exhibits that displayed education technology.

Ridge walked through Penn State's School of Information Science and Technology display to preview a new course being offered for the first time this fall.

The class is advertised as a way of training people to learn to solve real world problems.

Requiring almost $350,000 to initiate, Penn State is one of the few institutions in Pennsylvania that can offer such a program.

Ridge proceeded to the exhibit for the Pennsylvania Governor's School for Information Technology where robotics and internet access ability were displayed, along with a live video link with collaborating students at Drexel University.

"I've learned more about Pennsylvania in the last 12 months for this event than I ever had," Will said.