No cover, drink specials and a celebration of space exploration?

Free entry and cheap drinks are commonplace in State College, but Yuri's Night aims to give these vices a slightly more intellectual flair.

The second annual Yuri's Night will take place at 8 tonight at the Candy Bar and Lounge, 129 S. Pugh St. The local event is part of an international celebration in honor of the Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, said event organizer Ryan Kobrick.

"It's a world space party, aimed at reaching out to the community," Kobrick (graduate-aerospace engineering) said.

On April 12, 1961, Gagarin made his first space flight on Vostok 1. Yuri's Night, started in 2001, celebrates that anniversary. There will be more than 53 parties held today in 19 countries, according to the event's Web site, www.yurisnight.net/spaceparty.php.

"This is a great way to get people excited about space," Kobrick said.

Last year, the event was held at both on- and off-campus locations and had more of an educational focus, Kobrick said.

However, because there will be alcohol served at this year's Yuri's Night, the party is not affiliated with Penn State. There was some disappointment from last year's 50 or so attendees because it is a strictly 21-and-over event, he said.

"But we just want to let people have fun," Kobrick said, "and show them that space can be cool too."

Kobrick said finding a venue was difficult. "It was hard to find someone who wanted to risk hosting an event like this," he said.

Anthony Sapia, owner of the Candy Bar and Lounge, ultimately offered his venue for free.

"Celebrating space sounded like a good idea and a great party," Sapia said. "Years ago, I wanted to be an astronaut."

There will be space-themed drinks at the party as well, Sapia said, including a twist on the Cosmopolitan called the Cosmonaut.

The eclectic pop-rock cover band Plush will be playing at the event. Brian Bumbarger, lead singer of Plush, said the band volunteered to play for Yuri's Night. Plush has being playing around the State College area for five years.

"We thought that it was a cool idea, a simultaneous party like this," Bumbarger said. "We'll take any opportunity to play."

Bumbarger added that he had also wanted to become an astronaut as a kid.

Kobrick said he got the idea to bring the celebration to State College after attending a Yuri's Night World Space Party in Los Angeles in 2002.

"In L.A. they had space-themed drinks and VIP receptions and DJ's," Kobrick said. "I wanted to bring this to State College to get people interested."

"It's all about promoting space," he added.