Spent too much money your first weekend back at Penn State? How about this Friday through Sunday you try some of these fun, FREE things:

1. Make up a scavenger hunt. Our tips...first make teams (there's nothing like a little bit of healthy competition). Second, find random objects about town. Fun things to gather in the hunt:
- movie ticket stub
- Hooter's application
- a piece of fruit
- a shoelace
- a tootsie roll

2. Have game night! Come on, we all know people love Cranium, Trivial Pursuit, Cards, even charades. Sometimes we forget how much fun these things can be (especially if you include a 12-pack with the whole ordeal).

3. Catch up on that list of movies you've been saying for years you have to watch. Add some popcorn and friends and bam! by the end of the night, you'll be more cultured and you'll be able to check off some of that list.

4. Throw a dance party. I know, I know ... we're not 12 and we're not trying to start a rave. But why not? Good tunes and good company make for a great recipe. Move some furniture out of the way, sweat it out, and do what you'd never do at the bar. (Leave the cameras at home).

So for those of you who are planning on watching the 2008 Summer Olympic Opening Ceremonies tonight, we have an idea to make those four hours go by a little bit more enjoyably.

Brian Eller and Jill Raines would like to proudly introduce to you the Opening Ceremonies Drinking Game!

Here's what you need to get started...

- A major thirst
- Any alcohol (beer, wine, liquor -- if you are so bold)
- A television set
- This list of rules printed out so you can follow along

Ok. You've got all of the necessary equipment. Now to the rules...

Drink each time...

Bob Costas says the word "United States" in his sexy anchorman voice
A country is introduced with more than 15 athletes representing it
For the guys, each time you see a male athlete with muscles bigger than yours
The phrase "overcoming adversity" is used
A Coca-Cola or Visa commercial is shown

Finish your drink when...

The Olympic Torch enters the arena
The United States is introduced

Ok. Those are the rules. Play it correctly, and by the time Denmark is introduced, you'll be so sloshed you'll be whining about how you're not competing in the games.

Enjoy!

No one can deny that State College in the summer is a great place to be ... when it's not raining. And because the weather forecast for this coming weekend looks pretty fabulous, we suggest everyone take advantage of the fun things around town that can be done on a sweet, sun-shiny summer day.

First off, if you're around campus during the summer, why not take a stroll to the outdoor pool. You can't miss it; it's huge. For $4 -- a little steep, so make a day of it to get your money's worth -- you can lounge in lawn chairs, jump off the diving board -- but be prepared to wait your turn in line with the children who are looking for a thrill -- swim laps, or hang out in the shallow end and work on your tan. It's like the beach! Except there's no sand, and there's chlorine in the water.

And if you have a car, or a friend with a car, or even if you're up for an intense bike ride, take the voyage out to Whipple Dam! The park is gorgeous, with paths to hike, a little lake and man-made beach. Don't forget your volleyball, and some cash to rent a canoe or paddle boat. Oh, and they sell ice cream, which obviously is a necessity on a summer's day.

Let's not forget about Mount Nittany, either. If you've never done the hike, now's the time. Make sure you stick some water in a pack, slip on those hiking boots or sneakers, and hit the trail. The view is pretty incredible, and it's fun to belt out songs in the middle of the forest -- not that we've ever done that.

And what to do when the sun goes down? For those of you who don't get the urge to skip off to the bars, grab some tunes and head up to Old Main Lawn. August is known for pretty sweet meteor showers.

And if the bar scene is your thing, but you don't want to go indoors, check out places like Cafe 210 West,
Mad Mex, or The Deli for a few drinks in the moonlight.

So, in the rare instance that you haven't heard yet, The Dark Knight comes out this weekend. Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman and Michael Cain -- all in one movie?! And what's better, all of these esteemed actors portraying the story of one of the greatest comic books ever: Batman!

Now before you slide on your cheap plastic Batman costume, complete with utility belt, let us here at the Nightlife blog give you some pointers to make you trip to the theater much more enjoyable.

1. Know your stuff...

Although there have been several movies released about the famous super hero from Gotham City, the first of this series, Batman Begins tells the story of how billionaire Bruce Wayne assumes his position as the dark knight. You are introduced to Bruce's butler and confidant, Alfred Pennyworth, as well as Bruce's childhood friend, and DA of Gotham City, Rachel Dawes (played by Katie Holmes..thankfully they upgraded for The Dark Knight). In case you missed it, or just love it as much as we do...here's a little refresher heighten the excitement:

For other ways to make sure you're caught up on the story, it never hurts to awaken the nerd inside of you and read a bit about the history of the superhero and his enemies.

2. The next step in the Batman preparation process...know what you're going into tonight, tomorrow, or whenever it is that you plan on seeing the oh so anticipated film:

Check out trailers, posters, fun facts and more

The official site.

And last but not least
3. Share your excitement with others. It's rare a movie produces this much hype, but we believe it's not unworthy. We hope you enjoy your weekend, and hopefully you'll be smart enough to let this film be part of it -- we know we will!

First of all, I would like to congratulate myself, as this is my introductory post with the Get a Nightlife blog. That being said, I would like to welcome all of those people so eager to find out what to do in State College that they would take the advice of a student who is pretty boring in his own right. But, I digress...

In case you haven't heard, this weekend is the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. Sounds pretty boring right? Well it is. That is if you're sober. But fear not readers! I have the perfect solution. Drink, sample art, drink, drink, sample more art, and then drink some more. Follow this schedule and I promise you'll have a mediocre Arts Fest at worst.

If you're not a fan of the sauce, Arts Fest does offer a sort of family reunion type feel, as everyone from students spending summer at home to the vast array of alumni travel to Happy Valley this weekend. Think of it as a football game without as much of the bruiting masculinity. There are several different music groups in attendance, including Lao Tizer Band, and everyone's favorite, Velveeta(I never miss those guys, er, girls.) There's a bunch of art, but I don't care about that, and neither do you. It's ok, I'm not here to judge. Well, maybe a little. The highlight of Arts Fest comes in the form of all of the food stands that are around, tempting the senses with sights and smells of funnel cakes, hot dogs, and ice cream. Mmmmmmmmmmm, ice cream.

In a nutshell, Arts Fest is another excuse for the students and alumni at Penn State to gather and get ripped while critiquing an old woman's art collection that she worked for the better part of the century to put together. It's just another excuse, but a damn fine one.

Eller out.

Although there’s no place quite like Penn State, sometimes you just need to get away.

After a year of partying with the same crowd, studying in the same corner of the library and eating at the same dining commons, even Happy Valley can become a little boring.

It seems that with Christmas break long gone and the glorious summer nearing, this is the time of year when we yearn to see our high school friends. Instead of making the three-hour drive to Pittsburgh or Philly, depending on which metropolis you almost definitely hail from, many people take a weekend to experience a high school pal’s college.

I had one such wonderful opportunity this weekend when I traveled to a half-hour deeper into the boonies to Juniata College in Huntington. It was Pig Roast, the annual beer festival at Raystown, where 70-year-old professors can be found doing keg stands and the rather sheltered population of students shed their inhibitions and drop their pants to relieve themselves of gallons of beer in the woods.

The shock of a school where almost everyone knows each other intimately left me thanking God I go to such a large university. There were countless instances of awkwardness when ex-hookups had to encounter each other at the beer tap. At least we can escape our mistakes by running down College Avenue with our stilettos in hand, never to see the gentleman again — except that inevitable encounter somewhere near the mall … but you can hide behind your sunglasses so it’s all good. These unfortunate souls will be reminded daily of their indiscretions.

We Penn Staters are also fortunate in our opportunity to party any time of day, any day of the week. Rough exam on a Tuesday? Not a problem in State College. Somewhere there’s an apartment full of Beast and a band of your peers who are in the same boat you are.

At schools as small as Juniata, however, you’re pretty much a huge floozy if you can’t limit yourself to partying only on the weekends. This was apparent in the lack of control many Pig Roast attendees displayed. Girls were passionately pinned to beer pong tables, park rangers futilely attempted to quell fights over the insufficient supply of solo cups and boys in spandex undies ran around with slabs of pork. It was like Blue-White Weekend on crack.

While it’s certainly refreshing to get away from the crowds of students on our campus for a few days, it is little visits like this one that remind me why I chose to attend Penn State in the first place. I don’t know what I would do without a good pair of sweatpants and the anonymity of the Forum on the morning after a heavy drinking binge. How my high school friends can show their face in a class of less than 20 in such a situation is beyond me.

I’m grateful for every random frat party I’ve attended, every cup I’ve flipped and every time I’ve slipped into a class 45 minutes late, but still in time to hand in my paper. We may not always be in complete control of our actions or our bodies, but we are Penn State — and that’s the way I like it.

- Mary

There is one weekend each year when witnessing a man make out with his dog, spinning drunkenly around a plastic bat and seeing a barrage of male genitalia is commonplace: Blue-White weekend.

The tradition of Blue-White weekend has been drawing Penn State football fans and avid partiers for decades, and this weekend was certainly no exception.

With temperatures reaching the 80s, it was the perfect day to tailgate, play ladder golf and acquire a nice sunburn.

The celebration kicked off Friday, when most of the crowds rolled into town. My own attempt to eat at Café 210 West, 210 W. College., was impeded by hoards of drunkards enjoying the sunny weather and pitchers of Miller Lite. Anyone who wasn't willing to wait in a line for over an hour could forget about going to a downtown bar on Friday night. Any establishment which offered outdoor seating was a madhouse, as were Alumni hotspots like the Darkhorse Tavern, 128 E. College Ave.

The amount of night-owls on Friday was surprising considering the long day of tailgating ahead for most people. When I reached Beaver Stadium at 10 a.m., there were already a plethora of intoxicated Penn Staters and alumni passed out in the grass beside our tailgate. The smell of grilling could not mask the pungent odor of urine which seemed to seep from the soil next to every truck door. One gentleman, who was repeatedly struck with flying balls from our game of ladder golf, seemed to have slipped into a coma while his large dog licked his face.

By the time 2 o'clock rolled around, it was obvious that trekking the quarter mile to Beaver Stadium was unappealing to most tailgaters. Heated games of beer pong, flip cup and dizzy bat were well under way and no one was going anywhere -- especially not to the port-o-potty, which boasted a line the likes of which I have never seen. Here's a tip for those of you who have not discovered this for yourselves: take your full bladder and solo cup and hike on over to East Halls or the Business Building. The bathrooms are much cleaner and by the time you get back, your friends will still be clutching their crotches and bouncing around erratically in the middle of the line.

And while we're on the subject of tailgating, it is important to always remember your etiquette. A few crucial things to keep in mind for this fall's football season: refrain from sticking your fingers in the pasta salad and running it for the rest of the guests. When throwing footballs, tossing Frisbees or whacking whiffle balls, do so with caution. Finally, if you are a male and must relieve yourself immediately, do so behind a car door. I saw more penises this weekend than a seasoned urologist.

From the tailgating fields it looked as though there was a successful turnout at the actual game. I think the Blue team won, but who really cares? By 5 p.m., small bands of police officers started to pop up out of nowhere and warn those who were peacefully napping face-down by their vehicles that they should begin to pack up. I witnessed one arrest and a few near-misses before the crowds seemed to disband for the most part. The only thing more disturbing than all the drunken injuries and genitalia was how these intoxicated masses drove home from their tailgates.

While the scene downtown on Saturday was unbelievably hectic, it seemed that most people had worn themselves out with cases of Natty and never woke up from their afternoon nap. All in all, this year's Blue and White gave students, alumni and visitors a refreshing opportunity to enjoy beautiful weather, grilling and beer... and maybe a little football.

I'm a senior. I don't have a job. And I'm terrified of a world that doesn't accept Lion Cash and doesn't have an inbox overflowing with e-mails from my career adviser.
Graduation is right around the corner and even if this May doesn't mean the end of your time in Happy Valley, it will certainly be a reminder that doom is impending.
Many of my recent activities have reminded me that my youth is drawing to a close.
This past Friday I took a trip to the Big Apple for the "Success in the City" career fair with the College of Communications -- and was that ever a slap in the face. I don't like wearing a suit and pretending I know what "media buying" entails. Everyone else looked as discombobulated as I did, waiting nervously to talk to a recruiter holding a portfolio full of resumes.
An hour before we were scheduled to meet the bus, everyone on the trip could be found across the street in the bar, looking disheveled, clutching a glass of wine. Welcome to the life after college, my friends.
I also took note to the other patrons. While many looked like recent college grads who were enjoying a $10 glass of house Chardonnay, I was especially intrigued by the naughty little affair taking place between a 60-year-old sugar daddy and his supple little secretary with lipstick smeared across her teeth. I thought college guys could be shady but this was a flat-out reminder that the creepage doesn't stop when you graduate.
After this little taste of the "real world," I was determined to milk these last few weeks of glorious college debauchery. Although I had my heart set on a frat party, the night after my career search, I ended up in at a random apartment -- which was almost as good. After a rather frustrating phone conversation, we located our "friend of a friend" on a darkened street corner and he led us into an apartment. Upon realizing he did not live there, we wandered around the complex and finally located his lovely abode.
Downstairs, a beer pong table constructed out of a large door and cinder blocks filled the entire room, while the many young men at the party planned their assault on the five girls that were present.
A red solo cup was thrust into my hand and I was shoved up the stairs toward the almost-kicked keg on the balcony. Then I returned to what seemed to be a living room where some kind of heated video game was being played. I plopped down on the damp couch and soaked in the scene.
I was almost oblivious to the gentleman beside me who spilled his beverage in my lap as I reminded myself that this was probably one of the last times I would be enjoying a free beer.
The relief of graduation will bring with it the stress of the real world and I don't know if I'm ready for it. I like my beer luke-warm and served in a plastic cup; I don't think I'm mature enough to have a drink with my boss after work.
For all of you who are as terrified of leaving Happy Valley as I am, I suggest we cherish what's left of our time as college students. Even if you aren't graduating, you've probably completed at least one year of your Penn State tenure, and that in itself is upsetting. Soon we will be thrust into a society where expectations are high and missing work requires a legitimate excuse. But until then, bring on the keg stands and the bar tours -- I have four weeks of irresponsibility left and I plan to make the most of them.

--Mary

As the weather improves and the semester comes to a close, there is increased temptation to get sloshed and play Frisbee on your lawn until you collapse.

But with parents' weekends and the unavoidable visits by family members during this time of the year, it may be best to find some sober activities around town.

During the day it's pretty obvious that you and your parents will spend a large amount of time strolling the streets of College Avenue, purchasing Penn State merchandise -- as if it's not frustrating enough that your T-shirt drawer does not close as it is. Then you'll take the inevitable trip to Wal-Mart where they'll buy you a box fan and some ramen noodles while your little brother bitches about being bored. All this is well and good but what are you to do with these beloved family members when the sun goes down?

I noticed that many of us have chosen to take Mom and Dad out to the bar. This is a horrible idea. You might be able to handle three pitchers of Captain and Coke but one martini will more than likely send Mom over the edge. The last thing you want to see is your parents grinding to "Make Love in this Club" and the inevitable make-out session that will ensue afterward. Plan ahead people -- there are plenty of fun family activities around State College that won't give you nightmares for the rest of your life.

For starters, you could take Mom and Pop out for dinner. Instead of hitting up the old fall-backs of The Corner Room and The Deli, try something a little more eclectic such as Zola's or Otto's on Atherton Street. In these cases, however, you may have to allow your parents to foot the bill, but they'll appreciate your taste.

Another little known secret of downtown State College is the State Theatre, which offers yet another sober option for movie-goers. Granted it will probably be an obscure film that no one in your party will enjoy, at least you're becoming more cultured. The State Theatre is a historical gem that offers films, theatre, dance performances and concerts, and your mere knowledge of it will impress the parentals.

Perhaps you have a sibling who doesn't want to sit through a sub-titled French film? In such a case, consider a trip to one of the area's bowling alleys. Northland Bowl, on Martin Street, and Bellefonte Lanes, a short drive out of town, will be sure to please. (Plus there's booze... just control yourself).

Oh and did you know Penn State competes in sporting events other than football? Shocking, I know. Going to a baseball game or track meet is another option when the family is in town. Especially if either of your parents is an alumnus of this university, this will bring them back to their college days -- because as we all know, they weren't drinking at our age, they were enjoying sporting events and spending hours nestled in the Pattee stacks studying.

Whatever you do with Mom, Dad and your bratty siblings while they're in town, remember to avoid alcohol. I saw far too many embarrassing parental performances this weekend. Make a valiant attempt to show your loving family that their tuition dollars are not going to waste on a four year adventure in binge drinking.

--Mary

You know the feeling: You awake in an inescapable tangle of sheets, various body parts aching, face-down in a puddle of your own vomit. It's the morning after a night of heavy drinking and it's time to pay for all those shots ... again.
Hangovers have been destroying the lives of innocent college students everywhere and I am literally sick of it.
It's approaching noon and you had big plans for this weekend. Campus has been buzzing with exciting events that every young intellectual should experience -- from commitment ceremonies to presidential hopeful Barack Obama's visit. You might not make it to these, although that probably won't matter much, considering the amount of brain cells you have remaining.
The first step to escaping from this hang-over hell is to locate your belongings. I imagine guys don't have much difficulty in this department--if they've got their wallet they're golden--but girls can spend hours picking up bras, lip glosses and uneaten slices of Canyon that are strewn about the room.
At this point you have probably realized that you are missing either your camera or your cell phone and you may want to take a few moments to cry mildly. If you have managed to hold on to either of these items, however, it is time for a review of the night. If you are pinned under the arm of a random lover, you may want to return to your home base before proceeding. If not, crawl out to the living room where your roommates will almost certainly also be experiencing nausea and dizziness that no amount of Pepto could cure. Recapping is an amazing coping technique and laughing about those 20 text messages you sent to your ex is therapeutic.
Now that you have pieced together your night and discovered the sources of your numerous bruises, may I suggest some nourishment? A healthy serving of saltines paired with a king-sized bottle of Gatorade should do the trick. You may also want to consider popping a few Tylenol, because by now the slight buzz you were feeling is transforming into full-blown sickness. You'll probably find yourself on the toilet in a matter of minutes but for now lying on the cold linoleum of your kitchen floor feels so good.
After expelling your body of every item you've digested recently, its time to try to salvage this day. Pop in The 40-Year Old Virgin or Anchorman and curl up--after this you swear to yourself you'll do homework. Around the time Ron Burgandy starts ranting about a "whale's vagina" you'll be dozing off. When you awake some four hours later and realize it is now late afternoon, you might feel slightly unproductive. After a quick shower you'll be ready to bang out that Astro homework.
Chances are that shower lasts a little longer than expected, due to the feeling of ecstasy you receive from warm water streaming over your muddy, possibly bloody, body. The smell of some kind of noodle packet simmering on the stove is now probably wafting into your nostrils and this reminds you that it is again time to eat, temporarily postponing your adventures with Astro. Another re-cap will ensue among roommates at this time, eating up another hour.
As you glance at the clock over your Ramen, you may note that it is now approaching 9 p.m., and there's probably a show on you want to watch. After this, your bed is looking particularly comfy, granted you washed your linens. If not, you can just ball them up and throw them in a closet. Sleeping on a bare mattress never hurt anyone.
As the Day of the Hangover comes to a close, one may find that they are feeling like a worthless piece of crap. I'm here to reassure all of you boozers that this seemingly wasted day is an unavoidable slice of life. All in all, this day may have been full of pain, unpleasant odors and grieving over lost items but without a little R & R how are you expected to go out for round two tonight?
--Mary