Indigo was the place to be in State College last night when the dance club turned one year old.

People were waiting outside to get in before the doors opened at 9. By the time I got into the club at 9:30 p.m., the line stretched to the diner. The bouncers were letting the club slowly fill up so it wouldn't get too busy too fast.

By 10, however, the place was hopping and you couldn't get a seat at the bar. The bartenders made drinks constantly from 10 to 12, the time period for the specials. All three bars were busy as people clamored over each other to get the bartenders attention. One more bartender at the two large bars would've made the service much better and allowed people to get their drinks faster.

The dancing did not begin until 11:30 p.m. People were milling on the dance floor because it was the only place to that wasn't filled to the brim with people.

The Bellini was a popular drink and it tasted pretty good. It was made with champagne, Bacardi Peach Red and cranberry juice. It was a bit classier than the other drinks they offer and worked well for the featured drink of a birthday party.

Tickets were handed to everyone as they came in the door for the raffles. DJ Kid A.V. called the winning tickets around 11 p.m. Some of prizes were gift cards to the Allen Street Grill and Best Buy.

By the time I left, the party had moved to the dance floor. Less and less people were around the bar because the specials were over. After midnight, there was no longer a line at the door. It was quiet on the streets of State College but it was hopping in Indigo.

Tomorrow is Tuesday and you all know what that means. It's Inauguration Day.

Like the rest of America, I've got that presidential fever, and the only remedy is...drinking!

Tuesday will be a day of equal opportunity for everyone in America. Barack Obama will become our 44th President and most of the world will be watching this momentous occasion. For those of us who have a source of alcohol and a television, I propose a drinking game to celebrate the inauguration of Obama.

This drinking game, featured on nextround.net, is the only way to enjoy all the festivities that will be happening throughout the day.

The game has a few simple rules but they are potent. Some of the rules include: Drinking when someone says "Historic," "Monumental," "Change" (in noun form) and "Lincoln."

In addition, one must drink every time "you see Oprah crying," "A white guy pretending to know the words to a Black Eyed Peas song," and when "Jesse Jackson takes credit for Obama's campaign."

This game is not for the weak. One must be a seasoned drinker with a lot of experience. If you cannot handle a lot of alcohol in a short period of time, I do not recommend this game.

Note to those who have class during this time: I do not condone skipping class to play this game. However, you can tape the ceremony and watch at your leisure. And, because you taped it, you can watch it over and over again.

Even if you don't play the drinking game, I hope everyone watches the inauguration and has at least one drink. It will be a momentous occasion and one for the record books.

Cheers!

- Kate

Those pesky non-profit organizations have struck again and this time,
it is affecting those of us who enjoy consuming Sparks energy beers.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest filed a lawsuit against
MillerCoors. MillerCoors decided to settle and have now taken Sparks
off the market. No longer will it be marketed or sold.
To many people, this is a travesty. One blog writer is up in arms and
has decided to take a stand against the head of the CSPI, Michael F.
Jacobson. (Wikipedia him. He is crazy).
Anyways, on the site, the writer has mandated that those who enjoy
Sparks or those who are annoyed by people who infringe upon our rights
to eat and drink what we want should write an email to this Jacobson
dude and tell him how they feel. The pre-fab e-mail is on the blog
page. All you have to do is copy and paste it and then send it. If you
carbon copy the author of the blog, they will send you a free,
homemade pin.
While I've never had Sparks, I know many people that have and they
have truly enjoyed it. They even made sugar free Sparks for those who
are watching the calories. So for all you lovers of Sparks or those
who like their freedom, send a quick email to this man. Better yet,
email MillerCoors and tell them you are annoyed that they caved to the
CSPI. With your support, we can bring back Sparks.

-Kate

Alcohol has a funny way of affecting people. Some can only handle a drink or two before becoming extremely intoxicated. Others are seasoned veterans and can drink for hours without feeling anything. Either way, alcohol changes people for better or for worse. The blog writers at holytaco.com came up with their own list of the Ten Worst Types of Drunks:

http://www.holytaco.com/10-worst-types-drunks

While I think some of these are apt and I've ran into many of these at both parties and bars, I've decided to make my own top 10 list of annoying party-goers.

10. The drunk who shows up to your party wasted and throws up

This person always ruins your party. They arrive by stumbling into your party, mumbling incoherently about something and then proceed to throw up. This isn't always the bathroom and they often ruin the mood of the party. They pass out on your couch while you have to clean up their mess.

9. The non-drinker who shows up and criticizes everyone who is drinking.

This person annoys me greatly. This person was invited to the party because they are a friend. The host doesn't want them to feel left out so they get the invite. However, when they show up, all they do is complain that everyone is drunk and criticize them for drinking. If you don't want to be around drunk people, don't come to the party. If you want to come to the party to socialize, don't complain about people drinking.

8. The person who complains that there is only beer to drink

There is always one person who complains at a party. Often, this complaining stems from the lack of variety in alcohol. Many people are now forced to offer both Jungle Juice and beer. However, many of us are poor and in college so we must stay within our budgets. If you are going to complain about the choice of alcohol, bring your own.

7. The person who brings their own beer and then complains when others drink it

This goes together with the last one. If you are going to bring your own drink, put your name on it or carry it around. If not, someone will drink your alcohol. It's a party and people will be looking for alcohol. If you don't take the time to protect what is yours, don't complain when someone drinks it without your permission.

6. The party-goer who turns down the music so they can hear the game

I love sports and I love to watch sports while I am drinking. However, when I go to a party, I don't expect to hear what the announcers are saying if the game is on television. If I am really interested in closely watching a sporting event, I will stay home to watch it. Don't ruin someone else's good time by turning down the music to hear the game. The announcers don't say anything interesting anyway.

5. The girl who brings an entourage of guys to a party

I'll admit, I am guilty of this and I get a lot of grief for it. I have a lot of guy friends and only a handful of girlfriends. When I go out, I am often with at least four or five guys and no girls. It becomes an issue when I go to a party where the host is expecting me to bring a gaggle of girls. While I've never been thrown out of a party, I have been badgered. Note to girls in my position: bring at least one girl with you in your entourage. Your guy friends will thank you.

4. The person who changes the music

The person will always get booed, even if they are the host of the party. It may seem like no one is into the music but once it is changed, the entire mood of the party changes. It's even worse if the change is to a bad song. Stay away from the stereo system unless you are authorized by everyone in the party to change the music.

3. The person who stays long after the party is over

While it is okay for some friends to stay over after the party, for some hosts, that position is limited to those whom are very close to them. There is nothing worse than someone who stays at your party way after everyone has left. You want to go to bed but you are stuck hanging out with an acquaintance. It can get very awkward and tiresome.

2. The person on the rebound

There is often one person at a party who just broke up with their significant other and is looking for a rebound. Either male or female, this person gets very drunk and then flirts with every person at the party. By the end of the night, they have failed because they were so desperate and you are left consoling them as they cry or complain.

1. The person who is sad and mopes in the corner

This goes along with the last one but it is much worse. This person can ruin a party without saying a word. They come into the party, sad because they broke up with their significant other, and are already wasted. They sit in the corner and drink hard liquor, trying to get as drunk as they possibly can. Someone is always stuck taking care of them and making sure they don't end up at the hospital. By the end of the night, they have destroyed the mood of the party and at least one person's night.

- Kate

With the festivities of New Year's Eve comes a New Year's Day hangover. For me, this year's was more ridiculous than usual. All that fun led to an iffy stomach and a wicked headache. My only cure was a lot of Motrin and some pork & sauerkraut.

For those, however, who have yet to discover the perfect cure for a hangover, Tara Stiles has invented a way to get rid of it through yoga. On this site, Stiles stretches away your hangover in less than five minutes. It begins with very relaxing stretches and body
twisting, ending with a headstand. Don't be dismayed by the headstand. Stiles shows beginner, intermediate and advanced versions of the move so anyone can do it.

While Stiles's routine was made to combat some of the holiday season's nasty side effects, it pertains to any time of the year. So if you've had one too many beers, more Jagerbombs than necessary, and have forgotten certain parts of the night, try stretching away your hangover with some yoga.

It really can't hurt.

- Kate

With one second to go, I watched Iowa kicker Daniel Murray successfully completed a field goal against 23 mph winds to put Iowa at a one point lead at 24-23, I knew, even at 6 p.m., that my night was over. The G Man, the bar where I was watching the close game turned loss, turned quiet. I spotted a grown man from across the room wipe away tears with a cocktail napkin.

"TURN IT OFF!" people yelled throughout the bar as Iowa students flooded the field to celebrate upsetting a #3 ranked team. Dreams of going to the Rose Bowl and having an undefeated season were wiped away faster than the waitresses cleaning up spilled Miller Lite pitchers. Another NCAA football game quickly appeared on all projectors and TV screens.

I thought, however, that a few hours would roll by and allow for us all to move on and enjoy a Saturday night of teas at Cafe 210. How wrong I was. I realized as 9 o'clock rolled around that I couldn't shake my bad feeling. Instead, I stayed in with friend and watched Casino Royale...clearly, the better choice. I really hope that we beat Indiana next weekend, so we can celebrate a win instead of mourn a loss.

Skanky costumes, smashed pumpkins and orange Jello shots...YUP, last night was Halloween! And of course, even though today is November 1st. it's Halloween WEEKEND and that means Thursday through Sunday, naturally. This means multiple costumes, and if you're smart, you're price savvy about it and use a little bit more imagination instead of dough.

I was very proud of my costume last night, all purchased under $20: Peter Pan. Green cotton tights, an over-sized men's T-shirt (that I cut for a better fit and to make it look Never Never Land rugged) and white and gold rope meant for Christmas tree decoration were all purchased at Wal-Mart yesterday before the big night, topped off by a green hat with a red feather, $5, at McLanahan's on College Ave. My goal was to be warm and not too revealing, and even though Peter Pan doesn't wear pants, I think I nailed it. Tonight, I'm going to be a flapper, feather hat, fishnets and all.

We spent the night at various house parties and eventually landed at Lulu's instead of our usual spot, Indigo...the line at there was, as predicted, exorbitantly long and we didn't feel like waiting. While there, I couldn't help noticing how many guys were dressed as women. It didn't bother or offend me, but I'm wondering if guys enjoy it? Before Lulu's while at a pre-game party, one boy who already had a costume on, decided last minute to throw on a sundress.

"Who wants to do my makeup?!" he asked excitedly.
Is it liberating to dress as a woman? Are guys just curious? Anyway, just some food for thought.

Happy extended Halloween!

- Nikki

So, I feel like a hypocrite. This will be my second weekend away from Penn State. I don't have football tickets (yes, something I don't want to talk about). The homecoming football game was watched from TV in an apartment in Brooklyn. (Fear not, I still cheered, cursed, and drank beer like a true fan.)

But this weekend, I'm venturing to Philadelphia. No, hailing from upstate New York, this is still a Penn State-related trip for me. The thing is, I'm going to go shopping. Please don't judge me, every single pair of shoes I have but one have holes in them. And, I swear that is not a lie. But, the Ohio State game is number two on my list of things to do after purchasing some new footwear. Will we win? I don't know. Will I watch? Most definitely.

And you know, outside of that particular spectrum, there's actually a ton going on in town this weekend.

I don't know about you, but The Soup makes me laugh more than a good 96 percent of what's on TV right now. And KP Anderson is doing stand up at The State Theatre tonight at 8 p.m.

And if that's not enough for you, No Refund Theatre will be putting on a show both Friday and Saturday in the forum for free! And, it's a musical, which is neat because NRT doesn't usually put on musicals!

Also, if you don't want to hear people sing, how about you check out Olympians bend and twist at the 2008 Tour of Gymnastics Superstars. Friday at 7:30.

Or, you can always be entertained by Comedy Central's Lewis Black. Because, hey, he's making a stop to do a little comedy routine at the BJC on Sunday too.

I don't know about you all, but we as State College folk should feel super special this weekend.

So, watch the game, don't ditch town to go to Philadelphia to shop like some of us (geez... I suck.), and take the opportunity to check out some fun things that may diversify your weekend.

This is it, senior year, when everything stops becoming what it is and becomes something more: a countdown. My last time going to the first day of fall semester classes, my last midterm exam, my last homecoming. For the latter, I couldn't have asked for more. It seems like the Class of '09 came in with a bang, and is going out with one too.

This weekend's Homecoming 2008 was a success by all standards. The parade was amazing (as always, I loved the floats, and hope everyone checked Alexa Santoro's review today,) and we dominated Michigan...looks like we have a number three spot right now. As a senior, it's beginning to look a lot like freshman year with a winning season and high spirits.

As someone who went through high school without a Varsity football team, Penn State homecoming weekends each year have made up for that and more and its obvious why alumni are so eager to return. Graduates ranging anywhere from Class of '08 to '49 either cheered on the sidelines of the parade or took part in it, helping to remind me that even though this is my last homecoming as a PSU student, I'm looking forward to many more after graduation. At the same time, however, I know it will be an entirely different experience and that change is just another sign of growing up and moving on.

--Nikki

Andrew Estes and Elizabeth Kernion were crowned the 2008 Homecoming king and queen, respectively, Friday night at the pep rally following the parade.

Estes and Kernion said they were both "shocked" by the win.

"It's all been a lot of fun," said Kernion, as she and Estes allowed themselves to be embraced by enthusiastic family and friends. "Tonight's been a really good end to a fun week."

-- Alison Hoachlander, greeks reporter