“Getting to Know the Neighbors” is a series where awesome locals share their local favorites.
Fifteen years ago, Christian Baum made the move to State College after graduating in a market that was scarce on jobs.
Joining some friends who were already in town, he spent the first few years staying on sofas and in basements while he worked on getting his first startup off the ground, an experience which ultimately led him to discover his niche for using business as a force for good. (Like his company Giv Local, a payment platform that donates 20% of all processing revenue to the nonprofits of your choosing!)
We asked Christian to fill us in on his State College favorites and hope you’ll enjoy learning about his local experience.
Day to Day
On a typical weekday, you’ll find me… working from home, Innovation Park or a local caffeine joint like Irving’s, or in one of my many secret spots like the lounge of the Hyatt 🙂
And the weekends are for… time and fun adventures with family and friends, home projects and recentering.
If the town of State College had a yearbook, I’d be voted… Most likely to prank you.
Awesome Local Alert!
I’m probably most well-known around town for… helping get some community-focused startups off the ground (New Leaf, co.space, Giv Local) or for the various design work/brands for some local companies like the Nittany Lion Inn, 3 Dots, Pop Up Ave, etc., but I am also really involved in…Leadership Centre County, my kids’ activities, and doing random acts of kindness AND pranks.
Something I uniquely contribute to our community is… Being a friendly or trusted advisor/creative for how to pull something off.
Favorite Things
To me, a perfect day in State College looks like… Taking my family to the Arboretum or going on a long hike… then getting a fun snack at either the Creamery or a local market, and then wrapping up the day with friends at Boal City Brewing around a fire pit.
The season I love most in State College is… spring, because I love watching the days get longer and seeing just how active our community is in the outdoors.
I consider mentors State College royalty. My wife and I are blessed to have so many incredible friends/mentors that have walked with us over the past ~15 years. Their kindness and support knows no bounds.
One downtown restaurant that I just can’t get enough of is… Tadashi!
The best day trip destination within a 2 hour drive from State College is… Being from Lancaster, we love to head back to see family and hit up fun art shops downtown. Otherwise we hit up Black Moshannon or other parks for a fun camping experience.
Favorite local park? The Arboretum so we can see our kids run around confidently and explore all of the plants and activities. It’s also a short walk for ice cream at the Creamery.
Something I didn’t think I’d like about living here that has really grown on me is… the accessibility. At first it was quiet and not much was going on, but now I really appreciate it. There’s nothing better than the 15 minute drive home while watching the sun set over the farms. It’s therapeutic.
My go-to “Spend an Evening Downtown” itinerary looks like… It’s varied over the years, having kids really changes things up (for the better). But currently, we love to go to Boal City, or 814 Cidery so we can roam around outside and play. If it’s a date night, we love going to the Tavern, Plaza Mexican Bar and Grill, or Pine Grove Hall, etc. and capping the night off at The Lobby Bar at Allen Street Grill.
A local small business I tell everyone about is… Boal City, Cheese Shoppe, Irving’s, Growing Tree, so many!
The best, can’t-get-it-anywhere-else food item or meal is… Re-Farm Café is always a go-to!
Downtown’s State College’s cutest shop is… Growing Tree Toys
Our area’s best seasonal tradition is… First Night! Orrrr… the awesome fall activities at all of our local farms like Wasson or Way Fruit Farm.
Photo: Christian and his wife, Jessica
The Local Experience
The thing out of town visitors don’t really get to see about the experience of being a State College local is… you can help shape the town and the experience if you lean into it. You can immediately jump in and participate and be heard.
One community I couldn’t live without here is… The entrepreneurship community. I understand that’s not for everyone, but they’ve been like family for nearly 15 years now. The best place to jump in is likely Happy Valley Launchbox!
I live… in the PA Furnace, just 10 minutes outside of town so I could immerse myself in nature. But I lived in downtown State College for over 10 years in various living situations, and I loved them all because of the people I lived with, and the accessibility to the endless entertainment like the BJC, food/bars and being just a short drive to Boalsburg or Bellefonte. The ever-changing energy and flow of student life in the area is just magical. It’s as if State College takes a deep breath in and out each year.
One of the kindest things a neighbor has ever done for me is… Let me live in their basement for over 2 years while I started my first company, because they believed in the mission of what our team was looking to accomplish. Massive thanks to Cindy and Andy Way. 🙂 I’m forever grateful!
One townie secret I wish I would have known earlier is… Just ask. The town is small enough that it’s easy to make an impact, try out an idea, or connect to whomever you want to meet!
On game days, you’ll find me… at home with my wife and kids, making crafts and being imaginative while the game plays in the background. Once in a while, if we’re really lucky, we’ll be invited to the president’s box or hit up a tailgate!
A neighboring town that I love to explore is… Dead Canary in Philipsburg. I’d love to see that area begin to develop and transform the way other towns have, and feel more connected.
The 3 things I’d miss most about State College if I had to move are… (1) Accessibility (2) Regular, spontaneous interactions with friends (3) Opportunity to shape the region.
The coolest, under-the-radar thing in State College is… One of the neatest things I saw a long time ago was a hidden 18-hole disc golf course through Penn State Campus that people would play late at night!
My personal list of State College hidden gems includes… The people are the hidden gems, everyone here deeply wants to be like family if you let them. From there the locations reveal themselves.
Something that has pleasantly surprised me about living in State College is… Accountability, believe it or not. There’s certainly pros and cons to a small town. And over time you get to know more and more people, so the area inevitably holds you accountable, knows your story, and you want to continue to do the right thing because you’ll see everyone here again. And most importantly, they want to see you succeed and lend a helping hand.
If I had to sum up life in State College in 3 words? Family. Accessibility. Opportunity.
Looking to the Future
A business I’d be thrilled to see open in State College is… Some kind of playground, bar, restaurant destination. We need some/more spaces “downtown or nearby” that allow you and your family to breathe. Places you can meander about to hit up several food trucks, bars, playgrounds without relocating. My wife, Jessica, and I loved this about Berlin! Plus it wasn’t uncommon to see someone sipping on a Pilsner at 10am!
My hope for the State College of the future is… For it to find its unique brand in conjunction with the neighboring towns. The whole region is a hidden gem, just hasn’t committed to its vision yet. And honestly, there’s still a sense of labeling different towns (e.g., State College, Bellefonte, Boalsburg, Phillipsburg, etc.) Sure, they’re geographically separated, but by a matter of minutes. Weaving these unique places together more holistically will be magical!
If I could wave a magic wand and ensure that one local business/amenity/resource would be around forever, it would be… Safety. Not the sexiest word, but we live in a place that’s safe, with clean air, clean water, highly educated, international, high concentration of PhDs, massive influx of alumni, and the list goes on. But when we feel safe… safe to try, safe to fail, safe to explore – we’re safe to remove our fears and push for what we want, whatever it is.
Photo: Recognize any of these local logos that Christian’s brought to life?!
