“Getting to Know the Neighbors” is a series where awesome locals share their local favorites.
After growing up in small PA towns Emporium and Dubois and then graduating from Penn State with a degree in advertising, Maria Barton worked for agencies in Chicago and Manhattan. When the long hours and commute started to take a toll after a few years, she and her husband, Zach, (and puppy Sammi!) decided to move closer to home.
After both finding jobs in State College and buying a house in Bellefonte in 2014, Maria and Zach are now enjoying Happy Valley (with a few other fur kids in the mix!).
We asked Maria to fill us in on her local favorites and hope you’ll enjoy hearing about her State College experience!
Day to Day
On a typical weekday, you’ll find me… working, sometimes from the office at Discovery Space of Central Pennsylvania, or at a random worktable in The Rivet, sometimes from home or a coffee shop or LaunchBox. In my role as Director of Strategic Initiatives, I might be working on marketing and messaging, supporting development efforts, working with the team on an upcoming event, taking photos of summer camps, or meeting with a family or maker member to learn more about their experiences.
And the weekends are for… RE-CHARGING & CREATING! During weekends you’ll probably find me in the pottery studio, cooking or baking something tasty, working on a house project with Zach, or working outside in my garden!
If the town of State College had a yearbook, I’d be voted… Most Likely to Bring Their Own Craft Supplies to a Social Gathering or Most Likely to Bring A Homemade Treat
Awesome Local Alert!
I’m probably most well-known around town as… that tall blonde lady with pink-ish hair from The Rivet. A few years ago, Bill Horlacher interviewed me as a Rivet Member, about what I was doing in the pottery studio.
Some people might also have worked with me on Brand[Aid], a creative nonprofit initiative from Central Pennsylvania Creative Professionals. I volunteered there for about four years, helping local nonprofits with brand strategy and building toolkits alongside a super talented team of volunteer designers, writers, and strategists. It was a super energizing way to join forces with people who want to use creativity for good (you know some of them from the Rediscover State College team!). I love to see glimpses of Brand[Aid] around town, like the Interfaith Human Services box truck, Mid-State Literacy Council’s newsletter, and Taproot Kitchen at the farmers market.
And in a previous life… I had a recipe blog!
In 2018, Holly Riddle interviewed me for the Centre Daily Times (this is when I was trying to turn food photography and blogging into something a little more “jobby than hobby.” I’m not blogging anymore, but I still love to cook; I just do less content creation around my time tinkering in the kitchen, garden, and pottery studio.
Favorite Things
To me, a perfect day in State College (and Bellefonte) looks like… A Bellefonte bike ride with my friend Katie, picking up an iced coffee from one of our many favorite local spots. Going for a hike with Zach or checking out some thrift shops with friends. Making pottery at The Rivet or working on some other creative project at home!
Favorite local park? In State College: Tudek Park in State College. I love to walk around the community gardens and visit the horses over there! Also, fun fact, I got engaged at Tudek Park on a snowy walk in December, a super long time ago (in December 2010)!
In Surrounding Area: Talleyrand Park in Bellefonte. It’s perfect for walking, relaxing, and also working! I love the close proximity to multiple amazing coffee shops like Shaky Hands, Bonfatto’s, and My Cafe Buzz! I have a favorite spot with two perfectly spaced trees where I hang my hammock sometimes, and the outdoor coworking area with orange tables at the train station is a great place to post up for the morning or afternoon. The vibe is giant willow trees, the creek, ducklings, and swings.
The season I love most in State College is Fall, because… the weather is beautiful. Hiking trails are loaded with colorful, crunchy leaves. Fall air is the BEST for bike rides, in my opinion!
The best, can’t-get-it-anywhere-else food item or meal is… In State College: Hi-Way Pizza Vodka Flaky Crust. So good.
In Surrounding Area: Hublersburg Inn Sweet & Spicy Cauliflower, “On The Side” menu
Downtown State College’s cutest shop is… the new Makery Market downtown! So many unique finds in one super cute shop. As a former volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters, I love the Makery Market’s mission to support Youth Service Bureau kids while providing opportunities for local makers and artists to sell. It’s exciting to see some of my artist friends and maker pals selling there too!
The Local Experience
One community I couldn’t live without here is… The Rivet, a makerspace and community workshop that’s part of Discovery Space of Central PA on North Atherton.
Disclaimer: I already mentioned that I now work at Discovery Space / The Rivet, but that’s only been for about a year and a half! The community at The Rivet is a big part of why I wanted to work there!
When we first moved back here in 2014, I didn’t have a place to make pottery, so I was thrilled to learn about The Rivet’s pottery studio in 2019-2020! My first class was a pottery crash course, a gift from Zach. Over the past few years, it’s become my favorite place to unwind, recharge, and learn new creative skills.
Now, in addition to pottery, I have clearances for the wood shop, 3D printer, laser cutter and rotary tool, vinyl cutter, embroidery machine, and most recently, the lathe. I’m constantly amazed by the generosity and talent of other makers. It’s a wholesome, up-spiral of creativity × inspiration × technology × shared hacks × learning as you go.
If you need a creative outlet or have a project in mind, but you’re not sure where to start:
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Try a specific class: sewing (make your own tote bag) or woodworking (make your own plant propagation station)
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Get tool clearances so you can use the space independently (like having a gym membership to use all of the different equipment we have)
On game days, you’ll find me… in the garden, in the kitchen, or in the pottery studio. My tailgating days, though plentiful, are long behind me.
One of the kindest things a neighbor has ever done for me is… We’re lucky to have a neighborhood full of dog-sitting “aunts” and “cousins” for Sam and Zig, toddler waves from bay windows, shared half-cups of brown sugar, and bundles of rhubarb wrapped in twine. A former neighbor once dropped off a bowl of groundhog stew. Another invited us down for Sundaes on Sundays. My next-door bestie gave us a box of supplies to keep our found kitten alive while we were still pretending we were “trying to find him a home.”
The 3 things I’d miss most about State College if I had to move are… the people, quick drives/lack of traffic, rolling hills and farmland
The coolest, under-the-radar thing in State College is… I don’t think it’s under the radar anymore, but local community art hangs like Crafts & Brews at Boal City Brewing, Art Haus in Bellefonte, and Fiber Friends at The Rivet are great ways to connect with other creative and crafty folks.
Something that has pleasantly surprised me about living in State College is… When I was a college student here, it felt like campus — and the area directly around it — was the whole town. When we were ready to leave NYC and Zach suggested moving back, I wondered, “Is there even anything for young adults to do there?” Now, nearly 11 years into living in Happy Valley, I realize that was such a limited mindset. There are so many things that make me love our life here!
Want to learn more and connect with Maria?
Find her on Instagram @mariamakesstuff where she posts a mish-mash of food, local stuff, gardening, hobby hopping, ceramics, photos of her fur-children, and latest obsessions.
Or email maria@discoveryspace.org if you are interested in learning more about Discovery Space & The Rivet.
