Meet our new neighbor, Nicolette Bardele! Originally from Milwaukee and residing in Boston for the past several years, Nicolette moved to State College sight unseen in 2024 to work at Penn State

With a fresh perspective on her new town, we asked her to fill us in on her first impressions and first favorites.

P.S. Don’t miss the “Community Crowd Source” section below! We asked Nicolette to let us know who she’d like to connect with and how we as a community can help her find her place here in town more easily. Send us your most helpful tips and we’ll pass them along!

Making the Move

What was your impression of State College before you moved here? What did you think it would be like to live here? I knew very little about State College before I moved here, but I thought it might have a small-town feel (it’s the smallest place I’ve ever lived). I had also heard from a few people that the surrounding nature was beautiful, which is definitely accurate.

What was the biggest challenge you faced during the moving process? What would have made it easier along the way? I didn’t have a chance to visit State College prior to actually moving in, so looking for housing was a bit tricky. I relied mostly on Reddit threads and generic Google searches, but advice more directly from locals could have made things a bit smoother!

What excited you the most about the idea of becoming a State College local? When I was deciding to move, I started reading about local businesses and events to try to get a feel for the town from afar, and I saw that there was so much going on! Anyone who knows me well knows that I’m always going to farmers markets, art festivals, or pretty much any street fair, so I could tell pretty quickly that State College would be a great fit.

Getting Settled

Are there any people or resources that have been especially helpful as you’ve been getting settled? Rediscover State College has been a fantastic resource! A local told me about it a few months after I moved here, and I’ve learned about lots of interesting community developments, resources, and people in town through both the blog and podcast. I met a few new people at the recent Summer is for the Locals event, too, so that was very fun.

What was your first “I think I’m gonna like it here!” moment? I began volunteering at the Makery Market when it opened this past fall, and that has been a wonderful, very meaningful source of community for me. The Makery Market is a joyful little boutique downtown that sells items made by local artists and employs young women transitioning out of foster care. Every month the young women and volunteers gather to celebrate life’s milestones and just spend some quality time together—I have always felt so welcomed there. I knew from the start that it was going to be a very special place!

Nicolette with the Makery’s Amy Frank

Any funny stories about getting newly acquainted with the State College way of life? I made the rookie mistake of going to Target on move-in weekend. I saw the empty shelves and long lines, and, after about five seconds, I promptly turned around and walked out. That rhythm of the town throughout the year has been an adjustment for me for sure.

What nearby towns have you enjoyed exploring? I’ve been enjoying getting to know Bellefonte, Boalsburg, Millheim, and, although it’s a bit further away, Lewisburg. All of the surrounding towns have their own character and charm, which have made for some fun weekend day trips.

Plugging In

What kinds of people would you like to connect with around town? I’d like to connect with people at local nonprofits and social service or community development organizations around State College. I’m very interested in the often unseen work that these groups do locally and would love to learn more.

What are your superpowers? What are you most excited to share with the community? Although I’m new, I’m very enthusiastic about learning about the many things State College has to offer and hopefully contributing to community building, whatever that may look like here.

What questions do you have for the community? I’m always on the lookout for hidden gems and local recommendations of any kind. What’s the best lunch special around? What unique, quirky events are coming up? Anything like that, I want to know about it!

What amenity/resource would you like to see pop up in town that would make the experience of living here even better? A fun local ice cream shop right downtown! I of course love the Creamery, too, but one can never have too much ice cream.

In Ireland exploring the Cliffs of Moher (and meeting some neighboring sheep.)

ACTION ITEM!
Community Crowd Sourc

Okay, State College! Let’s help Nicolette!

Ask #1: If you’re a community builder or involved in a non-profit, do you have some tips for how she can help out or get more involved? [Editor’s Note: We’d recommend checking out the Alternative Christmas Fair or Centre Gives Fest — two annual events where a lot of nonprofits come together in one place!]

Ask #2: What are the best lunch specials, not-to-be-missed events, and hidden gems around town? [Editor’s Note: The burger special at Local Whiskey and Mycofest at Rhoneymeade Aug. 1-3 come to mind!]

If you have a tip that would make Nicolette’s State College experience even better, reply to this email and we’ll pass it along!