I thought it might be helpful to add a list of things to do and enjoy while you’re making the rounds tonight. I was going to call this a bucket list but then I got worried that someone might try to do them all. Think of if more like a Chinese menu where you get to pick and choose what you might enjoy.
Pulling these off the top of my head in no particular order.
- Be in the official photo at the Basement Nightspot
- Have a free hoagie slice courtesy of the Tavern
- Try a Christmas Cookie shot at the Brewery
- Drink an Evil Genius “Santa! I Know Him” at the Taphouse
- Listen to Live Wire at the Cafe during the Pre-Crawl
- Dance to DJ Alex Nepa at the Basement Nightspot
- Take pics then share them on social media
- Enjoy a Ho-Ho-Jito or a Yule Mule at Chrome
- Experience a Mad Dream at Doggie’s
- Watch PSU Volleyball in one of the downtown sports bars
- Satisfy your munchies with a plate of fries.
- Pick up your free A’s Card at McLanahan’s Market
- Party with the Nightcrawlers at Doggie’s.
- Do a Cinnamon Toast Crunch shot at Jax
- Down a Great Lakes Christmas Ale at Champs Downtown
- Top off the night with a Famous Ernie’s Steak at Local Whiskey
- Have a Southern Tier 2XMAS at A’s Pub.
- Check out band #2 Nothing Much at the Cafe
- Gobble down a burger at BRGR
- Revisit the scene of your 21st Birthday with a brew at the first..
- Spectate at the crowds on Allen from a window seat at A’s.
- Santa Sit at the fireplace at the Tavern
Here details on the above:
Official Photo
The picture is taken at 10 pm sharp. You should be at the Nightspot no later than 9:50 to be sure you are in it.
Tavern Hoagies
Once again, Pat Daugherty of the Tavern will be providing free hoagie slices to the first 50+ wristband wearing Crawlers. This is a great way to satisfy you late night craving for free.
Christmas Cookie Shot
Ray Rockey of the Brewery is an expert at designing custom shots. Once again, for the Santa Crawl Rockey will be serving shots that taste just like Christmas Cookies – and they will once again be served up in the Brewery’s unique ashtrays.
Santa! I Know Him
The Federal Taphouse has a wide range of holiday brews on tap. I’m particularly interested in the movie Elf inspired “Santa! I Know Him” brew from Evil Genius. You may want to try something else from their selection:
- Bells Christmas
- Old Man Winter Ale
- Flannel Mouth
- Sly Fox Christmas
- Brooklyn Winter Lager
- Santa!! I Know Him! from Evil Genius
- Sweet Water Festive Ale
- 21st Amendment Fireside Chat
- Hop Farm Cranberry Sauce
- McKenzie’s Winter Crisp Apple
- Eggnog Martini
- Maybe Whiskey Wonderland
Live Wire
Cafe 210 has booked Live Wire to go on at 7:30 pm for their Pre-Crawl party.
DJ Alex Nepa
The DJ’s at the Nightspot are incomparably the best at working up a crowd and DJ Alex Nepa is their lead DJ. He’ll have you on your feet warming you up for the 10 pm official photo shoot.
https://www.facebook.com/cshulman/videos/10101089140441020/
Share Pictures
I’ve borrowed the idea from Pat Chambers and the Penn State basketball program and want to encourage people to tag their photos with the hashtags #CrawlWithUs #crawlin and #SantaCrawl.
Ho-Ho-Jitos and Yule Mules
Chrome traditionally serves up Santa Crawl Specials drinks, the Ho-Ho-Jitos (a cranberry based mojito) and Yule Mule (a holiday variation of a Moscow Mule). Stop down and try one like these 2018 Crawlers did.
Doggie’s Mad Dream
Doggies will be serving Mad Dream specials, a unique combination of Troeg’s Mad Elf Ale and Dreamweaver Wheat. Grab a glass then carry it outside to checkout their beer garden and just imagine what it would be like if the weather was just a bit more cooperative.
Penn State Volleyball
The 11th seed PSU women’s volleyball team will be facing the #3 seeded Stanford Cardinal on Stanford’s home court at 10 pm Saturday night. The game is televised by ESPNU and you can be assured that it will be on most of the downtown bars. Champs would probably be the spot of choice but the crowds there can be overbearing at time. Consider an alternate choice such as Doggie’s, the Federal Taphouse, Pickles, Jax, or Local Whiskey where you should be able to catch the match without be crowded out.
Tray of Fries
Both Local Whiskey and the Phyrst share a kitchen with Famous Ernies Steaks. If your group has the late night munchies and are looking for something quick to satisfy that craving, just order a tray of fries from either.
A’s Card
A’s Pub in McLanahan’s will be giving away free A’s Cards, a $2.50 value, to all Santa Crawl wristband wearers. An A’s Card is required to self-serve any of the 20 beers that A’s has on tap.
The Nightcrawlers
Local favs the Nightcrawlers take the stage at Doggies at 10 pm Saturday night.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1378440985658867/
Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Remind yourself of your favorite Christmas morning cereal with a Cinnamon Toast Crunch shot at Jax.
Great Lakes Christmas Ale
Much like the Taphouse, Champs has a wide selection of Christmas specials. I have my eye on the Christmas Ale. Again you might prefer something else
Famous Ernie’s Steaks
As a former Philadelphia native, I’m almost religious in my refusal to eat a cheesesteak anywhere outside of Philadelphia. I do make an exception for Ernie’s though. It as close to a Philly steak as you can find outside of Philadelphia. The good news is that Local Whiskey shares a kitchen with Ernie’s so you can plop yourself down at the bar in the middle of the Crawl and satisfy your munchies with one of those Famous Ernie’s Steaks.
Southern Tier 2XMAS
In addition to being able to buy beer by the ounce with your free A’s card, A’s Pub also offers single bottle sales. Nestled among many beers in the singles cooler I spotted this 2XMAS. So grab a bottle and plant yourself on a window seat and gape at the Santas as the “Crawl” up and down Allen Street.
Nothing Much
If you miss Live Wire’s show at the Cafe, you can always come by for band #2 Saturday night. The second band booked by the Cafe staff is Nothing Much.
https://www.facebook.com/events/591822241584327
BRGR
Check out State College’s latest burger joint located in the old Citizen’s bank building. Their burgers are perfect for prepping the stomach for an evening of ale – and they’ve got a wide selection of brews on tap. I want to see Santa, his eight reindeer and Rudolph occupying these 10 seats tonight.
Relive your 21st birthday
Maybe you didn’t actually spend your 21st birthday at the Phyrst but if you are there at midnight you can watch the latest 21 year olds stagger down the steps to don the famed green plastic 21st birthday derby.
Spectate from A’s
This window view from A’s Pub at McLanahan’s is just asking to be filled with Santas. Can’t think of a better spot to sit and watch them stroll up and down Allen Street.
Santa Sit
Find a comfortable spot and watch what rolls through. Rumor has it that Rob Schmidt will be hosting a Santa Sit in the fireplace room at the Adam’s Apple. So join him, act like Mohammed and let the mountain of Santa’s come to you.
More TBD . . .
I’m sure that there are many more that I haven’t even begun to think of. As others pop into mind (leave you suggestions in the comments). I’ll expand the list.