Exploring S. Fraser Street in State College

I had a mission today…get more comfortable using the Fraser Street parking garage AND shopping at The Nittany Quill. With only an hour or so this morning before freezing rain was supposed to start, I ventured out. Here’s a map of what I hoped to explore:

I have avoided exploring downtown State College for many years because of the parking choices. Don’t tell the Driver’s Ed. teacher from the 60’s that I still don’t enjoy parallel parking on the street. I have no experience with the routine of parking and paying in a parking garage. Usually Bert handles things like that but I’d like to be comfortable doing it myself.

I also rationalized that I didn’t need anything that I couldn’t get someplace else (Amazon is just too easy!). However, I really wanted to visit The Nittany Quill for a few things so it was time to explore and learn!

I did a trial run last week, which was my first exposure to the challenge of getting a ticket, parking my car, shopping, returning and paying at a machine, locating the car and exiting (without running over a curb). I felt a little more confident today. I also wanted to take some pictures of the surrounding stores on that block of Fraser Street.

First, I got to the parking garage and actually remembered how to get a ticket! Yea!

Once I left the garage (note to self…always remember where I exited the garage!) I headed down the street to the right to The Nittany Quill. They also have a nice website: https://www.thenittanyquill.com.

This is a very small, cute specialty store, focused on beautiful cards, framed illustrated sayings and supplies to do calligraphy. They also offer services such as creating custom wedding announcements and invitations. I was looking for some beautifully drawn cards with meaningful sayings and a new calligraphy fountain pen.

As I left the store I continued to the right up the block toward College Avenue. The Central Pennsylvania Dance Workshop is still there…signs pointing to the upstairs studio. The store on the corner seems to be an eye wear store called Spectacles. I think years ago that corner also used to have one of the few public pay telephone booths in town.

Across the street on the corner is a Dunkin Donuts. Continuing back down Fraser Street is a store awning that says Comic Swap. Sounds interesting.

Next down the hill is the alley (Calder Way). Then the rest of the block up to Beaver Avenue is one three-story structure with H&M on the ground floor and Target on the second and maybe the top floor. You can see behind that complex is a much taller high rise apartment building. This certainly changes the skyline of the downtown area.

After paying my parking fee at the machine on the ground floor of the parking garage and going in the correct entrance, taking the elevator to Level 2, I was able to exit the garage without hitting the curb on the tight turn out. I turned left out of the garage and stopped at the light on Beaver Avenue. (This felt strange because Fraser Street used to be only one-way), Straight ahead was the familiar State College Presbyterian Church! Yea! I recognized something!

I’m sure this adventure sounds rather silly, but I’m pleased I made the effort to do this. Maybe I can learn something new out of my comfort zone! Thanks for coming with me. Next time I’ll go up around the corner from the garage and explore that first block of Beaver Avenue. Stay tuned!

If you’d like to comment on this post, leave a comment on this page or email me at marykisner@comcast.net. Thanks!