Nestled in central Pennsylvania’s so-called Happy Valley, which got its name in the 1930s from its relative resistance to the otherwise pervasive Great Depression, lies another relic of that bygone era: Ye Olde College Diner, which has been around in one form or another since 1929. The Diner—in which I have had the pleasure to partake—is a staple of the college experience for students at Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania.
The Diner’s signature dish is the grilled sticky, which is a sticky bun (a denser, more delicious version of a cinnamon roll) that has been sliced and reheated on a greased grill. Grilled stickies are available at locations besides Ye Old College Diner, but they will always be tied to their original home.
The local minor league baseball team, the short-season Single-A State College Spikes, will pay homage to the gooey confection later this season by playing a game as the Happy Valley Grilled Stickies.
The team’s uniform will feature diner-ish type and one of the Spikes’ logos on the chest, with a GS meant to evoke the distinctive form of the grilled sticky topped with ice cream and a cherry on the sleeve.
The jerseys will be auctioned off after the August 9 game to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network.
