I normally dread New Year’s Eve in Manhattan. Tourists EVERYWHERE. Midtown gets clogged at tourists are packed In like human cattle. Transit back to Brooklyn is a roll of the dice and ride share prices get so high I have to consider using Afterpay.
Midtown may have Margaritaville, but I found my oasis on Fulton Street at Blue Haven South. At PSUNYC’s only partner bar south of Houston Street, we weren’t counting down until midnight. Nope! We were on a totally different timeline (and not the time on Fiesta Bowl Guest of Honor Flava Flav’s signature clock, either). I’m talking about SIXTY MINUTES OF FOOTBALL at one of our best (and rowdiest) partner bars - where bubbles, megaphones, and WE ARE! chants are the status-quo.
Blue (and White) Haven
Blue Haven South (BHS) is notoriously packed for Penn State games ever since they opened their doors in August 2023. This meant arriving extra early with Chapter President William Sullivan. Will is the perfect guy you want putting on a watch party event. His demeanor reminds me of the Penn State football teams from my childhood – measured, organized, and capable keeping a level head during the big games. In contrast, there’s me, who starts composing celebratory posts in the middle of the first quarter and functions almost solely on irrational confidence.
By kickoff, the place was at capacity, with the dozens of screens featuring both the
Fiesta Bowl and “New Years Rockin’ Eve” at about a 5:1 ratio, respectively. Penn State came out strong, and I couldn’t help but confidently declare victory with nine minutes left in the first quarter. This bold proclamation, much to Will’s amusement (or perhaps frustration), set the tone for my night. While he maintained more cautious optimism, I dove into editing the aforementioned victory posts for our social media accounts. “You’re going to jinx them,” he quipped. I was too caught up in the team’s dominance to worry. By halftime, I was riffing bad open-mic material, with remarks like, “I’m not sure who is more one-dimensional: Boise State’s offense or Ryan Seacrest!”
If the above was any indication, we toasted throughout the game with Shock Tops garnished with orange slices. The citrusy addition wasn’t just a playful touch—it was a nod to what was at stake. A Penn State victory in the Fiesta Bowl meant a ticket to the Orange Bowl in Miami on January 9, 2025. Every sip felt symbolic, and the good vibes were contagious.
Abby Dowd, who runs the show at Blue Haven Show, whipped up an expertly curated playlist that set the perfect tone for the evening. Tracks like Tiësto’s The Business felt almost prophetic as Penn State’s defense took care of business on the field. Ashton Jeanty, who came into the game as one of the most electrifying players in college football, was rendered a non-factor. The Nittany Lions’ smothering defense held him in check all night, drawing cheers and high-fives from fans with every stopped run and batted pass. Seacrest was off the hook.
Adding to the excitement, Abby and her staff brought the energy to a whole new level with air horns that blared like an 18-wheeler with each Penn State touchdown. The celebratory sounds reverberated through the room, electrifying the crowd. To top it off, a bubble bazooka filled the bar with a whimsical cascade of bubbles after every big play, creating a surreal mix of joy and spectacle. The room was alive with Penn State pride in just about every sense.
The Beanie Heard ‘Round the World
As the Nittany Lions pulled away in the second half, alums were spirited. We joined in debating which players were having the biggest impact and declaring which moments would make the highlight reel. One particularly memorable alum sported a glittery 2025 headband atop her Penn State hat and danced to “Zombie Nation” each time it played.
I joked about being brash enough to begin scheduling a victory post on social media during the first quarter. In reality, you have to be prepared for anything and everything on social media. Unlike being the first to show up to the NYE Party, being first on the feed is rewarded. Even with a rudimentary understanding of the dreaded social media algorithms, I knew the goal for the evening was to take advantage of the moment and include our NEW Penn State NYC Beanie in as many ways as possible.
It’s often a zero-sum game trying to predict whether certain content will perform well. I can confidently say, as someone who began volunteering on the chapter’s social media accounts with zero prior experience, I have absolutely WHIFFED on a lot of things. In this instance, however, I felt like I found the perfect fusion of Penn State fanaticism and New York culture.
Right before the final kneel-downs, I published the final product, checking all the boxes:
The subject white beanie, complete with our Chapter’s logo (a blend of the Penn State logo and the “I <3 NY” slogan)
The winter hat edited onto the head of Tony Soprano, television’s favorite mafia don.
The source image – an infamous scene in which the Newark mob boss is especially irked – shows Tony mid-rant, complaining to his wife, Carmela, because she bought orange juice “With Pulp” rather than with “Some Pulp.”
The Orange Bowl logo edited onto the carton of O.J.
The post instantly resonated with our followers, as the NYC Chapter includes plenty of alums who grew up surrounded by the cultural impact of the award-winning HBO series. If New Jersey had a Mount Rushmore, Gandolfini would be there next to Springsteen, Bon Jovi, and the guy who invented Taylor Ham.
The blend of humor, pop culture, and college football fandom helped accomplish our goal. The new product had reached thousands within a few short minutes, with a handful of alums inquiring about purchasing by game’s end. I leaned over to Will and, through laughter, said, “Orange you glad I worked on this during the game?” Sometimes I wonder why he still talks to me.
Locking In a CFP Semi-Final Berth
When our countdown hit zero, the ball dropped on Boise State’s championship dreams. Penn State throttled the Broncos by a score of 31-14, punching their ticket to the College Football Playoff Semi-Finals for the first time in school history.
Amid the celebrations, fans embraced the Nittany Lions’ new rally cry, “LTFI”, short for “Lock the F*** In” (and best kept abbreviated). The chant echoed through the bar, perfectly encapsulating the focus and intensity that both the players and fans brought to this game. It was a mantra that fueled the energy in the room and symbolized the unwavering determination of the Nittany Lions.
It’s moments like these that remind me the true purpose of our alumni events. Like the orange slices on our Shock Tops, the game itself is a garnish to the unmatched sense of community you get when you attend a PSUNYC event.
Here’s to a fantastic start to 2025 filled with many more memories. Oh, and another Penn State victory in Miami, of course.
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