Swing into the Toasted parking lot on the third Sunday morning of each month and you’ll find a whole bunch of cars… and Matt Gorzsas!
A Penn State grad and official State College resident since 2021, Matt is helping to establish the Cars & Coffee meetups that bring together car collectors and appreciators of all kinds. He and his family made their way back to the area after several years in South Carolina and are loving State College’s small town feel and winding country roads.
We asked Matt to fill us in on some of his favorite things about living in State College and hope you’ll discover something new!
Day to Day
On a typical weekday, you’ll find me… visiting various job sites in the area, and stopping for lunch downtown.
And the weekends are for… cruising back roads or hitting a community event with the family.
If State College had its own TV show, my character would be the one who is always… showing off a new project. I always have multiple projects going, around the house and on the cars at home.
Awesome Local Alert!
I’m probably most well-known around town as… the Project Manager for Bosak Construction, but I am also deeply involved in growing the State College Cars & Coffee meetups.
The thing I’m most proud to be contributing to our community is… professionally, my work with the Builder’s Association of Central PA, encouraging the next generation of skilled tradesmen—especially women—to join the industry. There is a major opportunity in our area for skilled trades.
Recreationally, I’m most proud of helping to establish the ongoing Cars & Coffee events. We meet on the third Sunday of each month in the parking lot of Toasted Bagel Café 9-11 a.m., and everyone is welcome. We’ve had everything show up — from bicycles to classic cars, minivans to Lamborghinis. It’s a great place to connect.
Favorite Things
The season I love most in State College is… Fall, because it’s a perfect time for cruises with the top down on the convertible. Football games, fairs, and festivals are in full swing, and the changing leaves make every drive a scenic one.
One downtown restaurant that I just can’t get enough of is… Local Whiskey – especially their lunchtime burger deal.
The best day trip destination within a 2-hour drive from State College is… a drive out to the Twin Run Farm Bakery in Beech Creek. It’s an easy, scenic half-hour drive to get there. Their pastries are incredible, the dining area is a charming converted farmhouse, and they have Scottish Highland cows on site, which are always a hit with the family.
Favorite local park? The Millbrook Marsh Nature Center (https://www.crpr.org/millbrook-marsh-nature-center) . It’s a great place to walk around and breathe some fresh air, with or without the kids. It’s also near Spring Creek Rd., which is always a fun drive.
Something I didn’t think I’d like about living here that has really grown on me is… the winter season. I’m not a cold weather guy, but there are plenty of ways to keep busy and stay warm. State College does a great job with community events and festivals in all seasons.
My go-to “Spend an Evening Downtown” itinerary looks like… Drinks and dinner at Local Whiskey, a walk downtown and around Old Main, and a stop at Momotaro for their brown sugar ice cream.
The Local Experience
The thing out-of-town visitors don’t really get to see about the experience of being a State College local is… just how much there is to do beyond sporting events and big-name shows. There are so many exhibits, expos, and opportunities to explore nature. We’re hoping to hit more bike paths this summer as a family.
On game days, you’ll find me… cheering for Blue & White — at the stadium if I can get there, or from behind the grill at home.
A neighboring town that I love to explore is… Bellefonte. I always try to take visiting family to Talleyrand Park and hit a few of the businesses around it. My Café Buzz and Big Spring Spirits are some of our family’s favorites.
The three things I’d miss most about State College if I had to move are… the winding creek roads, the stadium games and events, and the neighbors who have been so welcoming.
The coolest, under-the-radar thing in State College is… all the scenic back roads. There are so many opportunities to take a cruise. I’ll take the whole family for a drive and pull over for local honey, plants and flowers, or ice cream along the route.
Something in the area you’re looking forward to trying? There are so many restaurants I want to get to. For a small town, we have a great variety of restaurants available.
My personal list of State College hidden gems includes… the Christian Rox breakfast bagel sandwich at Toasted and gyros from the cart on Pugh St. (Can’t wait for their brick & mortar location to open on Allen St.)
Something that has pleasantly surprised me about living in State College is… how much there is to do for adults and families. We might be a college town, but the university really is just part of what State College offers.
If I had to sum up life in State College in 3 words? Welcoming. Active. Safe.
