Three Places to Try | The Guilford Green

October 25, 2018October 2, 2018 ~ alc52

In the nearly four centuries since the town was settled in 1639, life in Guilford has centered—both practically and atmospherically—around the 12-acre village green. From its colonial origins as a grazing pasture, military training ground, and cemetery site, the green has evolved into a hub of social, commercial, and spiritual activity. Flanked by three churches, the town’s bustling library, and a passel of shops and restaurants, the green itself is a favorite spot for leisurely walks, pick-up soccer games, and community events. Next time you’re passing through town, why not investigate a few of Guilford’s diverse, creative, and often quirky small businesses? Here, we offer three possibilities for your consideration.

Breakwater Books…First opened in 1972, Breakwater Books, 81 Whitfield Street, is a bibliophile’s dream, with a modest footprint that belies its floor-to-ceiling stock of wares. The store’s jewel box-like front window display alone is worth perusing, with regularly updated selections of reading materials organized by theme, color, or season. Inside, carefully curated tables beckon; notepads, stationery, and a small selection of writing implements are hard to resist; and a robust children’s section is tucked at the rear of the building. If the chance to restock your library isn’t reason alone to stop in (be sure to ask for a free Book Lovers Card to receive $10 off after 10 purchases of $15 or more), Breakwater holds periodic author signings and other special events.

Hen & Heifer…Just behind Breakwater, at 23 Water Street, Hen & Heifer patisserie is worth a trip to Guilford in its own right. The classically trained and Paris-inspired pastry chef behind Hen & Heifer’s fanciful—and decadently delicious—offerings co-founded the business in 2013; in the intervening five years, word of mouth and sweetness of tooth have made his creations a culinary mainstay of the region. Try a delicate, meringue-topped lemon tartlet on a butter-cookie crust; a glazed, spice-kissed, heart-shaped French “traveling cake”; or a savory, asparagus-strewn miniature quiche. The shop’s interior includes a handful of café tables, but in good weather, take your afternoon tea (or a truly transformative cup of hot chocolate) to the cheery neighboring terrace.

Page Hardware…Why, you might ask, among so many crave-worthy eateries and browsable boutiques, would a hardware and appliance store figure into this post? If this was your reaction, clearly you haven’t been to Page’s, 9 Boston Street. We advise you to correct this omission immediately. Beyond its location in an iconic building that anchors the south end of the green (the space, built in 1857, has variously served as the town’s post office, an ice cream parlor, and a meat market), Page’s is worth a visit for nearly anything on your weekend home shopping list. New mailbox? Check. Suet for the backyard birds? Check. Emile Henry pie plate? Check. Refrigerator, dishwasher, laundry dryer? Check, check, and check. Stop by regularly, and the friendly corps of longtime employees and cheerful high schoolers who work the afternoon shift will soon remember your name. It’s almost enough to imagine yourself in the Guilford of centuries past.

Coffee, Coffee, Coffee!

October 18, 2018October 2, 2018 ~ alc52

Now that you are riding—maybe even pedaling—around town, let’s get down to business. For more than a few of us, coffee is not just a staple but a necessity, a basic fuel that has become a daily ritual. We eat breakfast with coffee, take a break with coffee, write with coffee, conduct meetings over coffee….

New Haven has no dearth of options for slaking a caffeine craving, whether with a quick pick-me-up on the go or for a leisurely conversation with friends or colleagues. Here, to get you started, are a favorite spot at the heart of campus and two more off-the-beaten-path places to try.

Blue State Coffee…With locations at 84 Wall Street, 276 York Street, and 320 Congress Avenue (across from the medical campus), Blue State first opened in the city less than a decade ago, but quickly became a hub of coffee culture in New Haven. Avoid the between-classes rush unless you are in the mood to brave serious lines. When things quiet down, grab a cinnamon scone, egg sandwich, or seasonal green salad, find yourself a window table, and cap off your meal with a cortado while watching the world go by. Blue State is also a favorite spot for coffee meetings with students and colleagues.

Cafe Americano & Amelie Pastry at G Cafe

G Café…When G Café, an Italian/Venezuelan-owned and -run bakery that started in nearby Branford, opened its second outpost at 141 Orange Street, in the courtyard behind the 360 State Street building, coffee- and carb-craving New Havenites quickly took notice. Here is the ideal spot for an afternoon of writing or socializing, perhaps fortified by a coconut- and yogurt-filled “Amélie” or other pastry, definitely with a mug of coffee or a cup of herbal tea. European breads are the main attraction, so don’t forget to pick up a loaf of pain au levain or Vollkornbrot on your way out the door.

Montreal-Style Bagel & Colombian Pour-Over at Coffee Pedaler

The Coffee Pedaler…Tucked into the ground floor of a brick townhouse at the intersection of State and Mechanic Streets, the Coffee Pedaler, 605 East Street, nods to its home city’s cycling culture—and to the owner’s original plan to operate his business from a bike-powered cart. The light-filled space, spare blond-wood tabletops, and congregations of graduate students give the Coffee Pedaler a vaguely Scandinavian/bohemian vibe, but the small-batch coffee and short menu of snacks and pastries are the real reasons to visit. Don’t miss the diminutive Montréal-style bagels, studded with sea salt, rosemary, or cinnamon and raisins.

This is our first post about coffee but certainly will not be the last. Send us a message to let us know which shops we should spotlight next.

Getting Around: From Rails to (Bike) Trails, Plus a Yale Shuttle Tutorial

October 11, 2018October 2, 2018 ~ alc52

There is no doubt that Connecticut is a car-centric place to live. According the most recent figures from the state Department of Transportation, upwards of 150,000 vehicles cross the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge, on the east side of New Haven, every day. If you are in one of those cars, slogging through the daily commute, you might well find yourself wondering if there are better alternatives.

A Shoreline East Train Arrives in Guilford

By Train…For those of us living between Branford and New London, one answer is the Shoreline East rail line. For a monthly unlimited fare ranging from about $68 to about $215, riders get a traffic-free journey from home to New Haven. Better yet, the Shoreline East can feel like a microcosm of the Yale community, with colleagues from across the FAS and beyond chatting over morning coffee on station platforms and catching up around the tables at the center of each train car on the ride home. (Sometimes I marvel at how many familiar faces from my train commute turn up unexpectedly in meetings around campus.) Most Shoreline East stations offer free parking for commuters (in New London and at Union Station, paid parking is available), the trains make stops at both New Haven stations (State Street and Union), and Yale’s employee benefits allow you to sign up for an automatic, pre-tax monthly unlimited train pass subscription. (Visit the It’s Your Yale site for instructions.)

For those commuting from points west, Metro-North’s New Haven line includes stops at State Street, Union Station, and a recently added major station in West Haven. And thanks to the newly expanded service along the Hartford Line, Yalies living to the north now have similar options to ride the rails into town.

Yale Bikes Near Sterling Memorial Library

By Bike…If you live in New Haven proper—or if you’re a serious road warrior—biking to work may be your transportation mode of choice. Since 2012, Yale has been designated as a Bicycle Friendly University by the League of American Bicyclists; last year we received the organization’s gold-level status, one of just 20 campuses to achieve this. Yale’s Transportation Options website includes a wealth of information for cyclists—from bike rack locations to route maps to a bicycle share subscription program—on its Bike to Yale page. The Elm City Cycling group attests to the popularity of traveling on two wheels in New Haven. And if you’re fortunate to live along or near the Farmington Canal, the heart of campus is always a scenic (and car-free) ride away.

By Shuttle…No overview of local travel options would be complete without a nod to the ubiquitous, Handsome Dan-emblazoned Yale Shuttle. Free and open to the Yale community, the shuttle fleet travels day and night—and on weekends—around New Haven, to the West Campus, and on various special routes. Be sure to download the Transloc app for up-to-the minute tracking of individual buses on Yale’s shuttle routes. Nighttime safety rides, walking escorts, and special services van transportation are also available.

Last But Not Least…If you’ve elected to go car-free and occasionally need a set of (four) wheels, Zipcar has more than a dozen locations on and around campus, with discounted annual memberships for members of the Yale community.

If we haven’t covered your favorite mode of transport here, send us a message so we can feature it in a future post.

Welcome and Introductions

October 4, 2018October 2, 2018 ~ alc52

Welcome to @Home@Yale, a compendium of all things New Haven and Connecticut written for members of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, their partners, and families. If you’re new to Yale, this blog has you in mind in particular. We know how hard it can be to find your bearings in any new community—especially one as diverse, decentralized, and geographically scattered as the one you’ve just joined. But if you have been in the New Haven area for many years, our goal is to help you find new things to do and perhaps rediscover an old favorite or two.

Check back regularly for new reports on everything from how to skip the traffic on I-95 to where you can find your new favorite cheese; send us a message if you have topics to suggest or are interested in contributing your writing talents; and be sure to visit the FAS web portal on Living in the New Haven Area for a comprehensive guide to the resources, people, and places that underpin our university community. Enjoy!