The Yale Neighborhood
The "Yale neighborhood" in New Haven refers to the area surrounding Yale University, particularly the area east of the campus, known as Wooster Square, and the area to the southwest, sometimes referred to as "The Hill."These areas are known for their residential character, proximity to campus, and unique features like Wooster Square's "Little Italy" and "The Hill's" history. This is the ideal place to experience New England vibes and enjoy many free activities. At this Ivy League location, I only spent $35 for the whole day, mainly on coffee and croissants. This post was not intentionally planned, but we had such a great day I could not wait to share it with you!
Yale University Barns & Noble located in the Shops at Yale
Our first stop was at the Yale Peabody Museum because they had their own designated parking area and free admission. The Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University is one of the oldest, largest, and most prolific university natural history museums in the world. It was founded by the philanthropist George Peabody in 1866 at the behest of his nephew Othniel Charles Marsh, an early paleontologist. From animals and fossils to gems and minerals, there is something for everyone. Upon entering, we immediately hopped on the elevator and took it all the way to the top (fourth floor) and slowly worked our way down to go opposite the crowds—worked like a charm.
Our next stop was at The Yale Center for British Art houses the largest collection of British art outside the United Kingdom, encompassing works from the fifteenth century to the present in a range of media. The Center offers a vibrant, year-round program of events and exhibitions in person and online. Presented to the university by collector and philanthropist Paul Mellon (Yale College, Class of 1929), the museum opened to the public in 1977. It is free and open to all.
Our third (and very walkable) museum was the Yale University Art Museum. Whether you are a seasoned researcher or just starting to learn about art, the Gallery is a wonderful place to deepen your understanding and appreciation of the visual arts. Although they exhibit collections from all around the globe, I especially enjoyed the section of early American history. The Gallery is free and open to the public and is located just across the street from the British Museum.
Along the way, we hit G Café located in a semi-residential area on Orange Street. I can only imagine being able to wake up and walk to this bakery on the daily! They even roast their own coffee beans! G Cafe Bakery is a European-style café and bakery, offering a variety of German, Mediterranean, and soup dishes, as well as breakfast, lunch, and brunch. They are known for their fresh baked goods and focus on natural, healthy ingredients and convivial atmosphere. The bakery has multiple locations in New Haven, including the airport terminal, downtown, and East Rock.
Bakery owner, Andrea Corazzini is originally from Abruzzi Italy. Having traveled to Germany several times to learn from passionate master bakers who transmitted this passion to him; passion is what he now puts into their products everyday. Honoring what he most admired about the bread world, he called it Whole German Breads. One of Corazzini’s favorites for its taste and story is the “45” bread, which has a northern European- inspired taste and is made from 50 percent whole wheat. He made it while experimenting in the kitchen one day with whole wheat and coarsely milled flour. Once perfecting its size and rectangular shape, he went home to share to good news with his wife on her 45th birthday.
“I was talking about how great the bread was and she was talking about how great 45 was,” he said.
So he decided to name the bread “45.”
Waltzing around Yale University, as I have discovered, can technically be a very full day filled with lots of free activities. Regrettably, we did not make it to the Yale Library but now I have something to look forward to for the next visit! New Haven was never before on my radar—until now. It’s charming, sophisticated, yet down to earth at the same time, making it the perfect place to spend a day!
