What is New Haven like?
Updated: Apr 5, 2021
I moved here back in December 2020. At that time, I had never heard of the city and didnt spell Connecticut correctly. I asked two colleagues from New York about it, and both gave the same answer, “it's ghetto”.
So, five months later and I’m here to defend New haven by saying, it's so much more than that. Without being too transparent early in the post I will say I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here and I plan to fly back here from time to time after I leave.
Ok, let me attempt to concisely summarize this city in one sentence to answer my question back in December:
“New Haven Connecticut is an extremely old, incredibly diverse New England City on the water that lacks a major airport, is home to an extremely legit food and pizza scene, and is surrounded by three huge mounds of igneous rock.”
Allow me to expound
So, this town is old, old as hell. Officially founded in 1784 but was a colony from 1637-1664. So it comes as no surprise that this town encumbers or realistically is encumbered by the fourth oldest University in the country, YALE. Yale's campus is packed with breathtaking historic gothic architecture like the famous Harkness Tower that deserves to be viewed by anyone visiting New Haven.
Yale is an integral part of New Havens' economy. In my opinion, Yale seems to have been extremely vigilant in basically owning this entire city. I’ve been in two businesses located in buildings not owned by Yale and they boasted it proudly multiple times during my meal. I’m never a fan of monopolization like this, but I could see how this has happened as old as they are.
The crime:
According to online sources you have a 1/118 chance of being the victim of a violent crime in New Haven. Now guys, from personal experiences I’m going to reject the NULL hypothesis on this one (I disagree slightly, lol). I am a male, which possibly works in my favor, but I’ve been out and about, much more than 118 times and have avoided becoming a victim of ANY crimes. This is probably a miracle given my inability to walk away from confrontation.
Conversely, I chose these topics wisely because the crime here is worth mentioning. Utilizing the buddy system downtown at night and knowing a lot of violent crimes do take place close to “The Green”, especially at night might be beneficial.
The Green is a hallmark of this city and it is a centrally located park-like clearing that spans 3 blocks and is always bustling. Stop into Merwin’s Art Shop on Chapel St and you can see old, framed paintings showing how The Green and most of its surrounding architecture hasn’t changed much in centuries.
Incredibly Diverse
The diversity of this town, in my opinion, is one of its greatest assets. Its hospital has the Second largest ICU of any US hospital and with Yale attracting students worldwide you could expect this. There are also other universities here and things like the Ecuadorian Consulate. Home to so many first-generation citizens mixed in with born natives who all seem to display that thick New England accent.
I love conversing with people of all shapes and sizes in this town and hearing the story of what brought them here or what part of town their family is from.
This degree of diversity has probably helped make the food scene here so incredibly DOPE
First off, it's often called the pizza capital of the country. I think it's bold to state this when you have NYC so close, but the more pizza I try here the more I find myself wanting to agree. Thing is, they did something cool here, they coined a style of pizza called “Apizza” (pronounced uh-Peetz) which I plan to cover more in-depth in my next post. I have immense respect for anyone who tries something different, they did and killed it doing so.
To just call this a pizza town is greatly un-just. Not only can you find any style of food here, but downtown is deserted of any boring American chain restaurant and all establishments are so incredibly passionate about their menus. Half the time I am being served I learn the owner is the one serving me, I get remembered quickly and treated like family while there. Even After living with a Laos roommate for two years in college, the Pho served here is maybe the best I have ever had.
Avoiding redundancy, the city is home to 56 Zagat-rated restaurants.
The Giant Igneous Rocks surrounding the city:
Find yourself in one of downtown's taller buildings scanning the perimeter and you cannot miss the multiple surrounding randomly placed hills that are East Rock, West Rock, and my favorite Sleeping Giant. If you have ever seen it from high up it's easy to see how it came to be named this. Hiking these is super fun and a pandemic safe activity for a nice day. Sleeping giant has a bit more difficult terrain and the others are mostly paved to accommodate for an easier walk. These rocks are evidence of the lands once present volcanic activity.
Access to the city:
The lack of an airport close by is frustrating to me when I visit a state’s second-largest city. But there could be worse things and you can find two train stations walkable from The Green that can take you almost anywhere in New England and connect with international lines.
Eloquently written and an accurate depiction of the one of the cities I love! And yes, they have the BEST pizza by far!
New Haven sounds like my kind of town! I’m all about history and cool architecture. Mix in some mom and pop shops and good pizza and I’m sold!
I can never spell Connecticut right either haha (just used autocorrect there) but dang I have never thought to visit New Haven; you're making me think it might be the hidden gem of the Northeast! I remember hearing from Barstool sports that New Haven has the best pizza - so looks like they weren't joking around.
Very interesting Chris. The lack of chain restaurants and the abundance of privately owned, or Mom & Pop restaurants is extremely appealing to me. The focus is on the food, not mass produced and most of time unhealthy choices. New Haven is lucky to have you there and you’ve done a great job describing not only the landmarks but also the atmosphere.
Your pics describe your blog w/the family owned businesses. I've had their Apizza....delish! Had no idea it was so historical! Definitely on my bucket list now! Thanks for sharing!!