New Haven, Connecticut: Yale and So Much More

Visiting New Haven, Connecticut was one of the highlights of my summer. My husband and I stayed at the Omni Hotel located at 155 Temple Street because of its convenient location within walking distance of the Yale campus. Another plus was that the hotel is located near the Chapel Street Historic District known for its boutique shops, galleries and restaurants.

(View from the Omni's Bar 19)

New Haven has the distinction of being one of the first planned cities in America designed around a central square known as New Haven Green, which still exists today.

During the early 18th and 19th centuries, New Haven was a manufacturing hub known for producing clocks, carriages and firearms. In fact, it was home to one of the better-known firearms companies, known as Winchester Repeating Arms, which went bankrupt in 1989.

The area's stunning architecture makes a walk around downtown and the Yale campus certainly worth one's while.

(Entrance to Yale)

The Yale Art Gallery

What surprised me the most about the Yale University Art Gallery is that it is free to anyone who wants to tour one of the most prestigious art museums in the United States.

(The inauspicious entrance to the Yale University Art Gallery)

The original Yale University Art Gallery was founded in 1832 with 100 paintings of the American Revolution donated by artist John Trumbull, making it the oldest university art museum in the United States.

The current collection spans more than 5,000 years of art representing all regions of the world. Among the collections are African art, ancient art, American paintings and decorative arts, Asian and European art, along with modern and contemporary art.

Its modest entrance certainly downplays what tremendous treasures lay inside like works of Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso and Frederick Remington.

African antiquities and a glazed brick lion relief below are artworks visitors will see during the self-guided tour. The foreboding lion once lined the Processional Way running from Babylon's main entrance and is estimated to date between 605-562 B.C.

(African antiquities)

(Simon Luttichuys circa 1649)

Visitors will also see many beautiful still-life paintings scattered throughout the museum, like the one above attributed to London-born Simon Luttichuys.

(Harpsicord, circa 1640)

The old harpsichord above dates to 1640 and is crafted of poplar, spruce, beech, oak, ivory, ebony, paper, lead, brass, iron paint, pigskin, buckskin and crow quill. And what museum would be complete without a Van Gogh? The one below dates to 1888 and is titled, Cafe du Nuit.

(Van Gogh's Cafe du Nuit)

Another piece which caught my eye was this Picasso, titled Shells on a Piano.

(Pablo Picasso's Shells on a Piano)

Then there's the easily recognizable Edvard Munch's piece titled, Scream, which reminded me of all the deadlines I must meet this month.

(Edward Munch, Scream)

(One of the older Buildings on the Property)

Guests can venture outside to see one of the older buildings on the Art Museum property, which dates to 1928 and is a mix of Romanesque, Gothic and Classical features. It was known as the "Old Yale Art Gallery" to set it apart from other expansions which were done later.

These photos are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the art at the Yale Art Gallery. For those on a schedule, I estimate that it will take approximately one and a half hours for the entire experience.

Louis' Lunch

If you visit New Haven, you'll no doubt hear about Louis' Lunch. The eatery was founded in 1895 and is credited as the birthplace of the hamburger. Employees cook the burgers using a vertical broiler--something that is not seen often, if at all, these days.

(Louis' Lunch presses vintage vertical grills into service)

Because it was crowded inside, it was difficult to capture a good shot of the broilers, which are in the center of this picture. I did, however, get a close up of the much-touted burger. It is served on toast, with, or without, mustard and onion.

If you've seen the place on television, you may get the impression that it's larger than it is. I stood back to get the entire building in the camera so that it represents its true size.

The family run business has been operating for over a century now and the interior remains largely original. Another thing that surprised me was the defacement of nearly every wooden surface. I suppose it was standard procedure to show up at Louis' Lunch and carve one's initials into the booths and tables.

(Louis' Lunch interior is a bit funky, with customer carvings in every square inch of wood)

If you read about Louis Lunch, you'll also get the impression that they run a tight ship, reminiscent of the Soup Nazi in the popular Seinfeld series and you'll be warned about the dreaded ketchup condiment. "Never order your burger with it or employees will go apoplectic," goes the old admonishment. I heeded the advice, but when we took our seats, I didn't see any employees policing what condiments customers added to the plain burger/white toast combo. Had I known this, I may have smuggled in my own ketchup packets.

Regardless of how you feel about a plain burger on toast, visiting Louis' Lunch seems to be something people feel compelled to do, at least once.

The Anchor Spa

(The Anchor Spa is a beloved institution in New Haven)

Another place in New Haven that just happened to be closed when we visited was The Anchor Spa. I was immediately attracted to the building, with the deep blue color and the old-fashioned font, so when I arrived home, I looked it up and learned that it was a popular place for 80 years, attracting stars like Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and Lucille Ball. At one point, it appears to have fallen out of favor with the changes of the modern era, causing it to close. That didn't sit well with its fans in the community, who garnered signatures for a petition. Thankfully, a new owner stepped in to preserve the beloved business, so if you're interested in checking it out, do keep in mind that it's closed on Mondays.

If you have the opportunity to visit the area, there's so much more that can be added to an itinerary. For me, it was certainly worth it for the impressive architecture and the ability to experience an area that combines a rich history with the vibrancy of modern life.