Who Knew Blog

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New Haven Chalk Art Festival

October 1, 2025

Chalk art lovers, take a deep breath. On October 11, the 8th Annual New Haven Chalk Art Festival, produced by The Shops at Yale, will turn Broadway and Elm into streets that dream in color. More than 60 artists will sketch beauty that disappears by nightfall, proof that some things are meant to be fleeting. Music drifts, kids laugh, and the sidewalks themselves hold stories,  a day of art, magic, and memory, gone in a blink but impossible to forget. Rain date is October 12.

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What’s on the Menu this Fall in New Haven

September 29, 2025

Fall has officially arrived in New Haven, and we have the menus to prove it. This is the foodie season of pumpkin spice everything, cider-braised proteins, and the kind of pasta that makes you want to cancel all your plans and linger over a second glass of red. Three downtown restaurants in particular are leaning into the season. Let’s eat our way through them before the first snow. The Melting Pot newly opened in Ninth Square, is celebrating its very first New Haven fall at the same time the brand hits its 50th anniversary; which means, double the reason to... View Article

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Exploring Beyond the “Holy Trinity” for National Pizza Month

September 29, 2025

October is National Pizza Month, and here in New Haven, it’s more a civic holiday than a calendar quirk. Our city is recognized far and wide as the pizza capital of the United States, home to a style so distinct it comes with its own name: apizza (that’s “ah-BEETZ”). From the legendary coal-fired ovens of Wooster Street to the new wave of neighborhood pop-ups, New Haven has spent generations perfecting the art of the pie. New Haven is home to the “big three” of apizza: Frank Pepe’s, Sally’s, and Modern. They’re institutions for a reason, but National Pizza Month is... View Article

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Race to the Finish Your Guide to New Haven’s September Races

August 27, 2025

Walkers, joggers, and cyclists alike, did you hear that starting bell? Lace up your sneakers and hit the pavement; New Haven’s September races are right around the corner. These annual events aren’t just about beating your records; these days are a full-fledged celebration of history, community, and the thrill of friendly competition. Here’s everything you need to know about the races, from their history to their future. 48th Annual Faxon Law New Haven Road Race The year was 1978, marked by the reigning power of disco and the birth of running for leisure instead of running for sport. That year,... View Article

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New Haven Cocktail Week Returns with Shakers, Stirrers, and a Whole Lot of Spirit

August 27, 2025

September in the Elm City comes with its own kind of magic – and this one’s served over ice. From September 7–13, New Haven Cocktail Week takes over the city with seven days of shaking, stirring, sipping, and celebrating. It’s part festival, part cocktail crawl, and all about showing off the talent and flavor that keep New Haven’s bar scene buzzing. From Bar Chat to Big Deal What started as a handful of local bars swapping ideas has become a citywide toast to mixology. Now, more than 30 venues, top bartenders, and national and international spirit brands join forces for... View Article

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Cooking Up a Legacy: Claire’s Corner Copia Turns 50

August 27, 2025

For five decades, Claire’s Corner Copia has been more than a cafe.  It’s been New Haven’s cozy kitchen table, serving fresh flavors, comfort food, and a whole lot of love. This fall, founder Claire Criscuolo is celebrating her golden anniversary the way she knows best: with a brand-new cookbook full of beloved recipes and stories from her landmark corner café. From Nurse to Neighborhood Icon Claire didn’t set out to run a restaurant. A registered nurse turned restaurateur, she followed her heart (and her taste buds) into a new path. “Love has always guided me,” she says. “I wanted to... View Article

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New Haven Goes for the World’s Largest Pizza Party

August 27, 2025

If there’s one thing New Haven knows how to do, it’s make pizza history. In May 2024, Congress crowned us the official Pizza Capital of the United States. Now, we’ve set our sights a little higher—or at least a lot hungrier. This September, the Elm City is taking a bite out of the Guinness World Record for the Largest Pizza Party. The scene? The 10th annual Apizza Feast at the New Haven Grand Prix on Friday, September 12. The mission? Gather 5,000 pizza lovers on the New Haven Green to top Tulsa’s record of 3,357 set just last year. After... View Article

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Inside the Black Wall Street Festival: A Celebration of Black and Brown Brilliance

July 30, 2025

New Haven’s Black Wall Street Festival returns August 16, and this year, it’s got it all. More than 300 Black-owned businesses will fill The Green for the city’s biggest celebration of Black and Brown creativity, culture, and community. New to the lineup: The Audacity to Build summit on August 14, where conversations around wealth, identity, and power take center stage. On August 15, the Entrepreneur Party is back with a fresh new vibe and a live performance by R&B favorite Vedo. Also debuting: The Yard, a high-energy space honoring HBCU pride and the Divine Nine. We caught up with Aaron... View Article

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Elm Shakespeare Gets a Bollywood Makeover

July 30, 2025

Summer nights in New Haven are made for a little magic – and no one conjures it better than Elm Shakespeare Company. Since 1995, they’ve been reimagining the Bard’s classics with heart, humor, and a flair for the unexpected. Every year, they deliver two full-scale professional productions and five educational shows, blending local pride with world-class performances that have it all. When the weather warms up, all eyes turn to Edgerton Park. This historic green space sets the stage for starlit picnics, community gatherings, and some of the most memorable performances in town. This season, Elm Shakespeare turns A Midsummer... View Article

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Connecticut Tax Free Week at The Shops at Yale: Aug. 17-23

July 30, 2025

The final stretch of summer is here – and with it comes a New Haven tradition that blends back-to-school buzz with downtown charm. Connecticut’s Tax-Free Week returns August 17–23, and there’s no better place to celebrate it than The Shops at Yale. Whether you’re moving into your dorm, refreshing your fall wardrobe, or simply soaking up the end-of-summer energy, this is your cue to shop smart, support local, and embrace the season in style. Here’s everything you need to know before you hit the sidewalks. Back-to-School, New Haven Style Tax-Free Week lands right when it matters most – just in... View Article