Who Knew Blog

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5 Places to Spend New Year’s Eve in New Haven

December 26, 2023

A new year is arriving in New Haven, bringing with it a fresh calendar of Elm City happenings and many more memories created together in downtown. We may not be able to help craft your resolutions, but we can help craft your holiday plans. Whether you’re looking to spend the holiday in sequins and sipping on champagne or splitting a bottle of wine with a loved one, downtown New Haven is the place to be. If your mind is already beyond Christmas Eve and onto the ball drop, here are five places to consider booking for your New Year’s Eve... View Article

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Celebrating 800 Years of the Crèche at The Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center

December 19, 2023

You know what it is, you didn’t know there was a word for it. Now entering the world of the crèche, a symbol synonymous with Christmas as a stocking or an elf. A crèche is a three-dimensional nativity scene, a physical retelling of the biblical account of the birth of Jesus Christ. The crèches we’re talking about today are not the kitschy tabletop sets of Christmases past but rather full-fledged installations on view right now in Downtown New Haven.\ From now until March 24, 2024, the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center invites visitors and locals to stop in for the... View Article

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New Haven’s Most Festive Holiday Cocktails And Where To Find Them

December 12, 2023

The pre-Christmas window is slowly closing, leaving us mere days to indulge all of our festive desires and complete all of our winter to-do’s. By now, your holiday shopping is likely complete – if not, fear not. Downtown New Haven is home to countless local shops sure to fill the Christmas wishes of anyone on your list. By now, your holiday decor is fully aglow, your holiday menu is planned down to the teaspoon, and your stockings are hung by the fire with care. The only thing left to do? Buy yourself a drink.  Forget the eggnog, we’re leveling up.... View Article

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14 Holiday Gift Shopping Spots for Everyone on Your List

December 5, 2023

The 25 days of Christmas are already well underway, which means one thing. You may be in trouble if you haven’t begun your holiday shopping yet. Time flies, deals end, and shelves grow barren, but fear not – downtown New Haven has no shortage of shopping destinations ripe for gift-givers. Forget the standard holiday candle or generic ornament, and go for something personalized. For every shape of hobbyist, downtown has many picture-perfect gifts, from unique locally-made art to one-of-a-kind vintage finds to interactive fitness experiences. Before you let the holiday shopping stress set in, check out these 14 local spots... View Article

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Downtown New Haven for the Holidays!

November 15, 2023

Temperatures drop, tinsel goes up, and 30,000 glimmering lights return to the New Haven Green for the 110th year in a row. The holiday season is upon us, and if you don’t believe us, check out the Green. There, you’ll find that 50 ft tall 7,000lb Norway Spruce waiting to be lit. Holiday Hallmark Charm will return to the Elm City on November 30 at 5:00 PM, as neighbors, visitors, and friends make their way to the New Haven Green to celebrate the annual tree lighting.  New Haven was one of the first cities in the nation to host a... View Article

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Small Business Saturday in Downtown New Haven

November 15, 2023

November 25th marks the return of a well-loved holiday in downtown New Haven – Small Business Saturday.  Five distinct shopping districts are located throughout the downtown neighborhood: Broadway, Chapel Street Historic, Chapel West, Ninth Square, and Whitney-Audubon – each featuring locally owned and operated retail businesses.  Click here for a list of downtown locally-owned retailer locations throughout downtown. The second annual Small Business Saturday Pop-Up will return to our city this month, at 1042 Chapel St. from 12 – 4 pm, featuring free arts and crafts, freshly popped kettle corn, live music, exclusive giveaways, and tons of fantastic shopping from... View Article

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Three New Haven Restaurants Open For Thanksgiving

November 15, 2023

The Thanksgiving holiday is marked by laughs shared, memories made, and dishes dirtied. Did you ever consider that a holiday meal doesn’t necessitate that third item? If you’ve ever been tempted to skip the culinary grunt work that goes into the Thanksgiving holiday and indulge in the creations of chefs more practiced than you, look no further. As one of New England’s most exciting culinary hubs, New Haven is home to a selection of celebrated restaurants that are open for business on Thanksgiving. These restaurants are here to give you one thing you really can be grateful for – a... View Article

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Bustle Spotlights New Haven As The Ultimate Gilmore Girls Inspired Destination

November 14, 2023

Fall is a time marked by crisp air, brewing holiday excitement, and endless Gilmore Girls rewatches. While the town of Stars Hollow does not exist, New Haven does. If you haven’t watched the series, it takes place in a quaint New England town much like our own, and one of the lead characters goes on to attend Yale University, making New Haven her home for four years.  Our downtown neighborhood offers everything Gilmore Girls fans associate with the show – sprawling bookstores, strong coffee, and steaming pizza pies. Don’t just take it from us. This month, Bustle, a premier digital... View Article

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The Glowing History of New Haven’s Annual Tree Lighting [updated 2023]

November 8, 2023

As we head into the holiday season, Market New Haven had the pleasure of speaking with Colin Caplan, New Haven resident, historian, author, and pizza historian, about everyone’s favorite holiday festivity – the 110th annual holiday tree lighting, which takes place every year on the New Haven Green. Read what he had to say about this centuries-old tradition, and what it means to the people of New Haven.  “The improvement of New Haven’s civic life became a focus of city leaders at the beginning of the 20th century, as exemplified by the first public Christmas tree lighting on the New... View Article

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NXTHAVEN is Transforming the City’s Artist Community

October 22, 2023

New Haven is a haven for many. Academics find their home on the Yale campus and from the student section of the Yale Bowl. Nature enthusiasts find exploration across our more than 2,000 acres of green park land. The future of medicine, cuisine, music, and art lives here. Did you know your neighbor might be the next big name in art? Enter NXTHVN.  NXTHVN, founded by Titus Kaphar, Jason Price, and Jonathan Brand, is New Haven’s cutting-edge center for transformative art mentorship and career guidance, redefining the foundations of artistic development. Located in the lively Dixwell neighborhood, the artistic community... View Article