[Stylo]

Originally Posted by Wilton2ParkAve

For all the money we throw at New Haven it ought to be much better. Also, watch the ad hominem attacks, as it detracts from an otherwise respectable post. You also disproved yourself that Camden has 3x the murder rate of new haven. Violent crime rates are also a better indicator than simply murder in isolation. In that case, New haven is among the very worse. Thank god for Yale or it would already be Camden.

Huh? I said Flint had 3x the murder rate, not Camden. And 2.6x is pretty darn close. Both Camden and Flint have significantly higher rape and assault rates vs. New Haven. Again, they are another league of bad, not a stone's throw.

[Wilton2ParkAve]

Originally Posted by JayCT

What money and who is throwing it at New Haven??? Jay

http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/upload...%20Website.pdf

See Page 2-7, 43% of the New Haven General Fund is provided by the state. If you prefer numbers, it's "only" $203.5 million.

[Stylo]

All towns get state assistance. New Haven does get a lot of $ support, even from the federal government. A lot of it is because of the issues with poor neighborhoods, not commercial and infrastructure support.

But that wasn't what I was talking about when I said supporting. I meant supporting businesses and patronizing the city.

[Wilton2ParkAve]

Sorry Stylo-- was responding to JayCT. As for all towns receiving state assistance- it's a bit of a stretch since there are towns that get back less than $0.50 for every dollar they send to Hartford. It's not "assistance", if you are paying for your entire allotment.

As for patronizing and supporting local businesses, I need compelling reasons to visit. A good restaurant or two isn't enough to overcome the danger factor.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by Wilton2ParkAve

Sorry Stylo-- was responding to JayCT. As for all towns receiving state assistance- it's a bit of a stretch since there are towns that get back less than $0.50 for every dollar they send to Hartford. It's not "assistance", if you are paying for your entire allotment.

As for patronizing and supporting local businesses, I need compelling reasons to visit. A good restaurant or two isn't enough to overcome the danger factor.

There are more like 50 excellent restaurants, and more "good" ones on top of that - New Haven has the most Zagat-rated restaurants in the state. And the best pizza in CT and some of the best in the world. Toad's Place and the Shubert Theater have national touring acts and musicals. There's the New Haven Symphony. There's countless Yale performances, such as the Yale Cabaret Theater, concerts, choirs, etc. Some of the best museums in the state: the Yale Art Museum (VERY high quality collection), Yale British Art Museum (largest collection outside UK), Peabody Museum and other small art galleries - especially along Crown and Audubon. There's sports events at the Yale Bowl, Yale Gym and the Tennis Open. There's tons of bars, many of which have diverse live music multiple nights a week (Firehouse 12, Cafe Nine, The Owl, Bespoke, Stella Blues). There's independent coffee shops, book stores, an Apple Store, an independent record/music store, gourmet stores, thrift shops of all kinds, etc.

I visit New Haven almost weekly because, although it's only a shadow in comparison - it's the closest thing we have to a city like New York. And I never feel less safe in New Haven than I do in NYC, because I don't walk around neighborhoods where I might get into trouble. Just like I don't walk around South Bronx.

That kind of paranoia is the worst affliction a city can have. For all the thousands and thousands of affluent suburbanites that patronize the city's cultural and culinary offerings without incident, and the 12,000 Yale students that occupy the city every year (the only deaths for Yale students have been in labs) - what makes you think you're so special as to be in danger?

Visit the right parts of town and be sensible and there's no reason to think you're in "danger". You might find it's perfectly fine outside that bubble.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Wilton2ParkAve

As for patronizing and supporting local businesses, I need compelling reasons to visit. A good restaurant or two isn't enough to overcome the danger factor.

Clearly, you avoid New Haven and haven't been there in years.

As one of New Haven's biggest critics due to crime, I can also recognize the strong points of the city. You're only depriving yourself of culture, education and good eats by ignoring New Haven.

[Wilton2ParkAve]

I'm closer to NYC in mileage than New Haven. I'm probably not alone in thinking the museums, sports, eats or culture broadly speaking between New Haven and NY aren't exactly comparable. NH does have great pizza, but then again Pepe's has a presence in Fairfield or Danbury these days. If I want to stay close to home, Ridgefield and Westport both have appreciable playhouses and symphonies.

[Stylo]

Wilton > New Haven: 35 miles, Wilton > Manhattan: 51 miles.

Anyway, New Haven is much more low key than NYC. Of course I'd take what NYC has to offer over New Haven, and I try to make it there as much as possible - but it's much more of a production. Parking is harder, traffic is worse, everything's more expensive.

I can find parking easier and don't have to spend a lot of money to enjoy myself. And excluding some of the elite restaurants in NYC (places like Annisa, Babbo, Gilt, Eleven Madison Park), I can find the same level of dining. Let's be clear, it's not NYC. Apples and oranges, I guess - but it shouldn't be ignored for any CT resident.

Also, the Shubert is more like an Off-Broadway theater than a community theater like the Westport Playhouse or Ridgefield Playhouse. New Haven's equivalent to those would be the Long Wharf Theater.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Wilton2ParkAve

I'm closer to NYC in mileage than New Haven.

Not so much.

Even if you're going to the closest NYC borough (Bronx), you're still 43 miles away. You're only 32 from New Haven.

Originally Posted by Wilton2ParkAve

If I want to stay close to home, Ridgefield and Westport both have appreciable playhouses and symphonies.

I'm probably not alone in thinking the culture broadly speaking between Ridgefield and New Haven aren't exactly comparable.

[Stylo]

Also, Yale has a recital, concert, or symphony pretty much every day of the week, many free: Yale School of Music : Concert Series

Woolsey Hall is beautiful and the NHSO performs there too.