New Haven for Book Lovers; Read All About It
New Haven is a studious town; we even have a hotel called The Study. And in keeping with the intellectual prowess that blankets this small but brilliant city are places that pay homage to the pulp in its many glories, check it out:
ATTICUS BOOKSTORE CAFE & BAKERY
Think about it; Surrounded by books, killer black bean soup, gifty things and you can leave with a fresh baguette! What would Hemingway do? He would do what Elm City bookworms have been doing since 1976 – go in for a minute, stay for hours and scribe your next novel. Try it; you’ll like it.
www.atticusbookstorecafe.com 1082 Chapel Street
THE BEINECKE RARE BOOK & MANUSCRIPT LIBRARY
Who knew that we were a short hair away from the largest building in the world devoted to rare books, manuscripts, and Yale’s literary archives? Fun Facts: The central tower has room for 180,000 books and the underground stacks more than a million. The current exhibit, Making the Medieval English Manuscript: The Takamiya Collection is around until Sunday, December 10. And while you’re there, check out The Gutenberg Bible, the first Western book printed from movable type, and Audubon’s Birds of America which are all on permanent exhibition. Go. Just go.
beinecke.library.yale.edu 121 Wall St
BOOK TRADER CAFE
This eclectic used bookstore, specializing in arts and academia has a light-filled, bricked outdoor garden that is my Starbucks alternative to escape the home office. Although the place is smallish and gets crowded, it has a quiet library-like vibe. And you’ll love the grub, too, with witty names like Schmear & Loathing in Lox Vegas, Jane Rare, Paradise Tossed Salads and Sense & SensiBLT.
www.booktradercafe.net 1140 Chapel Street
THE INSTITUTE LIBRARY
The Institute Library, formerly the Young Men’s Institute (go figure) founded in 1826, is Connecticut’s oldest independent circulating library and one of the last remaining membership libraries in North America. Their community-based programs including Storysharing, and the Poetry Institute’s Poetry Series are on the third Thursday of every month. Both events have open mic nights that let you be the teller or the observer. It’s free, but think about a donation, and even better, become a member!
institutelibrary.org 847 Chapel Street