#ILoveNewHaven – The View from Lajeune

I have always been particularly fascinated with The Harlem Renaissance, that period of time in United States history spanning the 1920’s to the mid-1930s. Originally called the New Negro Movement, it was essentially a time when blacks fostered a new identity in the artistic world and were able to collectively express themselves through music, dance, song, the arts and literature in the most creative way.

However, I am ashamed to admit that for all of the years that I actually lived in New Haven, CT I had never been to Yale’s Beinecke Library. I had heard wonderful things about it but, for whatever reason, never quite made it there…

So when I read that Yale’s Beinecke Library was holding an exhibit on The Harlem Renaissance featuring James Weldon Johnson’s collection, I was immediately hooked.

This collection, titled Gather Out Of Star-Dust, The Harlem Renaissance & The Beinecke Library, is on view from January 13th though April 17th and best of all its free!

Walking up Wall Street the very first thing I noticed was the big blue sign and the beautiful architecture of the building’s exterior. The second thing was the chalk-written political statements (most likely penned by Yale undergrads) on the pavement leading to the entrance (smile).

Once inside, I spoke briefly with the security guard who proceeded to tell me some of the back story to the grand re-opening of this historic library before he handed me a playbill to the exhibit.

As the playbill demonstrated, the exhibit was divided into the following sections:

First Floor South Display: The Harlem Renaissance: A Chronology

Letters, Manuscripts, Photographs and Artwork from African-American culture between 1910 and 1940.

First Floor Tower: Visualizing Harlem

Photograph images from The Harlem Renaissance era.

First Floor North Display: The Making of a Renaissance

Items shown here cover published manifestos and manuscripts on African-American art, first editions of notable texts and publications and correspondence between Langston Hughes and Claude McKay.

Second Floor East Display – From Blues to The Emperor Jones: African-American Performing Arts

Musical, Dance and Theater influences are covered here so this is a memorable display. This is also the era that popularized Blues and Jazz, introduced The Charleston and reinvented the musical chorus line.

Second Floor Curved Case North – Visual Arts

Here you will find sculptures and works on paper from various African-American artists.

Second Floor Curved Case South – Caricature Assassination

Caricature assassinations by Mexican artist Miguel Covarrubias are seen in this display (not one of my faves – I found his work offensive and not in good taste).

Second Floor West Display – Gather Out of Star-Dust – Collecting a Renaissance for the Present and Future

And finally, this last section features a library collection of works from various African-American artists including James Weldon Johnson, Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston.

Again, this thought-provoking free exhibit is happening now at Yale’s Beinecke Library but only until April 17th and believe me, it is truly one of the most productive ways to spend the day with your family and friends.

I am writing this food blog post on a Fall day in New Haven, CT (that feels more like late Summer to me) so my restaurant lunch choices may reflect that (smile).

I also eat, dress and live for the weather as opposed to the season so if my good buddy and Chief Meteorologist Gil Simmons of News 8 (ABC) tells me that it’s going to be 80 degrees outside, but the calendar doesn’t agree, I go with the temps…

With all that said, here are just a few of my favorite places to eat lunch in New Haven, CT when the leaves start to turn and the temperatures finally cool down:

New Haven Salad Shop – don’t let the name fool you. This little gem on High Street in downtown New Haven also builds super hearty wraps that will easily fill you up until supper time. There’s little room to sit inside though so I suggest you find a space on the Upper or Lower New Haven Green to enjoy your lunch.

City Point Kitchen – a newer restaurant in the Oyster Point neighborhood of New Haven (beautiful water views!) with excellent, locally sourced food. I tried the crab cakes over a salad bed on the afternoon me and my gf Christine went. It’s cute and quaint inside and the small staff is friendly and very attentive.