In honor of Valentine’s Day, we decided to highlight four great places for a date in New Haven. Not only are each of these places incredible architectural spaces, they can also appeal to a wide spectrum of people from the art lover to the sports fanatic.

For the Art Enthusiast… Yale University Art Gallery (YUAG)

Architects: Peter B. Wight (1866); Edgerton Swartwout (1928); Louis Kahn (1953)
Renovation of the Louis Kahn Building: Polshek Partnership (2006)
Renovation of the Old Gallery and Street Hall: Ennead Architects, Richard Olcott & Duncan Hazard (2012)

For the art enthusiast, enjoy an afternoon or many afternoons wandering through the magnificent works that line the walls of the Yale University Art Gallery.

Founded by John Trumbull in 1832, the Yale University Art Gallery spreads over Chapel, York and High Streets in downtown New Haven, CT. Three buildings make up the mini complex that includes a Ruskinian Gothic Structure called Street Hall (1866), the Old Yale Art Gallery which is a neo-Florentine Gothic building (1928) and the modern Louis Kahn building (1953). In 2006, plans to renovate all three buildings began and were completed in 2012 with the reopening on December 12, 2012. The Yale University Art Gallery is the oldest college art museum in the Western Hemisphere.

For the Music Lover… Woolsey Hall, Yale University

Architects: John Merven Carrèe and Thomas Hastings (1901)

For the music lover, take your sweetheart to a concert at the world-renowned Woolsey Hall.

Built to commemorate Yale’s bicentennial, the 2,695 capacity hall is located in the Hewitt Quadrangle of Yale University. The space is used by Yale School of Music as well as organizations such as the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, Yale Symphony Orchestra and many more. Within the beautiful venue is the world-renowned E. M. Skinnner four manuals Newberry Memorial Organ, built in 1928.

For the Sports Fanatic… Yale Bowl

Architect: Charles H. Ferry (1914)
Renovation: Vincent Benic Architects (2007)

For the sports lover, spend an afternoon at the Yale Bowl. Pack up your car with delectable goodies and grab a pair of tickets to watch an Ivy League football game.

Built in 1914 by Charles A. Ferry, the Yale Bowl with a 61,446 capacity is home of the Yale Football team. Over the years it has held numerous rock concerts, the 1995 Special Olympics and was even the temporary home of the New York Giants for a couple of years. Vincent Benic Architects restored it in 2006. An interesting fact about the Bowl is when it was completed, it was the largest stadium built since the Roman Coliseum.

For a Walk in the Park… New Haven Green

For the couple that enjoys being outdoors, take a stroll through the New Haven Green and venture into the vast number of local boutiques and shops that line the streets of the city.

New Haven, founded in 1638, is the second largest city in Connecticut. The New Haven Green is a National Historic Landmark and houses three notable churches that were constructed between 1812 and 1816. Each of the churches in their architectural glory: Center Church and the United Church are beautiful examples of the Federal style and the trinity Church exemplifies Gothic Revival.

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