The Knitting Narwhal: Ivy

After our days in NYC, we took a bit of a jaunt over to Connecticut to explore Jeff's old stomping grounds in New Haven. I was so looking forward to Yale, because I only had the caricature of the typical Yale co-ed. While there were some typical ivy-league, secretive, haunted, snooty elements to the campus-the architecture, history, and lifestyle totally out weighed the silliness.

Proof I went to Yale.

As soon as we stepped off the train, we went straight to a Yale hockey game. I was especially excited, because, really? Yale sports?! I thought there was only crew and polo.

The Yale Bulldogs

But I was so mistaken. The Yale hockey team is ranked number one, and they dominated Holy Cross.

Jeff inside "The Whale" arena

We were, once again, spoiled with delicious food in New Haven. Since we were only in town for a day, we just ate and ate and ate and never allowed ourselves to get full.

Pepe's Pizzeria

Pepe's Pizza is considered one of the first pizza joints in the nation, and even has the original coal fired oven. Jeff is always claiming this place has the best pizza. I was skeptical, but after eating there, I am totally convinced. We had a white clam pizza, which was absolutely incredible. I took a bite, gave Jeff a confused look, and said, "Wo. This really is unbelievable."

Yale

We spent the day exploring the campus, meeting up with Jeff's old friends, and enjoying a cold, sunny, winter day.

Yale Cabaret Theatre

Jeff was the Artistic Director of the Yale Cabaret for a year. The building was formerly George W. Bush's fraternity.

Yale Rep

Jeff's old apartment building

A particularly fascinating part of the Yale lifestyle are all the secret societies. Mostly for rich undergrads.

Skull and Bones secret society.

I was told by many that the must see at Yale is the Rare Books library. The building is built with remarkable translucent stone.

Jeff, checking out an original book of bird drawings by John James Audubon

All of the Rare Books

I was continually aware of the white men at Yale. It seemed like all the buildings were named after white men, and all the students I was seeing were white men. Yale, as a whole, is struggling to seem more diverse. The sculpture called "The Women's Table", displays the number of women admitted to Yale and the corresponding year. The women of Yale still only make up a fraction of the student population, but they really have come a long way.

The Women's Table

I'm standing at The Women's Table, because, ya know, I "went to Yale."

More proof that I went to Yale. ;)

The main hall of the Yale Library

The Yale library was especially creepy. There were rooms full of old, empty card catalogs, hidden passageways, old telephone booths, small courtyards, and vast study rooms.