Ice skating at Walker rink is always fun. Check out "skate new Haven" on Instagram or Facebook, they post the public skate hours each week.

Herz had the lowest prices last time I checked. Also the enterprise in Wallingford had some good deals but it's obviously less convenient.

Or lunch. The savory crepes are outstanding.

You can also buy them at Best Video in Hamden.

BJ Wholesale in North Haven is my favorite. Good to keep in mind if you happen to be down there

Legal Grounds is a nice little coffee shop in the back of Books and Co. on Whitney. Smaller than Best Video, but they always seem to have table space.

Not crowded during the day, and not really a QU hangout. My kids do a D&D club there after school once a week. It's a perfect place for what you're describing.

Fair point.

I know this is not exactly what you're asking for, but you may be interested in MakeHaven. It's a makerspace with great textile/crafting facilities. TONS of other equipment at your disposal. I'm not sure if there is a weekly textile/craft meetup (there might be), but there are often workshops and other events. It's a very supportive community and definitely LGBTQ+ friendly.

https://www.makehaven.org/i/1037

Excellent list. Unfortunately, the axe throwing bar closed down last week.

I have to throw in my obligatory "Cafe Nine is not a dive bar" comment. It's safe and clean and serves $9 pints. Hands down my favorite music venue. Weeds Cafe is a dive, if you're looking for one.

Plenty to be desired, but it's come a long way in the last decade or so. There are racks on all the buses (probably the biggest game-changer), bike lanes, sharrows, public racks, etc. Including bicycle lanes and other considerations is now written into the city code. We would all love separated lanes, but those will take time. We have always been in the streets next to parked and moving cars. At least there is some warning to drivers now and a slowly growing notion that bikes should be in the street.

Noting that neither will be crawling with undergrads.

Thirding PACT.

That would be awesome.

I feel that there should be NO financial incentive to ticket moving or standing violations. They should ticket the living crap out of moving violations because they threaten the lives of the citizens of the city. They don't get $100 for every mugger they take off the street. The system is ridiculous.

They say it's coming soon. Took much longer to build than expected.

I'd say that's the last thing we need in that space. It's already flanked by two restaurant/bars. The neighborhood would never support that. In any case, the space is too small.

Technically, it's for sale so there's still a chance someone will carry on as a hardware store.

I will be selling New Haven themed gifts in the MakeHaven booth at Holiday Village on the Green this weekend (Thurs-Sat). I make 3D printed illuminated ornaments and night lights, as well as a few other items. I have a few pre-made items, but mostly I do custom work. Feel free to shoot me a message or visit my Etsy page ElmCityArtMaker.

https://imgur.com/5wivotg

https://imgur.com/lhAlqHt

https://imgur.com/dtM4Mi5

You said "generation". Twice.

"...whatever base load you offset by generation at the point of production, especially if it can be generated for a lower overall amortized cost at economies of scale (very feasible), is always going to be more efficient than centralized generation and long-distance transmission/distribution"

I recognize that it's often hard to be clear on this platform sometimes. If you're not talking about electric generation, then maybe you need to clarify.

Edit: Are you saying that burning fuel at home is more efficient that electric heating? I agree, that is a no brainer. But this is why very few people heat with electricity in the Northeast.

I normally don't push my products on Reddit, but this seems helpful. I make New Haven-themed 3D printed gifts. I made some NHRR nightlights, but I can do any photo of any New Haven site you want (unless copyright restricted). I also make, guitar picks and ornaments and I'm looking to expand my product base if you have any ideas. Shoot me a message if you're interested for find ElmCityArtMaker on Etsy.

Edit: I'll also be showing at the MakeHaven booth at the Holiday Village on the green this weekend (Thurs-Sat)

https://imgur.com/5wivotg

https://imgur.com/lhAlqHt

https://imgur.com/dtM4Mi5

Sorry to say it, but those two "very boring dogs" are severely limiting your options. I don't have hard days to back this up, but I would presume that much fewer than half of rentals allow dogs. Two dogs even less so. That's why you're finding it difficult.

They've built several new NG pipelines from Canada into the northeast over the last couple decades.

This is a pretty bold statement and one I haven't heard before. We lose maybe 10% of the energy in transmission and distribution. Modern combined cycle NG power plants run at 50-60% efficiency. Overall grid efficiency in the US is about 35%, which includes lots of old inefficient plants.

You'd be lucky to get 25% with a home NG generator. Probably more like 15-20. And then you're exhausting pollution right at your house, without the benefits of scrubbers or modern emission control systems. We'd be better off building new efficient centralized plants. At least until more efficient distributed generation options or residential CHP are more cost effective.

Here is an article with some more details about what's next, but no insight as to why it is closing.

https://www.newhavenindependent.org/article/bye_bye_blue_state_yo_g