The Green
New Haven was the first planned city in the country, and the New Haven Green was part of the original city plan. The Green's 16 acres are the center of downtown New Haven, as well as bordering the eastern edge of the Yale campus. The Green hosts a variety of local cultural, entertainment and social events during the course of the year. Impressive municipal buildings face the Green, as well as three churches: Trinity Church, First Congregational Church of Christ (also known locally as the Center Church), and the United Church, all built around 1813, and wonderful examples of Gothic, Federal and Georgian architecture. The area northeast of the Green contains the Audubon Arts District. Here you will find a brick-lined street lined with condominiums, restaurants, stores and the headquarters for the Greater New Haven Arts Council. To the southeast of the Green is the section of downtown now known as Ninth Square, one of the nine squares that made up New Haven's original layout. The area includes sections of Chapel Street, Church Street, George Street and State Street. Although this redeveloping area does not yet have much shopping and dining, some restaurants of note include the Malaysian favorite, Bentara, on Orange Street, and the popular and award winning gay hangout, Gotham Citi, on Church Street.