In the evenings the dog and I head out to take a spin.  He has a mission to check out every inch of the walk for olfactory information.  I have a pocket full of plastic bags.  It's getting dark early and I find that we most often circle the block between Chapel Street and Wooster Street.

We're new to the neighborhood.  I thought the restaurants might be an annoyance, but it turns out, they're great.  Even now that it's cold, the line forms outside Pepe's.  The lit signs for Abates, Tony & Lucille's, and Libby's add a festive glitter.  There's a slow procession of cars that reminds me of a parade, although in parades the occupants rarely hurl themselves out the passenger doors to claim a parking space and then help the driver negotiate it.  The people watching is fantastic.  And everyone smiles at my dog.

I've never lived near a tourist attraction before.  Is it even fair to call Wooster Street a tourist attraction?  I've given directions to it from all over New Haven, sometimes twice a day.  There are parking attendants on weekends.  However, there aren't exactly signs pointing to it from I-95 and hotels devoted to the Wooster experience.

Maybe just an attraction.  What a great word.  It is attractive.  The street is full of energy, cheerful exchanges, families and couples and residents all doing their thing.  The sidewalks are alive.  It's what you hope for in an urban neighborhood.

If you see us, say hi.