Madeleine L.
Yelp
Yalies speak about Toad's with the same kind of mildly disgusted affection that our parents probably reserve for us.
On one hand this place is dirty and doesn't always play the most danceable tracks. Unfortunately, the clientele is often disrespectful, particularly if you're a woman. There have been times where I've experienced some pretty blatant harassment here, and the very first time I visited Toad's, a man attempted to steal my handbag while I was dancing.
On the other hand, this place is a cultural touchstone that clearly resonates with generations of New Haven residents and Yale students alike. I saw my first concert here (with the Plain White T's!), and high-profile names play here on a regular basis. If you're over 21, Toad's also offers "penny drinks" in Lily's Lounge, a smaller bar area upstairs that offers lots of seating.
In the middle of the week, dozens of Yalies crowd into Toad's for "Woads" - the weekly Wednesday night Yale dance party. On Saturdays, the dance parties at Toad's become one of the only social spaces where Yalies interact with non-Yalies.
Yalies often enclose themselves in a very narrow and xenophobic bubble of socal interaction, and Toad's shatters this bubble altogether. Diverse socioeconomic socialization is important in any urban space, and I'm thankful that we have Toad's to play this part.
Toad's isn't just a music venue. It's a cultural landmark, a rite of passage, and the backdrop for many bright and grimy memories. Toad's and the Yale Corporation have been locked in legal battles for ages, and for the sake of its history and beloved status I do hope that this place survives.