Goodbye, Pizza, Taxes; Hello, Classrooms

Goodbye, Pizza, Taxes; Hello, Classrooms: Yale plans to transform the former home of Wall Street Pizza — and before that, Naples Pizza — into classrooms and gathering spaces. …

You have to read it to believe it.  

"Yale plans to transform the former home of Wall Street Pizza — and before that, Naples Pizza — into classrooms and gathering spaces.

The university shared that update at Tuesday evening’s Downtown-Wooster Square Community Management Team, soon after striking an agreement with the city that, if approved, would prolong the university’s property tax responsibilities for converted academic spaces.

The planned renovations to 82 – 90 Wall St. entail demolishing the pizza kitchen and dining space to build three classrooms, two of which could be merged into one larger space. The university also plans to create an indoor lounge area and an outdoor back patio in the former pizza restaurant, which has been vacant since 2019.

Yale plans ​“no real major changes on the upper levels” of the building, said Yale facilities planner James Fullton, other than replacing windows and performing some maintenance work on the facade."

Tamar Gendler -- new podcast episode

Tamar Gendler is always so engaging and this conversation is no exception.  In this episode, Tamar talks about her work as a professor, as the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Yale, and as a parent to two amazing children, one of whom is transgender.  This conversation will make you think and feel fortunate that we have such a thoughtful and caring classmate.

Doris Iarorvici -- new podcast episode

Doris Iarovici has had such a rich and considered life.  Doris brought her experience as an immigrant to Yale, and has emerged as a thoughtful and compassionate artist and doctor.  Listen in as she shares her experiences and what it is like to have Minnie Driver play her in an adaptation of Doris' life story.

Check out Doris' website: www.dorisiarovici.com.  There, you'll learn about her newest book, Minus One.  

Here is Doris' bio:  Doris Iarovici grew up in New York City after arriving there at age 5 from Romania. She began writing shortly thereafter, and first published poetry and essays in Seventeen Magazine as a teenager. A graduate of Yale College and the Yale University School of Medicine, she has since divided her time between writing and medicine, and has published both fiction and non-fiction.

Her newest book, Minus One, was released in November 2020 and can be ordered below, or through your favorite bookstore.

She has been awarded writing fellowships from the Djerassi Resident Artists' Program in California, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts in Virginia, Hambidge Center in Georgia, and the North Carolina Arts Council.

She works as a psychiatrist at Harvard University, and lives in Boston.