If you’ve been thirsting for the answers to our New Haven summer riddles, I offer them to you now like a cold glass of water on a sweltering day.
The first riddle, “The world’s a stage, especially this park, where thou art called each summer to hark,” was a warmup, almost a gimme, leading inexorably hither: Edgerton Park, where Elm Shakespeare Company stages its annual productions of Shakespeare’s plays.
The pithy second, “To feel as sweet as Sunshine fruit, unpeel on the patios zesting this route,” was meant to be only slightly less ripe for the picking. The answer, as many rightly told us, is Orange Street, where, along an otherwise mostly residential stretch through the East Rock neighborhood, a series of beloved deli and cafe patios are great places to relax and enjoy the season.
For respondents who thought those first two were easy, riddle #3 was likely a splash of cold H2O: “Freshly watered daisy and palm drench and delight at this beachy balm.” The answer lies beachside, amid gaspingly, gigglingly, shriekingly happy kids, at the Lighthouse Point splash pad, whose cartoony cast of water features includes a daisy and a palm tree.
The answer to #4, “Like nymph pursued by god of rivers, its cooling treats make the melting quiver,” mostly demanded a little soft Googling—or a solid knowledge of ancient Greek mythology. Either way, the first part of the riddle leads to the mythical figure Arethusa, while the second just fleshes out the answer: the acclaimed ice cream shop Arethusa Farm Dairy.
The fifth riddle, “The sun sets past this vista for scaling—or driving, in summer; the ’way opens daily,” points to two clear candidates, West Rock and East Rock. But only West Rock’s driveway opens daily. Also nudging the compass needle that way: the mention of the sunset, which happens, from New Haven’s point of view, “past” West Rock.
The final riddle, “Wondering where on the coast to wade? This org tests water and issues a grade,” was pretty straightforward, even if the answer wasn’t necessarily forthcoming. “Org” indicates a private nonprofit entity, and only one New Haven org, Save the Sound, tests and grades coastal swimming waters.
Soon to be selected, the winners of the three $50 gift cards to local restaurants of their choosing will also soon be swimming in food. Keep an eye on your inboxes, and if you don’t win, don't sweat it. It’s still summertime, and the living, unlike that splash pad riddle, is easy.
Written by Dan Mims. Image 1, featuring a moment at the Lighthouse Point splash pad, and image 2, featuring a scene from a past Elm Shakespeare production in Edgerton Park, photographed by Dan Mims. Image 3, featuring the top of the driveway at West Rock, photographed by Jake Goldman.
