Take a fancy flight: Shop in downtown New Haven

 The Town Green Special Services District and its deputy director, Daisy C. Abreu, have announced that "Flights of Fancy," billed as "Downtown New Haven’s popular wine tasting and shopping event" returns at 4 p.m. Feb. 3.

"The event, sponsored by The Wine Thief and The Study Hotel at Yale, is presented by the Broadway and Chapel Merchants Associations and features in-store wine tastings, special discounts and extraordinary giveaways at over 20 Downtown shops," according to a statement.

Attendees register at from 4 to 7 p.m. at The Study Hotel, 1157 Chapel St. "Registration is $10 and includes the exclusive Flights of Fancy wine glass, a map of participating shops, entry into the grand prize drawing, validated parking, coffee and dessert," the statement said.

Registered participants can sample wines provided by The Wine Thief, of 181 Crown St., and receive 25 percent off their favorite item at participating stores in the Broadway and Chapel shopping districts, the statement said. A bus will be available to shuttle participants between the shopping districts throughout the evening, the statement said..

At 8:30 pm, at the The Study Hotel, participants will be served Willoughby’s coffee, dessert, and there will be a grand prize drawing for a complimentary stay for two at The Study Hotel at Yale, the statement said.

Free validated parking is available at The York Street Garage, 150 York St., for all Flights of Fancy participants. The event is limited to the first 700 registrants and reservations are encouraged, the statement said.. 

Participating merchants include: 1804 Fashion Footwear, Ashley’s Ice Cream, Barnes & Noble Bookstore at Yale, Campus Customs, Celtica, Claire’s Corner Copia, Denali, derek simpson… goldsmith, Enclave, Enson’s, Froyoworld, Hull’s Art Supply & Framing, idiom, Metaphore, Laila Rowe, Lisa Jones Boutique, Peter Indorf Jewelers, Ten Thousand Villages, Tracy b, Wave Gallery, Willoughby’s Coffee & Tea, and Yurway Designs. Newcomers to the event include, Au Bon Pain, Box 63, Origins, Savitt Jewelers and Chocopologie.

"Flights of Fancy is sponsored by the Chapel and Broadway Merchants Associations, The Wine Thief, The Study Hotel at Yale and organized by the Town Green Special Services District and Yale University Properties"

Editor's note: All information in this post was contributed.