New Haven's Shine On9 'Cookie Crawl" coming up

NEW HAVEN – For those "looking for a fun way to get in the holiday spirit," the Holiday Cookie Crawl from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 7 might be just the ticket.

Part of Shine On9, the event will gather "a baker’s dozen of festive treats in New Haven’s Historic 9th Square,"  a release said
Proceeds from the Holiday Cookie Crawl benefit Gateway Community College’s “Neighbors in Need” dinner Dec. 14, the release said. The $15 fee includes a keepsake cookie box and a map of participating businesses. Tickets are available online at www.on9newhaven.com.
The Holiday Cookie Crawl is a partnership between Town Green Special Services District and Gateway Community College Foundation, the release said.
"The inspiration for the crawl came from Sarah and Matt Greenwell of green well Organic Tea and Coffee and green well Being. The couple participated in a similar event while living in Oak Park, IL," the release said.
“Oak Park's ‘Cookie Walk’ brought so much joy to residents and instilled a sense of pride and family in our previous downtown. We're hoping the 9th Square cookie crawl can cultivate the same response here in New Haven, further enhancing the spirit of togetherness and shared love for our historic community,” said Sarah Greenwell, also in the release.
Gateway’s Culinary Department is baking thirteen different types of cookies for the event, including traditional coconut macaroons, thumb print, sugar, spritz, and ginger cookies, the release said. Other favorite recipes include snickerdoodles, butterscotch brownies, oatmeal craisin, and pecan bars. Chocolate lovers will delight in the chocolate chocolate chip and chocolate oatmeal selections, the release said.
The Cookie Crawl starts at The Grove, 71 Orange St. Participating 9th Square businesses on Crown Street include green well being, green well Organic Tea & Coffee, and Gateway Community College. Orange Street businesses include Graffio Jewelers, Neville’s Fashion Design Studio, and Reynolds Fine Arts. Over on Chapel Street, stops include Arpaia Lang, Breathing Room, and Adae Fine Art Academy, English Building Market, Project Storefronts and on Court Street, Infinite Well/Jamuna Bodywork, Luck & Levity Brewshop, the release said.
Participants can pick up bonus cookies at Elm City Market, 777 Chapel St.
Contact Chris Ortwein at chris@downtownnewhaven.com or 203.401.4542 x205 for more information.
"Shine On9 is the final 2012 installment of this collaborative first Friday open-house evening happening every month in this neighborhood famous for innovative art, food, music and experiences. On9 is coordinated by Town Green Special Services District, the City of New Haven’s Department of Arts Culture & Tourism Project Storefronts and the businesses of 9th Square in an effort to create events and spark vitality for the shops & eateries, residences & cultural arts centers in their community"

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