Fall Fun List
On the heels of yesterday’s post about the difficult transition from summer to fall, an idea: Yesterday I continued to complain about the end of summer fun (and all fun, ever!) to my friend Kim. She sat in our cozy, candlelit neighborhood meeting spot wearing an aubergine cowl neck sweater. The Velvet Underground was playing on the jukebox, and Kim was sipping whiskey at the dark wood bar. The seductive elements of fall were all present, which, for the first time since September rolled in, made me susceptible rather than resistant to Kim’s brilliantly simple idea. We will make a list of fall fun, she said, just as we do on the first hot, sunny day of the summer, sitting outside at a restaurant, dreaming about all the picnics coming our way. Enough of this mourning what’s lost, I thought looking at her. Time to get on board with the new season.
(I must admit at this point that this change of heart was somewhat precipitated by a trip to IKEA which resulted in many charming additions to my home, including a tray of proud plants on the radiator and a triad of newly framed prints above the bed. If we are about to close the windows and come inside, might as well make inside as nice as possible, right?)
So, even though I don’t totally feel ready for it, and even though this day is so dark and dreary I turned on the living room lamps at noon, I am making a list of fall fun. Once you’ve got the moping out of your system, maybe you, too, will want to chime in?
- Pick apples. (“Picking” them from the farmer’s market counts.)
- Sew cape.
- Try a new cocktail made with whiskey.
- Bake something in little ramekins.
- Roast a Sunday evening chicken.
- Wear oxfords.
- Eat a cider donut. (But since I never do this, sipping plain cider is acceptable.)
- Walk through Central Park on the way to the Met. Pray a saxophonist will be under the elms.
- If no such saxophonist materializes, go listen to jazz.
- Host a soup swap.
- Make something with pumpkin.
- Dahlias. Dahlias, dahlias.
- Work at the long tables in the hushed library.
Autumn oak card available on Etsy
BethP: I think you should combine these into glorious fall Saturday. Work on the cape in the morning; put on oxfords; walk through the park to the farmer’s market and library; buy some apples, pumpkins, dahlias, and cider donut; eat cider donut at long table in library; come home; make whiskey cocktail; bake pumpkie pie (in ramekins??); roast chicken; eat dinner; go to jazz performance (somewhere nearby?).
Hmm, the soup swap is eluding me. Might have to wait for the next day!1 year ago
Emily: Back when I was bartending in Spanish Harlem I created a great whiskey cocktail that I always make during the cold months.
It consists of 2 parts Jack Daniels (so technically a bourbon cocktail i suppose), 1 part blackberry liqeur, and a splash of grapefruit juice. Stir and serve in a martini glass. It’s called a Black Betty and it is delicious! Hope you like it!1 year ago
BethP, You are clearly a woman who likes to get ‘er done! I love this day you’ve created (despite the fact that I definitely need a nap after the whiskey cocktail and pumpkin pie––to say nothing of eating in the library!)
Emily, Love the name! Also, blackberry liqueur with bourbon sounds delish!1 year ago
Adrianna: I love the fall and am quick to embrace it. In fact, I’m sometimes guilty of wishing away a bit of the summer just to get to the fall months. (shame on me!) I love when the air turns crisp and cool and has the smell of changing/falling leaves. I love apple picking and the subsequent baking of apple pie. I love going for long car rides the windows down but the heat turned on just a bit to keep warm. I love Pumpkin Spice Ale and drinking it from a glass rimmed with brown sugar. I love browsing antique shops somehow more in the fall than any other time. And I love the feel good vibes I got from reading your post and leaving this comment.1 year ago
Cadi: 14. Stomp in a pile of leaves, your yard or someone else’s
15. Have a bundled up patio party with the fire pit blazing, and
16. Serve hot apple cider spiked with whiskey and a swirl of caramel sauce
17. Buy new tights to replace any snaggy ones
18. Air out your sweaters on a sunny fall afternoon
Now I’m sad that I have to go back to work, it’s the perfect fall afternoon for all of this!1 year ago
Kanesha: Autumn is my favorite time of year. We are in the process of making our list of crafts and fun foods to prepare for our annual pumpkin carving party.
Kanesha
http://www.itsafullnest.com1 year ago
Kristine: Love your post and your brave attempt to enjoy fall. I am still completely bitter and sulking about the end of summer. I can’t muster up the enthusiasm for fall just yet, but will refer back to your list when i come out of my sulk-fest.1 year ago
Dayna: So many great posts. Rut vs stuck has had me thinking. Now, happily, a reason to get out of the rut (or am I stuck?) and stop bemoaning the passing of summer (my favorite season).
I will add “Buy new knee socks to go with the boots I love and haven’t worn for months” to the list. Ah, feeling better already.1 year ago
Rachel: Hi Sarah, I’ve been reading your blog for a while, and love your evocative writing style. This post got me excited for autumn (I can’t believe summer is almost over). Walking through Central Park, admiring the changing leaves, is always a favorite. Or listening to Billie Holiday’s rendition of “Autumn in New York”.1 year ago
Tricia A: I love this post! I ADORE fall and today I welcomed the jeans and fleece with a big smile! I loved the rainy day stuck inside with the kids while we decorated for Fall (sounds much better than it actually was….lots of yelling!) Love your posts….love the way you describe things and I think…YES! I totally get you! Thank you! Blogging is such an UNthankful biz (even if you only do it for yourself and your sanity) so a BIG shout out to you!1 year ago
art and lemons: Love the Fall list idea! I’m already embracing the seasonal change, with pumpkin pancakes and apple butter (from cider and market apples). I would add a wine and cheese tasting and a visit to Mass MoCA in North Adams (closer to me than the Met) to my list…1 year ago
Bethany: It’s still a never-ending summer here in Oklahoma. Give me until next month, then I can tell you what I love about fall.1 year ago
susan: This is my favorite season, once I get past the part I do not have to go back to school (that haunts me ever year). I have been making applesauce from bags of apples given to me by Margaret Roach. My apartment is smelling like a home.
Walking my dogs and crunching leaves is top of the list.
Nesting is second, eating definitely is third.
HAPPY FALL to all!!1 year ago
Kanesha: Autumn is my favorite time a year. We are in the process of planning our annual pumpkin carving party. So many crafts to be done and so many new recipes to check out.
I just started taking pictures of my favorite neighborhood tree to track the leaves changing colors.
I love your list (and Cadi’s too).1 year ago
Emily: 19. Try the pumpkin pancakes at Tom’s in Brooklyn. Get there by 10:30 or you’ll be in line forever!1 year ago
Diane Carol: 20. going camping in the fall…..no sqeeters! A roaring fire. Lots of blankets for the cool nights….the best.
21. Baking and roasting – when its cold and damp…nothing better than making wonderful dishes for my loved ones! I officially cover the grill for a while!
22. Making your own doughnuts.
23. The smell of burning leaves.
24. Baking bread and making homemade soup.
25. Making homemade noodles for homemade soup!
hmmm….most all of my things revolve around cooking! But, after spending months trying to figure out alternatives to turning on the stove….I’m actually thrilled to be back at my Viking!1 year ago
Franny: I don’t know about everyone else, but as a long-time POP follower, I can say that Autumn is when this blog really shines! So much inspiration!1 year ago
Lillian: “If no such saxophonist materializes…” <—-precisely why I love this blog! (among myriad other reasons!)1 year ago
Sara Rose: For myself, this sadly include “Put away all kids and yard summer stuff” and “All fall yard work to prep for winter”. But excitingly it did include things like making leaves into faux stained glass and starting to paint and carve pumpkins this week!1 year ago
Amy: Did you ever do the soup swap? Any tips? I’m quite in love with soup these days and have other soup-loving friends…just curious if you’d made it happen and had tips for the first time swapper.1 year ago
I decided to put the soup swap off until January, which is apparently Soup Swap Month!1 year ago
tea_austen: I came back to revisit this post because autumn blues are hitting me hard. Thanks for the inspiration. Must go make a list of my own!30 weeks ago