7 Things Every New Yorker Should Do This Fall

Autumn in New York! The leaves! The light jackets, the cider at our fingertips! Besides all of the classic, lovely Fall traditions such as searching for the perfect Halloween costume and switching over from iced coffee to pumpkin spice lattes, there are plenty of ways to embrace Autumn in New York. And because this wonderful weather has an expiration date, we suggest beginning the festivities soon, that way you can make the most out of this sweater weather. From apple picking to Broadway openings, here are 7 Things Every New Yorker Should Do This Fall.

1. Go Apple Picking/ Pumpkin Picking

One of the great things New Yorker’s have available to them are the hundreds of fruit orchards located in upstate New York. This season in particular is best for apple, blackberry, and pumpkin picking (or rather, pumpkin hauling). Most orchards require a day-trip out of the city, but as the upstate foliage is opening up to its fall shades, venturing out of the city is definitely worth the time and effort. Plus, a change of scene can be good for the soul. And for those of you mourning the end of summer (hey, we are too!) then a step into fall’s aesthetically pleasing landscape can do the heart some good. Here is a list of New York’s best options for apple orchards and pumpkin patches this fall. And be sure to check out the orchards surrounding areas, as there are plenty of great restaurants and other tourism spots to check out along the way.

2. Attend a Beer Festival

Even though most of us can’t make it over to Munich for the true Oktoberfest experience, there are plenty of beer events to get us through the fall, or at least make it a little more fun. In addition to the dozens of tastings that occur throughout the city every weekend, there are two premier festivals taking place in NYC this fall. The New York Craft Beer Festival has changed its dates, and will be taking place over Halloween weekend. You know what that means? Costume contest. So if your Halloweekend is still unplanned, we think this would be a great event to attend. Later in November is Cider Week, where dozens of breweries will be hosting events throughout the city to celebrate beer’s sweetest sister. If you can’t make it to either festival, here is a list of outer borough breweries that offer tastings year-round. Trust us, you don’t have to venture very far for a great, top-of-the-line brew.

3. See a New Broadway Show

For a fancier night out this Fall, head over to Broadway for two highly anticipated openings.  Spring Awakening, produced by Deaf West Theater, has just extended it’s stay on Broadway to include a few more weeks. This production of Spring Awakening will be performed in sign language while being sang/spoken in English. The story, of curious, compelling characters navigating the throes of their respective sexual and intellectual awakenings, will only benefit from the signing, adding a layer of disclosed complexity to the actions of the cast.

Another show set to open on Broadway this fall is The Color Purple, featuring the incredibly talented powerhouse vocalist Jennifer Hudson, Cynthia Eviro, and Orange is the New Black cast member Danielle Brooks. The story is of Celie’s triumph of the adversity in her world through love, and through finding her own voice. The production, set to premier on November 10th, will be a much more stripped down version of The Color Purple than what Broadway has seen before. But in order to get down into the dark heart of the show’s subject matter, taking the “broadway-ness” out of it may be necessary.

We also suggest seeing: Eclipsed feat. Lupita Nyong’o, and China Doll feat. Al Pacino

4. Brooklyn Botanical Garden

One of the reasons Fall is a season to celebrate is because the weather is just so amazing compared to the stuffiness of summer, and especially compared to the intense, winter winds. So, while it lasts, we suggest heading over to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. This fall, the garden is partnering with the Noguchi Museum to bring a sculpture installation by Isamu Noguchi. The installation features 18 works, with the centerpiece located in the Japanese Hill And Pond Garden. Each installation is meant to appear as if it came through the landscape naturally, versus being curated by the garden’s long-time curator Dakin hart. We think an afternoon at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens is perfect for a date, or perhaps an outing with the parents, or even by yourself. It doesn’t matter, because when nature is the exhibit, it hardly matters who you see it with.

5. Get Your Foodie On

Brought to you by the Food Network & Cooking Channel, the New York City Wine and Food Festival will celebrate its 8th year of existence this Autumn, bringing together hundreds of chefs, food reviewers, traveling foodies, and native New Yorkers just looking for a good deal on a great bite. Not only does the New York City Wine & Food Festival offer dinner deals, tastings, rooftop cocktail hours, and cooking classes, but all proceeds from the Festival will benefit thousands of New Yorkers suffering from hunger. What better way to give back than to stuff your face with some of the best food the city will offer all year? It sounds like a win/win for us. Be sure to check out the full list of events prior to the day you’re wanting to take part in the festivities, as tickets will certainly sell out fast. 

6. Storm King Art Center

Besides hitting up an orchard this fall, we think venturing to the outdoors a second (or perhaps even third) time is definitely worth it for the sights you’ll see. One site in particular that never disappoints visitors is the Storm King Art Center, located in the Lower Hudson Valley. Not only is Storm King Arts Center one of the world’s leading sculpture parks, but it’s located in a 500-acre landscape of hills, forests, and woodlands, providing the perfect backdrop to the works of some of incredible artists. There are over 100 sculptures located throughout the center, so we suggest setting aside an entire day to get through it. Feel free to pack a picnic to enjoy in a few designated areas, but there is also a cafe on site. We suggest renting a bike once you’re there, since there is so much to see at Storm King it’s impossible to see everything in one visit. But with the help of a bike, you can at least ride past the sculptures you don’t get a chance to see up close. Bring a camera, because this place is really, really cool.

7. Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade

…I really want a dog. So please, allow me to live vicariously through you, and attend perhaps the cutest annual event in NYC: the Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade. CNN calls this the biggest dog parade in the world, so it’s a pretty big deal. Man’s best friend and their owners are invited to dress in their most festive, creative, and adorable attire. In addition to letting your pooch walk amongst some spooky and fashion forward canines, there will be a costume contest, where owners can enter their pets to win thousands of dollars in treats. I mean prizes. There’s no need to pre-register, just go to have fun. Though, you have to be present at the end of the parade to collect your winnings if you’re one of the lucky few to stand out from the pack. Sick of these pawful dog puns? HA!