I can safely say that Fall is my favorite season, especially where I live in New York. It’s vibrant, full of life and has an electric atmosphere that is difficult to replicate anywhere else in. Every corner oozes atmosphere, from the uber chic smart Manhattan boutiques to fashionable Soho. I especially love Greenwich Village. The thrift stores are a haven for interesting vintage designer accessories or something a little quirky for the home. There’s genuinely a place for everyone in the city and it’s not just about shopping. The culture is rich and diverse too. There’s plenty of theatre from well-known musicals to soul-searching plays, fringe and real immersive drama! Then there are the museums, if you love art you must visit the Museum of Art, a haven of beauty and artefacts or the Guggenheim even if it’s just to admire the wondrous building. A New York museum is the perfect way to spend a day indulging your senses. Or if you are an architecture lover, like me, just walk around the city and take in the towering buildings both new and old.
Autumnal Sunshine
I definitely feel a sense of relief when the season changes. The hot and sticky summer is long gone; thankfully because summer in the Big Apple is never too comfortable. In autumn, it’s not too cold. The sun does still deliver its warmth but there is a distinct chill in the wind. And suddenly the leafy areas in Manhattan and the suburbs are covered in gold, red, purple and brown hues. Fall makes a stunning backdrop and gives me plenty of reason to go for a brisk walk in Central Park and breathe in the scent of the season change.
I still make sure I cover my exposed skin with Factor 50 because the sun’s rays are strong – even in September, October and November. I want to protect my skin from the elements! Everyone knows, the sun can be a hazard but people do tend to forget that it still has plenty of danger in the latter months of the year. So be sure to wear plenty of sunscreen!
Things To Do
There’s plenty going on in New York during the autumn months. The world celebrates fashion during New York Fashion Week in September and the glitz continues with the New York Film Festival in October. If you prefer to laugh – the Comedy Festival will put a smile on your face and leave your belly aching! My family and I always make sure to enjoy the Halloween festivities – we dress up and decorate the house. Despite no longer being young children my kids still like to get into spirit (literally!). Sometimes we go to the Annual Village Halloween Parade to get involved with all the other revellers and take in the spooky atmosphere while marvelling at the fabulous costumes. Halloween is always fun in New York and if you head up to the Upper East Side and the West Village you’ll see every porch decorated with twinkling pumpkins and witches cauldrons.
While I love shopping in the city, I still like to spend much of my free time with my family so it’s good to know that the Rockerfeller opens its doors for ice skating from the 13th October and the skating continues right the way through winter. So when I want to get into the Christmas spirit, early – there’s nothing like whizzing round the ice and feeling the thrill of the air on my face. During Fall, it’s warm enough to enjoy the ice rink outside so it’s even more important to remember sun protection. Remember – while the sun feels good, it leads to skin damage, premature aging, hyperpigmentation and more serious conditions such as melanoma.
Food
Of course, food changes as the season changes and the autumn brings a wealth of different flavors and ingredients that start to appear in the 54 New York Farmers’ Markets. I particularly like the one in Union Square, Greenwich Market. The food stores and restaurant menus change their offering to reflect the season. It’s a great time to be a food lover because you get to experience new dishes and welcome back old favorites. Fall is season of Halloween and Thanksgiving which is when gorgeously tasty dishes appear; pumpkin soup, roast butternut squash, plenty of flavorsome root vegetables – sweet yet savoury recipes. Roast sweet potatoes are full of goodness, tangy and filling but still healthy and appetizing. I simply love the food that’s associated with this season!
Lingering Lunches
As well as cooking using fresh ingredients that I buy from one of the Farmers’ Markets close to my home, I adore having lunch with my girlfriends. I find it’s still often warm enough to sip cappuccinos outside and watch the world go by while catching up on my friends’ news. I’m very conscious of protecting my skin, as you know. Here I’m wearing one of my absolute must-haves, a long sleeve dress that I bought from Zara. It’s great for a casual lunch out but can easily be dressed up when necessary. It’s one of those dresses that just works season after season, plus the long sleeves mean I don’t get any sunburn if it is a hot day and if it’s cool, it keeps me warm enough. I am a big fan of hats and not only in summer time when you’ll always find me hidden under a broad brim with my sunglasses. Hats are for all year round and here I am wearing my Rag and Bone hat which protects my skin from the rays. I love my oversized Gucci bag, it’s big enough for all my necessities, always looks chic and is a timeless classic – plus it sparkles delightfully in the daylight!
So now you know why Fall is my favorite season, I have to hold on to it as long as I can because it won’t be long before I’m wrapped up in cashmere and a thick, floor-sweeping coat feeling cold!
