🍁 Your Fall Field Guide: 23 Days of Autumnal Celebrations
Because It's My Favorite Time of the Year!
To say fall is my favorite season is an understatement. While most people around me seem to be relishing the unseasonal 80-degree weather, I’m wearing sweaters, attempting to will a chill into the air. That being said, we hit 53 today on our morning walk, so I’m full-to-the-brim with bliss!
In that spirit (and at the encouragement of my sister, Brooke), I thought I’d share a day-by-day breakdown to get into the spirit of the “ber” months— from your living room, New York City, and beyond.
Day 1: October 9th (yes, I wish I had thought of this in September for the full 31 days, but what can you do!)
🎃 I realize that we’re diving into this out of nowhere, so we’ll start by dimming the lights + watching Dead Poets Society. Bonus points if you start your own literary salon in the weeks to follow!
Day 2: October 10th
☕ Visit your favorite coffee shop and don’t forget your earphones! You’ll be streaming Red or this Autumn in New York playlist while you meander through your local park attempting to peep some foliage.
If you’re in New York City, I recommend:
Birch Coffee’s Spiced Latte
Artara’s Phnom Penh PSL
Enjoying a cozy breakfast at Buvette + taking an Americano to-go for a walk on the Westside Highway
La Cabra (don’t forget one of their one-of-a-kind pastries!)
Abraco’s Espresso Con Panna
Saturn Road (+ making it a NA Dark Matter Martini if you’re going later in the day!)
Day 3: October 11th
We made it to the weekend! I am doing a celebratory Monster Mash—time to take a little day trip to the coziest area within a few hours of home.
☕ Grab a coffee and a breakfast sandwich for your commute. It’s time to hit the road!
🍩 Set out to find a farm with a delightful apple cider donut.
👟 Start your day in nature, finding a hiking trail or walking path to stroll upon in a new-to-you spot.
🧺 Enjoy a picnic lunch in a park. Think sugar maple trees, a babbling brook, or rolling hills for surroundings.
✨ In the nearest town, pop into local shops, window-shop, and inevitably purchase another candle.
🍸 Find a cozy bar or bricked patio + imbibe your favorite sip. May I recommend a boulvardier or hot toddy? If you’re driving, I’d reach for a Phony Negroni.
🖤 Commute home with your heart and belly full, listening to Season of the Witch.
If you’re in New York, may I suggest…
🚜 Visiting Jones Farm for a mouthwatering Sausage, Egg, and Cheese, apple cider donuts, and home knick-knacks?
🎨 Renting bikes + perusing Storm King’s outdoor museum and packing a picnic for their lawn?
🍺 Grabbing a brew at Treasury Cider?
Day 4: October 12
🍠 Hit the farmers market and meal prep for the week using as many seasonal ingredients as you can! It’s root veggie Heaven right about now, so I’m thinking sweet potatoes, parsnip soup, and ratatouille.
Note: My husband and I both look forward to this ratatouille recipe every year!
Day 5: October 13
📖 It’s Monday, and you no doubt need some R&R. Light a few tapered candles, put away your phone, and read a suspense novel by candlelight.
I’ve enjoyed…
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager
Day 6: October 14
👻 Choose something spooky to do in your town! This could mean going to the movies to see a horror flick, visiting an escape room, or taking a lantern-lit ghost story tour.
If you’re in NYC, check out:
Day 7: October 15
🎬 A gothic film and Sofia Coppola? Say no more! Have a solo movie night or invite some friends over to watch The Beguiled.
Day 8: October 16
🤎 Find a caramel apple and savor every bite.
Day 9: October 17
🔮 Take a field trip to an occult store in your area + browse. See if anything ends up tickling your fancy!
In New York, I love Enchantment's hand-carved candles.
Day 10: October 18
🦠 The Blob (1958) is a surprisingly fun movie! Pop some popcorn, get into your comfiest pajamas, and turn it on.
Note: If you want to get out of your house, see what’s playing at your local theater or the Angelika’s Hitchcocktober Fest!
Day 11: October 19
📚 Have your bookish pals over + host a cozy-themed book swap! Anything that has made them feel comforted, joyful, or in the spirit of the season is fair game.
Day 12: October 20
🎃 Pick up a pumpkin on your way home from work! It’s time to get festive. If you want to go all-in with carving, painting, or roasting its seeds— great! But at least put one on your front porch or a mini on your kitchen table to bring a smile to your face.
Day 13: October 21
🧙🏼♀️ Embrace your inner witch and partake in an evening of ritual. It’s the New Moon! This can look different for everyone, but one idea is to…
Light a candle, setting an intention for the month ahead.
Make a list of what you’ve harvested over the last 10 months and choose three ways you’ll celebrate yourself by the November new moon.
Libra is the sign of beauty. Adorn your home with something that brings you joy! A candle in a corner, fresh flowers on your coffee table, or finally organize your closet.
Write yourself a love letter and reread it every night before bed for the next four weeks.
Snuff out the candle, thanking the space.
Day 14: October 22
🧈 Is there anything better than fall baking? Whip up a loaf of pumpkin bread, molasses cookies, or an apple pie.
Not in the mood to bake? In New York, I adore:
A recipe recommendation:
A person I follow on Instagram posted this apple crisp years ago, and I’ve been making it with cranberries every year since!
Day 15: October 23
📚 It’s Kathleen Kelly season! I have to admit, I’m not a fan of You’ve Got Mail because I would rather she had got to keep her bookshop over Tom Hanks, but I digress. Visit a local bookstore and buy a read you feel aligns with your vision for fall, knowing you’ve supported a small business.
Short on funds or just want an excuse to visit? Don’t forget to support your local library!
On my list:
Comfort Me with Apples by Ruth Reichl
Cackle by Rachel Harrison
Just Kids by Patti Smith
You can find more of what I’m reading this fall here.
24 Books On My Fall Reading List
“Are you a mood reader?” I had never before considered this question until my friend Lauren asked me last year after catching a glimpse of my TBR.
Day 16: October 24
🦇 Ditch the Amazon decor and make your own garland this year. You can create paperlink garland + even get fancy doing stars or bats!
Day 17: October 25
🏛️ Much of what I love about autumn is just visiting places I love and having a day spent bopping around in the crisp-weather sunshine. Today, visit a museum you’ve been wanting to see!
Some ideas in New York:
I’m chomping at the bit to visit Downtown/Uptown at Lévy Gorvy Dayan’s gallery.
This day is also the Madison Avenue Gallery Walk on the UES from 10-6.
✨ Don’t forget to sign up for your (free!) Culture Pass through the NYPL. You can often enter city museums + more when you reserve your ticket. ✨
Day 18: October 26
🍲 Host a soup potluck and have each person bring a different kind of soup for the group to try!
What I’d bring…
And a crusty sourdough for dunking, obviously!
Day 19: October 27
🧛🏽 Relish in some mulled wine or hot apple cider in a tumbler and take a walk through your neighborhood looking at all of the spirited decorations.
Day 20: October 28
🖊️ Get creative + try writing a spooky short story. If you need a prompt to start with try, “The lightning struck across the way and I noticed ____.”
Bonus if you invite a couple of friends to take part + share what you wrote afterward!
Day 21: October 29
🫣 Okay, we’re approaching the big day. Lock your doors, turn off your lights, and turn on your favorite horror movie!
Some ones I love:
Horror not your thing? Flip on Practical Magic— and don’t forget your Midnight Margarita!
Day 22: October 30
📺 By now, perhaps you’ve finished Rebecca. Curl up under your most plush blanket, pull down the shades, and watch the Hitchcock version (1940) + the Netflix version (2020) back to back.
Report back with your thoughts!
Day 23: October 31
🎃👻🍬🦇💀🧡 It’s the big day! Grab an Apple Crisp Latte (my favorite over a PSL), dance to this Halloween party playlist on your commute, and prepare for a night of fright. Whether you’re handing out candy, gathering with loved ones over a shared meal, or burning some candles + communing with your ancestors, enjoy the evening.
Only 365 days ‘til next year!
Thanks so much for reading MUSE.ings, it means more than you know that you’re here + enjoying my words! You can order the monthly print newspaper I founded here, follow me on Instagram here, and subscribe by clicking the link below.
this is magnificent ✨ thank you for reminding me of the magic of fall in new york. i live in europe now but have been finding ways to bring bits of east coast autumnal charm to my day to day here x
Literally a perfect list for my favorite season!! 🍁