Sunday, September 26, 2010

Fall Favorites

I’m not going to lie, saying goodbye to summer on Thursday was hard. But as we launch into Fall, I’ve put together a list of my favorite things about the season to get myself – and maybe even you – pumped about the months ahead. Here are my Fall faves:

There’s nothing better on those cold Fall or Winter nights than a steaming mug of Sleepy Time Tea (preferably with a dollop of milk and honey!). Maybe it’s psychological– but I always sleep really well when I drink the stuff. 



A good friend introduced me to this annual event several years ago, and I’ve gone religiously every year since. Portland Nursery lines up over fifty apple and pear varieties for taste testing, free to the public. A printed brochure tells you where each variety originated, what the taste is like, and what it’s good for (eating raw, baking, etc.).  Once you get through the tasting and you’ve marked your favorites on the list, you cross you fingers that your starred choices, which often can’t be found in stores, are still available for purchase – and head to the barrels of apples for sale.

Along with the actual tasting, Portland Nursery sets up a mini-farmer’s market complete with fresh apple cider, caramel apples, popcorn, local vendors and more. I always leave the festival with several pounds of my favorite apples for making my favorite applesauce recipe, and of course, for fresh apple pie

3. Galoshes
There’s nothing that bugs me more than getting my pants wet and muddy from walking in the rain (except, perhaps, people with wet and muddy pants and shoes walking through my condo – but that’s a whole other discussion). I think that galoshes are a girl’s best friend when living in a city like Portland. Luckily, there are so many adorable choices to choose from! Presents of Mind on Hawthorne carries some of the cutest selection. I also LOVE this rain boot from Target and this one from Nordstrom.

{Presents of Mind, SE Portland}


In the summer, Sauvie Island is the place to be for berry picking. In fact, it’s one of my all-time favorite places to spend my Saturday mornings during the summer. If you beat the crowds, you get the best crop and can really find a bounty of whatever’s in season. Click here for an example of what I’ve done with my U-pick Sauvie Island Berries.

During the Fall, the crowds continue to flock to Sauvie Island for the annual pumpkin patch and corn maize. In addition to U-pick pumpkins (which are a GREAT deal for pumpkin carving or even Halloween decorating) and the maize (which becomes a haunted maize at night), the area turns into a fall festival with a produce market, activities for kids, hayrides and more. The pumpkin patch is perfect for a date night, family outing, and everything in between.

{Sam & I at the Pumpkin Patch in 2008}


5. Portland Fashion Week
Last but not least, we may not be New York city, but Portland certainly has a style of its own. And no better place to see it than Portland Fashion Week October 6-10. Portland Fashion Week started in 2006 – and you might be surprised to learn that it’s actually the second-longest running fashion week on the West Coast.



I talk about food quite a bit – but I have a slight fashion obsession and love the coverage that Portland Fashion Week generates here in town. I’m continually impressed with the talent this city holds. Now what about you, what are your fall favorites?


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