Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with autumn

quiet beachy birthday romance

pearl228 — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:41:49 -0800

Awesome, romantic getaway in proximity to nyc? Secluded, autumn beach spot preferred... So, I'm looking to take my man on a sweet trip outside of the city for his birthday this weekend. I can rent a car, or we can take a train then rent a car. I was thinking Montauk, which remains a possibility, but would prefer something a little more unexpected if I can figure it out.

Does anyone have any specific suggestions in terms of towns, transport, lodging, and things to do when we're not taking long walks on the beach..?

Thanks in advance!!

Fall Food!

ihavepromisestokeep — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:02:49 -0800

Help me plan a vegetarian, autumn-inspired menu! I'm cooking for a lovely group of friends, all hilarious young women, one vegetarian. We cook for each other about once a month and the meals have been getting more and more impressive!

I know I'm going to make a pumpkin pie for dessert because pumpkin pies are awesome! I love them.

And I wouldn't mind a savory apple dish as part of the main course. And if there is some hint of traditionally-Jewish food that would be good, too. I've been looking into making latkes, but frying things . . . well, that is straight-up tricky for this girl. And I've heard the baked ones aren't so scrumptious.

Simplicity is good.

October book suggestions

CZMR — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:52:42 -0800

Woohoo, it's October! Lets get some Autumn/Halloween reading suggestions! There was this from last year and I thought it was a decent thread but hopefully we can get a few more suggestions.

I'll start off with a few -
Dracula - Bram Stoker
House of Leaves - Mark Z. Danielewski - Although the Leaves in the title doesn't relate to autumn, I kept envisioning it taking place during the fall. And not to mention it is a terrifying novel that will scare you for the Halloween season.

Slowly the west reaches for clothes of new colors ...

jammy — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 07:25:07 -0800

Tell me of your favorite poem to welcome the autumn. This Tuesday, September 22nd, is the Autumn Equinox. I like to read & learn of new poems whenever a new season turns, and then share them with my family & friends.

So! Tell me of your favorite poem to welcome the autumn. As with a similar question previously, it doesn't have to be about autumn directly - themes of harvest & feasting, of balance, of memory & remembrance, etc., are all welcome. For example, Rainer Maria Rilke's Sunset is a poem that powerfully evokes autumn for me.

Beyond pumpkin pie, cider and turkey - your favorite autumn party recipes?

librarianamy — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 06:26:17 -0800

Autumn is almost here where I live! Tell me your favorite autumn party recipes, with some restrictions listed inside. I will be the hostess of a small (less than 15) gathering of friends in a few weeks. By then, autumn will be in full swing here (Western PA in late Oct-early Nov), and I'd like to have a seasonally themed and delicious menu.

Our monthly gatherings usually include one large main dish, a variety of finger-food-esque or salad-ish sides, some snacks, and at least one dessert. And drinks. Both alcoholic and non.

The restrictions are that one of the group has celiac's and at least two others are doing South Beach. So wheat is an issue, though I do have access to a great gluten free bakery, if I had to.

Lawn leaf removal best practices

profwhat — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:02:26 -0800

What is the easiest way to get leaves off of my lawn? (Short of paying someone to do it). Leaf blowers? Ergonomic rakes? Lawn mowers?

Weeklong roadtrip from DC: Should we go to Asheville, NC?

onlyconnect — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:00:52 -0800

Fall road trip before the baby comes: DC to . . . Asheville NC or somewhere else? Our baby girl is due in early March and we'd like to take a week long vacation before she arrives or it gets too hard for me to move around. Planes are out, so we were thinking about a road trip to view the fall colors.

About us: My husband is a vegetarian. We like to bike, though I haven't been doing as much since the pregnancy. We like relaxed, casual vacations where we can mix being active with exploring at our own pace. We like seeing local art, symphonies or other local music, good food is a must, and we like to try different activities. When we went to Maui, we biked down the volcano, did alot of snorkeling, whalewatched and boozecruised, ziplined, and really enjoyed the atmosphere and food in hippie town Paia. (I'm expecting this vacation to involve less athletic pursuits and no alcohol for me, but exciting is still good.)

I've been googling and it seems like Asheville NC might be a good mix for us in terms of food, atmosphere, and local activites. It looks like it's about an 8 hour drive (one way) from our house in the Northern Virginia suburbs. I've checked out the previous AskMes involving Asheville and I have a few questions.

1. Do you think we would like Asheville, or would you suggest someplace else assuming we have about 9 days and a budget of about $1500 to get there, explore, and come back?

2. Do you think we'll find enough veggie-friendly food in Asheville to keep us happy for this long of a stay, or would you recommend somewhere else, or any restaurants in particular? There are a few suggestions here, but I trust AskMe more.

3. Any recommendations for activities in Asheville? I've checked out the local event calendar but am also looking for activities that might not be on that calendar, such as vising the Biltmore, etc. For that matter, does anyone have any particular recommendations about what to do at the Biltmore?

4. Any recommendations about where to stay? I was wondering if a local bed and breakfast might be a better option than one of the bigger hotels; however many of the appealing ones look fairly expensive (though they include really nice breakfasts!). Has anyone stayed at a really great and not too pricey B&B in Asheville? Do you think they would accommodate vegetarian requests? And when you stay at a B&B do you need to socialize alot with the other guests? I saw some advice from another thread about a Priceline deal at the Renaissance for $70/night in 2007 -- should we try that, and anyone know if that's still offered sometimes or of any other good lodging deals?

5. Should we take our bikes or rent bikes once we get there? I don't think we'd bike every day, but maybe a couple of times. Anything we should not miss by bike?

6. If we were going to stop along the way in our drive, would Raleigh or Greensboro NC be a better overnight stay for us? Or maybe Roanoke?

7. Anything else you think we should know or do?

Thanks so much in advance for any advice!

Help me find another great fall book

sevenless — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 23:49:22 -0800

I'm looking for a book to read this month along the lines of Ray Bradbury's "From the Dust Returned." I want the book to feel like autumn. A few years ago I read "From the Dust Returned" during a typical rainy Seattle October. (It was my bus book.) For me it was the perfect combination of atmosphere, nostalgia, characters, loneliness, regret, wistfulness, and a touch of Halloween to make the perfect October fall book. What are some other books along the same lines that would be good for this year? I'm not really looking for a particularly scary or horror novel, but the right one would be fine (e.g. Something Wicked This Way Comes.) The book doesn't have to be by Bradbury. An anthology of (mostly) related stories would be great, but it doesn't have to be that similar.

oh autumn, how do i eat thee?

Jason and Laszlo — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:08:21 -0800

I'm seeing some neat Fall vegetables at farmer's market: rutabaga, squashes of all type, huge Japanese daikon radishes, parsnips, sweet potatoes, lima beans. Let's hear your great (vegetarian) recipes for these weirdo vegetables.

Japan autumn colours in early November?

destrius — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 23:45:20 -0800

Going to Japan over the 1st week of November: where to see autumn colours? I'll be landing in Tokyo on 2nd November this year and I'll probably be spending upwards to a week in Japan. Does anybody know where would be a good place to visit to see the autumn colours (kouyou)?

I've found some online resources (e.g. http://kouyou.nihon-kankou.or.jp/) which give me a rough idea of what areas will be in full "bloom" during the period I'm there, but I get the idea I'll be a few weeks too early for the main autumn colour season. The areas towards the north (Tokohu) will likely be in season, but from what I gather there are less places up there to visit. Currently I'm planning to stay in Nara for a day or two.

Any more general suggestions of places I could visit are very welcome too... this is quite a sudden trip so I haven't really made any concrete plans yet.

Autumn music.

Dreamcast — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:29:13 -0800

What kind of music reminds you of autumn? I've been trying to compile a list of "autumn" music, but I'm having a difficult time trying to figure out exactly what kind of music would give off autumn "vibes". What kind of music reminds you of autumn? I'm looking for anything; specific songs, genres, instruments, et cetera.

As for me, I've found that this song most personifies autumn, but that could just be because it was used for the autumn season in a video game I've played extensively, so I'm not sure if other people would be reminded of autumn, as well. Not sure exactly what style of music that is, but that's the kind of music that reminds me most of the season [as a side question, does anyone know what style of music that song is?]. (Hopefully, it's all right to post that -- the game never had a soundtrack release, so I figure it's all right).

How do I ensure that I stay healthy while spending time outdoors during the winter?

gregb1007 — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 00:41:28 -0800

How do I ensure that I stay healthy while spending time outdoors during the winter? I love being outdoors, walking around the neighborhood, taking the train into town and sauntering along the streets.

However, the cold weather of fall and winter has had the unfortunate effect of turning me into a couch potato. I've started fearing the outdoors because even though I dress in layers and never feel cold, I still manage to get at least a minor case of cold/sore threat. I think it may have to do something with the fact that I walk briskly and work up a sweat. ( That is phenomenon is exacerbated by layers of clothing)

So what should I do to avoid the potential cold/sore threat?
(Btw, I usually wear a coat with a warm sweater underneath, and a hat. Also, sweatpants underneath my khakis when it's really freezing out. When the time comes, gloves and a scarf will come into the equation.)

Help me accessorize this dress for a 3pm fall wedding in CT

RobotHeart — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 08:36:01 -0800

Help me accessorize this dress for a 3pm fall wedding in CT. I have about 10 days to obtain what I need. I got this dress in chocolate. I would have preferred the grape, but it wasn't available. I technically bought it for the wedding, but don't think it's exactly ideal. Nevertheless I bought it -- it'll work for other occasions, and it's one of few dresses that fit properly on my weird little body. (I am 5'3", short-waisted, full in the tummy and also a bit heavy in general, heavy-busted with a pacemaker scar I'm not ashamed of but would prefer not be my primary accessory for the evening. My body can make certain perfectly awesome things look frumpy/matronly. FYI -- I am 23.)

One of the reasons I am not sure it's ideal is that this wedding will be populated, I would guess, mostly by people about 25-35, who are educated but far from stuffy. It's possible the majority of the women will show up in slightly more casual attire, maybe in punchier colors and/or the occasional print.

I'm looking for advice regarding shoes, jewelry, and some kind of sweater etc, nudging me towards slightly more casual. (Oh! And Spanx. I know nothing about them except that I need them to make the awkward transition between my hips and my ass less lumpy.) I'm too klutzy for slitettos and would prefer to keep the majority of my toes covered if I can, because I dislike them, but I understand that's not always stylistically possible :)

I have to be able to obtain these items within about 10 days. You can leave pictures and links along the lines of "this is the kind of thing you'll want to look for when shopping," but bonus points if you can tell me a place to find a particular item on Cleveland (OH)'s east side suburbs. I'm on the Cuyahoga/Lake Cty line, and I'm willing to go as far east as Mentor, and as far south as Solon.

Where to stay for Punkin Chunkin 2007

killerinsideme — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 17:17:26 -0800

PumpkinFilter: Finally, after years of longing, I am attending Punkin Chunkin 2007. I was raised in the area (well, Maryland) and want to show off the awesomeness of Mid-Atlantic+geek+engineer+redneck that is my neck of the woods to my SO. I mean, I am going to be attending regardless with my Whiskey Tango friends, but I would like to be able to make available to him a semi-fancy-pants hotel environment to retire to each night. He can be delicate in unpredictable ways.
I'm all over hotel.com and whatnot trying to find a place, but the cosy special places are never online - they're too small. These are the places I want, of course.
Any ideas? Phone numbers? I would love to wow him with something super-eccentric and local. That is our kind of thing.
(Punkin Chunkin just moved to Bridgeville for 2007, btw.)

late season blooms for bees, please!

oigocosas — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 20:54:51 -0800

i'm in usda zone 9a (napa, ca) and am keeping a colony of honeybees in my back yard. can anyone list some plants that will provide nectar and pollen to these awesome insects as late into the fall and winter as possible? thanks!

Pie Recipes

TwelveTwo — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 14:45:11 -0800

The most delicious pie recipe in the world. Naturally, there's I'm looking to bake a pie. The goal is simple: deliciousness. What is the most delicious pie, and its recipe? I'm looking for something that is made of ingredients that are in season and accessible. (It is fall in the pacific northwest.)

MusicFilter: Looking for songs that are like Yo La Tengo's "Our Way to Fall" or Luna's "Bewitched"

ryecatcher — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 21:24:13 -0800

MusicFilter: Looking for songs that are like Yo La Tengo's "Our Way to Fall" or Luna's "Bewitched" Don't know how best to describe them. Very, um, chilled, relaxed, soothing, dream-like, almost spoken word over a cool beat. Kinda autumnal in quality, I guess.

Maybe a more popular example would be Nick Drake's "Pink Moon."

Don't worry, I barely understand it myself.

Things to do outside in the autumn

La Gata — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 14:14:06 -0800

I'd like suggestions for outdoor activities during autumn. I’d like to spend more time outdoors. I’m asking for suggestions on things to do outside, now that it’s autumn. The suggestions can range from chores to fun activities. The point is to get myself outside.

Thanks.

Big Apple Cider?

themadjuggler — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 12:23:05 -0800

My girlfriend and I miss the countryside of upstate New York where we went to school. Specifically, we long for the region's excellent, home-made, freshly pressed, piping hot, unpasteurized [!] apple cider. We're now in New York City looking for that wonderfully nostalgic autumn taste. Where should we go?

Thrust in the wind

poweredbybeard — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 10:42:02 -0800

Why is there more wind in Autumn? I've always noticed that as summer is ending, the wind picks up considerably. And it seems that all over the web, many, including NASA, agree that there is more wind and more stormy weather in Autumn. But I can't seem to find an explanation why. Is it air pressure? Temperature? The magnetosphere? What?

Tokyo Autumn

skylar — Tue, 18 May 2004 05:01:09 -0800

Can anyone give me some subjective or anecdotal information about the weather in Tokyo during autumn? [more inside...] I'm planning a vacation to Tokyo this year, ideally during September or October. My personal preference is towards warm, dry weather - but apparently that might be hard to find in Japan during this period.

Days of Googling have left me overwhelmed and even more confused than when I started. It seems that the Japanese are even more obsessed with the weather than the English. Perhaps this is because Tokyo seems to suffer more rainfall than London.

June and July is apparently "rainy season", when from what I read it's either unbearably humid and muggy or it's raining.

September marks the start of "typhoon season" - though I haven't been able to discern whether this means it's more or less likely to rain than in June or July. Are typhoons likely to affect the weather in Tokyo?

October seems to be a little calmer, meteorologically speaking - but also cooler... and as stated I prefer the warmer temperatures. Can anyone make sense of this for me? Am I headed for tempest, storm and flood if I choose to visit Tokyo during the early autumn?