Is that an orange leaf? You may still be hovering in front of your oscillating fan, but the gut-wrenchingly hot temperatures are slowly but surely beginning to give way to J. Crew sweaters, apple cider and classic Halloween bashes in the Oak Room. Ah, fall.
Although bobbing for apples and doling out goodie bags chock full of fun-size Snickers bars may be a thing of the past, who’s to say you can’t still have some good, clean fall fun?
On campus or off, there are plenty of things to do to get into the fall spirit, other than stuffing both cheeks with candy corn. Put that pumpkin spice latte down immediately (don’t worry, it’ll still be there later). We may not be 5-year-olds anymore, but fall can still be a good time with the use of a little creativity and inventive thinking.
Read on for the essential ways to catch the fall spirit.
1) S’mores in the Quad
Fall is not really fall until you have a s’more. Don’t hesitate to take advantage of the grills in the Quad. Pick up some skewers and gather around the warm fire to toast the marshmallows. If you’re feeling slightly less adventurous, microwaves are a perfectly acceptable alternative. Just assemble and heat. Consider making some hot cocoa and then spreading out a blanket underneath the stars to devour your treat. Bundle up and head outside at dusk to catch a gorgeous fall sunset.
2) Go apple picking
There are plenty of orchards in the area, so add apple or pumpkin picking to your to-do list. If you opt for pumpkins, host a pumpkin carving contest with your friends. Painting is another option.
If you’re thinking more along the lines of apples, be sure to pick up a variety of juicy McIntosh, Granny Smith, Macoun and New England Red Delicious. Have a taste test to see which type you like best, then cut up the apples and add oatmeal, cinnamon and sugar to create your own apple crisp. Put it right in your microwave or oven. It’s the perfect way to really appreciate the fall when you’re stuck inside studying for economics.
Where to go: Blue Jays Orchard in Bethel, Conn., for apples, pumpkins, apple cider and hay rides; Jones Family Farms in Shelton, Conn., for pumpkins; Silverman’s Farm in Easton, Conn., for pumpkins, apples and tractor-pulled hay rides.
3) See a live band
Fall is a great time to catch your favorite artist performing live or to discover a few new ones. If you haven’t already, head to Web sites such as ticketmaster.com or stubhub.com to see what tickets are still up for grabs. If you don’t have access to a car or don’t want to make the drive, check out local events. The Cosmic Jibaros, a Latin rock band, will be performing Oct. 27 at the Acoustic Café’s Halloween Party . Admission is $7; the café is located at 2926 Fairfield Ave. in Bridgeport. You also might want to check out the Dennis Dunaway Project’s Halloween extravaganza. The rock band will perform with metal group Alice in Chains at the Fairfield Theatre Company (70 Sanford St., in Fairfield); admission is $22. You can wear your costume to this one!
4) Throw a Halloween fiesta
Turn your townhouse, beach house or dorm room into a haunted house. Head to a Halloween store such as Spirit Halloween Superstores in the Trumbull Mall and pick up some masks, garland and spooky decorations for your living space. Buy a cauldron and mix up some punch. Use iTunes to create a spooky playlist and then urge your guests to dress up. If you want to make the mood extremely festive, don’t let anyone in the door who’s not donning a costume. Stock up on candy and have plenty of snacks, perhaps even candy apples, on hand for guests.
5) Bake fall cookies
Homemade cookies are perfect on those nights when you know you’ll need something more than a cup of Barone coffee to stay awake. Use the wonders of Google to find a delicious recipe and then head over to Stop ‘ Shop to purchase the ingredients. If you lack Martha Stewart-esque qualities, head to the refrigerated section and pick up a package or two of slice and bake cookies.
Many brands sell fall- or Halloween-themed cookies. Head back to the lounge or kitchen, pop them in the oven and voila! ‘Tis the season for cookies adorned with leaves and smiling jack-o-lanterns.
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