33 Things Every New Yorker Should Do This Fall
Gorge yourself on sausages with peppers and Cannolis at the Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy, which runs from September 11th to 21st.
Go apple picking at one of the gorgeous orchards in upstate New York, Connecticut, or New Jersey, where you can wander the grounds picking bushels of your own fruit.
Some good options near New York City include Applewood Orchards & Winery, Barton Orchards, Dr. Davies Farm, and Greig Farm.
Shop at one of New York City’s largest street fairs, the Atlantic Antic. It takes place on September 28th and runs through Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, and Boerum Hill.
Watch an indie film at the New York Film Festival, which runs from September 26th to October 12th.
Take shelter inside a cozy speakeasy. Little Branch is a cozy 1920s-style speakeasy with suspenders-wearing bartenders serving cocktails and house-made ginger beer.
Throw on your fanciest outfit and go see a performance at the Metropolitan Opera House. This season, it's producing famous operas like La Bohème, Carmen, and Le Nozze di Figaro, to name just a few.
Sip steaming hot, spiced apple cider at the Union Square Greenmarket while you pick out fresh produce from the new season.
Dress up like your favorite superhero at the New York Comic Con, which takes place at the Javits Center from October 9th to 12th.
Enjoy a Thanksgiving Turkey sandwich all fall long. You can stick with a classic option at Berkli Parc on the Lower East Side, or try an out-of-the-box sandwich like the Turducken Meatloaf at Astoria's William Hallet.
Go wine tasting on Long Island's North Fork during harvest season.
Stargaze on the High Line on Tuesday evenings through the end of October. The event is free and open to the public, with members of the Amateur Astronomers Association of New York on hand to explain what you're seeing.
Feast to your heart's content at the New York City Wine & Food Festival. It takes place from October 16th to the 19th with parties, seminars, and walk-around tastings.
Check out the Whitney Museum's "Jeff Koons: A Retrospective" exhibition before it travels to Paris. It's going on now until October 19th.
Round up some friends and play a game of touch football in Central or Prospect Park on a lazy Saturday afternoon. You'll have more space since all the summer sunbathers will be gone.
Pamper yourself with a discounted massage or facial during Spa Week. It runs from October 20th to 26th with over 100 venues discounting up to three services of their choosing for $50.
Discover a new restaurant before you're too cold to venture outside — we recommend Estela in NoHo, which serves shareable small appetizers and exceptional entrées like ricotta dumplings.
Beat the holiday season crowds and ice skate at the rink at Rockefeller Center, which officially opens in mid October.
Go pumpkin picking. You can drive to a pumpkin patch in the countryside or stay local and choose your gourd at the Queens County Farm Museum, which is open on weekends in October.
Celebrate Oktoberfest at a New York City beer garden, like The Biergarten at The Standard in the Meatpacking District or the Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden in Astoria.
See the hours for The Biergarten at The Standard and Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden
Exercise your lungs with a good scream at Blood Manor, one of New York City's most epic professional haunted houses.
Grab a hot beverage and stroll through one of New York's beautiful parks while admiring all the fall foliage.
Ogle all the amazing costumes at the Village Halloween Parade, or better yet — dress up and participate. The annual parade heads up 6th avenue from Spring Street to 16th Street, taking over the Village.
Journey to a New York neighborhood you've never been to and try a new ethnic food like the soup dumplings at Nan Xiang Dumpling House in Downtown Flushing.
Tailgate at the Meadowlands. Whether you're a Giants or Jets fan, there's nothing quite like the smell of sausages and steaks wafting through the air on game day.
Here's a guide on parking at the stadium, and check out the New York Jets and Giants season schedules before you go.
Gallery hop in Chelsea. The cool fall weather is the perfect excuse to wear an artsy leather jacket and wander around the neighborhood checking out exhibits.
To see what galleries you want to hit and upcoming exhibitions, check out the Chelsea Gallery Map >
Eat up at New York food trucks before they hibernate this winter. The Cinnamon Snail, Desi Food Truck, El Rey Del Taco, Lechonera La Priana, and Nuchas were all finalists in the 2014 Vendy Awards and well-worth a visit.
Cheer on the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center. They play their first home game on November 3rd.
Picnic at the Storm King Arts Center, an open-air sculpture garden in New Windsor, about an hour and 15 minutes from New York City.
Cheer on the runners at the New York City Marathon, which takes place on November 2nd this year. The race starts in Staten Island, and goes through Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx before ending in Central Park.
Now that the weather is no longer stifling, slurp up a bowl of hot ramen from Ivan Ramen with toppings like pickled bean sprouts, enoki mushrooms, and minced pork.
Visit the Cloisters and take an Instagram-worthy stroll through Fort Tryon Park as the leaves are turning.
See the enormous floats drift by at this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. You can also watch them get inflated at the American Museum of Natural History the night before near Central Park.
And instead of pumpkin pie, pick up a pumpkin donut from Doughnut Plant. It has a light glaze and is topped with spiced pepitas — yum.
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