Autumn in Rockland
For many, the end of summer is a sad event. It means the end of hot, sunny weather, the end of vacations, the end of long days and beach trips, and the end of a host of activities held exclusively in the summertime.
But the fall holds its own charms. Autumn is the season of reflection, the season of harvest, the season of learning. It is a season to be celebrated with books, cooking, and a multitude of activities being held in Rockland.
For the bookishly-inclined, this is the perfect time to read the classics (you KNOW you’ve been promising yourself that you’d read them eventually!). There’s just something about dense, thoughtful prose that’s very cozy. Try revisiting a book you read in high school; you might like it more on your second read-through, now that you’re no longer being forced to read it. I particularly recommend Wuthering Heights, Frankenstein, and Dracula, all of which have a gothic edge that’s in keeping with autumn’s darker days and longer nights.
For those kitchen-dabblers, fall is Cooking Season. But why save your cooking and baking projects for Thanksgiving, when you’ll be under a lot of pressure? Experiment with new comfort food recipes, like mac-and-cheese skillet chicken. And no longer are cookbooks the only source for inspiration; a far more inspiring source in recent years has been the numerous cooking blogs that have popped up all over the internet. Smitten Kitchen is a huge favorite, with delicious recipes and beautifully-written anecdotes. Dorie Greenspan is one of my favorite cookbook writers, and is also beautifully-articulate. And even if you’re only vaguely interested in Parisian sweets and homemade ice cream, David Lebovitz’s blog is a must-visit.
But really, the best way to celebrate fall is to get outside and enjoy the beautiful, crisp weather and surveying nature’s bounty. Rockland Lake and Hook Mountain are gorgeous at this time of year; in fact, I would say that autumn is the very best time to take a stroll down these walking paths. Apple picking is another great way to enjoy the fall foliage (and to gather fresh ingredients for baking apple pies!); Dr. Davies Farm (306 Route 304, Congers; 845-268-7020) is open every day for apple picking, making it a snap to plan a last-minute outing, and if you would like to pick pumpkins, Concklin Orchards (2 South Mountain Rd, Pomona; 845-354-0369) will be the place to go on October weekends. Cooks and locavores will be happy to hear that two local farmers’ markets are now open on Sunday mornings: the Haverstraw Harvest Farmers’ Market (Maple Avenue & New Main Street in Haverstraw Village) and the Valley Cottage Farmers’ Market (1 New Lake Rd, Valley Cottage). At both of these markets you will find rustic breads, local fruits and vegetables, jams and preserves, delicious prepared foods, and fresh flowers.
For some autumnal celebrating, there are options aplenty throughout Rockland. Stop by Nyack on September 25th (10:00-5:00) for one of the village’s famous street fairs, featuring local crafts, street food, and a variety of retail vendors. Bear Mountain State Park will be hosting its annual Oktoberfest on weekends (12:00-6:00) starting now and ending October 2nd (mmm German food and entertainment!). October 2nd is also the day for the Congers Valley Cottage Rotary Italian Festival (11:00-6:00; Congers Station Park), where you can sample a variety of tasty Italian foods. Many more fall events can be found at Rockland Tourism.
So don’t look at fall as a mere prelude to cold, unpleasant weather. Take advantage of the season to catch up on all that reading, cooking, and merrymaking you couldn’t get to this past summer!
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