Fall comes in quietly to New York City. One day I’m wondering if I’m going to suffocate on the subway due to the insane humidity combined with the body heat of my fellow passengers, and the next night I walk out of subway station and into air that feels unbelievably crisp. The next day, I promise, I’ll remember to bring a sweater. New York City is at its best in the fall. Everyone is buzzing around with a renewed sense of purpose, like everyone is a school kid starting afresh in a new school year. One of my favorite New York fall experiences is the shopping. It doesn’t matter if your budget is H&M or Chanel, fall is the best season to buy clothes. I usually take a couple of Saturdays to hit the best zones in the city. One Saturday I spend in Brooklyn. I go to Williamsburg for funky little boutiques mixed in with some chain stores that I know will have great basics. Greenpoint has amazing little vintage and secondhand stores. This year I’ll be looking for kitten heels and small, ladlylike purses. The next Saturday I’ll start out around 34th street, home to my favorite H&M. Then I’ll head down to SoHo to window shop. The second great thing about New York in the fall is the beginning of a new theater season. During the dog days of summer the Times has kept me updated on the new shows ready to open up. I try to hit a mix of off-Broadway, musicals, and straight plays. As the new plays suck up all the attention I’ll take in last years darlings that I somehow missed. My last favorite fall ritual in the city are the author tours. Fall is a big time in book publishing, and the publishing houses send some authors out on tour. New York is a natural starting place. So the days of heading down to the shore for the weekend are over, but with so much to do in New York in the autumn who can complain?
