Autumn in New YorkWhy does it seem so inviting?Autumn in New YorkIt spells the thrill of first-nighting
Glittering crowds and shimmering cloudsIn canyons of steelThey’re making me feel I’m home
–Ella Fitzgerald, Autumn in New York
The very first time I visited New York was in November. It was the weekend before Thanksgiving in 2009 and I made my way on Amtrak from D.C. where I was visiting a friend to The Big Apple, getting off at Penn Station. I recall going outside the station in the rain and being in awe of everyone and everything around me. The lights of Times Square made the cloudy Saturday afternoon feel electric.
I will never forget my first time.
I’ve had the pleasure of visiting the city many times since then, and now that my daughter is attending college there, I will be seeing the city more than ever before. A few weeks ago, I made the two-hour flight to NYC for Family Weekend at my daughter’s school and this time my son also traveled from Los Angeles as well to spend time together. My mom joined us from West Palm Beach and it was a mini-family reunion.
Autumn in New York.
What is it that I love about the city during this time of year?
It’s the mellow breeze and mild temperatures that make it comfortably easy to walk the streets. The scent of roasted nuts comes from vendors on each corner, giving you the warmth that is needed as the sun sets. How the leaves with their orange and brown hues tease you as you walk through Central Park. It smells like rain even when there is not a cloud in the sky and the sun is giving you its best side.
It is all of that and more.
It was such a dope experience to spend time with my family walking the streets of The Big Apple during this time of year, and I am awesomely blessed to be able to do it. My mother’s first trip to New York City was capped off with us all being together, walking the Brooklyn Bridge, taking in Rockefeller Center, and enjoying Melba’s in Harlem.
It was the best of times and the best of times.
Summer in New York is hot and sticky and sweaty–fun, yet hardcore for some. Winter in New York is cold and dark and soggy–still a good time, but not so pretty. Spring in New York is fresh and new and vibrant, but a little shallow. Autumn in New York is just right–it gives you all the goodness that it is known for but with a vibrant palette and weather pattern. I highly recommend New York during the fall.
If I could, I would bottle up autumn in New York so that I could enjoy it anytime that I wanted to.
Ella says (and sings) it better than I ever could. Just take it from her.
Want to experience autumn in New York virtually? Here are some films you should watch:
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