It’s become commonplace, among residents of the South Fork, to say that October is our favorite time of year. It’s the season of gratitude for peace and quiet. Who doesn’t love the famous slanting sunlight; the relatively empty streets — at least for a few traffic-free seconds after dark while you’re walking your dog under the harvest moon; the blessed tranquillity of the ocean beach when you drive up on your lunch break to look at the waves?
In honor of the official start of autumn on Sunday, we have a few specific suggestions for making the most of every moment of your favorite month.
Pumpkintown? Fun, if there are small children involved. But better by a country mile is Fairview Farm at Mecox. Find it on Horsemill Lane, behind the Mecox Dairy property. Fairview Farm offers a corn maze, as well as a kooky cannon with which kiddos (and youthful adults) can target-shoot with ears of corn, but even better is the homemade food in the farm stand. Try the oh-em-gee-so-good rotisserie duck, fresh-made Bridgehampton potato chips, and gingerbread cookies.
Empire apples. We challenge you to find a more delicious variety of New York State apple (and, as every aficionado knows, New York State apples are the best apples in the world). You can get them straight off the tree at the Milk Pail U-Pick farm on Horsemill Lane — across from Fairview Farm — or buy a half-peck at the Milk Pail shop on the highway in Water Mill. And if you are so moved to make an apple pie, google “Apple Pie by Grandma Opie.” We’ve tried every apple pie in a zillion cookbooks over the years and this is the all-time champion. You are welcome.
The Hamptons International Film Festival. It’s running two full weekends from Oct. 4 to 14, and we’re excited. The opening night feature is a documentary about the longtime Lily Pond Lane homegirl Martha Stewart, an event that promises to be a pinnacle of insider-y, celebrity-packed Hamptons fun. Also, Liev Schreiber is accepting a HIFF award at East Hampton Middle School on Oct. 5.
Cranberries ripening in the bogs. This is a bit of a tricky suggestion for Star readers, since the best cranberry-picking spots are, technically, in public spaces and land preserves, and we cannot, therefore, state in print where you might go out and get some, but IYKYK.
Reconnecting with old friends. With the manic season in the rearview mirror, take a breath and catch up. October’s return of calm is the right moment to have houseguests. Take them out for an old-favorite comfort meal; maybe the linguine in white clam sauce at Sam’s on Newtown Lane in East Hampton. Or an old-favorite annual event, like David Sedaris’s return to Guild Hall on Oct. 5.
Sundowner cocktails with a sweater on. Now that the temperature has fallen, both literally and figuratively, indulge in a seasonal adult beverage in a cozy veranda setting. We suggest a sunset aperitivo from a seasonal curated cocktail menu at the Baker House 1650 in East Hampton Village (check the website for specific evening dates) or happy hour on the porch at the American Hotel in Sag Harbor. Instead of the high-summer mood of elbowing for attention and for a seat, the mood is “just us.” You won’t see Justin Timberlake, but perhaps an old East End pal like Robert Caro or Hugh Jackman will drop by the table for a neighborly chit-chat.