Falling In Love
By Margaret Lyons in Miscellaneous on Sep 9, 2008 5:52PM
Today's brisk temperatures are a sure sign that fall is almost here. At at the Chicagoist home offices, most of us are excited. Here's what we're most looking forward to before winter actually sets in:
- Hot Cider
- Chicago International Film Festival
- Leaves on the ground
- Buh-bye to summer's high humdity
- Crockpot cooking
- Halloween candy at the office
- My favorite day of fall is the first day you wear a sweatshirt under a jacket. Like, it's too warm to upgrade to the for-reals winter coat, but too cold for just the jean jacket. Mmmm, layers.
- Taking an entire Sunday to make homemade chili
- Dogs playing in leaves
- Seeing little kids walking to school wearing backpacks that are bigger than they are. (So cute)
- Cool enough/warm enough to go for long walks
- Good sales as stores clear out their summer merchandise, bargains galore
- The best thing about fall is enjoying a steamed apple cider that you slowly stir with a cinnamon stick.
- Uggs (or Warmbats) all day, everyday
- Enjoying dark, malty beer again.
- My favorite day of fall is the first one when you sit outside -- in long sleeves -- and drink a totally weather-appropriate warm beverage.
- Let's hear it for the all the good hair days the suddenly less humid air brings.
- The red and yellow leaves, duh
- World Music Festival
- Crisp early morning bike rides
- Hot toddies
- Warm soups
- Shorter days
- Ogling at runners during the Chicago Marathon from the corner of Archer and Halsted
- Cool nights in beer gardens
- Switching to wine
- Hideout Block party
- Football season!
- Baseball playoffs
- Piles of leaves and the snuffleupagus truck that sucks them up
- Scarves
- New notebooks
- Football on in the background while you do other things
- Caramel applesring backpacks that are bigger than they are. (So cute)
- Trading sandals for boots
- Fall television programming
- Hooded sweatshirts.
- Stouts and porters; Related: Pumpkin beers.
- Football (read: socially acceptable to start drinking at noon)
- And I'm probably the only person that likes this, but there's something strangely comforting about being on a Chicago bus on a stormy night with the windows completely fogged and you can't see nothing. It's a kind of cocooning effect.
- Can stop shaving legs
- Changing weather + strong winds => closer to nature, closer to "the Maker" experiences
- Fewer catcalls/less street harassment
- Blanket usage makes sleep feel more legit
- Overcast days = better outdoor photography conditions
- Becomes more acceptable to dress like a slutty ghost/cat lady/accountant
- Increased use of oil keeps the economy going
- Elections => more conscious populace
- Buying XBOX 360 games to play during the winter months. GO XBOX LIVE!
- Making home made soups
- Watching my dog chase leaves in the park
- Dressing in layers
- When someone else lets you wear their sweatshirt. Other people's sweatshirts just feel different.
On a personal note, I moved to Chicago in September lo those many years ago, so every year right around this time, I get super loveydovey about the city. Poke me, I'm soft.