The semester is underway, Starbucks has Pumpkin Spice lattes back on the menu and desperate singles are complaining about not having a cuddle buddy for those chilly nights. Summer is definitely coming to a close. Here's a list of things to do, books to read and movies to watch this fall.
Outdoor fall fun
If you want to get into the Halloween spirit...
What:Spirits of the Terminal
Where:Buffalo Central Terminal, 495 Paderewski Drive, Buffalo, N.Y.
When:October 19 and 26, November 1-2 from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
Why:Many believe the Central Terminal is haunted. This four-hour tour is in complete darkness - participants are encouraged to bring their own flashlight. Along the way, the tour guide and group "Beyond Ghosts: Parahistorians" tell ghostly stories about the abandoned train station halls and try to make contact with the spirits.
If you want to go apple/pumpkin picking...
What:Becker Farms
Where:Becker Farms, 3724 Quaker Rd., Gasport, N.Y.
When:Because of weather conditions and popularity, call 716-772-2211 for the most up-to-date information about when you can pick your own produce.
Why:Becker Farms is a 340-acre fruit and vegetable farm that sells its products to the public, including apples, pumpkins, berries and hard cider.
If you are adventurous...
What:Canalside Bicycle Tours
Where: Canalside, 44 Prime Street, Buffalo N.Y.
When:First Wednesday of the month, ending on Oct. 2 at 5:30 p.m.
Why:Learn about the nature surrounding the canal from an experienced tour guide while getting a great workout.
Fall movies
Disney's Hocus Pocus(1993)
This classic Halloween movie is a staple on any fall movie list. If you haven't seen it, you weren't a true '90s kid. Bette Midler (Parental Guidance), Sarah Jessica Parker (Glee) and Kathy Najimy (Twisted) are a family of witches brought back to life after 300 years of slumber by a group of teenagers in Salem, Mass. Regardless of how the critics felt about this film (not so great), Hocus Pocus had a massive Disney-cult following that still exists today.
The Great Gatsby (Summer 2013)
This summer blockbuster does F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic Gatsby novel a fair amount of justice and works perfectly as a catalyst for any autumn evening cuddle session. Leonardo DiCaprio (Django Unchained) plays Jay Gatsby, a lavish millionaire with a mysterious past who forms a unique bond with his neighbor Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire, Labor Day). While this story takes place in the summer, these words from the novel echo something important to remember when moving ahead into the new season: "Don't be morbid, life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall."
Insidious 2
No fall movie list is complete without the newest horror flick. This sequel hit theaters on Friday the 13th, a date all horror fanatics should know. Rose Byrne (The Turning) and Patrick Wilson (The Conjuring) return as the parents who saved their child from a paranormal universe named "The Further." The paranormal events, however, have not ceased and follow the family to a new house in this film.
Fall reading list
David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell
This book is expected to hit shelves on Oct. 1. Gladwell is immensely popular with a wide spectrum of readers, particularly college students interested in social science. His texts address current societal issues and trends in America. This book is extremely relevant for students at UB, as Gladwell will be a speaker at UB on Nov. 13 as part of UB's Distinguished Speaker Series.
Legends of the Fall by Jim Harrison
This story is most popular for its 1994 film version starring Brad Pitt (World War Z). That being said, the original story was a novella published in 1979. Both the film and the novella follow the story of three brothers entangled in World War I and a love for the same woman. Set in the rugged landscape of early 20th Century Montana, nature creeps into this story in a way that is perfect for fall. It is short, passionate and legendary in its own right.
Autumnal Tints by Henry David Thoreau
This is the essential essay on the aesthetics of fall. Thoreau takes an approach to describing the colors of leaves, climate changes and atmosphere of autumn that is both poetic and scientific. Now is the perfect time to read this classic before the major changes in the foliage occur. Autumnal Tints can easily be read in one sitting, but it is dense with nuggets of Thoreau's beautiful language and insights that will feed a season of curiosity.
Email: arts@ubspectrum.com
