It’s Halloween week. If you’re still planning or needing help with last-minute things, check out my guide here. There’s a lot going on this weekend!
And here’s a free Halloween printable for the kids from Lauren at Kickstart reading
Reminder: daylight saving time ends Sunday, November 1, so clocks go back an hour. Early risers (hello, little ones!) will be up even earlier, but hopefully off to bed earlier too…
If you haven’t voted yet, Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, and polls are open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Look up your poll site here before you go, and bring the kids along!
The TCS New York City Marathon is Sunday, November 1, and it’s always one of my favorite days to be a New Yorker. For the loudest crowds, head to First Avenue on the Upper East Side around mile 16, or try Fifth Avenue along Central Park near mile 24 for more room. Track runners in real time with the official app, and expect street closures all day.
And if you’re skipping the Halloween festivities to focus on Sunday’s marathon, carb-load at the AMNH Pre-Race Pasta Party on Saturday, October 31, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Enjoy all-you-can-eat pasta plus after-hours access to the planetarium show and the Gems and Minerals halls.
Chelsea Textiles Annual NY Sale: November 11 to 13 at Wallace Hall, St. Ignatius Loyola, with 40 to 80% off. I always find incredible fabric here, and the embroidered pillows make great gifts. Go early in the week.
The Ticking Tent Fall Market: Saturday, November 14, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at oHHo The Old Firehouse in Bedford. The best artisans, antiques dealers and design tastemakers under one tent. It’s the perfect excuse for a fall drive upstate and a chance to get a head start on holiday gifts.
Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre: weekends in Central Park. Little Red’s Hood is a modern twist on the classic, with a phone-obsessed Little Red and a wolf with a sweet tooth. Perfect for ages 3+. Book ahead, since there are no walk-ups!
Canstruction at Brookfield Place: opens October 30 and runs through November 9. Giant sculptures built entirely from canned food, all donated to City Harvest afterward. Grab the kids’ activity sheet, vote for your favorite and bring a can to donate. An easy way to teach kids about giving back!
The Neue Galerie reopens November 12 with Masterworks from the Neue Galerie, a 25th-anniversary show filling the whole Fifth Avenue mansion through January 11. Klimt’s golden Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I is the star, and admission is free on First Friday, November 13. Café Sabarsky is already back open, and it’s a delicious, cozy visit.
In other art news, Art Week NYC: November 11 to 14. The city’s first-ever Art Week brings together more than 76 contemporary galleries, including Gagosian, Hauser & Wirth, David Zwirner and Pace, with openings, gallery walks and artist talks across Chelsea, Tribeca, the LES and the UES.
Even more art worth seeing this month: Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous at The Met, which was one of the best exhibits I’ve seen in a long time. For the full list, here’s my Fall Art in NYC guide.
For kids, there’s a lot of art to catch as well:
MoMA: Saturdays are packed with family programs all month. Drop in for Family Art Making: Exquisite Books (11 a.m.–4 p.m. every Saturday), join a Family Gallery Talk on 3D art for ages 4 to 10 on November 7 and 21, or catch Family Films: Let’s Pretend on November 14 at 2 p.m.
The Nature of Color at Natural History: opens Monday, November 16. A new ticketed exhibition
The Whitney: on Free Second Sunday, November 8, admission is free all day, with all-ages printmaking inspired by Roy Lichtenstein: Like New and a CMOM Pop-up Play Lounge for little ones (reserve free tickets ahead). Families can also drop in to Open Studio on Saturdays, November 14 and 21, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., for a new art-making project each week.
Family First Saturdays at the Morgan Library: Saturday, November 7, 11 a.m. to noon. A cozy picture-book storytime with a thankfulness theme, followed by a short tour or art activity. Best for ages 3 to 7
Eat Up: Elevating Kids’ Nutrition: Sunday, November 15, 2 to 5 p.m., at The Ballroom on 74th. An afternoon of “snacktivities” for preschool and elementary kids, with hands-on cooking classes led by NYC kids’ chefs, a farmers’ market pop-up, and a Harlem Grown taco truck. All proceeds benefit Harlem Grown.
At the top of my list to see in theaters before the Thanksgiving blockbusters arrive: Sense and Sensibility: Daisy Edgar-Jones stars in a fresh take on the Jane Austen classic. You Can See Everything: a documentary that follows Elizabeth Holmes in the weeks before she reported to prison. I’m SO curious about this one.
Personally, I think it’s too soon to be thinking about the holidays, but if you can’t get enough, there’s a lot opening this month. The Rockettes kicks things off (pun intended!) when they return to Radio City on November 4, through January 4. Tickets go fast. The Rockefeller Center tree arrives Saturday, November 7. The Grand Central Holiday Fair opens November 9, the Holiday Train Show at NYBG on November 14, and NYCB’s George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker on November 27. (I’ll be coming out soon with this year’s holiday guide, so stay tuned for that!)
And looking wayyy ahead to spring, but worth getting tickets now:
Paddington The Musical: previews start March 30
The Sound of Music: a Lincoln Center Theater revival starring Jasmine Amy Rogers, with previews starting March 23
Calvin Harris at Barclays Center: Friday, April 9
I can’t tell if this belongs in my May I Recommend section or my avoid-at-all-costs section, but having kids flips everything on its head, doesn’t it? After this NYT article, I’m intrigued by Times Square’s two rival singing diners, Ellen’s Stardust Diner and newcomer Diner24. I know my kids would love it, especially Diner24’s milkshakes topped with a slice of cake and the insanely large hot dogs. Should I go and report back or have I lost my mind?!
This podcast is an absolute must-listen, even if you’re not in real estate. It’s a true masterclass in grit and hustle. It’s so good, I plan to listen again.
Reformation is crushing it these days. Holiday dressing solved: these pants (purple!), velvet jacket and love this coat. A great black-tie option. Also, my all-time favorite cardigan is in so many colors.
Holy, Mestiza!! It’s all so so good: this sparkle knit, incredible skirt, dress and a black-tie gown of my dreams
And some other really great fall items I have my eye on:
Boot season is upon us, so there’s no better time to upgrade your sock collection, and these are particularly delightful (the colors!).
If this wool blazer doesn’t scream fall, I don’t know what does.
…and how cool is this suede snap jacket (Massimo Dutti for life)
Hot cocoa season, but make it protein. I’ll never be able to cut out chocolate, so this is my happy compromise. Each scoop has 25g of protein, and stirred into warm milk, it’s delicious.
If you loved Lessons in Chemistry as much as I did, you’ll want to grab her new novel, out now. It’s set in 1982 Manhattan, and I’ve heard it’s smart, funny and oh-so New York. Can’t wait to read it!
Charmspring Create Kits: my new secret weapon for meals out. We brought one to a restaurant, and the kids were so happily busy that my husband and I actually had a full conversation (a small miracle!). The Pocket Create Kits are easy to toss in your bag, and the holiday themes make great stocking stuffers.
Stay tuned: next week, I’m so excited to share my Thanksgiving guide with you all!
Gifts for you (and for me!) Loving About & Out? The best way to support it is to share it with your community. This November, would you consider sharing About & Out in your text group chats, class chats or on your Instagram Stories? Just snap a screenshot of your share and send it my way (you can simply reply to this email). As a HUGE thank you, I’ll send you two pairs of PJs! Include your size, design choice and mailing address, and they’ll be on their way. Thank you!!