Apple Picking in NY!

 

So I know there aren’t too many places in the city to visit for apple picking, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from the experience! I found a few places that are pretty close to the city:

Applewood Orchards & Winery

Choose from ten kinds of apples—Macintosh, Cortland, Rome Beauty, Red Delicious, Empire, Macoun, Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, Jonagold and Golden Delicious—at this upstate farm, which also sports a lush pumpkin patch, herb and rose gardens, and a general store stocked with myriad jams and jellies. While the kids enjoy weekend hayrides, puppet shows and visiting with live chickens, bunnies and sheep, parents can savor the on-site winery (just be sure to pick a designated driver!). The town of Warwick is also home to Applefest (warwickapplefest.com), which takes place on Sunday, October 5, and features live music, crafts and a highly competitive apple-pie-baking contest. 82 Four Corners Rd, Warwick (845-986-1684, applewoodorchards.com). Daily 9am-5pm September 6 through late October. $28 for a half bushel

 

Barton Orchards

An over 220-year-old white oak marks the center of this 122-acre farm filled with 25 apple varieties—everything from Cortland to Macintosh. Even if your kids aren't big on pommes, they can still enjoy a petting zoo, weekend hayrides and a five-acre corn maze (this year's theme is Mazes in the Movies). 63 Apple Tree Ln, Poughquag (845-227-2306, bartonorchards.com). Monday-Friday 9am–5pm, Saturday-Sunday 9am-6pm through Oct 31. General admission $3, children under 2 free (includes petting zoo, hayrides, kids' special events); Fun Pass $9.50, (includes admission, corn maze, haunted house and family theme park). Apples: $1.49 per pound

 

Lawrence Farms Orchards

In addition to over a dozen types of apples including Empire, Cortland, Macintosh, Macoun, Jonagold, Fuji, Granny Smith, and Red and Golden Delicious apples, this Newburgh farm cultivates a cornucopia of other fruits and vegetables. From late September through October, pears, yellow peaches, grapes, sweet corn, tomatoes, pumpkins and other natural bounty are in season. 306 Frozen Ridge Rd, Newburgh (845-562-4268, lawrencefarmsorchards.com). Daily 9am–4pm through Nov 23. $3 per person, children under 2 free. Call for produce pricing.

 

Stone Ridge Orchard

There have been fruit-bearing trees here for more than 200 years, but the farm's approach to sustainability is very 21st-century. Eco-friendly practices like minimal pesticide use and substituting mulch for synthetic fertilizers helped the orchard get certified by Eco Apple, a program of the organic/fair trade nonprofit Red Tomato. You'll find kid-oriented activities here, including a pumpkin house to visit. But Stone Ridge is, primarily, apple-crazy: There are more than a dozen kinds of organic apples for visitors to pick—including classics like McIntosh, Cortland and Stayman—but much of the land has been given over to newer breeds growing on smaller, more densely planted trees, which manager Elizabeth Ryan says puts less stress on the soil and produces bigger and sweeter fruit. Take a bite and judge for yourselves. 3012 Rte 213, Stone Ridge (845-687-2587, stoneridgeorchard.us). Daily 9am–5pm Labor Day Weekend through late October. $9 for a five-pound bag, $17 for a 10-pound bag, $20 for a 27-pound bag.

MRS

I LOVE Fall in NYC!

The air is crisp, the sky is blue, and the sceneries are painted with brilliant shades of red, yellow, orange and gold. Autumn is the perfect season to be in NYC! There are so many things to do from seeing a Broadway show, to eating at a scenic restaurant to ice skating in central park. This is my absolute favorite time of year.

 Things to do in September

The NYC Big Flea – Taking place in Hell’s Kitchen on 9/27 and 9/28. The Big Flea Market is exactly what the name suggests. And it's not just big—it's the largest antique market in Manhattan. With more than 600 vendors of vintage clothing, kooky jewelry, mint-condition furniture and bottomless amounts of fine art, there's a lot to look at, and you're bound to find a deal. This year, it'll take up almost the entirety of Pier 94.

Kayak on the Hudson – This Free event takes place in Riverside park pier by W 70^th St. From 9/20-9/28.  Nothing strengthens a friendship like wading into water and having to count on your bud to keep a skinny canoe afloat, so bring your comrade along to kayak on the Hudson. You'll get to go out on the water for 20-minute sessions, after a brief lesson of course—just enough time to bond before your arms get tired.

Coney Island Circus Sideshow – 9/27 and 9/28 One of the last of its kind, this ten-act extravaganza of human oddities aims to satisfy nostalgic and progressive temperaments alike. Now in its 29th season, the iconic spectacle adds a footnote to the controversial freak-show conversation by celebrating the talents of those “born different.” The lineup includes contortionists, sword swallowers, fire eaters and escape artists.

Things to do in October

The Haunted Pumpkin Garden – Starting 9/20 – 10/ 31 Botanical Gardens Bronx, NY. Halloween junkies can get their spooky fix in this scary patch of the Children’s Adventure Garden filled with frightening spirits lurking in between the gourds. Weekend programming includes parades, where kids can get some extra mileage out of their costumes. Older visitors can enjoy sessions such as a pumpkin-carving demo with Ray Villafane.

The Rink at Rockefeller Center  - Opens 10/11 to 12/31 Even if the sidewalks are overrun with tourists, you’ll have ample room to skate at the city’s most iconic rink; only 150 people are allowed on the ice at once (so that also means you should prepare for a bit of a wait). RECOMMENDED: More rinks for ice skating in NYC.

NYC Food and Wine Festival – Various Locations 10/15-10/19. Tickets range from $20-$350. The Food Network's epicurean fete is back for its sixth edition. Wildly popular signature events include a Burger Bash with Rachael Ray, and “Tacos & Tequila,” hosted by Bobby Flay. Also on the roster are spankin'-new events including a Jets + Chefs tailgate hosted by Mario Batali and hall-of-famer Joe Namath, featuring game-day cooking demonstrations by Rocco DiSpirito and Andrew Zimmern, and meet-and-greets with former NFLers Bruce Harper, Marty Lyons and Wesley Walker. Tickets are currently on sale, but big-name events—including the Burger Bash, Masaharu Morimoto's "Rockin' Dumplings and Rollin' Sushi" and Dale Talde's dim sum party at Buddakan—tend to sell out quickly, so snag one while you can. Proceeds will go to Food Bank for New York City and Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign.

 

MRS