There comes a point in all our lives where society tells us to grow up. For many people that means letting go of your youthful excitement to embrace the illusion of maturity. Nah. Not me. I fight against it every day. I’m a huge proponent of following your passions full throttle. My favorite word might be “possible”. Because ANYTHING is possible when you stop overthinking and let go. If you like something, LOVE it. Even if no one else appears to. You must bask in your happiness. That’s how I feel about Autumn. The perennial #1 in the world seasonal rankings. 

It has everything. The weather is beautiful and mild. The increasingly crisp air feels like spring started dating summer but texts winter at 3am on the low. As soon as the leaves change color, the bbq grills are wheeled back into the garage and your crockpot takes center stage and soup becomes the star of the show. 

There is so much to do and I try to squeeze as many fun activities in as I can. You can too. None of it has to be expensive either. You can simply sit on the front porch and watch the trees slowly change color while sipping a warm cup of coffee (I prefer tea because I’m a REAL man).

If you’re a Halloween nerd like me, schedule all your favorites from The Great Pumpkin to The Halloween Baking Championships. Whisk your imaginary spouse back to the orchard for pumpkins, listen to The Vince Guaraldi Trio while you carve, and debate the best Halloween candy (it’s ALMOND Snickers, by the way).

To me Fall means if you have a comfortable sweater anything is possible. This is my favorite time of the year. Are you a crazy person that likes to leave the house? Well then throw on that scarf you’ve been waiting to rock since you bought it for $13 at Marshall’s and take a stroll through The Boston Common on a brisk Sunday. Go apple picking with your significant other. No significant other? Just lie and say you did. Nobody fact checks.

And don’t miss these two free fall events

Fall into Literary Bliss: Discover Boston’s Book Fair Extravaganza!

Looking for good fall reads? Interested in listening to your favorite authors speak about their work? Would you like to be one of the first to discover exciting new artists? Check out the annual Boston Book Festival taking place at various locations around The Copley Square area smack dab in the middle of Boston’s historic Back Bay. 

Beginning Oct 24-26 venues such as the prestigious Back Bay Events Center and Copley Square Library as well as laid back locales like the open air Copley Square Park play host to 3 days of illuminating events headlined by The Legendary Malcolm Gladwell (BBEC Oct 25) and featuring literary giants including keynote speakers like The Night Watchmen author Louise Erdrich and The Pulitzer Prize winning Sebastian Smee. 
A specific destination of mine would be to head down to The Trinity Church to watch my good friend and wildly accomplished standup comedian and television host Bethany Van Delft present “Fashion, Power and Fighting Back” on Saturday, Oct 26. Welcoming upwards of 25,000 attendees yearly, The BBF is a safe haven for bibliophiles to congregate and share their love of the written word, learn about exciting new authors and maybe even engage in a spirited argument about Judy Blume vs Beverly Cleary. So get your tickets fast and don’t miss the festivities!

Row, Row, Row Your Boat: Celebrating Boston’s Epic Head Of The Charles Regatta!

Boston is home to a myriad of timeless traditions. We take pride in this heritage. As a big city resting right on The Atlantic Ocean we do our best to reinforce our nickname as “The Bay State”. One way we accomplish this is by hosting The Annual Head Of The Charles, the largest 3-day rowing competition in the world. Beginning in 1965 the race, originally to be named “Head Of The River”, was a dream hatched by 2 friends and founders of The Cambridge Boat Club, D’Arcy MacMahon and Howard McIntyre. From 1965 to 1997 the race grew to attract more than 12,000 athletes from all over the globe and spawned 73 different race events and yet organizers thought “We can make this bigger.” After 1997, as the regatta’s popularity continued to skyrocket and subsequently, the price of boat shoes, the extravaganza was inevitably expanded from one to two days. 

Alongside the thrilling races, the event showcases exhibits from boat builders, a rowing and fitness expo, and a variety of sponsors, not to mention plenty of delicious food and drinks. 

Reunion Village, located on the Boston side of the river between the Weeks and Anderson Bridges, buzzes with energy, featuring tents set up by participants and sponsors for a vibrant social and networking scene.

Many university and private boathouses along the river open their doors for visitors, making for a fun experience—plus, many sponsors hand out free goodies!

Where to watch:

• Bridges: The BU Bridge offers great views of the starting line. The Eliot Bridge is the closest bridge to the finish line. The River Street Bridge and Western Avenue Bridge offer views of the Powerhouse Stretch. The Weeks Footbridge is known for its sharp 90-degree turn. 
• Magazine Beach: A quieter place to watch the race, with the launch area near the Riverside Boat Club 
• Herter Park: A wide open space with a Nightshift beer garden and dramatic views of the finish line 
• Reunion Village: A midway point gathering place with a beer garden, live commentary, and snacks 
• Finish Area Launch Site Bar (FALS Bar): A bar located at the finish line with no entry fee 
• Attager Row: A place to browse vendor and sponsor products, buy Regatta merchandise, and test rowing skills on stationary machines 
• Hospitality tents: The Eliot Bridge Enclosure and the Director’s Tent offer private viewing, food, and open bars 
• Weld Exhibition: A popular place for food and beverage sampling and vending 

YouTube: The 2024 Head of the Charles Regatta will be live streamed on YouTube