The official start of fall is the return of the illustrious Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks. And with its return, a cascade of pumpkin flavored novelties that fill shelves and aisles. Each year fall seems to creep up earlier and earlier, slowly overtaking the last few lackadaisical days of summer. While grocery stores and coffee shops are guilty of prematurely pushing pumpkin-flavored everything, the worst offenders of the season-creep are the hobby stores who operate on a calendar unknown to most. While it is magical to shop for Christmas trees in shorts and flip flops, they need to slow down with the accelerated season changes. Alas, the PSL (for the true fans out there) is here to stay, and instead of foolishly trying to determine the season through the scientific methods of weather pattern changes or a reduction in the number of daylight hours it’s time to embrace the meteorology of Starbucks and jump head-first into embracing fall. Gather the pumpkin candles and pumpkin loaf and crank up the air (since it is still 95 degrees) as we count down the top three things we have missed since the last time the PSL was on the menu.
Fall Clothes
By this time every year summer clothes have lost their luster. The same clothes that were enthusiastically dug out of the closet at the first hint of spring are now faded and covered in summer grime. But now its fall – with riding boots and jeans and quilted vests! Oh and scarves, don’t forget the scarves! The summer wardrobe haze has lifted and Pinterest curated-outfits fill online shopping carts dreams. Rich colors and dark leathers are the perfect fall combination for walking around Sundance Square or attending Friday night football games.
Football Season
There is no reason men need to have a monopoly on enjoying football. Football games, both at the high school and college level, radiate fall. More than just a game, football is a social outing. Tailgating outside of Carter Stadium is more of a culinary experience than a drunken booze fest. And to be fair, tailgating is a bit of a misnomer. From RVs with flat screen TVs to elaborate hand-decorated lawn games, tailgaters informally compete to serve up the best food and the best party. Friendly rivalries established outside the stadium are only over-shadowed by those on the field.
The State Fair
Ok, Ft. Worthers hang on with me for a second. I know the State Fair is in Dallas; however, for the love of all fried food let’s side aside the age old rivalry and unite around the greasy, fried, yummy goodness that is the State Fair of Texas. There is no other place in the world where you can get a deep fried bacon burger on a stick, a side of fried avocado and a large fried sweet tea to wash it all down. Or there is the fried margarita paired with deep fired nachos and fried Jell-O. God Bless Texas. This is the land of (fried) milk and honey.
While the food can be (and most certainly should be) the focal point of a trip to the fair, there are other entertaining sideshows. First, there is Big Tex or Big Tex 2.0 – rest in peace original Big Tex. This mammoth of a cowboy wears jeans with a 27 foot waist and serves as the perfect backdrop for all Instragram posts. For animal lovers there are petting zoos, dog shows and horse shows. There are traditional state farm competitions for quilting, art and baking. Last, but not least, there is the Ferris wheel – so big it has its own name (and Wikipedia page!): The Texas Star. At a staggering 212 feet, the Ferris wheel gives riders a 360 degree birds-eye view of the fair and surrounding downtown Dallas. Bottom line: visit the fair and indulge in all of its fried, caloric goodness!
If Starbucks says it is fall, then let it be fall! Embrace the season (albeit early). Wear jeans and boots. Attend football games and tailgate like a pro. Cross the great Dallas Ft. Worth divide and eat all the fried food at the State Fair. You survived another Texas summer, pat yourself on the back. And as a reward, scoop up some pumpkin ice cream to welcome in the season.
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