Things to Do – Fall Edition
Written by Alanna Rossi, Illustrations by Jaclyn Simon
Oh, fall. You marvellous season. A welcome reprise from the relentless heat of summer. Fall is time to cozy up indoors and get caught up on things, including that reading list of yours. It’s also a great time to get outside and explore your neighbourhood. Bundle up or get cozy – we’ve curated a list of things to do around home and the city this fall.
Disclaimer: we are not affiliated with any of the things listed below – we just love them!
Things to Read:
Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake
A book all about fungus. Sounds unusual, right? It is, but that’s what makes it so special! Explore the amazing world of fungus and learn about how we’re basically all connected to it in one way or the other.
The Drunken Botanist by Amy Stewart
Enjoy cocktails? Love mixing up your own concoctions? This is part recipe book and part story book. Learn all about the plants that make your favourite drinks unique. You’ll feel extra smart at your next dinner party.
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
Who doesn’t enjoy a spooky read this time of the year? This book takes us to London, England and follows two female protagonists as they navigate through their own time. It has mystery and poisonous plants! What’s not to love?
Gathering Moss by Robin Wall Kimmerer
This book is beautiful and unexpected in the best way possible. It’s a collection of personal essays that encourages the reader to “explore and learn from the elegantly simple lives of mosses.” One of my favourite reads this year.
Remember to support your local bookstores! Here are some great ones to check out in the city:
Things to Play:
This game is perfect – at least in my eyes – and I whole heartily recommend it to everyone. It’s the equivalent of a warm blanket on a cold day and will win you over with it’s story and game play. Perfect for those rainy days when you don’t know what else to do. Go on, visit Stardew Valley. You won’t regret it! Developed by ConcernedApe.
Help a lost map maker find her way home in this wonderful indie adventure game. The art style is incredible and the characters are colourful. You complete puzzles to progress through the world, which you literally piece together. Developed by Sunhead Games.
Things to Visit:
Look Towards the Sun at Dr. Sun Yet Sen Garden
“Look Towards the Sun is an artistic exchange between Lam Wong, a Chinese Canadian diaspora artist from Hong Kong and Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun, an artist of Cowichan and Syilx First Nations ancestry.” Be sure to make a visit to Dr. Sun Yet Sen Chinese Garden this fall to see some incredible paintings. September 23 – December 23.
Every year this festival celebrates the works of authors from around the world. With an array of events to choose from this festival has something for everyone. Authors to check out this year include Anthony Doerr (Cloud Cuckoo Land) and Brit Bennett (The Vanishing Half). The festival runs from October 18 – 24.
A great place to take the kiddos this fall. Visit with goats and chickens and many more farm animal friends. The farm is home to over 200 of them! Make sure to book ahead for your visit.
Things to Make:
A delicious and easy soup for those chillier days. I’ve made this numerous times and fully intend on making it again and again until I can’t stand it (which I doubt will happen). Do yourself a favour and make this soup!
Yes, it’s a little predictable to put a pumpkin recipe on a list for fall, but trust me, it’s worth it. These are so delicious in the morning with your coffee, slathered in butter. Get that oven pre-heating!
Bonus Things:
Craving some fall foliage? Check out Van Dusen Gardens (https://vandusengarden.org ) or UBC Botanical Gardens ( https://botanicalgarden.ubc.ca ) to get your fix. Both are beautiful this time of year. Also worth visiting Stanley Park (which is free to visit!).
Looking to spend some time on the couch? With an abundance of new shows to watch it’s hard to know where to start. Luckily, Leslie over at A Life Well Consumed put together a list of great shows to check out this fall! (https://www.alifewellconsumed.com/best-tv-shows-to-binge-watch-this-fall/ )