Finneran: Of Topsfield And Tomatoes
Tom Finneran, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™
Finneran: Of Topsfield And Tomatoes
The days grow shorter. Nights have a nip in the air. Ocean waters carry a seasonal chill.
But it’s only September and you can push back in a hundred ways..........
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTTake a look at those tomatoes on the right. My brother-in-law had a good harvest this year---a lot better than mine---and he has generously shared the excess with me.
A sprinkle of sea salt, a slice of extra sharp Vermont cheddar, and about five minutes under the broiler gives you a little taste of heaven on earth.
Even into October you can harvest the green tomatoes on your vines. You can let them slowly ripen in a brown lunch bag or you can slice them, bread them, and fry them as is. Recipes abound. Delicious.
Apples are also in abundance. How about some tangy fresh-picked McIntosh apples? There are many great varieties but in my book fresh Macs are the best.
I planted my own pie pumpkins too late this year so I’m out of luck with a home harvest. My Plan B is a trip to a local fruit center or farmer’s market for such pumpkins and then to make a soup stock from those orange beauties. The aroma of a simmering soup dish on some cold winter evening will bring even more good cheer than a vodka gimlet. Healthier too.
A leading public figure here in Massachusetts---not to be identified in this space---is a foodie. Given his crazy schedule it is impossible for him to tend to a serious garden. His alternate arrangement is to have a friend handle the nurture and harvest of a lot of tomato plants. He then sets aside a late summer or early fall weekend for converting that harvest into many jars of tomato sauce, to be shared 50-50 with his friend. It’s an arrangement that works well for all parties, so well in fact that they each look forward to blizzard forecasts for breaking out the bounty of summer. A couple of jars of sauce on low simmer for several hours will fill their homes with heaven’s scents. Appetites sharpen and a good round of snow shoveling seems like a walk in the park.
Keep an eye on those 10 day forecasts. They can give you a little preview of good weather ahead, allowing you to schedule some fall golf with friends. I’ve golfed as late as Thanksgiving weekend and I have some friends---admittedly crazy---who have made it into December a few times.
Warm afternoons can entice you into late-season swims. I regularly swim in the ocean in October, the only adjustment from a summer swim being the need for a post-swim hooded sweatshirt.
Agricultural fairs are a great New England tradition and a boatload of fun. The Big E serves Western Massachusetts communities and the Topsfield Fair handles Greater Boston visitors. Tractor pulls, poultry competitions, amusement rides, livestock, the Clydesdales, and creative food vendors provide a great day of entertainment for all ages. I’ve taken the grandchildren for several years, often letting them play hooky for a day away from school. Don’t say a word but I’m likely to surprise them again this year. Topsfield never gets old.
One last thought---visit the bee house at Topsfield. Local honey, hand-made soaps and candles, and some very nice people make it a special place. Talk to the beekeepers. They love their bees and people too. Ask questions. Buy some honey. And admire Nature’s nicest and hardest-working creatures.
Summer lingers. Enjoy.
20 Things to Look Forward to This Fall in New England - 2018
Pumpkin Picking at Jaswell's Farm
Smithfield, RI
The fall season signifies the return of pumpkins. Pumpkin beer, pumpkin pie and most of all pumpkin picking.
Pumpkin picking is a timeless event for families, especially those with young kids who will love to just run around and grab whichever pumpkin looks good to them.
Leaf Peeping at Green Mountain National Forest
Stowe, Vermont
One of the cool things about the fall season is the leaves on the trees and the colors that they change too.
According to smokeymountain.com, prime foliage season in New England is late September into early October.
Look forward to an enjoyable walk around the neighborhood and see how many different colors you can pick out, or just enjoy the beauty.
West Springfield, MA
The Big E in West Springfield, Massachusetts features a circus spectacular, Mardi Gras parade, agricultural competitions, arts & crafts, food contests, live music, and midway.
The Big runs from September 14 to September 30.
Great Pumpkin Nights at the EcoTarium
Worcester, MA
The Great Pumpkin Festival at the EcoTarium in Worcester is a must attend this fall in New England.
The event features more than 1000 carved pumpkins, live entertainment, family fun with trick-or-treating, displays and more.
Sam Adams Octoberfest Beer
Across New England
One of the fun things about the changing of seasons is the changing of beer flavors and with fall comes Sam Adams Octoberfest.
The Oktoberfest idea was born in 1810 when Munich celebrated the Crown Prince's wedding with a 16-day party with a special beer.
Sam Adams builds off of that idea with a beer that is perfect for the season.
Boston, MA
The Phantom Gourmet Food Festival is an event to look forward too and it will be held on September 22 from 12- 4 p.m. on two streets next to Fenway Park.
Tickets are $40 in advance and online and will go up to $50 at the event.
The ticket includes sampling 100 of Phantom's foods from hot dogs and pizza to pulled pork and more. Beer and wine will be served on the street.
The New England Patriots Return
Foxboro, MA
The NFL returns and that means that the New England Patriots are back.
The Patriots have won two of the last four Super Bowls and are among the favorites to win another one this season.
The Patriots kick off their season on Sunday, September 9 at 1 p.m. against the Houston Texans.
Apple Picking at Burtt's Apple Orchard
Cabot, Vermont
A great fall family event, especially those with young kids, is apple picking.
Nothing more fun than grabbing the nicest looking apple that you can find, giving it a quick wash off and then biting into it. Delicious.
Columbus Day Festival on Federal Hill
Providence, RI
Filled with great music and even better food, the Columbus Day Festival is a fall event to look forward to every season.
The feast will take place from October 6 through October 8.
Fall Boat Ride to Block Island
Block Island, RI
Though the summer weather is winding down, there is still great weather coming and great opportunities to get on the ferry and head over to Block Island for the day, or maybe even multiple days.
Fall trips to Block Island are something to look forward too.
Click here for more information.
Wearing Fleece
For those nights, or days, where it's just a bit cooler out, there is nothing more comfortable than throwing on a fleece jacket and settling in for a fun day ahead.
The arrival of fall means it's time to start breaking those jackets out.
Drinking Apple Cider From Pippin Orchard
Cranston, RI
Can't you already taste it? The sweet taste of apple cider returns with the fall season.
Head over to your local market and buy some, or maybe you know how to make your own or have your own recipe. Either way, drinking apple cider is something to look forward too.
Attend Waterfire in Providence
Providence, RI
Summer may be nearing the end, but Waterfire continues into the fall.
Waterfire is the premiere event in Providence and if you haven't gotten to one yet during the summer or fall season, now is the time to plan.
Waterfire is a great night out with different vendors, music and other entertainment lining the city streets while the river is lit up by the fire. For a really romantic and fun night, hop on a gondola ride.
The Return of Your Favorite TV Shows
One of the down sides of summer is that there is very little to watch on TV as far as new shows go. Thank goodness for Netflix and or HBO on demand.
However, the return of the fall season means the return of all the popular TV shows like Gotham, Game of Thrones, Arrow and several others.
Look forward to having something to watch at night after a long day at work.
Celebrating Halloween at Factory of Terror
Worcester, MA
Who isn't looking forward to celebrating the Halloween season at the Factory of Terror in Worcester?
The Factory of Terror consists of five different attractions including Dracula's HIdeaway, Phobia Mayhem, Zombie Alley and much more.
Fall Golf at Harbor Lights
Warwick, RI
The end of Summer does not mean the end of golf season.
The fall is a great time of year for golfing at Harbor Lights or any of the courses across the state.
The fall offers some of the best-golfing weather of the year, not too hot and not too cold.
Golf season has not left.
Harpoon Brewery Oktoberfest in Boston
Boston, MA
Harpoon Brewery will hold their 28th annual Octoberfest from September 28 through September 29.
The event will feature Harpoon brews, bratwursts, chicken dancing and German chocolate cake eating contests as well as Oompah music.
Harpoon Brewery is located at 306 Northern Ave in Boston.
Click here for more information or for tickets.
Elton John's Farewell Tour at TD Garden
Boston, MA
Rock n' Roll legend Elton John is bringing his farewell tour to Boston's TD Garden on October 6.
Don't miss out on the opportunity to see one of the greatest of all time sing songs such as "Bennie & the Jets," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," and more.
PHOTO: David Shankbone/wikipedia
Carver, MA
Dive into history at King Richard's Faire, New England's oldest and largest Renaissance Festival and most beloved annual fall event. Dress up, play games and learn a lot at a fair that is a great fall event for the entire family.
The Fair runs from September 1 through October 21.
Click here for more information
Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo
Providence, RI
What better way to spend a fall evening than strolling through Roger Williams Park Zoo and viewing some cool Jack-O-Lanterns.
The Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at Roger Williams Park is a Rhode Island and New England Fall staple featuring thousands of illuminated pumpkins from October 4 to November 4.
