15 Signs Of Fall In Ditmas Park
Welcome to autumn! The season had its first full day yesterday. In addition to the temperatures (which hit a low of 48 degrees this morning at JFK) there seem to be more and more distinct signs of fall around the neighborhood, making us excited for the cooler days still to come. Check out our list, and tell us about your favorite signs of fall.
15. HOT APPLE CIDER
It’s slowly showing up in a few spots. The Dunkin Donuts on Newkirk Plaza also has it iced, but who wouldn’t prefer a steamy cup of warm cider while waiting on the outdoor platform for the subway?
14. HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS APPEAR AT THE 99 CENT STORES
It seems like each year, S&S 99 Cents Store (1318 Cortelyou Road between Argyle and Rugby Roads) has Halloween decorations and costumes in stock even before the big chain drugstores.
13. WHEN ACORNS ATTACK
If you walk around enough, you probably know which blocks have the most aggressive oak trees, and you cross the street to avoid getting hit in the head by falling acorns.
12. COLD WEATHER CLOTHES APPEAR
The mannequin heads on Newkirk Plaza are wearing wooly hats.
Fur-trimmed clothes are on the racks at Brooklyn Industries (1420 Cortelyou Road on the corner of Marlborough).
Inexpensive sweatshirts move to the front of Bobby’s (1601 Church Avenue on the corner of E 16th Street).
11. AN INCREASE OF BLACK CATS CROSSING YOUR PATH
Or is that just our luck?
10. THE FIRST LEAVES CHANGE COLORS
And you know which blocks have the trees that turn first. The photo up top is from Marlborough near Ditmas, and just above is Rugby between Foster and Glenwood.
9. CANDY GETS CORNY
There’s a dedicated display in every drugstore. It’s 2/$3 right now at the Walgreens (2101 Church Avenue between Flatbush Avenue and Kenmore Place), and they’ve got some version that apparently tastes like s’mores!
8. MUMS ON PORCHES AND DOORSTEPS
First on one porch, then on almost all of them.
And then even in front of businesses, like Ox Cart (1301 Newkirk Avenue on the corner of Argyle Road).
7. DOGS GET PSYCHED FOR HALLOWEEN
Devil dog spotted on Westminster Road!
6. PUMPKIN-FLAVORED EVERYTHING
Five (!) kinds of pumpkin beer at Market (1211 Cortelyou Road between Westminster and Argyle Roads).
5. IVY ON THE SUBWAY WALLS STARTS TURNING RED
Which you notice while waiting for the train, trying to keep warm with your cup of hot cider, of course.
4. SEASONAL PRODUCE APPEARS AT ALL THE MARKETS
The Met (1610 Cortelyou Road between E 16th and E 17th Streets) puts a giant bin of apples out on the sidewalk…
… while Natural Frontier Market (1102 Cortelyou Road on the corner of Stratford) already has brussels sprouts…
…winter squash shows up at the Cortelyou Greenmarket…
… and the Flatbush Food Co-op (1415 Cortelyou Road on the corner of Marlborough) always seems to get the largest butternut squash each year.
3. PUMPKINS ON PORCHES
We’ve already seen two porches with them, and it’s not even October yet!
2. OUR SHADOWS GROW
Which is all you can look at as you walk into the sunlight on Church Avenue.
1. SIDEWALKS ARE LINED WITH LONDON PLANE TREE LEAVES
Block…
…after block…
…after block.