Fall Favorites in Lincoln Square

From indulging in pumpkin flavored baked goods to watching spooky movies, Lincoln Square’s businesses and organizations offer a range of fabulous fall activities to enjoy this season.

Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice
Whether you enjoy the taste or the look, pumpkins are a fall staple. For those interested in making a delicious pumpkin dessert or carving the perfect jack-o-lantern, check out Whole Foods Market (10 Columbus Circle), Gourmet Garage (155 West 66th Street), or the Greenmarket at Richard Tucker Park on Thursdays and Saturdays. You’re bound to find a pumpkin to spice up the season. Speaking of spice, Starbucks just celebrated the 20th anniversary of the pumpkin spice latte earlier this week. Stop by to pick one up at one of our local Starbucks locations (1889 Broadway and 141 Amsterdam Avenue).

Sweet Fall Treats
In need of some sweet treats for Halloween? You can get a Bake at Home Halloween Sugar Cookie Kit from Epicerie Boulud (1900 Broadway) shipped right to your home. Each kit includes sugar cookie dough to yield 20 cookies, Halloween cookie cutters, and royal icing for decorating. La Maison du Chocolat, a French chocolatier located in The Shops at Columbus Circle, offers a Halloween Collection in orange boxes, with specialty chocolates like dark chocolate squash seed praline and ghoul shaped confections. For candy to hand out to trick-or-treaters, visit Duane Reade (1889 Broadway) and Target (1863 Broadway).

Seasonal Décor
Lincoln Square is home to several stores that sell seasonal decorations. To get decorating, check out the Halloween and fall collections at Paper Source (10 Columbus Circle), Williams Sonoma’s (10 Columbus Circle) Halloween and Day of the Dead essentials, the Halloween shop at Pottery Barn (1965 Broadway), West Elm’s (1870 Broadway) Halloween collection, the American Folk Art Museum’s (2 Lincoln Square) Halloween collection, and fall décor from Raymour & Flanigan (1961 Broadway).

Family Fun
On the hunt for some fun, kid-friendly activities? The Riverside Library (127 Amsterdam Avenue) hosts Movie Monday each week at 3:15pm for children 3 – 12 years old, and this month, the movies are Halloween themed. Advanced registration is not required, but seating is very limited and on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to arrive early.

The Museum of Arts and Design (2 Columbus Circle) is offering a few workshops in October for everyone 10 and up. Join the museum on Friday, October 13, to make Handcrafted Puppets with J Hann ($25 per person for the general public and $15 for members) and on Sunday, October 15, to make a fashion statement bag or top at Fashion Creativity Lab ($50 per person for the general public and $40 for members).

Later in the month, on Saturday, October 28, join the West Side YMCA for their annual Halloween celebration. The Boo Fest will include music, games, face paint, activities, and more. Tickets are $5 per person, but children under two and West Side Y Early Childhood Center families are free! 

Activities for Adults
While plenty of events are for the kids, there are still many opportunities for the adults to have fun, too! Color Me Mine (177 Amsterdam Avenue) has two spooky October events for adults. On Thursday, October 19, stop by to create a tarot card-inspired ceramic platter ($50 per person), or on Friday, October 27, join Witches Paint and Wine (the $20 per person admission fee includes two glasses of wine and the studio fee, while the cost of the pottery is separate). 

On Monday, October 30, Rosa Mexicano (61 Columbus Avenue) is hosting a Day of the Dead Costume Cocktail Class ($82.30 per person). Attendees will learn to make four unique margaritas—Blood Orange Sunrise, Spicy Cucumber, Mezcalrita, and Paloma—while enjoying snacks like guacamole. Guests are welcome and encouraged to dress up in their Día de los Muertos-inspired outfits, and there will be a prize for best costume!

Finally, spend Halloween, Tuesday, October 31, at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Thrills and Chills performance. Hear Beethoven’s “Ghost” Trio, reportedly inspired by the witches’ scene from Macbeth, a new work based on a ghoulish tale by Edgar Allan Poe, as well as Bartók’s edge-of-your-seat sonata combining two thundering pianos and a battery of percussion.

Fall is full of fun activities in Lincoln Square. While we couldn’t include everything in just one list, we hope this gets you excited to enjoy the season! For more information, visit our Neighborhood Guide and Events Calendar.

Photo Credit: Gourmet Garage

Home Page Photo Courtesy of Pottery Barn