apple picking.

On the occasion that I am not in New York, I am most likely in New Jersey. After particularly stressful weeks, I am lured to the suburbs for some quiet R&R by my boyfriend of the past 5 years. We met in college and traveled to the great white North together. While he lives and works over there, and I in Manhattan, we see each other a good bit since the distance in between is not far.

A couple of weekends ago I convinced him to take me apple picking. After buying my seasonal pumpkin from the Chinese Quick-mart on the corner of 82nd street, I decided it was time to get out to a real patch where the weather would be nice and the farm fresh produce abundant.

 For the picking we traveled out to Oldwick, NJ - not far from where Josh lives. The the farm was perfect: plenty of pumpkins, homemade cider donuts, hay rides and rows and rows and rows of apples.

We tried to reach for the biggest, juiciest looking apples and obviously came home with way too many. My grandmother makes a mean apple pie, but I decided to go with this version instead. Mainly, because I also snuck a gallon of fresh apple cider up to the register and this recipe calls for cider caramel.

Oozing Cider Caramel Apple Pie

 I regret having bought frozen pie crust, since this one didn't hold up so well. Could have gone with store-bought dough (or home-made!), but the 38 apples had my head spinning and I wasn't about to consider the mess associated with the crust situation. The pie was pretty awesome, though. Go make this now while the weather is still crisp

Even with the pie, there were still so many apples left. Using this recipe, I made apple cider sangria to sip on while waiting for the pie to cook. It was perfect for an afternoon of college football with the windows open.

We didn't finish all the sangria that the recipe made, but we ate apple pie for breakfast and lunch the following day. Fall is slowly becoming my favorite season.

one.

4 Seasons: Spring on the UES

Sandwiched above a diner and a small Italian restaurant on the Upper East Side of Manhattan is my apartment. The first floor houses a row of mailboxes and staff from the Italian place. Waiters are always coming and going with the dinner crowds left overs and trash. On the second are an elderly couple, who I rarely see. The folks on 3 are a mystery, but they always seem to be cooking bacon. The fourth floor is buzzing with action. Music, cigarette smoke and the clanking of heels tells me they know how to party. After breaking a small sweat from the climb, you'll find me and Ivy on the fifth. The non-elevator building saves us some cash on rent and also the need for a gym.

4 Seasons: Fall in Central Park

My commute to work each morning is a short walk to the subway. On my way I pass a fire station, three tempting opportunities for a pumpkin spice latte, 13 dry cleaners and our favorite wine store. Its a serious game of stroller dodging until I make it underground. In the subway station a lady with purple streaks in her hair plays the violin. Nicely dressed men with an affinity for fine music put dollars in her hat. Most everyone else has their headphones in, listening to music I can't hear. If I'm lucky there's enough room in the subway car to open my book and read. If I'm not, its a awkward ride to get four stops south while I practically hug a stranger.

Above ground in midtown in my usual garb of jeans or my favorite pair of red pants, I break into a light jog to keep up with the sea of suits scurrying to their day jobs on Madison Ave.

4 Seasons: Summer on the Highline

Much of my first year in this town included this routine. Other areas involved lots of exploring, eating, people watching, and hosting out-of-towners among other things. Looking back on year one, I'd call it a success. I'm looking forward to making year two even more memorable. Hopefully I'll be able to get it all down here, on the books, so I'll always be able to look back at New York as more than just a routine. In a place like this, it's more like a series of spontaneous events that make New York a place that is much harder to quit than it is to get started.

4 Seasons: Winter in Gramercy