Your Signs of Fall

Brian Lehrer (0:10)

Brian Lehrer on WNYC. Okay, your signs of fall. My heat came on this morning, writes one listener. So many texts. As regular season, baseball turns to playoffs. I know it's fall and my energy level rises. When I walk with a quicker step, someone else in the Jewish tradition, people build their sukkahs. Someone else, autumn is here when it's a beautiful sunny day and I can just be happy about it without panicking about getting outdoors. Another one.

For me, it's the first day of wearing socks.

Oh, there are a lot of food ones in here. Let's see. For me, I know it's fall when I get the urge to make meatballs. Ira in Park Slope has a food one too. Hi, Ira, you're on WNYC.

SPEAKER_2 (0:58)

Hi, it's a pleasure to talk to you. My wife listens to you religiously. I can't talk to her.

Brian Lehrer (1:05)

You listen secularly, right? I'm kidding.

SPEAKER_3 (1:08)

Go ahead.

Brian Lehrer (1:09)

Fall for you means?

SPEAKER_2 (1:12)

Well, when you go to the supermarket and they have malomars, which during the summer, it's too hot and the chocolate melts.

Brian Lehrer (1:21)

Do you know what month the malomars hit?

SPEAKER_3 (1:23)

I don't.

SPEAKER_2 (1:25)

You what?

Brian Lehrer (1:26)

I don't know which exact month the malomars return to the shelves, do you?

SPEAKER_2 (1:31)

Oh, right now, September. As soon as it's, you know, the chocolate won't melt. So it's an absolute sign of fall.

Brian Lehrer (1:39)

Of fall. Ira, thank you. Thank you very much. LaSanne and Croton on Hudson has another food one. Hi, LaSanne.

SPEAKER_4 (1:48)

Hi.

In a word, pumpkin spice. It's everywhere and it's not necessarily a positive thing because it's kind of an assault to the senses. But everywhere you go, pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin spice candles, pumpkin spice in the supermarket.

SPEAKER_3 (2:04)

It's a murder kill.

Brian Lehrer (2:06)

Assault to the senses depends whether you like pumpkin spice.

Yes, it's everywhere, says LaSanne. Here's another one that's everywhere. Listener writes, I know it's fall when my mailbox keeps getting stuffed with political flyers. And I will add gift catalogs and charitable solicitations, meaning they think it's time to get ready for Christmas already, right? How about, yeah, Carol on the Upper West Side, you're on WNYC. Hi, Carol.

SPEAKER_3 (2:39)

Hi. Someone said they know it's fall when their heat comes up. I know it's fall when it's too cold in my apartment and the heat is not yet coming up.

Brian Lehrer (2:49)

Right, because I think the landlords aren't required until October 15th or something, unless it gets really, really cold. Listener writes, okay, we're going to finish with some texts here. This morning, I stepped out of the house, came back in, took my shorts off and put on jeans. It's fall for sure. Another one, I know it's fall when the UGG boots start showing up. Another one, the light just before and during the gloaming has a very reflective hue, unlike any other time of year, the best light of the year.

Listener writes, I know it's fall in New York City when the lingering heat in the subway tunnels actually feels good. That's a good one. Okay, we can slip in one more caller then. Marion in Hartsdale, you're on WNYC. Hi Marion.

SPEAKER_5 (3:35)

Hi, I know it's fall when the hummingbirds stop coming to my feeder because they've departed for Central America and my hummingbird feeder is on the seventh floor. So they managed to find it.

Brian Lehrer (3:49)

The hummingbirds have taken off for South America away from Marion's feeder in Hartsdale. Thanks for your signs of fall, folks. The Brian Lehrer Show is produced by Lisa Allison, Mary Croak, Amina Serna, Carl Boisrand and Esperanza Rosenbaum with help today from Sasha Linden Cohen. There was Milton Ruiz at the audio controls.

Megan Ryan is the head of live radio. Brian Lehrer talk to you tomorrow. Stay tuned for Allison.