November

Your Thanksgiving guests have all boarded their departing flights and the remains of the turkey simmers in a soup pot. Time to grab a cup of coffee and relax with the device of your choice, because today is Cyber Monday. On the Monday after Thanksgiving Day, holiday gift shopping will soar to new heights.   […]

It’s almost nine o’ clock on Thanksgiving night. Once again, it’s time to prepare for battle.   Put on your suit of armor or at least a heavily padded jacket, hit the road and shift into Manhattan driving mode. The first battle in this war begins in the parking lots of every shopping mall that […]

What is the scariest day of the year? If you said Halloween, you are incorrect.   The days of Michael Myers, the Scream Mask and the Wicked Witch of the East are gone. Well, at least they’re gone in the frightening sense. These days, Black Friday is the scariest day of the year. This is […]

Each year, the Thanksgiving Day table offers us an opportunity to acknowledge things in life for which we are grateful, and to partake in a repast that rejoices in the ultimate gastronomic gluttony. Families gathered around the table give a welcoming ovation when the golden, roasted turkey makes its grand entrance. This classic entrée is […]

Turkey, stuffing, sweet potato soufflé, and some kind of cranberry concoction. Family and friends gathered round the table, it is a time to give thanks for all the blessings in our lives. That’s what Thanksgiving is all about.   Well, that and football. Actually, forget the overcooked bird, Thanksgiving is all about football. No one […]

If you could be any one of the amazing balloons floating over the skyline of Manhattan, which one would it be?   Which helium-filled star in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade best represents your highest flying daydreams? Think carefully. Would you choose Popeye of spinach-chomping fame?   In 1957, his rain-filled sailor cap spilled and drenched […]

Every year, hosts attempt to recapture Rockwell’s Thanksgiving scene by cramming twenty guests around a table designed for eight and struggling to fit one more platter on the tabletop’s last barren square inch. The lengthy sequester to that cramped table is suffocating. To create a welcoming, festive atmosphere for your guest, incorporate fall decorations throughout […]

Thanksgiving traditions have remained deliciously unchanged over the years.   Family and friends gather around the table, share a bountiful meal and bask in a holiday glow.   We give thanks for the food on our plates, roofs over our heads and festive spirits that bring us together. What about all the secret things we […]

It’s that time of year when bags of crimson jewels arrive in produce departments then pervade our beverages and dining tables. We can all celebrate this divine fruit on November 23, Eat a Cranberry Day. Native to North America, particularly the New England region, they are harvested from bogs. Making seasonal rounds into our kitchens, […]

Take a cue from the squirrels and stash away some nuts in preparation for Cashew Day, celebrated annually on November 23. Culinary artists and snacking enthusiasts will rejoice as they ingest their fill of this curvaceous nut. From raw to roasted and salted, they are popular snack-bowl fillers. Their flavorful nuances and ease of one-handed […]

We are all so different, and yet, we are all so much alike.   Celebrating our individuality and saluting all that we share makes us better people. On the calendar, the 16th of November marks the International Day for Tolerance, but we should mark it in our hearts every day of the year. The world […]

We take it for granted every day.   We commute to work, drive across town and travel around the country on vacation. We give little thought to all those other lives we pass along our way. The third Sunday in November is always a good day to slow down and consider the harm we do […]

What’s that?! ? As you open the door again to cautiously peer inside, your heart pounds, your stomach quivers, your hands tremble. There behind the orange juice is a furry blob of greenish-gray matter. Did it just move? With a final slam of the door, you realize it’s time to grab a large trash bag […]

Late last night, you awoke with a pounding headache, stumbled to the medicine cabinet, downed the last two pain pills and tossed the empty bottle into the wastebasket. Today is November 15, America Recycles Day, so the garbage police might be knocking at your door. Sanitation engineers have become very picky about how garbage is […]

They gave us chocolate, an act that surely deserves worship. However, on November 14, Spicy Guacamole Day, we praise the Aztec gods for another culinary contribution. Originally, guacamole was a frugal concoction produced by mashing ripe avocados and salt with a mortar and pestle.   However, since those sixteenth-century days, it has been elevated to […]

There is nothing like a steaming bowl of chicken soup to cure what ails you. This healing marvel, homemade with tender loving care, is often ladled up with homespun words of wisdom. Today is Chicken Soup for the Soul Day, observed annually on November 12. Over twenty years ago, a series of books began gracing […]

He might be your father or brother. She may live across the street or teach at your children’s school. Many of them are deployed in faraway places, missed by loved ones who wish they were home. Our veterans are all around us and all around the world. They volunteer for this remarkable duty performing jobs […]

Veteran’s Day is one of those pseudo holidays that’s hard to know how to celebrate.   It is more about remembering and honoring rather than feasting and revelry. The word ‘Veterans’ can be vague, conjuring images of crusty bearded men with braided hair down their backs protesting, or amputees that stare out the window and […]

On the second Tuesday in November, we encourage children to delve into the pages of books.   Young Readers’ Day reminds us that the uninhibited mind of a child knows no boundaries. They are free to escape into kingdoms of magic, explore faraway lands and follow feats of engaging characters. Children’s books span far beyond […]

Charlie Parker once said, “Don’t play the saxophone, let it play you.” These words, spoken by a jazz master, perfectly describe the spirit and style of this instrument.   On November 6, Saxophone Day, we celebrate its mellow, soulful tones. Patented in 1846, it has stood the test of time. Do not be fooled by […]

On November 4, 1922, a team of archaeologists led by Howard Carter, was rewarded for puttering about in the sand along Egypt’s Valley of Kings. Prepare to walk like an Egyptian as we pay homage to the most prominent pharaoh of all. King Tut Day commemorates the discovery of King Tutankhamen’s tomb. After cataloging the […]

Tantalizing and comforting, it is universally craved by sweet teeth of every generation. It can be found in February’s heart-shaped boxes and springtime’s pastel baskets. In October, costumed kids seek the sweet temptations at every house on their block. Stockings hung by chimneys with care brim with the coveted treats in December. On November 4, […]

Although women are grateful for today’s opportunities and having the option to choose a career outside the home or stay home to care for the family, many still prefer the latter.   We celebrate these invaluable administrators on Housewife Day, observed annually on November 3. The term ‘housewife’ carries connotations of submissive women clad in […]

What does your favorite say about you? Could it be a touchstone for regional identity? Is it a source of foodie comfort? We ponder these questions because November 3 is one of our tastiest holidays.   So pull out the plates, reach for some napkins, and join us in celebrating Sandwich Day. The simple meal’s […]

Whether your life has been devoted to debauchery or to a fantasized existence within your video games, the inscription on your tombstone will say something uniquely different about how you choose to be remembered. While the thought of pre-planning is morbidly uncomfortable for some, make the most of November 2, use Plan Your Epitaph Day […]

Ready to consume your inner devil’s share of protein? Deviled Egg Day, observed annually on November 2, is a celebration of the savory, golden-centered gems that originated in Ancient Rome and rolled their way into kitchens everywhere. Once a standard fare on picnic menus, the recipes were basic and occasionally included crumbs of eggshells that […]

We take up our cruets and pay homage to the acidic nectar of the vine. Today is Vinegar Day, observed annually on November 1.   This versatile gem abounds in markets and kitchens, destined for a starring role in culinary creations. No longer restricted to red or white wine varieties, today’s selections include Asian rice, […]

It’s no wonder there’s confusion about All Saints’ Day. As if becoming a saint weren’t hard enough, imagine having your celebration squeezed between two other holidays. You do have the peace of mind that comes from knowing you can be an unknown saint and still have your day. However, there was a time when recognition […]

Everyone knows the adventures of Pocahontas and Sacajawea, both brave Native American women who crossed cultural barriers before there was such a term. Fearless chiefs and warriors carved their names into our history by defending Native American land and lives. Geronimo, Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse are legends, but they were real men. Native American […]

The summer heat is gladly forgotten as chilly breezes encircle our shoulders like the embrace of friends we have missed. Brilliant sunsets streak across the sky and paint glorious backdrops for golden maples and scarlet oaks. It is time to dig into crisp apples, pull out folded sweaters and enjoy the beautiful glow of a […]