November

Summer heat is gladly forgotten as chilly breezes encircle our shoulders like the embrace of friends we’ve missed. Brilliant sunsets streak across the sky and paint glorious backdrops for golden maples and scarlet oaks. It’s time to dig into crisp apples, dig out sweaters and enjoy the beautiful glow of a new November dancing onto […]

Turkey, stuffing, sweet potato soufflé, some kind of cranberry concoction; family and friends gathered round the table, and a time to return 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 mostly about football. No one […]

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, the roof over our heads and the festive spirits that bring us together. What about all the secret things we […]

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 a good day to slow down and consider the harm we do when we […]

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 […]

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. The shining star of guacamole is the avocado. Traditionally, it was a frugal concoction produced by mashing ripe avocados and salt with a mortar and pestle. Since those sixteenth-century […]

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

Charlie Parker once said, “Don’t play the saxophone. Let it play you.” These words, spoken by a master of jazz composition and improvisation, perfectly describe the style and spirit of this instrument. Music lovers are enthralled by the mellow, soulful tones it adds to any piece of music and on Saxophone Day, observed annually on […]

It is found inside heart-shaped boxes in February and pastel-hued baskets in April. It is sought after at every house in the neighborhood in October and in December, the stockings hung by chimneys with care are brimming with the coveted treat. On November 4, we celebrate Candy Day. Since Egyptians preserved fruits and nuts with […]

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. Pull out the plates, reach for some napkins, and join us in celebrating Sandwich Day. The simple meal’s 1762 debut […]

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

Get ready to consume your inner devil’s share of protein. Deviled Egg Day, observed annually on November 2, celebrates the savory golden-centered gems that originated in Ancient Rome and rolled their way onto appetizer trays across the globe. Once standard fare on picnic menus, deviled eggs were as requisite to a picnic scene as the […]

We take up our whisks and cruets in celebration of Vinegar Day, celebrated annually on November 1.   In addition to the standard red and white wine varieties, today’s vinegar selections include Champagne, Asian rice, apple cider, raspberry, and balsamic infused with black cherry, blood orange, fig, espresso and even chocolate. No longer just for […]

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 […]