Beacon

The first weekend of autumn in New York is filled with rain; a refreshing relief from the sweltering heat of the last several months. It is wet and chilly, but it is the atmosphere for a peaceful, cozy couple of days.

On Friday night — while it is still dry — I meet up with Alex and Collette at The Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy for an array of bites. First, we walk along the street and through the crowd, catching up with one another and weighing all of our food options. Suddenly, the sight of one particular vendor stops me right in my tracks: a cart dedicated to homemade, fresh mozzarella. I’m busy quietly admiring the beautiful ball of cheese the chef is sculpting in his hands when I realize he’s saying something to me. “I wish someone would look at me the way you’re looking at this cheese right now,” he tells me with an amused smile on his face. He holds out his hand, presenting a gift for me. “Here, try it.” I put the creamy morsel in my mouth and it instantly melts on my tongue, putting me in a trance. I thank him for his kind offering, and he thanks me for my enthusiasm, which apparently just made his day. “Ditto,” I tell him before moving right along.

Once we’re full and the rain begins to drizzle down, we hop on the train and head uptown to Alex’s. We make ourselves comfy, open up a bottle of wine, and enjoy the sounds of rain out the window.

In the morning we watch the rain pour down and make plans for the day ahead. First, we’ll grab breakfast sandwiches and caffeine from Lucille’s, our favorite café in the area. One of the great joys of the transition from summer to fall is that it’s now the time of year when I can take comfort in a nice warm beverage. Collette orders a London Fog; it sounds good, so I copy her. The aromatic bergamot of the milky tea and subtle hint of lavender is the perfect concoction to get me going this morning.

After breakfast we take the MetroNorth to Mom’s house in the suburbs and drive her car to Beacon, NY. Neither Alex nor Collette have ever been to Dia, one of my favorite museums, so this is how we decide to spend the rainy day. But we can’t visit my hometown without a visit to By the Way, the bakery I worked at in high school, so we make a quick pit stop over to the shop as if we’re stopping for gas. I showed my college friends this spot many years ago, and since then they’ve come to love and crave it in the way that I do. Before our road trip we stock up on coconut pecan chewies (Collette’s favorite), fluffy whoopie pies (Alex’s favorite), and cream puffs (my favorite). With these sweets secured, we are now ready to ride.

The drive is lively and invigorating — the perfect antidote to the sleepiness this gloomy weather is determined to make us feel. For weeks we’ve been eagerly anticipating Doja Cat’s new album, Scarlet, and bumping it through the car stereo all together proves to be the best way to hear it. Thankfully we’re enjoying it, because we already bought tickets to see her live in November.

Dia is a very unique museum. The space itself is the best part — expansive with natural illumination brought by big windows, and walking around while looking at the sculptures is always a good time.

After a few hours moseying around the museum, it’s time to visit the heart of the town. Main Street is so charming on this quiet, slow day, and we seek shelter from the storm in shop after shop. Our favorite is a vintage clothing store called Another Door; we each find items that fit us like a glove, and even make a few friends. Everyone we meet in this town is incredibly kind. I’m starting to wonder if we should all move here….

After lots of walking and shopping, hunger strikes us again, so we ask the lovely store clerk — a new friend — if she could recommend a yummy restaurant. She mentions several spots, and among them is a Nepalese place called Momo Valley. Her description and excitement make it sound like the perfect choice.

Perfect it is, indeed. It’s the exact spot to be on this cold, gray evening at dinnertime. The lighting is warm, the staff friendly, the scent in the air so rich and inviting. We tuck ourselves into our seats, peruse the menu, and fight the urge to order each item listed. What we ultimately choose is a Thai egg fried rice; spicy, creamy chicken with jasmine rice and garlicky spinach; and a dozen Himalayan dumplings. I feel so warm and nourished from two of my favorite things in this world: good food and good friends.

Finally it’s time to say goodbye to Beacon, but before heading back downstate, there is one final stop to make: Collette’s parents’ house in Newburgh. It’s close by, and she has some winter clothes to bring back to the city.

Collette’s parents are a joy to be around and her childhood home is cozy and relaxing, so the idea of having to leave and drive back after a long day does not enthuse me. As we walk through the front door, a delicious aroma immediately fills my nose. Collette’s mother is in the kitchen cooking up her famous empanadas, and although we just had our own feast, we can’t say no to this nosh (especially me — I have a special place in my heart for crispy, savory pastries). It is a divine, fried-to-perfection couple of bites, and the perfect ending to such a delicious day.