Whether you want ‘em by the bushel or peck, these farms have you covered. | Photo by @aprilmaena
It’s not a New England fall without a day of apple picking. Most local orchards offer pick-your-own applesnow through November.
Luckily, there are plenty of options about an hour drive away from Boston — here are our top picks for picking.
Lookout Farm, 89 Pleasant St., South Natick 📍 ~17 miles from Boston 🗓️ Tuesday-Sunday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Plan ahead and pre-purchase your U-Pick bags to save on weekend visits — bags range from $20-24. Pro tip: make a reservation to dine at the outdoor picnic tables and sip the farm’s signature hard cider.
Honey Pot Hill Orchards, 16 Boon Rd., Stow 📍 ~28 miles from Boston 🗓️ Daily from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Pick a peck (10 lbs) of apples for $22 or a half bushel (20 lbs) for $33. You can also visit the farm store for cider donuts, jams + jellies, and a variety of baked goodies.
Shelburne Farm, 106 West Acton Rd., Stow 📍 ~31 miles from Boston 🗓️ Daily from 9 a.m.-4:45 p.m. on weekdays + 6 p.m. on weekends
Pick pears + pumpkins along with your apples ($29+) and hop on a 15-minute hayride ($3 per person) for some family fun.
C N Smith Farm, 325 South St., East Bridgewater 📍 ~34 miles from Boston 🗓️ Tuesday-Sunday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
One peck bag costs $32 and admits one to three people. Plus, the family-owned South Shore farm serves unbeatable cider donutsin City Editor Sara’s humble opinion.
Cider Hill Farm, 45 Fern Ave., Amesbury 📍 ~47 miles from Boston 🗓️ Daily from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Buy pick-your-own tickets at the farm or online for $12+. Be sure to stop by the barn yard, hard cider bar, and food truck while you’re there.
One last pro tip: visit each farm’s website to see which apples are currently picking before your visit.
Should we follow this up with a guide to pick-your-own pumpkin farms? Let us know.
Share this story with the apple of your pie to plan a fun fall outing.
Backyard Bash on the Common | Thurs., Sept. 15 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Parkman Bandstand, 139 Tremont St. | Free | Head to the pop-up party for music from A Trike Called Funk, games like cornhole + badminton, and free ice cream treats.
The Great Boston Fire Book Talk | Thurs., Sept. 15 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Jamaica Plain Branch Library, 30 South St. | Free | Boston author Stephanie Schorow recounts the history of one of the most expensive fires per ace in US history. 📖
Friday
Lamplighter Oktoberfest | Fri., Sept. 16 | 5 p.m.-12 a.m. | Lamplighter Brewery, 284 Broadway, Cambridge | $10 | Have a Bavarian good time at this celebration — receive a custom German stein + free beers if you win best dressed.
Saturday
Watercolor Painting Workshop | Sat., Sept. 17 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Highland Park, 58 Beech Glen St., Roxbury | Free | Register to practice your landscape painting skills — classes are hosted by a local artist every weekend this month. 🎨
Brookline Porchfest | Sat., Sept. 17 | 12-6 p.m. | Brookline Arts Center, 86 Monmouth St. | Free | Jam out to local bands like The Grateful Dads + Beech Party — visit the website for a map showing where bands will perform. 🎤
CiderFest | Sat., Sept. 17 | Time Out Market, 401 Park Dr. | 12-5 p.m. | Free to attend | Jump into fall flavors with live music, free cider samples, and the chance to win a special barrel aged High Limb Cider.
We have amonthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
For tickets to local and regional events, check out our 6AM Tickets resale marketplace.*
The free all-day party features festive, German-inspired games, competitions, music, food, drinks + more. | Photo by Brian Samuels Photography
Oktoberfest. It’s the most ‘brew-tiful’ time of year. To celebrate the occasion, High Street Place— Boston’s popular new food hall—is transforming into a traditional Munich-style beer hall on Sat., Sept. 17 for its inaugural Oktoberfest celebration.
The free,full-day event features fun for all ages including:
Oktoberfest games and activities
Best Dressed competition (think: lederhosen and fun hats)
German-inspired food + beverage specials from the hall’s restaurants (read: bratwursts, schnitzel, pretzels with beer cheese, Festbier)
Don’t wig out — the Wig Shopis now open in Downtown Crossing. The whimsical cocktail lounge at 27 Temple Pl. pays homage to the space’s former business, Wig World. Stop by for old-school cocktails + bites like mini squid ink crepes and lobster-topped pancakes. (Boston Magazine)
Transit
Shuttle buses will replace service on the Green Line D Branch from Sat., Sept. 24-Sun., Oct. 30. The MBTA is encouraging Bostonians to either use the C Branch from Dean Road or access the shuttle from Reservoir station. 🚌 (7 News)
The Boston Public Health Commissionis hosting a free COVID-19 vaccination event this Saturday. B Healthy Back-to-School will take place at White Stadium in Franklin Park from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. with vaccines + boosters available for attendees six months and older.
Cause
Registration is now open for Boston Blooms with Daffodils, a volunteer-led beautification initiative. Community members plant daffodil bulbs around the city in late October and early November. Sign up to volunteer. 🌼
Listen
One of our favorite local murals has inspired a new music album. Students at McKinley Schools produced “Amplify Boston” based on the “Breathe Life Together” mural at the Greenway. Give it a listen.
Community
It’s time for your close up. Dorchester photographer Mike Ritter is snappingfree professional portraits at five library locations in the coming weeks. Learn more about the “Beautiful Dot” project. 📸 (Dorchester Reporter)
Plan Ahead
The first ever Mayor’s Cup Adult Pickleball Championship will take place on Sat., Oct. 1 at 8 a.m. Support our city’s top pickleball players at South Street Mall in Jamaica Plain. If this has you in the mood to play, head to PKL in Southie. 🏓
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Weigh in on this bold architectural choice. | Photo by @haleedayburg
Whether you see a stack of books, blocks from a game of Jenga, or an innovative architectural achievement, the design of Boston University’s newest building is sure to draw your attention.
It’s 19 stories (or 305 ft tall), 345,000 sqft in total, and cost$305 million.
It will house the school’s mathematics, statistics + computer science program when it officially opens to students later this year.
The building is 100% free of fossil fuels, in alignment with BU’s Climate Action Plan. It’s poised to be the largest carbon-neutral building in Boston.
Construction began back in 2020, and Bostonians can now see the structure on the western part of our city’s skyline. The building is now completed, and will be celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday, Dec. 8. We can expect an official opening in January 2023.
We want to know — what do you think about the cutting-edge design on Commonwealth Avenue?
THE WRAP
Boston, meet Chip. | Photo via Multi-City Editor Sarah
Today’s issue was written by City Editor Sara.
Editor’s pick: A few weeks ago, we asked your help in naming Multi-City Editor Sarah’s new pup. Without further ado, allow me to present Chip.
Feel free to send your own dog photos my way so I can continue to take in all the puppy cuteness. 🐶
Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Check out our tips for spending a day in Allston-Brighton (and learn how to enter our Roadrunner ticket giveaway).
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