Fall's hottest tips from my hot and interesting friends
The best ways to embrace autumn or at least pretend it's happening
It’s a crisp 87°F here in Los Angeles, aka the perfect time for me to ask my friends for their hottest tips to get them in the autumnal mood. This special edition of Hot Tip is indeed coming as the world’s ~general dumpsterfireness~ is heating up, so I hope it provides a cozy respite. We’ll get back into the news again, soon.
Don’t worry, it’ll still be bad next week!!!
Want to work together? Please reach out to me at alex@readhottip.com.
TRAVEL
Go to the Berkshires if you only live a car ride away. It's gorgeous in the fall, and it truly feels transportive. My favorite hotel is TOURISTS in North Adams, MA. It's an old motor lodge owned by the bassist in Wilco and some of his friends. It's cozy and magical. — Alexis, Writer
For those seeking to find the best fall colors (in the U.S.), I present the foliage map forecast. (Hot tip: the map only worked for me in Safari, not Google Chrome.) — Aaron, Energy Markets Manager
I live in LA where it is perpetual summer, so I love to take a weekend road trip with friends inland where it’s reasonable to drink hot coffee and sit on a porch with a blanket. I’ve done both Idyllwild (a perfect little town with a golden retriever mayor) and Lake Arrowhead (equally lovely, but managed by humans.) Rent a house, bring a friend who knows how to work a fireplace, get a pie from a local bakery, play some board games, and have yourself a freakin weekend. — Alex, Your Dear Hot Tip Curator
Put some cinnamon pine cones in your car! Even if you live in LA, where it never feels like fall, put on a jacket, crank your A/C, and it will feel and smell like Autumn in New York while you’re stuck on the 405! — Lauren, Actor
RECIPES
My number one seasonal go-to is hands down Magnolia Bakery’s Pumpkin Pecan bars from their cookbook. I have made this my new Thanksgiving dessert for the past few years now and it is surprisingly easy and oh-so-decadent. Beware—it is impossible to eat just one! Honorable mentions for fall themed recipes in the book are their gingersnap cookies and their pumpkin-gingersnap banana pudding (trust me, it slaps.) — Brenna, Actor
Obviously the best part of fall are the sweaters, but a close second is getting to break out the crock pot for those recipes that cook slow, smell great, and offer more than a little bit of comfort (and a few days of meals, so you can do things other than cook). But of course, if you prefer to exclusively make mulled wine, that's ok too. — Jen, writer of the newsletter
Bake the New York Times' Pumpkin Maple Muffins! Combining two of fall's heavy hitter flavors, these delightfully spiced muffins are the perfect way to welcome the autumntide right in your mouth. And, if I'm feeling particularly naughty (which tbh I usually am), I'll go off book and throw some dark chocolate chips in there. — Zoe, Writer + Exec
Homemade Cashew Milk!! My husband and I have been making this since the pandemic and it's taken our home brewed coffee/tea situation to the next level. It's creamy and nutty and even froths well. And even though my husband can tolerate whole milk, he prefers this to the "real thing"— is reality still a thing these days and is cow’s milk a part of it? Either way, here's the recipe from “Cookie & Kate” we use, or this Tiktok if you're more of a video person. — Chase + Screenwriter + Photographer
SPICE
The spice you’re missing this fall is vadouvan. It’s a French/Indian blend that’s so warm and delicious. I love toasting it off and adding it to a carrot purée or a pumpkin soup! — Emmalee, Chef
If you'd like to ease into fall and cannot personally stomach pumpkin spice before the leaves start to change, I highly recommend a chai spiced apple cider—a perfectly spicy fall drink that is festive without being overly sweet. It's crazy easy to DIY at home (my recipe and preferred ratios can be found here). Even as a die hard coffee drinker, you'll catch me making them on repeat for the rest of the season. — Maggie, writer of the newsletter
The fall offers an opportunity for the body and emotions to shift from the active summer energies to the more free flowing nature of the fall and winter months. Treat yourself to cooking and preparing teas with warming spices like ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom, cloves, and cumin to help support the yang energy of the fall season and aid in digestion and circulation. — Jada, Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
A hot chai is the perfect autumnal drink for those too hip for (or just not a fan of) the controversial pumpkin spice. A slept-on beverage, you might even say. A little sweet, a little kick of caffeine, a tiny hint of spice, overall just a great blend. And the way you order it is "chai," by the way. It's already a kind of tea and it is prepared with milk, so “chai tea latte” is triple-redundant. “I'll have a chai, please,” ooh, look at you, sophisticated! I prefer mine with soy milk, but almond is nice too, and regular from a cow is of course delightful as well. For a long time I thought it was gross and annoying because it's my dad’s favorite drink and he always ordered it “extra hot” (I genuinely think baristas just make all the drinks at the same temperature no matter what you say) but then I grew up and tried it and wouldn't you know it, but my dad was onto something! Thanks, Peter. — Lizzie, co-host of the podcast Hoax!
You know how pumpkin spice lattes are fun in theory but atrocious in practice (too expensive, too sweet)? May I suggest a humble workaround: just add cinnamon to your drip coffee at home. I know this tip sounds so minimalist but wowwww when I do this, it unlocks my festive fall spirit and makes me feel like I have hacked the system. Highly recommend! — Mary, Screenwriter
GET DRESSED
This fall, I am on my knees praying that men take five minutes to study the Conrad Fisher effect. Let him be your fall fashion guide. I’m talking chambray shirts, gorgeous knit sweaters, sexy little watch… basically anything 90s dad-approved will work. Walk around with a hammer in your hand like you’re about to fix something at any given moment. You can skip the bangs. Deep, unabashed yearning is non-negotiable, though. — Mariam, Writer
I am obsessed with my Muck Boots! I live in a muddy, icy (and when we're lucky, snowy) place so these boots are my cold weather go-to for walking my dogs, doing fall yard things and feeling invincible in mud and muck! They are also comfy enough to take a serious walk in and easy to slip on and off. The arctic ones are insulated and heat up fast so if you live in a warmer clime or have naturally hot feet, the regular mucks would be better. — Lex, Writer
LITTLE LUXURIES
Get a new fall vibe mug or two—that always makes the warm beverages cozier and more exciting! Romanticize making warm beverages slowly, versus the quick single cup; make the long pour over in a Chemex (so you have more coffee, of course) and take time making it intentionally. Also some cardamom buns, specifically the recipes from Magnus Nilsson's The Nordic Baking Book, because the Scandinavians know how to bake. — Halle, Ceramicist
(Hot tip: this one is from my sister, and you can follow/order her custom-made ceramics here on Instagram.)
Saline nasal spray, twice a day, to help prevent getting sick! — Anna, Finance Manager
Le Bon Shoppe Boyfriend socks. The comfiest socks for lounging at home or pairing with some Birkenstocks as the fall air starts to makes its way in! — Sarah, Interior Designer
I love substituting all of my soaps and candles to be autumnal themed! I get pumpkin, apple, and maple-scented items so my home smells like the season. I specifically LOVE this pure maple syrup candle with natural wood crackling as it burns. — Elana, Writer
The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living. Great read to get you in a cozy mood & get excited for cooler weather. — Courtney, EVP Client Services
Shorts and a big sweatshirt and socks with sandals. Cozy, but still holding onto summer! — Jordyn, Veterinarian
Listen, I could tell you all the cozy things I do for fall (and there are so, so many). When Harry Met Sally, a Gilmore Girls rewatch, one pot coq au vin over mashed potatoes, apple picking, etc etc. But if you really want to get cozy for fall, my very luxurious but in my opinion totally worth it splurge purchase is a Lola Blanket. It's lightweight but snuggly. Elegant and cozy. The perfect companion to spooky movie nights and mug of tea. If it were socially acceptable, I'd bring it everywhere I go. — Michelle, Writer + Producer
Really any candle from Ilume, but my favorite for this time of year their Blackberry Absinthe candle. Sounds really weird, but I promise it's so good and brings all the fall vibes to your home!! — Megan, Writer
Burn your good candles! I have a tendency to abstain from using things I love BECAUSE I love them, but tomorrow’s not guaranteed. So tell people you love them, eat the cake, and LIGHT ‘EM UP. My current favorite is Mad et Len Graphite, but any cozy, aromatic candle will enhance your autumnal ambience for those nights in with Practical Magic. — Grace, TV Writer
ACTIVITIES
It's fall which means... it's planting season!!! Time to get down in the dirt and plant anything from seeds to trees so that they can soak up any rain we get and bloom into spring! I'll be taking a trip to the Theodore Payne Foundation's native plant nursery in LA. This year, I'm eyeing these plants: Western Spice Bush, Anacapa Pink Morning Glory, 'Margarita Hop' Blue Bedder, and Bush Sunflower. — Brennan, Writer
My autumnal hot tip is deceptively simple: I like to take a walk first thing in the morning to get some low level sunlight in my eyes (don't worry, I'm not telling you to stare directly at the sun.) I'm a summer baby at heart, so I tend to wither as the days get shorter and darker. But early morning sunlight exposure can help increase your energy and mood, lower stress, improve sleep quality, and produce necessary Vitamin D. Even on cloudy days it counts! Add my favorite sweats, a hot tea, and some crunchy leaves, and suddenly maybe I don't suffer from seasonal depression! — Bella, writer of the newsletter
Take a pottery class, goddammit. Get creative and out of your head while making something with your hands. The best thing about pottery is that if you’re bad it still looks good! I like The Pottery Studio in Cypress Park, Los Angeles. — Matt, Actor
Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch! It's the LA classic, everyone goes, the structures made out of pumpkins are so cute and you can feel the excitement of the fall season upon everyone who visits. Even if seasons don't really exist in LA, at Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch, they do! — Ari, Writer
Call me basic, but decorate for Halloween. You don’t need to get new stuff every year or spend a bunch of money on garbage from a big box store, but a pumpkin on your doorstep? A little cobweb over a lamp? An LED lightbulb glowing purple just for spooky season? It’s fun! How can you have a bad day when you’re smelling wafts of cinnamon from the cinnamon broom in the corner?! And when you have kids, they simply delight in these little seasonal sillies. — Emily, Producer
This will cure my seasonal depression when the time comes