October in NYC brings moody skies, sharp layers, and cozy rituals. Here is what we’re loving, sipping, and stepping into as the season turns.
A chill in the air, but the city has not quieted just yet.
October is a month of transitions—sunlight slants lower, sweaters return, and weekend plans lean into cozy corners and seasonal indulgences. It is apple cider season with a side of rooftop scarves, museum days, and the art of layering done right.
There is a softness to the shift: golden afternoons that stretch longer than expected. Crisp air that calls for both linen and wool, and streets scattered with leaves that feel more curated than chaotic. The city seems to glow this time of year—more golden than gray, more intentional than urgent.
We are still outside, but in different ways now—lingering over late brunches under heat lamps, walking home a little slower, lighting the candle before the sun sets.
This month’s bookmarks embrace that rhythm—what we are wearing, sipping, lighting, and returning to, as the city steps into its most photogenic mood.
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☁️ October Weather Notes
Average Temps: Highs of 59–68°F [15–20°C], Lows of 47–55°F [8–13°C]
Mornings are brisk, afternoons mellow, and evenings call for layers you can peel and rewrap as the light changes. It is the season for trench coats and scarves on standby—pieces that move easily from sunlit stoops to overheated brownstones.
This is transitional dressing at its most personal: cotton by day, cashmere by night, and textures that feel like intention. Keep your coffee warm and your wardrobe flexible.
📍 Place We Are Visiting
Pumpkin Point on Governors Island
Each October, Nolan Park on Governors Island becomes a cinematic pocket of autumn. Picture this: heirloom pumpkins tucked beneath golden leaves, the smell of cider donuts warming the air, and harbor views framed by the soft rustle of branches. It is nostalgic without being kitschy, and charming without trying too hard.
The lawn is lined with pumpkins of every shape and shade—yours for the picking—and the pace is delightfully slow. Children squeal in leaf piles. Couples sip hot cider on Adirondack chairs. Photographers chase the light filtering through the trees.
Come for the pumpkins, stay for the calm. The ferry ride alone is a seasonal shift—it is that moment of exhale between boroughs.
What to bring:
A cozy blanket, a thermos filled with mulled wine [or spiked cider], and a good camera. If you are going with friends, bring your picnic kit—there is space to sprawl.
BKLS Tip: Arrive early in the day for golden light and fewer crowds. The best photo spot? Near the southern edge of the park, where the pumpkins meet the skyline.
→ Explore Pumpkin Point on Governors Island
💼 Thing We Are Buying
Leather Gloves from Agnelle Paris
There is something quietly confident about well-made gloves. The Inès by Agnelle Paris offers just that—timeless design with a modern edge. Lined in cashmere and cut from buttery leather, these gloves adapt to both tailored coats and off-duty layers with ease.
We are drawn to the TMoka shade this season—a deep, moody brown that echoes autumn’s shift. It is one of the season’s anchor tones, and a subtle way to lean into the new palette.
Elegance, warmth, and craftsmanship—no detail wasted. These are the gloves you will wear for years, until they become part of your winter signature.
→ Shop the Inès Gloves from Agnelle Paris
📖 What We Are Reading
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Moody, cerebral, and utterly immersive. The Secret History is the blueprint of dark academia—set against the backdrop of an elite Vermont college where beauty turns sinister and obsession breeds betrayal.
It is a novel that makes the air feel colder and the shadows longer—tailor-made for gray afternoons, tea that turns into whiskey, and losing track of time under wool blankets.
For those who love their fiction like their fall wardrobes: layered, intellectual, and just a little bit dangerous.
→ Buy The Secret History on Amazon
🎧 What We Are Listening To
BKLS October Playlist: City Shadows
This is the soundtrack for slow walks through Central Park, café windows fogged by the rain, and subway rides that become quiet spaces for reflection.
A moody, layered blend of indie folk, soft rock, jazz interludes, and shadowy echoes—each track designed to wrap around the city’s shifting light and your own October mood.
The “City Shadows” BKLS Playlist
A textured blend of Nick Drake, Norah Jones, and early Radiohead.
Available on Spotify and Apple Music.
Track Highlights:
- “Harvest Moon” – Neil Young
- “Strange” – Celeste
- “Fake Empire” – The National
- “River Man” – Nick Drake
- “Don’t Know Why” – Norah Jones
- “Autumn Leaves” – Nat King Cole
- “All I Need” – Radiohead
- “The Louvre” – Lorde
- “The Night We Met” – Lord Huron
- “October” – U2
→Listen on Spotify →Listen on Apple Music
💄 Beauty Pick of the Month
Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick in ‘Petal’
A blush that whispers, not shouts—Petal delivers a soft-focus flush that looks like you just returned from an early morning walk through Fort Greene or a misty hour in Central Park.
This clean beauty essential glides on like cashmere and adapts to fall’s changing light—rosy at golden hour, refined under fluorescents. It is buildable, blendable, and breathes life into your skin with minimal effort.
The kind of product that makes you feel collected, even in a borrowed sweater and vintage jeans.
🍽️ Where We Are Dining
The Odeon
📍 Location: 145 West Broadway — Tribeca, Manhattan
Opened in 1980 and still glowing with that unmistakable downtown charm, The Odeon is a New York institution that has aged with enviable ease. Its red leather banquettes, Art Deco lighting, and polished brasserie menu haven’t gone out of style—they have become the style.
Come for the French Onion Soup, finished with bubbling Gruyère and a hearty broth. Or indulge in the Steak Frites—an 8 oz dry-aged strip loin served with crisp fries and Béarnaise. Both have been menu staples for decades, and for good reason.
The Odeon moves between everyday elegance and cinematic nostalgia. It is just as right for a solo lunch at the bar as it is for a date night. The kind of place where you order a martini because it would feel wrong not to.
🍷 What We Are Sipping
Pumpkin Spiced Espressotini at The Campbell
📍 Location: 15 Vanderbilt Avenue —Midtown East, Manhattan
Step into old-world elegance at The Campbell, a restored 1920s office-turned-cocktail-lounge tucked inside Grand Central Terminal. The vaulted ceilings, leaded glass, and mahogany bar lend timeless glamour to even the most modern of drinks.
This month, we are leaning into seasonal indulgence with their Pumpkin Spiced Espressotini—a bold, velvety mix of Ketel One Vodka, RumChata Pumpkin Spice, espresso, and freshly grated nutmeg. It is autumn in a glass, dressed for the occasion.
Go early, slide into a leather booth, and watch the golden hour filter through stained glass as the city hums just beyond.
🎵 Vibe of the Month
Fallen leaves, long coats, and conversations that last a little longer.
There is a softness that settles over October. A hush that slows the city just enough to notice things again—steam rising from manholes, scarves knotted with intention, the golden flicker of candlelight returning to windows
The energy has not left; it is simply quieter, more deliberate. In this in-between month, we linger a little longer, dress for warmth and romance, and lean back into the comfort of what we know—before the season turns again.
🚊 Bookmark This
BKLS Pumpkin Spice Guide: Autumn Sips + Cozy Moments Around NYC
Pumpkin spice, but make it New York. From rooftop cocktails and bakery treats to rich espressotinis and autumnal menus, we have curated the most delicious ways to celebrate the season. Updated regularly with the best of Autumn—because this flavor deserves more than just a latte.
→ Explore the BKLS Pumpkin Spice Guide
October in NYC
It is the gentle hush before the sparkle.
A season of softened light, layered warmth, and small returns.
Before the city dons its holiday armor, October invites a pause—a moment to walk a little slower, linger a little longer, and rediscover familiar places dressed in new textures.
We will be back next month with more rituals to ground you and more moments worth savoring.
Until then—
Embrace the chill. Romanticize your routine.
— The BKLS Team
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