Summer is fun and all, but honestly, I'm not sorry to see it go — especially not after that heat wave in July. Give me good old autumn any day. The air is crisp and cool, the food is bountiful (thanks, harvest!), and most importantly, our area arts and cultural groups return with packed schedules after relatively quiet summer months.
Speaking of cultural groups, for this edition of City Newspaper's Fall Guide we wanted to take you behind the scenes of some of those talented organizations; to better examine how they put on their various productions. So you'll find Michael Lasser's story on what goes into the planning of a theater season, Rebecca Rafferty's in-depth look at the largely unseen complications of putting on an art exhibition, and Willie Clark's conversation with several area clubs about why they've abandoned some of the online ticketing giants in favor of smaller, more user-friendly services. These are the people who are creating our local arts and entertainment scene, and it's an opportunity to better understand how they do what they do.
You'll also find City's critics sounding off on their best bets for the 2012-13 seasons, a list of fall special events and festivals, and a piece on the simple pleasures of hitting up one of our area's many farm stands. There are a bunch, but each one offers a slightly different experience. Check out Alexandra Carmichael's story to see which pumpkin/apple/berry farm might be right for you, and make sure to save room for some cider and fry cakes.
