Surviving fall withdrawal in Florida

It wasn't until college in Columbia, Mo. that I really fell in love with fall. Something about a college campus really pulls it all together. The crackly orange leaves falling on the red brick walkways. Tailgating before football games on Saturdays. A hot cup of coffee in your hands as you walk to class, a crisp chill in the air ...While Florida is noticeably lacking in the chill department, there are many ways to cope with your lust for autumn. Here are my five fall-withdrawal antidotes:

Surround yourself with the sights and smells of autumn: A trip to the Sarasota Farmers Market is a Saturday morning ritual for me. This week, I traded my typical purchase of sunny yellow daisies at

Consume ALL the pumpkin things! To quote a subject from a project I recently worked on: "You can't swing a dead cat around here ..." without hitting a store serving pumpkin something. My favorite take on the ever-popular pumpkin spice latte can be sipped at Bombon cafe. This variation is more pumpkin than spice. It's sweet, and made even sweeter when you add a pump of white chocolate '” the proverbial dollop of whipped cream on top of the pie, as recommended by the friendly barista. Yoder's is serving up pumpkin ... well, just about everything (including pie of course). And, my favorite brunch spot, Station 400, takes its epic pancakes to a whole new level by pumpkin-ifying them.

Pumpkin isn't the only fall food: Duval's New World Cafe on Main Street downtown is offering a prix fixe harvest menu throughout the month of October. It's $15 for the three-course lunch, and $34 for dinner. Options include creamy squash bisque and crispy pork belly. Mmmmm...

Get your game day on: Football is fall's definitive sport. There are lots of places around town to catch a game, but rev'¢el'¢ry on University has a cozy lounge, complete with comfy couches, a giant-screen TV and a fireplace. Their extensive beer menu features several ciders, pumpkin and Oktoberfest beers to enhance the experience.

Check out a festival. We may live in the land of endless summer, but that hasn't stopped us from hosting multiple fall-themed festivals. In Lakewood Ranch, Hunsader Farms' annual festival continues through this weekend and next. The Sarasota Pumpkin Festival will take place next weekend (Oct. 25-27) in Payne Park. And, if you're willing to make a little drive, Keel & Curley Winery in Plant City will host Biertoberfest this Saturday, Oct. 19. The event features a cornhole tournament, home brewers, live music and the launch of the winery's new brewing company '“ Two Henrys.

How do you get your fall-fix? Let me know in the comments!