From Fort Lauderdale sunshine to Rhode Island fig squares, November is about family, tradition and memories.
November has always been one of my favorite months. In most places, the leaves turn different colors and fall to the ground. Here in Fort Lauderdale, our palm trees stay green and the air remains warm, but the spirit of the season is just as strong. It’s the month when we lean into gratitude, gather with family and slow down to notice all the little things that make life sweet.
For me, Thanksgiving has always been about more than just turkey and stuffing. It’s about tradition and family connections. Recently, my mom and I took the kids back to Rhode Island, where my family roots run deep. It was a trip filled with nostalgia. We drove by my dad’s childhood home, passed my mom’s old neighborhood and made our way up to Scialo’s Bakery (off Atwells Avenue), where the scent of fig squares and doughboys fill the air. The smell alone transported me back to childhood, reminding me of holidays surrounded by family and traditions.
Of course, Rhode Island has its own unique flavors, and I made sure to share them with my kids. First, we stopped at The Black Pearl in Newport for clam chowder (or chowda, as it’s called there), creamy, rich and soul-warming on a cool day by the harbor. Later in the week, we tried some of the foods you can only find there: New York System wieners served “all the way,” glasses of coffee milk (the official state drink), fresh deli sandwiches stacked high and a frosty Del’s Lemonade.
But as much as I enjoyed sharing the food and the places, what meant the most was sharing the people. My cousins, their children and the next generation of our family gathered in the same homes and backyards where I once played. I watched my kids running, laughing and forming the same bonds that shaped my own childhood. It was like stepping back in time, only better, because I could see the memories being passed on right before my eyes.
Coming home to Fort Lauderdale after that trip made me realize how lucky we are to live here. Our traditions may not include falling leaves or crisp autumn air, but we have family boat rides, backyard barbecues and long walks by the water. Thanksgiving here might look different than it does in New England, but the heart of it is exactly the same. It’s about pausing, appreciating and surrounding ourselves with people who feel like home.
That’s the message of this issue, too. Whether we’re writing about local dining, design or community events, what ties it all together is connection. We celebrate the places and people that make Fort Lauderdale such a beautiful place to live and the memories we continue to create here.
So, as you gather this season, I hope you find yourself surrounded by laughter, love and stories that will one day be retold for generations. That’s what makes November so special, no matter where you are.
Wishing you a season full of gratitude, joy and yes, maybe even a fig square or two.