Get Ready, Unofficial Fall Has Begun!

The calendar may not agree but post-Labor Day means fall has  begun, at least in our heads. And That means school starts, activities get into fall swing and traditional autumn events begin to fill the calendar.

Need a fashion nudge for fall?

Head to West Hartford for its first annual “Fashion Night Out” Thursday. The clothes, shoes, jewelry and wine extravaganza   features  a dozen downtown stores showing off how to show-off stylishly. Look for the red carpets at each of the participating stores, but of course!  http://on.fb.me/NKshYH

What’s September without politics and the officials launch of the elections season? And that means a tried and true rite of political passage, the annual Crocodile Club luncheon at Lake Compounce on the Southington/Bristol line.

Politicians and supporters have gathered for the luncheon for 131 years, telling tales and breaking bread with lots of rhetoric thrown in for good measure at the bipartisan party. First organized by the late Gad Norton to thank legislators for a little “help” he needed with the city boundary line,  the luncheon features the same menu each year, lamb, cream corn, warm beer and a cigar. For the past several years Bristol’s New England Carousel Museum has sponsored the party, now benefiting  the museum. The fun and the political glad-handing begin at noon. For ticket information go to http://bit.ly/ObCOvL

Camp Courant will hold its annual “Buddy Bash” Friday at the camp on Batterson Park Road. And be prepared to channel the 70s. The Disco Fever-themed party includes food, entertainment. dancing, and  auctions with proceeds benefiting the camp that provides summer sessions for city children in need. For information go to http://bit.ly/RGicew

On Saturday, Cedar Hill Cemetery will host its 5th annual Mystery Scavenger Hunt, a kind of “The Amazing Race” family -themed team event that involves  finding clues and the right items throughout the lush  Hartford landmark. The hunt begins at 10 a.m. and costs $5 per person. go to cedarhillfoundation.org for information.

On Sunday, do something for someone else and start gathering the last of your garden crop.  Russell Pryzbek and his Russell’s Creative Global Cuisine host the  2nd annual “Family Vegetable Swap and Stone Soup Challenge For Charity,” at headquarters at 20 Jefferson St. in West Hartford from noon to 3 p.m.

People are invited to bring their extra produce and trade with others,  and donate to the community soup pot. Vegetable soup that is brewed during the event will then be sold by the quart with proceeds going to the West Hartford Food Pantry. A host of celeb chefs are helping with the soup including Billy Grant, Adam Greenberg, Jason Welch, and Carrie Boucher.

Come on, everyone has extra tomatoes, squash and green beans in their gardens at this time of year! Come by!