Okay, okay, we get it. You’re thrilled that it’s finally fall. The leaves on the trees are changing colors, the air is getting colder, and your favorite treats are returning to all retail locations. Whether you’re craving candy corn or turkey and stuffing, we know that what really excites you: pumpkin-flavored EVERYTHING.

One of the most popular of pumpkin treats is, without a doubt, the Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks. Sure, everyone is crazy about these things, but I didn’t know that people are actually insane when it comes to getting their hands on one of these “sweet, spicy, pumpkiny” treats.

This weekend, the Wall Street Journal published an article about the widespread uproar among patrons who were unable to purchase a Pumpkin Spice Latte, as stores had run out of the pumpkin-flavored syrup. A “pumpkin emergency” was declared in Starbucks stores across the United States, and indeed, by the way these customers have reacted to this shortage, one would think that this “emergency” was on par with a global disaster: One customer tweeted that his “world almost ended this morning when the local Starbucks told me they were out of Pumpkin Spice Latte,” and another claimed that he “just left, depressed.” These fanatics described the latte as tasting “like fall,” and “like a sweet, liquid pumpkin pie,” but they need to relax—in reality, there isn’t any actual pumpkin in that $4.50 Grande Latte they’re craving.

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October is now upon us. You know what that means: it’s officially time to take advantage of the pumpkin-flavored beverages, food, and activities ubiquitous during the best month of the year. Make the pumpkin a staple in your daily routine this fall.

Start your morning off with a Starbucks pumpkin latte or a pumpkin spice chai at Tealuxe. On the topic of pumpkin beverages, Woodchuck makes pumpkin cider, and the Alehouse has pumpkin infused beers this month, for those over 21.

If you’re right on campus, try a pumpkin muffin at the Blue Room. Even if you’re off meal plan, they’re worth using real money for—they’re one of the reasons fall at Brown is awesome.

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The description for the above video really says it all: “Pumpkin.”

Last Friday in Topsfield, MA, in a competition we know you all followed with bated breath, an Ocean State resident broke the world record in pumpkin growing. Now, to give you a sense of this magician’s gardening skills, the new gourd to end all gourds snatched the title from some doo-doo head named Chris Stevens (from Wisconsin or some other flyover state), who set the record in 2010 with a 1,810.5 pound pumpkin. Ron “Rhodey” Wallace (nickname pending approval) grew a pumpkin that tipped the scales at 2,009 pounds — over a ton! The Topsfield Fair awarded the Greene, RI, resident a cool $15,500 for his efforts, which, on top of the $5,500 he snagged for 1st place, included the $10,000 prize for breaking the one-ton mark. Protip for President Paxson: If Brown offered 10k signing bonuses, our admissions process would become vastly more competitive.

We know, though, that Wallace won something even more valuable: our hearts. Grow on, fair Rhode Islanders, grow on. Let’s make 2013 a TWO TON year, k?

This tree should consider investing in a Patagonia

If you see anything pic-worthy, snap it and send it to blog@browndailyherald.com

Sometimes it stops raining and campus looks pretty. Sometimes.

There’s something about a new school year that’s always going to be exciting. If summer has to end, it might as well end with us returning to a place we love, right? Here are some reasons why you should be pumped for autumn in Brunonia:

1. The unspoken dress code. The first week of school will still feel like summer, and it will look like summer, too – expect an abundance of sundresses, bro tanks, and flip-flops. But by mid-September, it’ll seem like someone sent a campus-wide signal from the top of the SciLi alerting us to dress for fall. We’ve got one word for you: scarves.

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We’re in full swing now, folks. Welcome to October (rabbit rabbit): the month of midterms, sweaters, Halloweek, and pumpkin ingredients in each and every BDS dessert. Long gone are the days when you can ask people what they did this summer (seriously, stop), where they are living, or what classes they’re shopping. That’s just plain irrelevant. The best that even “Plastic” Cady Heron can do is give the apple of her eye (pun intended) Aaron Samuels today’s date. Happy October 3rd to all, and to all an enjoyable presidential debate tonight.

For just one minute, imagine a world where your rainboots and umbrella are not part of the daily ensemble.  Picture a setting that is not reduced to waterlogged shades of grey, but instead explodes with fiery oranges, sultry reds, and, well, brown.  Cool. Now smile.  It’s autumn! Other than the fact that you have stopped sweating in your sleep, there are a few other reasons that you should be psyched for the harvest season, after the jump.

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Well, it’s official: today is the first day of autumn. So even though the weather has been amazingly warm the past couple of days (and will be 80 on Saturday–perfect for the Brown vs. Harvard night football game) you may want to rethink wearing those bright pink shorts and flip flops to class. Okay, maybe you can wear them for a couple more days, at least until the weather really turns, but still. The time for soft scarves, comfy sweaters, and hot apple cider is approaching. And freshmen, you’re in for a serious visual treat, especially if you’re not form the area: the trees in Providence turn into the most perfect and splendid autumn colors there are. And as sad as it is to see the summer go, there’s something about the fall that’s completely lovable.