Best Bets

The Betster is wondering whether any other Homerites have noticed the pressure that pops up this time of year to purchase what the youngsters call a pumpkin spice latte? If you haven’t, look around.

No sooner is Labor Day over than ghouls and spiderwebs have magically appeared on shopping shelves and the youths are taken over with pumpkin fever. If you thought pumpkin spice was just for candles and cookies, think again.

These days they’re putting it in their coffee, they’re putting it in their cereal, they’re putting it in chewing gum, lip balm and lotion. Folks, they’re putting it in beard oil. Yes, really.

Where does it end? At what point does our already stressed out earth become oversaturated with the most basic and time specific spice?

The Betster rests this case, as the Betster is liable to rant about this subject far longer than readers would have interest in it. There are plenty of other, less infuriating things to like about the onset of autumn, which is finally here after our late and fickle summer.

The changing colors are the Betster’s favorite. Just try to take a drive down East End Road these days without getting lost in the beauty of those hills stretching out in front of you, increasingly dotted with splashes of orange, yellow and red.

The opportunity to start breaking out more of the comfort food, warm-me-up recipes is another cause for celebration, as are all the fall-time events that come along with the season, like these Best Bets:

BEST BED THE GARDENS BET: Tonight’s Thriving Thursday is with the Applehanz Farm. Learn some tips on putting your gardens to bed and preserving your summer bounty for the winter at the Applehanz Farm near Anchor Point. Mary and Matt Applehanz were raised on farms and ranches in Colorado and are eager to share their knowledge in heavy equipment operation, carpentry and organic farming. This free event is tonight from 6-8 p.m. Call 907-226-2228 for more information.

BEST BETTER YOUR MIND BET: Stuck in a television rut? Maybe you recently finished a show on Netflix and no longer know what to do with your life? Well, you’re in luck. The 15th Annual Homer Documentary Film Festival is here again, and has nine films to choose from playing all week which will not only entertain you, but inform you as well. The nine documentaries, which are sure to spark plenty of thought and conversation among you and your friends, will play at 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. daily at the Homer Theatre through Sept. 27. It all kicks off with the gala event at the theater tonight at 6:15 p.m. There will be a barbecue followed by a showing of “Won’t You be My Neighbor,” and previews for the rest of the films. Visit homerdocfest.com for more information.

BEST BUNNELL BET: The September Concert Series continues Friday at Bunnell Street Arts Center. Bunnell Street Arts Center, with support from Alaska State Council on the Arts, WESTAF (the Western States Arts Federation), and the National Endowment for the Arts, presents a series of four concerts throughout September. Tickets are $15-25 suggested donation for each concert. The next installment is Wild Shore on Friday at 7:30 p.m. It will feature new flute, violin, piano and guitar music by living composers with Armin Abdihodzic, Katie Cox, Andie Springer and Conrad Winslow.

BEST BACK ON THE ICE BET: With the weather cooling and summer activity opportunities waning, you can look indoors for something to do on the Homer Spit. Public skating is back at the Kevin Bell Arena from 4-5:45 p.m. starting this Sunday. This is a family-friendly event. It costs $5 for admission and $1 for skate rental.