Fall offers many great opportunities to entertain. And these opportunitioes go beyond the obvious ones: breaking the Yom Kippur fast, Halloween, Thanksgiving. Here are some of my favorites:

• Fall is a great time for an end of season cookout. The cooler temperatures, breezes, turning leaves, and disappearance of bugs can make it even more pleasant than a cookout in the summer.
• Football season means tailgating time. And the great benefit of tailgates is that you don't have to clean the house!
• One word: Oktoberfest! Beer, sauerbraten, bratwurst, German potato salad, braised cabbage, strudel.
• I love harvest brunches: egg casseroles, squash soup, harvest salad topped with dried cranberries and toasted pecans, pumpking bread, apple and pear crisp. Yummy.
• Fall is a great time to host a craft night. Simple store-bought refreshments are fine. And the gathering gives you a chance to work on your Christmas crafts.

What will you celebrate this fall?