Jason Brill, managing editor
Candles from Root Candles ($10-$20)
Two years ago, we started a new fall tradition of stocking up on enough Root Candles to power us through the season. If you haven’t been to its massive Medina flagship store, I recommend a trip when it’s safe to do so. This year we opted for ordering online, scoring scents such as Holiday Fir, Bourbon Pear (an early favorite), Sparkling Champagne (saving that for New Year’s Eve) and Calla Lily (so we don’t go holiday overboard). The made-in-Medina candles always seem to add the right flick of joy to this time of the year. rootcandles.com
Arbela Capas, editorial assistant
Vintage Sweaters from Himiko Memorabilia ($35-$40)
I’m surprised it’s taken me this long to buy something from the vintage clothing pop-up shop located in Mahall’s 20 Lanes right down the street from me. It’s pretty clear that the bowling alley on Madison Avenue officially has everything you need: music, great fried chicken, bowling and now some great retro finds. The sweater bug has definitely bitten me and not let go this fall season, as my collection keeps growing with no end in sight. But I couldn’t resist getting this teal blue '90s Gap sweater and mint condition sweater vest from Higbee’s. Both are from Himiko Memorabilia, the creative brains behind the interior design of the main room at Mahall’s. memorabiliaproductions.com
Sheehan Hannan, associate editor
Right of Way: Race, Class, and the Silent Epidemic of Pedestrian Deaths in America, by Angie Schmitt ($28, Island Press)
I bought this book as research for an upcoming column (watch for that in the December issue). It tracks the little-noticed rise of pedestrian deaths in the United States, the systemic causes of that uptick and how poorly we have come to grips with the problem. Though Cleveland is mentioned mostly in passing, Schmitt is a local, and her book made me look at the slow and halting movement toward “complete streets” here in Cleveland in a whole new light. Reading it also reminded me of how much I miss encountering Schmitt’s writing on Streetsblog USA, though her pen, of course, is as sharp as ever on Twitter. islandpress.org/books/right-way
Dillon Stewart, associate editor
Eta Fermented Hot Pepper Sauce from Killik Hot Sauce Co. ($6.99)
Most of the time, I go to a hot sauce for hotness — the kind of mind-numbing, face-tingling heat that makes you not want to look at the bottle again. But Killik’s mild, green hot sauce is changing my approach. With a heat tolerance like mine, the combination of poblano and jalapeno chiles really doesn’t offer too much kick (my fiancee disagrees), but the funkiness from the fermentation just adds such a unique flavor to things such as egg scrambles, sandwiches and tacos. Read more about this funky hot sauce in October's "Best Of Cleveland" package, and go pick one up at your local shop. killikhsc.com