The city is alive with the sound of gas-powered leafblowers today; autumn leaves are dropping like golden confetti and there’s a big rainstorm on the way. As much as I dislike the leafblowers, I do enjoy the hum of a city preparing for action. Leaves falling. Workers sweeping. Baristas pulling shots at the cafe across the street. Buses sliding through the slick, wet streets. Bakers pulling cardamom pinwheels out of hot ovens down on First. Cheesemongers cutting slabs of white curd down at Beech...