No, I am just kidding (trying to keep it less crowded for us!) We went last year, arriving the Saturday before Columbus Day and staying the week. It was wonderful. I thought perhaps it would be bad, at least that long weekend, but really didn't notice much in the way of crowds. It isn't as barren as, say, this time of year, but it definitely is manageable and nothing like Easter, Christmas, July 4th, or even as busy as Presidents' Day week. I that a lot of people who are considering an October trip wait until the end of the month when the Food and Wine Festival begins.
The weather is good - warm, but not miserably hot and humid. We're already scheduled to return in October, 2003!