Santa called…Have you been Naughty or Nice?

If you’re like me, you’re just getting around to buying your first Christmas presents… Luckily, I know exactly what I am looking for but last minute shopping is always stressful! With only 10 days left until everything needs to be wrapped up, under the tree & ready for Christmas morning, you don’t have that much time left to pick up your final items! Luckily, there are many holiday fairs throughout the NYC area and each one has a lot to offer during this 

Christmas season:

Manhattan:

Columbus Circle Holiday Market

December 2nd - December 24th

Monday - Saturday 10AM - 8PM

Sunday 10AM - 7PM

Grand Central Holiday Fair

November 17th - December 24th

Monday - Saturday 10AM - 8PM

Sunday 11AM - 7PM

*closing at 6PM on Christmas Eve

Union Square Holiday Market

November 20th - December 24th

Monday - Friday 11AM - 8PM

Saturday 10AM - 8PM

Sunday 11AM - 7PM

Winter Village at Bryant Park

October 21st - January 4th

Monday - Friday 11AM - 8PM

Saturday 10AM - 9PM

Sunday 10AM - 6PM

Brooklyn:

Brooklyn Pop-Up Market

Open through December 21st

Saturdays & Sundays 11AM - 7PM

Holiday Market Village in Columbus Park

Open through December 24th

Monday - Saturday 8AM - 8PM

*no website available

Winter Flea & Holiday Market

Open through December 21st

Saturday & Sunday 10AM - 6PM

Queens:

Astoria Market

Open through December 21st 

Sunday 12PM - 6PM

LIC Flea Holiday Market

Open through December 21st

Saturday & Sunday 11AM - 6PM

I’m still hoping my gifts are going to make it down to North Carolina in time for Christmas! Fingers crossed!

Good Luck & Happy Shopping!

New York Festival of Light

Are you in NYC this weekend & looking for something fun (and did I mention free?) to do? This year, New York Festival of Light (NYFOL) will come to DUMBO in Brooklyn! If you’re not familiar, DUMBO is an acronym for “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass” and this area has gone through a lot of changes the past few years, making it one of the newest fun spots for tourists and residents to spend their time!

The New York Festival of Light Organization is a non profit group dedicated to creating & providing unique experiences while enhancing NYC’s architecture through interactive, social and projected lighting installations. This year, in its first annual NYC festival, the organization will feature the works of 16+ local & international artists, featuring a laser show, a light show for the visually impaired, performance artists & more!

The show starts November 6 (after dark!) and will continue through the weekend! It’s free, open to all ages, and will also feature food trucks & several DJs — all of which will contribute to make this a fantastic show and one that is sure to become a recurring annual event in NYC!

More information can be found at www.nyfol.org

Photo Credit: Production Design International Inc.

It’s Already September??

If you’re like me, you’re probably thinking… “where did summer 2014 go?”

Luckily, NYC experienced a pretty mild summer with only a few scorching days of heat (does this mean the winter is going to be brutal??) and we can't help but feel a little sad that summer has officially come to a close. With schools back in session, summer work Fridays over and Halloween costumers already taking over your local Duane Reade, you, too, might be dreading the coming changes and hoping to really enjoy the few weeks (hopefully months) that we call Fall!

There are a lot of exciting things happening in NYC in September and I’m looking forward to those perfect nights where it’s not bitterly cold, yet cool enough for a light jacket : )

I’ve included some highlights below:

U.S. Open Tennis Championships

September 1 - 8 

Arthur Ash Stadium in Flushing Meadows

Fashion Week - Spring Fashion Show

September 4 - 11

Lincoln Center

Official Start of the NFL 2014 Season

September 4, 2014

Packers at Seahawks (okay, this isn't in NYC… but there are tons of cool bars to enjoy the game!)

Labor Day Parade

September 6, 2014

5th Avenue from 44th St to 64th St

Citizen Cope

September 17 & 18, 2014

Terminal 5

Oktoberfest

September 20, 2014

Central Park

Hoboken Fall Arts & Music Festival

September 28, 2014

Hoboken, NJ

4-Hour NYC Itinerary

Did you just arrive for your first day in New York City but are too early to check into your hotel? Perhaps you are on your way out but have a few hours to spare before you head to the airport to catch your flight home. The weather has finally taken a turn for the better and it is the perfect time to get outside & enjoy the many wonders that NYC has to offer! 

If you’re looking for a good way to spend your time in NYC, I’ve included a 4-hour itinerary below that I think you will enjoy:

5 minutes: Drop bags at Short-Term Stow so that you can enjoy your day hands free!

20 minutes: Walk to the High Line entrance at 30th Street & 11th Avenue

60 minutes: Spend experiencing the High Line

The High Line is a 1-mile public park built on a section of an elevated train rail on Manhattan’s lower west side, extending from Gansevoort Street to 34th Street, between 10th & 11th Avenues. Maintained by the non-profit group Friends of the High Line, this organization seeks to preserve the space as one of New York City’s historic structures and create an opportunity to promote art, innovative design, agriculture and more!

Be sure to stop & check out some of the highlights I’ve included below (High Line Map):

• 24th Street: Kiss/War Photo

• 24th Street: Cool Bench (with a view of the Hudson River)

• 23rd Street: View across the entire city

• 22nd Street: Colored Art Structure

• 17th Street: Steps above the Street

• 17th Street: View the Statue of Liberty

• 14th Street: Lounge chairs with a view of the Hudson River

• 14th Street: History of the High Line

5 minutes: Walk to Bakehouse for brunch, located on Horatio Street & West Street

60 minutes: Enjoy brunch and the view of Hudson River & Park

10 minutes: Walk to Chelsea Market, located on 9th Avenue between 15th & 16th Streets

60 minutes: Explore all of the food/clothing/art shops in the market

5 minutes: Walk to the A/C/E subway at 14th Street & 8th Avenue

10 minutes: Ride the subway back to Short-Term Stow (Penn Station stop)

5 minutes: Grab your bags & head to the airport!

April 22, 2014: Let’s Celebrate Earth Day!

In 1970, over 20 million people from universities, schools and communities from around the US came together to celebrate the first official Earth Day. Today, over 192 countries participate in this special day to observe and raise awareness on how we can better serve our planet.

In the past few months in New York City, I have noticed more and more recycling cans being added to street corners around the city. Perhaps you too have noticed these new green & blue bins. These bins are part of NYC Department of Sanitation’s “Public Space Recycling” program, a way to increase recycling in our city.

Green Recycling Can: Paper & Cardboard

• newspapers, magazines, catalogs
• white & colored paper
• mail & envelopes
• paper bags
• wrapping paper
• soft-cover books, telephone books
• cardboard egg cartons/trays
• smooth cardboard
• paper cups
• corrugated cardboard boxes

Blue Recycling Can: Metal, Glass, Plastic & Cartons

• metal cans
• aluminum foil wrap & trays
• metals caps & lids
• household metal
• bulk metal
• glass bottles & jars
• plastic bottles, jugs & jars
• rigid plastic cups & lids
• rigid plastic food containers
• rigid plastic non-food containers
• rigid plastic packaging
• rigid plastic housewares
• bulk rigid plastics
• food & beverage cartons & drink boxes

Sources:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycwasteless/html/recycling/recycle_what.shtml

http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycwasteless/html/recycling/publicspace.shtml

In an effort to contribute to this movement, Short-Term Stow has added 2 new bins inside our store:

By simply depositing items into the correct bins, we can all contribute to bettering the condition of our planet each day!

Word Above the Street: The Water Tank Project

While we should thank Mother Nature for all she provides each day of our lives, April is commemorated as the official “Earth Month” throughout the world. 

One of the things that many of us take for granted each day is water. We wake each morning, hop in the shower, brush our teeth, fix our coffee and do not give a second thought as to when, where & how we will source our next sip of water. However, for over 1 billion people all over the world, the luxury of clean water is often a major issue leading to illness, poor education, unsanitary conditions, and even death. With the aim of raising awareness of the global water crisis, artist & activist Mary Jordan has enlisted the help of hundreds of artists from across the country to transform 100 of New York City’s water tanks into physical reminders that water is a major problem for many people in the world.

Have you walked the High Line recently? Or taken a trip on the B/D train into Brooklyn? Perhaps you saw them on your flight into the city. On the rooftops of buildings throughout the NYC area, there are some 17,000 tanks that act as the main source of water for residents, visitors, animals, businesses, etc. These towers provide the vital ingredient that makes daily life sustainable: safe water.

If you have a chance to visit NYC in the Summer of 2014, take a few minutes, get somewhere you can rise above the chaos that floods the city’s streets each day & take a little time to appreciate this movement and how each one of us can do a little each day to improve water conditions both in our city & across the world. 

The Water Tank Project

NYC Summer 2014

thewatertankproject.org

www.facebook.com/TheWaterTankProject

I'm from Huntersville, NC... What about you?

According to nycgo.com, over 50 million people visited New York City in 2012. While about 80% of visitors traveled domestically, the international market accounted for over 10 million visitors, which is more than the city’s permanent population of roughly 8 million people (nycgo.com/articles/nyc-statistics-page).

As you can imagine, people come to NYC for all types of reasons: tourism, business-related trips, entertainment, sports, etc. Unlike other destinations that may be affected by seasonal changes or economic downturn, NYC seems to be a city that is resistant to these fluctuations and is always experiencing an influx of people from around the world.

In an effort to see where all of you are coming from, our store now features a world map with a magnetic backdrop where customers can place a magnet on their home city! Please visit Short-Term Stow today and tell us where you have traveled from (and why!)! We look forward to seeing you!

Ummmm, hello. New York City Winter. Can you politely excuse yourself?

Did you recently turn a corner only to be whipped in the face with a gust of wind so strong it caused you to take one step back? FYI, winter windblown hair. Not sexy.

Have you dealt with wet socks all day because that last step you took crossing the street turned out to be through a puddle of what looked like solid ice?

This morning when you put on your winter coat, were the sleeves a little tight because of the 7 layers underneath…Yes, my armpit area was a bit snug too.

Has THIS happened on your way to work? (don’t lie.) 

If so, you may be a victim of NYCWW (New York City Winter Wrath) and might appreciate the rest of my third blog write-up…

So, on February 2, according to Charles G Hogg, New York City had 6 more weeks of winter left. Now, I know what you were thinking because, I too, thought the exact same thing… 

Six. 

More. 

Weeks.

Who the heck is this “Hogg” character & what does he want from my life?!?!

I mean, we’ve finally gotten to the point where we don't enter and leave work in complete darkness. And yet, this perpetual wind meets snow meets ice meets I almost busted it THREE times to the subway… It’s all getting pretty old. Wouldn’t you agree? 

For those of you who do not know, Charles G Hogg is the groundhog apparently notorious for being correct in his winter predictions…so I wouldn’t take this lightly. The good news?  According to Hogg, NYC only has 2 more weeks of winter left! Now for the bad news. Judging by my handy Accuweather app, the lows in the next four week still remain below 40!

You want to do something fun, something that can involve a group of people, something that requires little clothing, something that does not require being left at the mercy of an uppity cocktail waitress who can’t remember your drink order much less split a check?

Here’s my take on what to do in NYC when it’s THIS cold: Live Music.

The city is full of music venues (I’ve included a few below, though the possibilities are endless):

Manhattan:

Mercury Lounge

http://www.mercuryloungenyc.com

Roseland Ballroom

http://www.roselandballroom.com

Terminal 5

http://www.terminal5nyc.com

The Bowery Ballroom

http://www.boweryballroom.com

Webster Hall

http://www.websterhall.com

Brooklyn:

Brooklyn Bowl 

http://www.brooklynbowl.com

Knitting Factory - Brooklyn

http://bk.knittingfactory.com

Music Hall of Williamsburg

http://www.musichallofwilliamsburg.com

I’ve already marked some concerts in my calendar that I’m hoping to get tickets to…

Take a walk...

In Europe, some of the greatest cities are often best experienced by taking a river or canal tour. While NYC is an island, the Hudson & East Rivers don’t exactly give you the best passageway through the city… Some places can be accessed by bus or taxi… but a lot of places, you need to get on your feet & walk! That’s what makes Free Tours By Foot and their guides so great! Not only do they let customers name their own prices for the tour, they also take you by foot (or bus or bike!) into some of NYC’s hidden spots that can only be known if you have a history of living in this great city!

From Food Tours in downtown Manhattan… to Thrift Shopping Tours where you’ll visit some of the city’s great vintage boutiques (Hello! That’s awesome!)… to Bike Tours over the Brooklyn Bridge, FTBF is sure to have at least one type of tour that fits your and your family’s interests!

Be sure to visit this group at www.freetoursbyfoot.com to make your online reservation today! Also, rain or shine, these tours will still go on! If you have any problems making it to your tour, please let them know 24 hours in advance!

Enjoy your tour!

Free Tours By Foot focuses on walking tours of New York City's famous districts and neighborhoods.  The tours operate on a pay-what-you-like basis, as the company believes the guests should decide what a tour was worth, or what they could afford, only after the tour is over.  Free Tours by Foot also offers pay-what-you-like food, bike and bus tours.  Pay-what-you-like tours are tours for every budget.  

STS Enters the Blog World...

Hello Readers: ) Jessica here from STS. I guess I will start off by saying this is my first blog entry and while I am a little anxious about how things are going to go, I am more excited to get started on this new feature of my business!

I recently opened Short-Term Stow & so far, things are going quite well. I couldn’t be happier with the customers who have visited me and I am very optimistic on what 2014 will bring! Here at STS, we focus on helping NYC visitors have an easy-going experience, whether it be the first time they are exploring the city or if they come here on a weekly basis. While our main service is providing short-term luggage storage, we want to be more than that! In starting this blog, I am hoping to provide more travel-oriented information to all types of people.

One of the great things about NYC is that there are unlimited options when it comes to almost everything: food, shopping, entertainment, etc. That being said, sometimes there are SO many options, it’s hard to even make a decision about which one to choose! “Should I go to this restaurant near my hotel… or should I go to the one near the subway?”… “Is this the best one… because when I googled it, I saw a million different companies!”… “Where, exactly, is THE best location to see the parade?”…

To be honest with you, I’ve lived here for 7 years & I still do not know all of these answers… At times, when my customers ask me for a recommendation, I look up the different options on the computer, then give an answer. While the information that I plan to provide on this blog is not a guarantee that it is, in fact, THE best option for you, I hope that the details will give a little more insight into what the city has to offer. I am hoping that writing a blog about different travel options/experiences in NYC will not only provide more information to my customers, but will also give me more knowledge about this city!

I am looking forward to researching, writing & conversing with all of you!

Please drop me a line if there’s anything on which you'd like my input!