If you're daydreaming about a plate of stuffed fresh flounder, take a look at the calendar. October is officially National Seafood Month, so your appetite is on the mark for delicious dining this time of year. You can head for the local fish market and stock up, or you can really get out there and celebrate. Retrieve your rods and reels from a nearby Safeguard self storage unit, fish the Massapequa, NY area waters, and enjoy cool-weather angling fun here on our beautiful south shores.
Long Island's Favorite Fishing Pond
Whether you're setting a hook for stocked trout or native carp, you can always find plenty of action at Massapequa Reservoir. Anchoring the southern portion of the Nassau County Preserve, this fishing spot is a year-round favorite. The reservoir's outlet dam earns its reputation as a productive perch for catching crappie, catfish and bullheads. Leave your bass boat at the storage facility because waters here are reserved for bank fishing only.
The Best Docks on the Shore
Head south from the reservoir to the shores between Biltmore and Alhambra beaches. Bait your hook for carp, trout and largemouth bass. Cast into the waters of Massapequa Cove, and take in a bayside view that extends south all the way to Jones Beach. Hit the dock at sunrise, and tease up blues with your best lures. Stretch out the day with serious striper action, and wind down with a bounce off the bottom for big, hungry flounder. You can always find a fisherman-friendly dock around this scenic cove.
Boat Fishing on the Bay
Celebrate National Seafood Month by launching your luck on the open water. Get that boat out of your storage unit one more time before winter sets in, and head out for some fishing on South Oyster Bay. This time of year always sees a big increase in bass, bluefish and albacore. Be prepared for big pickerel too, but be willing to stretch out your day. Boat fishing on the bay always picks up when the sun starts going down.
With so many hot spots here in southeast Nassau County, you can make fishing daydreams come true year-round. With our Massapequa, NY storage facility east of the reservoir, you can make it out on the water every day. Just stash your gear with us here at Safeguard Self Storage, and you're always ready to cast your net for the big ones.
Do it to get in shape, or do it for fun. Get into it because you're a fan, or jump in to change up your routine. You have more reasons to train as a mixed martial arts athlete than there are stars in the MMA world. With an official UFC gym right here in New Hyde Park, NY and nearby storage units for your gear, this exciting sport is yours to master.
A Foundation of Philosophy and Style
While MMA enjoys a global following today, it didn't really catch on here in the States until Bruce Lee kicked his way across movie screens in the '60s and '70s. Unlike most movie celebrities, Lee was the real thing and won over fans with both his philosophy and fighting style. His dedication and attitude laid the foundation for today's mixed martial arts success. Attendance at Ultimate Fighting Championship events grows every year as people enjoy the sport and the workout discipline that inspires it all.
One Attitude, Many Paths
Getting ripped doesn't have to be your goal because MMA stresses personal strength more than winning competitions. That healthy attitude keeps the sport accessible to anyone with determination, room for gear in self storage and a few spare hours each week. Training begins with classes that teach the basics from proper breathing techniques and dieting regimens to moves specific to your discipline. Judo, boxing, karate and jujitsu are just a few of the paths you can take when you train like a UFC pro.
Teaching Body and Mind
While it's thrilling to imagine knocking off an Ultimate Fighting Championship win, keep your eye on the real prize. MMA gives you the power to maintain maximum health by developing new levels of self-discipline. Workouts increase strength and energy, and gym matches build confidence. When you train to get fit like a UFC champion, you coach your body into maximum shape. When you finally reach an MMA level that satisfies your inner warrior, you've taught your mind to be prepared for any challenge.
MMA works for amateur athletes because the discipline stresses staying in shape instead of competing. Our Safeguard self storage facility in New Hyde Park, NY works because we're just a few blocks southwest of Long Island's official UFC Gym. Whether you work out for fun or train to turn pro, we're always here to cheer you on.
Are those spirited stories true? Did the original Happy Hour start right here during the Revolutionary War? The answers remain as elusive and intriguing as ghosts from the past, but it's fun to speculate. Liberate your vintage highball glasses from self storage here in Elmsford NY, and prepare to toast the truth about the birthplace of cocktails.
Stirred, Not Shaken
The truth is simple in this case: No one really knows. However, the best story probably comes closest to historical fact. If you were a solider fighting for American independence back in the late 1700s, you knew the nearest taverns for enjoying favorite drinks. One of the most popular libations was a concoction of spirits, bitters, sugar and water. It wasn't shaken. It was stirred with a feathery quill plucked from the tail of a rooster. It was called a cocktail.
Based on True Tales
Some early references to the original highball credit a shortage of wooden spoons for this mixology innovation. However, author James Fenimore Cooper laid out an intriguing hypothesis in his 1821 novel "The Spy: A Tale of the Neutral Ground." He drew his characters from true tales told by Revolutionary War veterans and referenced the Ledger House tavern. Betty Flanagan owned and operated this well-known watering hole where she served up classic cocktails stirred with rooster tail feathers.
Located at a Familiar Intersection
Betty's tavern was the place to unwind in the village of Elmsford. Local mythology notes Betty's habit of pilfering her British neighbor's chickens to feed her fellow patriots. After plucking and baking dinner, she used tail feathers to stir and garnish the drinks that roused revolutionary spirits. Oral histories placed Betty's bar at the corners of Saw Mill River Road and Tarrytown Road. Today, Tarrytown Road becomes Main Street as it travels northwest across town, but it still intersects Saw Mill at the location of what may have been Betty's place. That's part of the lore that you can explore at the Westchester County Historical Society, which just happens to be located on Saw Mill River Road.
Like fine wine, some mysteries become better with age. Betty's cocktail legacy will always hold a place in our hearts if not our history books. When you need a place for extra Happy Hour tools and supplies, put everything away in a nearby climate-controlled storage facility. Safeguard Self Storage always has room for spirited organizing here in Elmsford and all across Westchester County.
You love reading a good book. You love that great feeling you get when you help out other folks. Put the two together, and you have plenty of inspiration for celebrating International Literacy Day. This September 28, join your friends raiding those boxes of old books in their storage units. Garfield, NJ can be an exciting launch pad for spreading the printed word and giving back to our community.
Start a Bookstore Club
If you build a book exchange club, fellow readers will come. If you designate one of the 10 bookstores here in town as official headquarters, you can build a following. Speak with store managers about your ideas. Chances are good that you'll get invitations from several locations, so consider meeting at different stores on a rotating basis. That classic volume stashed in your self storage is destined to become a fellow club member's latest page-turner.
Support Your Local Librarian
Have you lost your library card? Just apply for a new one online. Our Garfield Public Library knows all the high-tech tricks that keep patrons happy, and they always welcome helping hands. This International Literacy Day, drop by and volunteer to assist the hardworking folks on Midland Avenue. Share your love of books with kids as one of the library's Reading Buddies, or get involved in fundraising through used book sales. Whether you help out with Family Story Hour or just put books back on the shelves, your efforts are very much appreciated.
Build a Free Book Exchange
They're small, they're free and they're open to everyone. The Little Free Library program provides everything you need to set up a book exchange wherever you like. The program offers online advice on finding the best location, ideas for building your Little Free Library and access to resources and support. Once you've established your literary outpost, register with the site to become an official member with your own charter number. You even get to add your Little Free Library to the program's world map.
The fun of reading a good book just gets better when you share. The satisfaction in contributing to our City of Champions just gets better when you know that you're making a positive difference. We congratulate everyone for spreading the printed word, and we're happy to do our part here in Garfield, NJ. Safeguard Self Storage stands ready to support your literary accomplishments all across Bergen County.
Summer isn't over until it's over here in Chicagoland, and that doesn't happen until September 22. That's the day that the Fall Equinox brings this long, lazy season to an end. Still, you want one last shot at fun in the sun before packing away your favorite summertime toys in self storage. Lyons, IL stands ready to entertain with historic sites, water adventures and acres of beautiful parkland.
Explore the Portage
We take portage for granted today. Back in the 1600s, French explorers Marquette and Joliet considered it essential as they explored this part of Illinois. Without a crossing between the Chicago and Des Plaines Rivers, the adventurers might have taken a different turn. Fortunately, they found their way, and you can follow their trail. Join your friends, and break those bikes out of your storage units for a cycling tour through the Chicago Portage National Historic Site.
Get Wet, Cool Off
After you've taken in plenty of portage scenery, head up Ogden Avenue for a final summer splash. The city's Cermak Family Aquatic Center caters to kids with plenty of wet fun for grownups, too. Get soaked at the splash pad, sail down the water slide, and make waves on the lazy river. Stay cool in the shade of surrounding Cermak Woods before heading over to the quarry. That's where you'll find out if the fish are biting on the last day of summer.
Fire Up a Sunset Grill
Finish off the Fall Equinox over on Lawndale Avenue where two beautiful parks offer fantastic sunset views. Give your backhand a final spin with a game of tennis at Smith Park. Catch up with fellow skaters, and show them your best Casper slide. When you're finally worn out, it's time to cross the street and salute summer with a farewell cookout. Fire up a grill in Veteran's Park, feed friends and family, and then kick back and relax. You've celebrated the last day of summer in true Lyons style.
It's not hard to say goodbye to summer when you know that you're waving farewell to sizzling temperatures. It's easy to enjoy the season's last day with faith that you'll get to do it all over again next year. Between now and then, we're always happy to take care of your summer gear with storage units all across Cook County. Safeguard Self Storage stands ready to keep your stuff secure all year-round.
If your heart soars when you see jets fly overhead in formation, get ready to commemorate one of our military’s most exciting milestones. This September 18, the U.S. Air Force marks its 69th birthday. Whether you fly your own or treasure a toy plane collection stationed in self storage, Miami, FL skies are wide open for celebrating this special day.
From Then Through Now
What started in 1907 as a small Army division wasn’t even fully funded until 1912. That year, our infant Air Force flew nine planes. On the eve of World War I, 12 officers commanded a fleet of only six planes. That rapidly changed over the years as the fledgling Air Service became the Air Corps in 1926. The expansion continued beyond World War II, and in 1947, the National Security Act officially created the Air Force as we know it today.
Our Very Own Homestead
Our area here in southern Florida played its own role in Air Force history with the establishment of Homestead Air Reserve Base in 1942. It stood as a war-time home for officers and enlisted men, but a massive hurricane in 1945 destroyed all operations. The field recovered and served as Dade County’s airport for another 10 years. Its strategic location led to reactivation as a military base in 1955. Homestead demonstrated its importance during the Cuban Missile Crisis and Vietnam War, and it still plays a vital role in our nation’s defense.
Miami’s Tribute and Showcase
With so much Air Force history just down the Reagan Turnpike, it’s no surprise that Miami celebrates our aviation past and present with a dedicated hangar. The Wings Over Miami Air Museum stands as a tribute to veteran aviators and a showcase for vintage planes. Visitors enjoy a hands-on experience that includes World War I aircraft, mid-century seaplanes and retired jet fighters. The museum is an ideal location for honoring the Air Force on its 69th birthday.
We salute the brave men and women who make our U.S. Air Force strong, and we appreciate their hard work and dedication. Whether you’re a member of the service, a resident in one of our neighborhoods or a local business owner, Safeguard Self Storage shares your pride in our great community. Wherever you are in Miami, FL, our storage facility solutions are always at your service.
Just west of the historic Ebbets Field site, more than 580 green acres extend an open invitation to residents of New York's most populous borough. It's impossible to resist the call of the great outdoors in Prospect Park. Choose your sport, pick your favorite spot, and get your best gear out of self storage. Brooklyn, NY natives are hitting the courts, running the courses and charging the fields.
Hold Your Parade Ground
The Prospect Park Alliance is proud of its recent efforts between Parkside and Canton Avenues. The restored 40-acre Parade Ground serves up tennis matches, fields baseball games and kicks off soccer competitions. Nearby self storage keeps lucky locals in close touch with everything they need to hold their favorite ground and play their favorite sports. If you love competition, you can't beat the action in this southern corner of the park.
Skate at the Lake
Head northeast from the Parade Ground, and get your game on for all kinds of activities in the park's Lakeside area. Duck inside the sprawling Lefrak Center for seasonal play that covers your love for both ice and roller skating. Satisfy casual taste buds at two of the park's best cafes, and then take the fun back out into the sunshine. Lakeside serves up boating, fishing and all kinds of water play with generous sides of jogging and biking around Brooklyn's only lake.
Relax in Dozens of Gardens
Once you've released your inner sports enthusiast, slow down, and stroll up to the park's north side. Immerse yourself in the beautiful Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Relax, and explore more than a dozen carefully tended garden areas and botanical collections. Contemplate serenity at the Lily Pool Terrace, and treat your senses to a walk through the Fragrance Garden. This part of Prospect gives home to one of Brooklyn's best green spaces. You know that you've found it when you see all the happy, young faces growing flowers and tending crops at the Children's Garden.
Bring your biggest appetite for a barbecue picnic, or try your luck with a little catch-and-release angling. Make plans to party, play and relax outside in Prospect Park all summer long. Keep the living easy by keeping your seasonal gear in our convenient Brooklyn, NY storage facility just east on Empire Boulevard. From our family to yours, Safeguard Self Storage wishes you fun in the park all year-round.
It starts 65 miles south of the city, winds through the French Quarter and quietly comes to rest not far from Lake Pontchartrain. Civil War history takes fascinating turns through New Orleans and the surrounding parishes. Savvy history buffs start exploring this trail by staging their adventures out of nearby storage units in Marrero, LA. Put on your touring shoes, and join them on an amazing journey.
Forts, Battlefields and Reenactments
Fort Jackson stands as a monument to brave soldiers who held their ground in 1862. Six days after a fierce bombardment, Confederate forces surrendered, and Union troops began advancing up the Mississippi Delta. Located 65 miles south of the city, this historic fort and museum belongs on your must-see Civil War itinerary. If you thrill at being part of the action, raid self storage for your best reenactment gear. Fall into formation at the Chalmette Battlefield just seven miles downriver from New Orleans.
Museums, Houses and Mints
Head up to the city, and plot a course starting with the Confederate Memorial Hall on Camp Street. This venerable museum holds more Civil War artifacts than any other site of its kind. Swing over to Canal Street, and visit the Old U.S. Custom House where Union generals and Confederate prisoners shared space during New Orleans' occupation. Complete your trek with a tour of historic buildings along Esplanade Avenue. Be sure to stop by the Old U.S. Mint for an inspection of the quarters that served Confederate troops defending their beloved Crescent City.
Squares, Statues and Final Resting Grounds
Slow down, and stroll up Decatur Street to beautiful Jackson Square. Take it easy in the Big Easy enjoying a park that dates back to the early 18th century. At the Civil War's end, this original Plaza de Armas was renamed Jackson Square. The Battle of New Orleans hero still rides high as a magnificent equestrian statue in the park's center. Finally, pay respects to brave souls resting at Metairie Cemetery just south of Lake Pontchartrain. This serene site expresses Civil War history through uniquely artistic headstones, tombs and mausoleums.
Our part of the New Orleans metro area offers a perfect location for launching historic fun. When you want to keep your exploring and reenactment gear in a central location, count on us here at Safeguard Self Storage. Our Lapalco Boulevard facilities stand ready to serve you and fellow history buffs on all of your amazing journeys.
You can do this. A little smart planning makes it easy to get ready for a new semester. Both Kean University and New Jersey Tech are just a few miles away, so split the distance with self storage here in Elizabeth, NJ. You’re perfectly positioned to rock the new semester with these 10 tips for organizing your dorm room.
- Make the most of limited clothes storage options with plastic slide-out drawer sets. These stackable faux dressers help expand tight wardrobe space.
- Decorate a shower caddy, hang it over your desk, and enjoy compliments on your suspended solution to clutter. No one has to know that your clever wall organizer came from the bathroom.
- Put up inexpensive shelving for books and more. You can find great deals on easy-to-assemble sets at a local DIY store. This portable organizing solution lets you cubbyhole anything.
- Turn an over-the-door shoe organizer into a snack storage zone. The clear plastic compartments give you easy access to packaged munchies while they protect goodies from hungry bugs.
- Stretch small spaces with tension rods. Mount these tough suspension bars where no other storage can go, and turn tight corners into mini closets.
- Keep track of the little stuff with plastic ice cube trays. Put several in a top drawer for organizing everything from paper clips to vending machine change.
- Transition a plain, plastic silverware tray into your favorite desk organizer with a little fabric and glue. If things get really crowded topside, slip it in a drawer next to the ice cube trays.
- Tame chargers and cords by wrapping them with brightly patterned Washi tape. Trade fumbling and figuring out matches with a quick visual reference covering all your gadgets’ lifelines.
- Save limited floor space with a mattress caddy. Nightstands take up valuable indoor real estate, so keep your essentials tucked in a colorful organizer made just for beds.
- Turn wasted space under the bed into extra storage with handy roller trays. These smart catchalls also cut down on room cleaning chores by discouraging dust bunnies.
Stay centrally located with our Safeguard Self Storage facilities right here in Elizabeth, NJ. We’re at your service all year-long with student-friendly units and great amenities. When you store your stuff with us, you can enjoy campus life wherever you go in Union County.
On the first weekend of August, Second City backyard chefs liberate their favorite grilling gear. Storage units across Chicago fly open as frankfurter fans get ready to celebrate our delicious Hot Dog Festival. Here's a tasty overview of the annual event that inspires so much mouthwatering fun.
History Starts at the Museum
Our wonderful Chicago History Museum holds more than 22 million artifacts and documents that chronicle local and national history. Our irresistible Chicago hot dogs trace their flavorful heritage back to hearty locals braving the Depression. The institution and the meal are revered across the city, so it seemed natural four years ago to celebrate them both with an outdoor party at Lincoln Park. Since then, the Chicago Hot Dog Festival has continued to grow and benefit the Museum's ongoing good works.
Ketchup Stops at the Fries
An authentic Chicago-style hot dog wears a bright yellow mustard coat. Some friendly debates try to put ketchup on top of everything, but purists know better. That all-beef frank belongs in a poppy seed bun that looks like it’s been dragged through the garden. Chopped onion, sliced tomato, sport peppers, pickle spears and relish give it a gloriously overloaded profile. This is a dog that deserves the works, and it delivers a satisfying snap with every bite. It's an original, and most natives here in Chi-Town savor the traditions that keep it a culinary classic.
Cooking Options Go Both Ways
Do you keep an heirloom Dutch oven in self-storage? Does your perfectly cured grill winter in your storage unit? The Chicago hot dog prefers a slow simmer, but it's become accustomed to a smoky barbecue. Originally, this street-perfect dish was prepared ahead of time and kept warm in vendors' steam carts. Today, the delicious dog plumps up with a 5 to 7 minute hot bath or gloriously grills in about the same amount of time. Depending on your preference, either technique produces an entree that lives up to its history and goes down best when shared with friends.
We tip our forks to everyone who supports our Chicago History Museum and annual Chicago Hot Dog Festival. If you need a little extra space for organizing your own yummy celebration this year, check out Safeguard Self Storage options for Chicago, IL backyard chefs. We keep your grilling gear in great shape all year-round.