The wine tasting was wonderful, and the parade was perfect. Lilac Time came to a lovely close, but beautiful Lilacia Park always stays open. The serene setting inspires year-round fun and energizes home gardeners. Supplies emerge from storage units across Lombard, IL as we head into another season for cultivating blossoms in our backyards. 

Summertime Plans at Lilacia

There are many ways to enjoy the flowers in our park, including a stroll back through its history. Did you know the original lilacs here were cuttings brought over from France? Learn more about the park’s miniature great outdoors at the Helen Plumb Library just to the south, and then put these ideas on your list of things to do at Lilacia:

• Tweet, pin and share pictures of your favorite blooms
• Commemorate special events with outdoor photo shoots
• Have a family reunion around the picnic tables
• Plan an outdoor summer wedding right here in Lilacia 

Gardening Inspiration and Tips

As the park's lilacs give way to summertime blossoms, take inspiration from the hard-working folks who keep Lilacia's 8.5 acres looking so beautiful. Simple strategies like pinching back flowers help promote well-balanced growth. If you remove blooms before they fade, you can prevent them from setting seed and slowing down production. Give container plants plenty of water to weather our Illinois summer, and consider nurturing hardy annuals like geraniums, begonias, impatiens, and marigolds. 

Storage Strategies for Green Thumbs

Home gardeners and storage units are natural partners in this part of Illinois. Climate-controlled self storage helps you take care of equipment and supplies. It's a great way to: 

• Protect bagged fertilizer from summer rains off Lake Michigan
• Stack extra flower pots and containers for easy access
• Keep gardening equipment from taking over the garage

Smart organizing strategies free up your green thumb for bringing out the best in your garden. Plant your seeds just right, and they might rival the beauties featured on next year's Lilac Heritage Tour. 

Always Here for You

We're lucky to have such a unique green space here in the heart of our village. Lilacia Park is our own little getaway, so enjoy its special tranquility all summer long. Enjoy your home garden too, and keep the tilling easy with Lombard, IL self storage, located a few miles east of the park. Just like Lilacia, our Safeguard facility on St. Charles Road is always open and here for you year-round.

When spring weather makes West Rogers Park natives restless, what do they do? They stop by their Chicago, IL storage units, grab their favorite outdoor gear and head east. If you're a part of this annual tradition, you know how much fun it is to celebrate spring by doing it all at Warren Park.

Play Your Best Game

When you tee off at Robert A. Black Golf Course, you're watching that ball fly across fairways that are part of Illinois' urban state park system. When you attack a shot at the Warren Cricket Field, you can team up with the Illinois Premier League Cricket Conference. From the baseball diamond to football and soccer fields, you can play your best game and still be within throwing distance of all your sports gear. Convenient Safeguard self storage on California Avenue is located just southwest of Warren Park.

Kids Can Be All-Stars Too

Your junior athletes are always welcome at this urban expanse of 90 beautiful, green acres. The Chicago Park District organizes and runs programs designed for children of all ages who can choose from these activities and more.

• Beginners' basketball classes for kids, ages 6 through 9
• Dance lessons for future ballerinas, ages 3 through 6
• Dodgeball fun at the Warren Gymnasium
• Kid-centric game activities at the park's Cultural Room

You can sign up your smallest sports stars and budding ballerinas through the Warren Park website.

Set Your Own Pace

When springtime inspires you to stop and smell the flowers, do it with a visit to the park's community gardens. Relax, and join the “Walking Club at Warren” gang for a stroll, or tag up with folks breaking their running gear out of storage units. Whether you take your time or time your sprints, this park lets you set your own pace. Warren's urban green and paved paths are some of the city's favorite gateways into spring.

We're Right Behind You

As you head outside and take in all there is to do at Warren Park, we're right behind you. Springtime serves up our city's very best weather, and Safeguard serves you with the best self storage in Chicago, IL. Our West Rogers Park facility is just around the corner where we're ready to help you celebrate your favorite spring traditions.

Dining well in our city's biggest borough is deliciously easy. Local foodies find fresh ingredients for healthy meals at farmers' markets from Prospect Heights to Flatlands. Their storage units in Brooklyn, NY are filled with tools of the home gardening trade too, so join in this latest trend, and take your own bite out of the farm-to-table movement.

Shop Local, Shop Fresh

You can choose from a mouthwatering variety of artisanal restaurants here in Brooklyn, or you can choose to cook it yourself. Local farmers' markets are your sustainable source for all kinds of organic goodies. While you're there, pick up great recipe advice from local chefs and rub shoulders with seasoned vendors.

Visit Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket on Prospect Park's northwest corner for locally sourced produce year-round. Score specialty vegetables grown in our state's Black Dirt region from suppliers at the Cortelyou Road Greenmarket. And enjoy shopping more than two dozen area markets for farm-fresh eggs, grass-fed beef and sustainable-catch seafood.

Plan Smart Shopping Strategies

A day at the farmers' market serves up a wonderful experience, so plan on taking your time. Wear comfortable shoes, and follow these smart shopping strategies.

• Early birds get the freshest fare by synchronizing visits with opening hours.
• Supply your own bags including several fabric shoulder totes.
• Stay mobile with a stroller converted into a personal shopping cart.
• Learn local seasonality for veggies so that you know what to look for.
• Pick up dry goods in bulk.
• Shop with cash, but carry plenty of small change too.

Share and Nurture Your Own

If you want to source the freshest produce possible, just look around your home. Window sills are perfectly sunny spots for nurturing miniature herb gardens, and your backyard yields fertile ground for cultivating vegetables. Local garden clubs love to spread their love for urban cultivation, so network with folks who understand your commitment to growing your own. Storage units let everyone organize equipment, stash extra supplies, and keep it all out of the way as home harvests change with the seasons.

Give Your Talents Room to Grow

Sourcing locally and planting your own gardens give your cooking talents plenty of room to grow. Keep Safeguard in Brooklyn, NY on your menu for culinary success by keeping your farm-to-table tools organized in our Flatlands self storage facilities. We raise a toast to your deliciously trending creativity and your great taste in local cuisine.

It's only natural that National Moving Month graces our calendars in May. Beautiful weather sets the stage for changing addresses here in Mountainside, NJ, and self storage facilities make every type of relocation so much easier. Whether you're moving here from out of town or just moving around the block, these tips help you stay on track.

Get Ready for the Move

A little prep goes a long way before you make your move. Take care of as much as possible in advance, and free up valuable time for the big day.

• Whether you're renting a truck or hiring a company, make reservations as early as possible.
• Take care of leasing self storage near your new home now for an easier move later.
• Make arrangements with local utilities so that you'll be powered up at the new house.
• Visit the U.S. Post Office's website, and use their handy online form to change your address.

Get Set and Stay Organized

When moving day arrives, be ready to go and ready to transition back and forth. Whether you're working with a moving company or braving the DIY route, the trick is to stay organized.

• Label boxes with different colors coordinated by room for quick unpacking.
• If you've hired a mover, make sure the driver knows the location of your self-storage unit.
• If you're moving yourself, always load heaviest first and lightest last.
• Fold bedding and drapes into suitcases for handy moving and easy unpacking.

Go With Room to Spare

A new house or apartment doesn't become a home overnight. It takes time to dig into your new digs, so don't try to do everything at once. Give yourself and your stuff room to settle in.

• Consider leasing two adjacent storage units: one for large items and one for personal belongings.
• Add shelving to your storage to keep the space organized.
• Let new closets at home stay uncluttered by leaving seasonal things in your unit.
• After the move, keep your outdoor gear in storage for fishing and boating adventures on Echo Lake.

We're Always Here to Help

It's exciting to move into a new home, but it can be a challenge too. We hope our tips keep your relocation smooth sailing as you settle here in Union County's most beautiful borough. Utilize our modern Safeguard self storage facilities. When you're ready to make the move, we're always here to help.

All your daydreams about the daily double come true on May 5. It's Opening Day at Arlington International Racecourse, and the ponies are off and running. Odds are good you'll find equestrian inspiration at the historic track in Arlington Heights, IL. With self storage just down the road, you can assemble your own gear for local horseback adventures.

A Special Day at the Races

Opening Day at Arlington Park has been a Cook County spring tradition since 1927 when 20,000 race fans officially christened the track as a winner. The park returns that love every year with Opening Day festivities.

• Live entertainment options spotlight fan-favorite DJs on the Miller Life Band Stage.
• Try your luck by entering to win one of 10 season passes or two super-surprise packages.
• Enjoy a free pass to Opening Day by printing your general admission ticket online.

Whether you reserve box seats, indulge in a luxury suite, or just lean on the rails, you don't want to miss the action that makes this day at the races so special.

Your Turn in the Saddle

At the end of Opening Day, turn the excitement of thoroughbreds thundering around the track into a horseback riding hobby right here in Arlington Heights. Area stables offer everything from beginners' classes to competition riding. Once you're comfortable in the saddle, nearby storage units serve as convenient tack rooms for staging trail rides through Cook County's beautiful forest preserves.

Harnessing Your Riding Habit

Arlington Park facilities can stable more than 2,000 horses, but you can harness the riding habit with climate-controlled self storage that holds all the tack and gear you need. Store your gear properly to keep it in better condition.

• Turn wheeled clothes racks into hanging storage for bits, girths and helmets.
• Rest saddles on stands tall enough to keep stirrups off the floor.
• Keep saddle blankets fresh in lidded plastic bins.
• Stash leather cleaning supplies in handy hanging shoe storage systems.

With a secure storage unit, you're always ready to hit the trail, and you always have a home for your gear when it's time to ride into the sunset.

The Best Across the Board

You can follow the action at Arlington Park all season and still find time to explore our great urban outdoors on horseback. When you need space to keep your gear in shape, we have you covered from track to trails. Count on Safeguard across the board for the best storage units in Arlington Heights, IL.

Food is like fashion – there's always a new trend making its way around Instagram. The foodie scene in Brooklyn, NY leads the country with the new food trends finding their way onto menus. Whether it's a new kind of cake or a different way to serve fish, get ready to see some of the newest trendy foods popping up in Brooklyn, from the Flatlands to other nearby New York areas, in 2017. 

5 Food Trends in 2017

1. Poke

This isn’t the Facebook function you use to annoy your friends. Poke is a Hawaiian dish that made its way onto the scene in 2016. Don't expect it to go away in 2017, as this dish offers good eats for everyone. It comes with marinated ahi tuna over rice with avocado, onions, cucumber, seaweed, and sesame seeds.

2. Gravity-Defying Cake

A gravity-defying cake is made just like any other cake, but it's the presentation that makes it different. These cakes give the illusion of candy being poured from above and spilled onto the surface and down the sides. Here's a sweet cake recipe to try at home and to impress at parties.

3. Chocolate Banana Pudding

What could make banana pudding even better? The answer is chocolate, lots of chocolate. Thanks to Magnolia Bakery, expect its popular banana pudding made with chocolate wafers, chocolate pudding and bananas to be replicated in mass.

4. Filipino Dishes

Filipino food is making a comeback, starting with dishes like lumpia egg rolls and pork belly. If you like Filipino food, you might see fish-sauce rice porridge with chicken and ginger becoming a food trend this year.

5. Savory Yogurt

Yogurt has had the sweet treatment for years. In 2017, it gets the savory treatment. With new flavor profiles, including carrot, ginger, and pistachios, veggie-based yogurts might be a real hit in 2017. 

Start the Next Trend With Safeguard Self Storage

If you have or plan to open a restaurant in Brooklyn, NY, now's the time to start your own food trends. Keep in mind that crazy flavor combos and an Instagram-worthy visual appeal are the top factors in creating new food trends. With a storage unit from Safeguard Self Storage, you can have extra space to store your kitchen equipment, business documents, and other supplies to continue experimenting on the latest and greatest in the food industry. Our storage units in the Flatlands have climate control, so you can keep your items stored in good condition, regardless of the weather, and nearby when you need them.

The folks in charge of Cook County's Forest Preserve District had a revolutionary idea back in 1916. They set aside 500 acres of green space to offset urban expansion, and their vision grew into our 1,800-acre Deer Grove Forest Preserve. Its natural beauty is impossible to resist, so give in, and get out. Join your neighbors raiding Palatine, IL storage units for outdoor gear, and join the warm-weather fun.

Follow Miles of Looping Trails

What kind of distance can you travel on two wheels? Get that mountain bike out of self storage, and conquer 10 miles of rugged trails. How far can you go on foot? Test your jogging talents on 4 miles of paved paths. Deer Grove's looping trail system offers infinite opportunities to stay on the move or just enjoy a relaxing nature walk.

Fly Over Reclaimed Prairies

Whether you build them or buy them, set your wings for takeoff over Deer Grove East. Join other model plane enthusiasts at the designated field just off Dundee Road, west of North Hicks. Your current Academy of Model Aeronautics membership card serves as your license for flying crafts over the preserve's recently reclaimed prairies.

Fish Deer Grove Lake

Local anglers keep their tackle boxes handy in nearby storage units, because Deer Grove Lake fishing opportunities are open year-round. You can lay back and catch sunfish or bang the banks for largemouth bass. Count on chorus frogs and blue-spotted salamanders to keep you company while you net bluegill and reel in bullhead cats.

Camp in the Urban Wilderness

Don't miss Camp Reinberg as you drive through the middle of Deer Grove on North Quentin Road. Deep oak forests surround the camp's tent sites, cabins, and picnic tables. Pitch your own, or reserve lodging, and plan on a weekend filled with activities. Preserve staff members do a great job organizing nature hikes and educational programs. 

Stay Prepared for Urban Adventures

Here in northwest Cook County, we all enjoy easy access to the great outdoors, just outside our backdoors. You can enjoy easy access to your favorite warm-weather gear with convenient self storage at our Palatine, IL facility located just southeast of Deer Grove Preserve. You can always be prepared for urban adventures when you store your things with Safeguard.

For die-hard fans, it's never off-season. If you bleed green and love our Eagles you'll really love this year's NFL Draft Experience, right here in Philadelphia, PA. Don’t worry about space, get all the cool collectibles and awesome souvenirs from this once-in-a-lifetime event, because self storage can help you make room. 

We've Done It Before

This isn't a first for Philly, but it's been more than 50 years since our city played host to the NFL Draft. And while this isn't the first major event to be held at the Philadelphia Art Museum, it is the first to have an outdoor theater constructed on the museum's steps where officials will announce the top draft picks – and it's all free and open to the public. The NFL's 82nd draft promises to be a combination of sports ritual and exciting extravaganza.

Make Your Game Plan

From West Oak Lane neighborhoods down to Gray's Ferry and all across Philly, Eagles fans are ready to make history. April 27^th through April 29^th, you can roam Franklin Parkway between the museum stage and team tables down at the Franklin Institute. It's time to get your game on for the ultimate NFL Draft Experience. You’ll be able to:

• Race with your favorite NFL players at Combine Corner.
• Take a selfie next to the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
• Get inside actual NFL games with virtual reality.
• Relax in an official league locker room replica.
• Tailgate with some of Philly's best restaurants. 

Get Ready to Score

How much can you take home from this 3-day celebration of everything football? Be prepared with plenty of self storage for collectibles with valuable potential. Official NFL Draft merchandise includes jerseys, caps and plenty of surprises. It all adds up to the kind of inspiration that makes you want to start your own team. Draft friends and family, put together gridiron gear, and scout out neighborhood storage units for pulling it all together. When pre-season action heats up, you'll be ready to score. 

We're Just Up the Road

If you're like us, you believe Philly can put on a show that makes sure the Draft Experience doesn't wait another 50 years to come back. It's going to be a blowout, it's free fun for everybody, and we're just up the road from all the action with modern storage facilities. Safeguard proudly supports fans all across Philadelphia, PA with self storage solutions for every sport and every season.

Finding a storage unit can be a stressful task. There’s often a set of criteria that you’re looking for in a storage facility. Among this list can include: location, security features, access times, and available unit sizes. But have you considered the facility’s response time as a factor? You have lots of options in self storage – and that means lots of questions. That’s why Safeguard has a guaranteed 48-hour service response time. It’s called self storage, but we want you to know that you’re not alone. 

What is Guaranteed 48-Hour Service Response Time?

This feature guarantees that you won’t have to wait around to have your questions answered. Whether you’re interested in storing with us, or you’re already a customer, we welcome your queries. With answers about any of our processes, including rentals and reservations, amenities, the online payment portal, and more, you’ll have access to the information you need. No matter what you need help with, we won’t leave you hanging. 

You can request information a couple of ways:

1. Call your local Safeguard facility directly
2. Fill out the online ‘contact us’ form

If you have a question outside of normal office hours or during peak calling periods, our 24/7 call center (877-779-6900) can take calls unable to be answered by individual facilities.

Why We Offer This Feature

All our facilities follow the 48-hour response time rule. At Safeguard, we want to be a resource for you during your storage journey. Our staff is professional, friendly, and ready to help you. Whether you’re trying to pay your bill online, figuring out how much space you need, or wondering what your local facility’s features are, our 48-hour response time will guarantee that you get your answer within 48 hours. You shouldn’t have to put your life on hold while waiting for an answer, and with Safeguard Self Storage, you won’t have to.

We Take Customer Service Seriously

We are here to help you keep self storage from becoming an extra hassle. To make your storage experience as seamless as possible we provide month-to-month leases, extended access hours, free packing and storing consultation, moving and packing supplies on site, and no-cost email billing. Experience the Safeguard Service difference; reserve a unit today.

Why spend vacation dollars visiting faraway places when you live in the Cruise Capital of the World? From the small islands off our west Miami shoreline to the city's cultural centers, explore these five wonderful spots most out-of-towners miss. Let out that boating, biking and beach gear from your Miami, FL self storage, and launch an unforgettable getaway right here at home. 

1. Set Your Sights North

Let the tourists trip over each other down at South Beach. Head up north, and hit the sand between 67th and 87th streets. This culturally rich stretch charms with a '50s atmosphere you won't find anywhere else in the city. North Beach is also a great destination for discovering delicious new mom-and-pop cafes. 

2. Get Your Kayak Wet

Just 3 miles farther up from North Beach puts you in Oleta River State Park with access to more than 1,000 acres of natural beauty on Biscayne Bay. These parts of north Miami are filled with canoes and kayaks, so bring your favorite watercraft, and join the local fun. 

3. Sip a Glass of Cortado

Head back into the city for a traditional sip of Cuban espresso while you relax in the heart of Little Havana. Raise your cortado glass as a toast to the area's monthly Viernes Festival. Dance to live music, visit neighborhood galleries, and feast on Latin cuisine. Don't miss free walking tours that give new life to Little Havana's history. 

4. Climb a Two-Story Sand Castle

Kids love helping grownups storm sand castle walls at the Miami Children's Museum. The unique, hands-on fortress is one of dozens of interactive learning experiences waiting to liven up your local family vacation. Just drive over to Watson Island for museum exhibits that even include a kid-size TV studio. 

5. Go Fat-Biking on the Beach

One of our most scenic bike routes becomes a boardwalk south of 21st Street, but Florida State Road A1A doesn't have to slow you down when you hit the sand. Just get your fat-bike with its oversized tires out of storage, and Miami, FL beaches are wide open to two-wheel cruises up and down the shoreline. 

Local, Easy, and Fun

Our Florida sunshine always sets up the perfect scene for enjoying a mini-retreat, so keep your favorite getaway gear ready to go in one of our west Miami storage units. Our Safeguard teams know how to help you make all your vacation adventures local, easy, and fun.