As the weather gets colder and the nights fall faster, staying inside with an oversized glass of wine and some comfort food sounds just about right. Don’t judge us! We know you were thinking it too and we have just the place!

6 reasons you should head to City Winery:

Photo by: City Winery

1. Wine – City Winery features 11 wines made right on the premise and if wine by the barrel isn’t your thing, ask for the 500-strong wine list! Either way, get comfy, pour, taste and repeat.
2. Location – This oversized gem is conveniently sandwiched between two of our Manhattan Mini Storage SoHo locations. Making it easy to drop off your stuff and belly up to a barrel in minutes.
3. Cheese – The cheese board of the day features favorites from New York’s own Murrays’ Cheese. Translation: A cheese selection any New Yorker would gladly give up a cab for!
4. Winemaking – Wine classes are offered from the initial crush of the grapes to creating your own blend and private label wines.
5. Live Music – Bring old friends or make some new ones, there is an artist on the event calendar for everyone.
6. Dessert – Caramelized apples, espresso butter cream and candied pecans…need we say more?

Have other great wine bars for us? Let us know in the comments! Or, share your favorites with us on Twitter or Facebook.

Even if you love a good parade with 32-feet tall floating Tim Burton balloon characters, we’re betting that you’ll need a break from the crowds every so often.

Spice Up Your Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Route Experience:

1. Get Your Sports Fix. Sports fans won’t mind going a few blocks out of their way to catch up on Thanksgiving Day football scores at Jake’s Dilemma on Amsterdam Ave. Don’t worry, the parade will still be there when you get back.
2. Sweet Sustenance. Anyone who gets up early to brave the Macy’s Parade crowds deserves a treat. Reward yourself for your bravery and stamina with a decadent cupcake from the new Magnolia Bakery outpost on 69^th and Columbus Ave.
3. Don’t Dawdle. “If a parade is boring, run in the opposite direction, and you will fast-forward the parade.” – Mitch Hedburg. Rent a bike at Bike Rental Central Park for an even speedier parade experience!
4. Get Caffeinated! Those who make the commitment to saving their place on 7^th Avenue at 4 in the morning will need some caffeine. Visit the Zibetto Espresso Bar for a pick-me-up to help keep you awake until the fun starts!
5. Hungry Yet? Stock up for a long morning of parade watching with a stop into the famous 7^th Avenue Carnegie Deli for a sandwich with so much pastrami, you won’t be hungry for a week.
6. Get a Laugh. If you missed this month’s New York Comedy Festival, you can always score tickets to great comedy shows at Caroline’s on Broadway. Stop in on your way through Times Square.

The 85^th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade route will begin at 77^th Street and Central Park West and it will end at the Macy’s flagship store on 34^th Street/Herald Square. Click here for a map of the parade route.

It could be chilly during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, so feel free to stop into any one of our nearby Manhattan Mini Storage locations in the UWS, Hell’s Kitchen or Midtown to pull some winter clothes out of storage on the big day.

For more great ideas and things to do along the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade route, check out our Newbie NYC guides to the Upper West Side and Midtown!

7 Kid Friendly Things to Do With Kids in NYC

Maybe you’re a mom who’s just moved to New York City. Or maybe you’re a New Yorker who just became a mom. Either way, it’s quite a different experience to navigate The Big Apple with a little one. That’s why we devoted this month’s Newbie NYC edition to a neighborhood guide just for moms!

Upper East Side: 92^nd Street Y
A great place that offers everything from dance, music and art classes to cooking and science courses. You will also find reading series and lectures for families and kids of all ages.

Upper West Side: Scribble Press
At Scribble Press, parents can take their kids to create their very own stories and illustrations, and turn them into bound books.

Chelsea: Taste Buds
Called the Best Kids Cooking Class by New York Magazine, Taste Buds Cooking Camps teaches pint-size chefs how to cook and love good food.

SoHo: Animal Haven’s Caring Kids Program
Our friends at Animal Haven sponsor a program that introduces kids to basic animal care and animal welfare issues through hands-on activities at the shelter.

East Village: Monday Night Magic
Every Monday at 8pm at the Players Theater, Monday Night Magic features live magic performances geared towards both kids and adults!

TriBeCa: Moomah
A great place for moms to unwind with their kids, together. Enjoy locally sourced, organic foods at the café, and create art projects with your kids!

FiDi: New York City Police Museum
Kids love the interactive Junior Officers Discovery Zone, which helps kids better understand the role of Police officers in NYC.

New York City moms, do you have your own favorite places to take your kids? Let us know in the comments! Or, share your favorites with us on Twitter or Facebook.

For more fun things to do and NYC neighborhood guides, check out the rest of our Newbie NYC series!

Plus, Some We’re Looking Forward To

Every year, the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade boasts the biggest, brightest, and most outrageous costumes of New York City. We’re hoping to see quite a few Bachmann’s at this year’s 39^th annual on October 31^st at 7pm, from Spring St to 23rd St along 6^th Ave.

In the meantime, we’ve got a selection of our favorite over-done Halloween costumes from 2010. We’ll miss them this year. Kinda.

1. 

   From RickysHalloween.com

   Old Spice Man – All it took was some washboard abs and a towel.

2. Lady Gaga – Gaga getups took over NYC last year, and all the major networks too! (See Gabe on The Office, and Dean Pelton on Community.)
3. Jersey Shore – Cross your fingers and hope that Snookies and Situations don’t come back to haunt us again this year.
4. Steven Slater – The hero of the service industry was the inspiration for Ricky’s “Angry Steward” costume last year, as well as the oh-so-useful SlipQuit.
5. Chilean Miners – “Left behind” Chilean miners #34-38 also made appearances last year. We predict a few “Where are they now?” Chilean miner costumes this time around!
6. Antoine Dodson – an incredibly easy costume, this one was all in the attitude.
7. Na’vi – Avatar came out at the tail end of 2009, leaving fans 9 months to perfect their stripe-painting, hair-braiding, and loincloth-wearing skills.

Our bet for New York’s most overdone costume of 2011? Anthony Weiner.

Need some inspiration for your own costume? We’ve got a few excellent ideas for making cardboard Halloween costumes from Manhattan Mini Storage moving boxes right here.

Tweet us pics of your own Village Halloween Parade experience @ManhattanMini, or share them with us on Facebook!

Halloween one of New York City’s favorite holidays, and there’s no exception here at Manhattan Mini Storage! We’ve cooked up some great costume ideas all made from Manhattan Mini Storage moving boxes.

1. New York City, the Place
The island of Manhattan is conveniently tall and rectangle-shaped, so it’s easy to create a cutout to wear. Use it as a PSA to help everyone remember: if you leave the city, you’ll have to live in America.

2. Subway Lost and Found Box
For this fearsome costume, cut a hole out of the bottom of a box big enough to fit around your waist. Then, fill the box with any of the following: a pet rat, lost socks, grocery bags, a single shoe, or broken umbrellas.

3. Taxi Cab
A New York City classic. For these cardboard box costumes, all you have to do is paint a box yellow, cut some windows, and fit it over your head. Consider embellishing with rooftop ads for Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark.

Suitcase photo by Lasse C, Flickr

4. Nuts 4 Nuts Cart
Similar to a taxicab costume, but should fit lower down on your waist so you can have your hands free for selling – what else? – nuts.

5. Suitcase
Use your Halloween costume to show everyone why you moved to New York – because nobody becomes famous in Des Moines.

6. The 99%
One cardboard box can make at least 4 signs, which you can use to tell Wall Street bankers how you feel.

7. The Brooklyn Bridge
For this, you’ll need a friend. First, decide who gets to be the Manhattan side (try flipping a coin). Then, use 2 boxes for the bridge towers and some string to attach them (the “suspension”).

Visit our Packing Supplies section to get moving boxes in all shapes and sizes, perfect for any Halloween costume you dream up.

We can’t wait to see what you create! Tweet us pics of your finished costumes for inspiration, or show them off on our Facebook page!

New York’s Best Fall-Weather Events

Don’t get us wrong – we love the new fall TV lineup, but we’d like to get out of the house before it’s time to unpack our winter coats and snow boots. We’ve got a list of great October events in NYC guaranteed to help you make the most of fall.

Photo by Knowsphotos, Flickr

1. openhousenewyork (OHNY)
Visit OHNY this weekend, an annual 2-day event that unlocks the city to allow New Yorkers free access to New York’s architectural treasures. Roam SoHo lofts, take a tour of NYC’s manholes, or visit the third, undeveloped section of the High Line Park!

2. BMW Guggenheim Lab
Got ideas on how to improve small-space living? Help rethink notions of comfort and city-life solutions by contributing ideas of your own. The BMW Guggenheim Lab will close after OHNY weekend, so be sure to make a visit before October 16^th!

3. Museum at FIT
The Museum at FIT is hosting the “Daphne Guinness” exhibit this fall. It showcases the fashion patroness’ most inspiring designs, straight from her own (overflowing) closet and includes pieces from Alexander McQueen himself.

4. AVON Walk NYC
If you’re looking for something to do, this great event in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month gets our vote! We’re especially excited to be donating $1 to Avon Walks for every new “Like” on our Facebook page this week.

5. Occupy Wall Street
If you’re adventurous, passionate, and ready to change the world, consider making a trip down to Zuccotti Park this month to #OccupyWallSt and swap solutions for our nation.

Photo by Matt Marquez, Flickr

BONUS: Keep Your Eye Out in November For…

Quidditch World Cup
Whether you’re a quaffle-dunking wizard, a sharp-eyed seeker, or an enthusiastic spectator, the Quidditch World Cup on Randall’s Island hosts teams from 27 states and promises us, “Whether you’re a die-hard Harry Potter fan or you’ve never heard of this Quidditch thing, you’ll have an unforgettable weekend.“

Feel like getting out of the city? We’ve got some great ideas for adventures outside Manhattan (leaf-peeping, anyone?). You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter for fun things to do and see around New York City!

Can’t-Miss Events for NYC’s Biggest Fashion Event

Is Fashion’s Night Out the biggest party night in New York City? We’d like to think so. Whether you’re looking for couture swag, champagne fountains, or a swooning celebrity encounter, here’s a list of our top 5 destinations to kick off NYC’s Fashion Week tonight.

Manolo Blahnik Food Truck – Various Locations
Visit the Milkshakes and Manolos truck for a good and fashionable cause! You can sip your milkshake happily knowing that a portion of sales will be donated to The Fund For Public Schools. Follow #manolomilkshakes to track down this fashionable truck.

Kenneth Cole – Soho
The awesomely outspoken Kenneth Cole brand will be hosting a live performance by Parachute, photo ops with the man behind the brand, cocktails, canapés, and a free Kenneth Cole FNO tee for every visitor. From 6pm until fashionably late.

Alice + Olivia – Midtown West
For the grown-up version of the old-school carnivals you loved as a kid, don’t miss the A + O Carnival! Visit their Midtown West store for face-painting, vintage carnival games, Sno-cones, cotton candy, and raffles. Personally, we can’t wait to try their classy candies.

Anthropologie – Chelsea
This year more than ever, musical performances are making a play for the spotlight at FNO. For an especially sweet musical treat, stop by Anthropologie in the Chelsea Market to hear A Fine Frenzy perform live! Listed as one of Vogue Daily’s “Best Music Acts on Fashion’s Night Out,” singer Alison Sudol is sure to charm your socks off.

Dolce & Gabbana – Upper East Side
Justin Bieber will be at Dolce & Gabbana’s Madison Avenue store tonight. GET GOING. Or don’t.

Planning on being everywhere for FNO? Download the Fashion’s Night Out Guide on your iPhone and Android to find fabulous events nearby, wherever you happen be. You can also follow @FNOnyc and #FNO on Twitter for the latest buzz.

This weekend, we’ll also be on the streets snapping pics and sharing our favorite Fashion Week looks. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to catch them all!

We’ve got even more ideas for every NYC neighborhood in our Newbie NYC section!

Summer is winding down, which means that in a few short months, you’ll be hunkering down inside to wait out the winter. Get in all the sweet & salty treats you can from our favorite roving NYC food trucks before you go into hibernation!

1. Rickshaw Dumplings
Personally, we love the edamame dumplings! Plus, this is just about the only place in the city where it’s okay to tell somebody they have “nice dumplings.” Track them down via Twitter.

2. GO Burger
Black Angus beef, double smoked bacon, and special BLT Burger Sauce make this the best burger you ever bought out of a smallish pickup window. Scope their position on Twitter.

3. Sweetery NYC
All-natural goodies are baked on premises in their “mobile bakery.” Yes please! Follow them on Twitter to discover their whereabouts.

4. The Bistro Truck
Our favorite Moroccan-Mediterranean mobile gourmet, serving dishes like Lamb Marrakech and Vegetable Tangine for under $10 a plate. Follow them on Twitter for the specials of the day!

5. Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream
Van Leeuwen serves ice cream made from hormone-free milk and cream, eggs, and cane sugar. Follow their truck on Twitter, and browse exquisite flavors on their website.

6. Kelvin Natural Slush Co

The Kelvin Slush Truck churns out unique flavors like Spicy Ginger or Green & Black Tea with mix-ins like chopped mint or white peach puree. Follow them on Twitter, or call the Slush Phone for location info.

7. Biàn Dãng
This truck tours Midtown East and West, the Financial District, and Soho bringing Taiwanese lunchbox favs like pork dumplings, fish cake, and tea eggs. Follow them on Twitter for locations.

8. The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck
Soft serve with pizzaz! Try the Salty Pimp or the Mondae Sunday, both of which the owners have recently sought patents for. Follow them on Twitter for truck status updates, and drool over flavors here.

Photo by PetroleumJelliffe, Flickr

If you’re planning on getting lunch next week, keep an eye out for our gal Meg at one of these 8 yummy NYC food trucks – she’ll be treating 5 lucky Manhattan Mini Storage fans to lunch!

In the meantime, Tweet us pics of your treats this week and tell us which NYC food truck is your favorite in the comments below!

Photo by Jayegirl99, Flickr

This year’s U.S. Open Tennis Championships kick off August 29^th in Flushing Meadows, New York. While we’re undoubtedly pumped for the 2011 matches, we wonder…will they be as exciting as the 2010 U.S. Open?

Our Favorite Memorable Moments from the 2010 U.S. Open:

1. Venus Williams’ Outfits: This Williams sister is known for her court fashion as well as her tennis skills. We loved the bright fireworks-themed outfit she wore during one of her singles matches, meant to be “about New York.”
2. Mysterious Disappearances: The media had questions when Serena Williams, then the No. 1 ranked women’s player in the world, claimed an injury and pulled out of the 2010 U.S. Open games. The NY Times declared the injury needed “explanation.”
3. Preserving the Gentleman’s Game: “Tennis hooligans” at one match were banned from the stadium after brawling over some inappropriate language.
4. “Spanish Armada” Jokes: The 2010 U.S. Open set a record for number of players at a Grand Slam event (9), including top-ranked player and reigning champion Rafael Nadal.
5. Bhangra Dancing: Some audience members really get into the Fan Cams. Oh, and Andrea Petkovic busts a move, too.

If watching these tennis legends play in New York next week inspires you to pick up a racket yourself, we’ve got excellent sports equipment storage options for your gear – whether you need room for extra rackets, tennis balls, or last season’s tennis whites. For rates as low as $29/month, just give us a call at 212-STORAGE!

Hurricane Irene is projected to make landfall in or around New York City sometime this Sunday. Wondering whether you should cancel your plans? If they involve any of these hurricane faux-pas, we’d say yes.

5 NYC Activities To Avoid During a Hurricane

1. 

   Playing Frisbee in the park.
   Just because Fido seems a little restless, doesn’t mean you should be challenging him to a 100mph game of frisbee in a tree lined park. Can you say, animal cruelty?

2. Going Sailing on the Hudson.
   So you had plans this weekend to be sailing in stripes and you’re thinking, “Hey, maybe it won’t be that bad.” Hope you’re packing a bathing suit because you may be swimming…to shore.
3. Wearing a life preserver at all times.
   Okay we get it, hurricanes can be scary, but get yourself together! This isn’t the Titanic people, and you’re freaking out the children.
4. Having a dinner party on your NYC rooftop.
   Your lights are strung and your table is set. Just don’t forget to provide trays that can double as shields, because the flatware will be flying!
5. Going puddle jumping.
   Puddle jumping in a hurricane will be a lot different than puddle jumping on your average rainy day in May. Feel free to wear your shiny new rain boots on the couch over a big bowl of popcorn – just please, stay inside.

Remember to stay safe this weekend! If you’re one of the New Yorkers in an Evacuation Zone, don’t forget to take a go-bag and any important documents with you when you leave. For more info on preparing for a hurricane in NYC, visit NYC.gov’s Hurricane information page.

If you want to store your belongings in one of our NYC storage units because you think your home is in danger of flooding, give us a call at 212-STORAGE. We’ll take care of your things while you head to higher ground!