Best Magazines to Read During Your Morning Commute

Spending your commute time reading a magazine is a great way to start your day. Most of us wouldn’t take the time to sit down at home and read a magazine cover to cover, because there’s just too many other things that need to get done. So why not turn your commute time into personal time with magazines specific to your interests?

For the Foodie

Looking for a new recipe or cooking tips to simplify meal planning? Here are some favorites:

• Bon Appetit
• Cooking Light
• Food & Wine
• Saveur

World Travelers and Family Vacationers

Whether you’re planning a once-in-a-lifetime exotic adventure or a vacation with the kids, these magazines will stimulate your wanderlust:

• National Geographic Traveler
• Cruise Travel
• Travel & Leisure
• Budget Travel

Fashionistas Gather Here

Find all the latest fashion trends to fit your personal style. From chic to vintage and sporty to sophisticated, these publications have you covered:

• Harper’s Bazaar
• Marie Claire
• Elle
• Glamour
• Vogue

Car Enthusiasts

Do you love to go to car shows? Are you interested in the latest designs and hottest cars? Reading these magazines will really get your motor running:

• Car & Driver
• Hemmings Classic Car
• Muscle Car Review
• Automobile Buyers Guide

Business Movers and Shakers

Are you passionate about following the current business trends? These reads will keep you in the know:

• Fortune
• Bloomberg Business Week
• Money
• The Economist

Green Thumb Gardeners

Do you love to grow flowers, vegetables and herbs? Do you see landscaping designs as an art form? These magazines were written for you:

• Garden Design
• Better Homes & Gardens
• Herb Companion
• Flower Magazine
• Horticulture

Whether you’re looking for a new recipe, a vacation destination, a great pair of pumps, a classic car, investment trends or want to plant an herb garden on your windowsill, Mitchell’s NY can deliver the perfect magazines to your door. See why New Yorkers have counted on us since 1946 as the preferred source of information on demand.

The Best Hidden Neighborhood Bars

Whether high, low, with secret entrances or incognito: These are some of the best hidden bars in New York City. They may be hard to find, but they are definitely worth the effort.

High — JIMMY at the James Hotel: A Roof Bar

With views that can only be seen 18 stories up through 14-foot windows, this roof bar boosts a panoramic view of Midtown, Wall Street, the Hudson River and bridges spanning the East River.

JIMMY is a year-round roof bar. The fireplace and modular furniture creates an intimate conversation pit to be enjoyed in cooler weather. When the sun shines, guests can relax on chaise lounges around the pool on the roof deck.

The decor is industrial but not cold. A visit to JIMMY is like being at a friend’s well-decorated home. The owners and staff are veterans in the hospitality business. John Swet has a solid consulting business as a top mixologist. The exclusive cocktails at JIMMY are the products of his genius.

The menu includes:

• Specialty cocktails
• Wines
• Beer and cider
• Snacks and sweets

Low — The Tippler: An Underground Bar

Located in the cellar space below Chelsea Market is a classic New York cocktail bar that displays unique pieces of the city’s history. The décor of The Tippler takes you to another time. Reclaimed water tower wood and repurposed vintage fixtures add to the speakeasy atmosphere at 425 W. 15^th St.

The menu includes:

• Small plates and salads
• Toasts and panini
• Meat and cheese boards
• Craft cocktails and artisanal spirits
• Beer and wine

Secret Entrance — Please Don’t Tell

This place is so secret, the website doesn’t even list the bar or food menu. Most pictures and information can be found on the Facebook page when guests tag a post.

Apparently, the entrance is a hot dog shop called Criff Dogs. You enter through a vintage telephone booth in the corner that has a sliding wall to get into Please Don’t Tell. Word on the street is even if you can find this bar, you’d better have a reservation. You need to start calling at 3 p.m. to get your name on the reservation list.

The Facebook posts all say the effort is worth it for the delicious cocktails, fancy hot dogs, tater tots with stadium cheese and the bacon-infused bourbon.

Incognito — Attaboy

Go to 134 Eldridge St. on the Lower East Side and look for a window marked M&H Tailors and Alterations. Ring the buzzer. Maybe you will get in.

Attaboy has a no-menu format. Bartenders feel out your vibe and deliver the most solid cocktails based on whatever fresh ingredients they have on hand at the time.

The speakeasy vibe adds to the fun of the mad-genius bar staff’s entertaining performance as they create modern classics, such as Penicillin or Late Night Reviver.

These are the hidden bars of NYC. Above the skyline, below the traffic, behind a hot dog shop or fronted as another business, New York City is the capitol of interesting hidden neighborhood bars.

Beginners Guide to Newspaper Crafting

There are many ways to recycle newspapers and magazines. Upcycling by making a craft is a fun and useful way to reuse old newspapers and magazines. The craft ideas are endless, and extend from simple creations you can do with the kids to intricate art that is giftworthy.

For the Home

This craft begins with making magazine reeds, then covering a box or a picture frame. Once you know how to make a magazine reed, you will find lots of things to cover to create beautiful pieces for your home.

• Start by tearing out magazine pages. Don’t worry about torn edges being too clean, as they will be hidden in the roll. Then fold each page in half lengthwise and cut the page along the fold.
• Place a bamboo skewer at the bottom right corner of the paper at a 45 degree angle. Beginning at this corner, roll the paper snugly around the skewer, pulling the end of the skewer out of the reed a little at a time as you go.
• As you approach the edge of the paper, glue the edges and slide the bamboo skewer out of the reed. Continue these steps to make a pile of magazine reeds.
• The reeds can be glued with tacky glue to the lid of a small cardboard craft box in any design you wish. Once all the reeds have been allowed to dry firmly to the box top, the ends can be trimmed flush with the edges of the box.

For the Garden

Newspaper seedling pots are a smart and economical way to start your garden for pennies. You will need a newspaper, a drinking glass, masking tape and potting soil.

• If you are starting with a full sheet of newspaper, tear it in half along the fold.
• Fold it in half lengthwise.
• Place your drinking glass on the paper, roll the paper around the glass and secure with a piece of masking tape. There will be several inches of paper on the ends of the glass.
• Fold the paper over the bottom of the glass like you are wrapping a gift and secure with another piece of tape.
• Remove the glass and fold the top edges of excess paper down into the paper pot.
• Immediately fill the pots with potting soil to hold their form, then place them in a foil lasagna pan to add the seeds. The plastic lid of the lasagna pan can be used to cover the seedlings to keep them warm, like an improvised mini-greenhouse.
• When you are ready to transplant your seedlings, you can place the pots directly into the ground.

Now gather up your old newspapers and magazines and get crafty. Even if you just make a paper mache piñata with the kids, you can have fun creating items with recyclable material.

Don’t Miss These 6 Events in April

Mark your calendar now for these must-attend events in April. There’s always something for everyone to do in New York City, and April is no exception.

The Tribeca Film Festival

This year is the 16^th anniversary of The Tribeca Film Festival. The festival will run from April 19 through April 30. There will be dozens of film screenings at various theaters in the neighborhood. The events are separately ticketed and include special events, Tribeca Talks panels, interactive installations and live music. This year’s new category for film submissions is Snapchat Shorts, which appeal to social media fans.

Admission for the screenings:

• $10 for matinee shows before 6 p.m. Monday through Friday
• $20 for evenings and weekend showings
• $40 for special events

More information can be found at the event website.

The Bacon and Beer Classic

New York City is one of only eight cities to host this festival that combines bacon, beer and sports. The other lucky locations are Dallas, Minneapolis, Seattle, Denver, Indianapolis, Philadelphia and London.

Citi Field is the place to be April 29-30. You can sample more than 100 craft ciders and beers from local breweries. Chefs from across the city will tempt you with samples of 50 original bacon-inspired or infused dishes.

As you stroll the field in search of the next best bacon bite or refreshing brew, you can join other discerning drinkers and diners in a game of giant Jenga, a bungee run and other interactive competitions. Don’t forget to get your funny photo booth picture before you enjoy the DJ, live music and dancing.

The tickets range from $69 to $135 and are all-inclusive. Visit the event website for more information and ticket purchase.

The Daffodil Celebration and Wine Weekend

If you’re looking for something a little more relaxing, see more than 300,000 daffodils at the New York Botanical Garden April 29 and 30. You will be served New York and out-of-state wines in a souvenir chalice while you enjoy the music of the folk-rock band Milton’s Tunes.

The event starts at noon both days and the price of admission is $28 or $38. More information can be found at the event website.

New York International Auto Show

In 1900, the New York International Auto Show became North America’s first automotive exhibition. Today it is still the largest-attended auto exhibition in the country. The NY International Auto show has brought new and innovative ideas to the national and world stage for more than 100 years.

The NYIAS brings the largest and most diverse group of people together. From the financial community of Wall Street to the marketing and advertisers of Madison Avenue, this event has become a world-class trade and industry event.

The 2017 NYIAS will display four floors of the newest vehicles and concept cars. The show will include an incredible collection of more than 1,000 cars and trucks of cutting-edge design and innovation at the Jacob Javits Center.

Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival 

Every Easter, a New York tradition dating back to the 1870s occurs as celebrants show off their best bonnets. This event is known as the Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival. It heads north on Fifth Avenue from 49^th Street to 57^th Street.

If you want to participate, the festivities start at 10 a.m. and continues until 4 p.m. Just put your bonnet on and join in. The best place for spectators to watch is from near St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

From films to flowers, from bacon and beer to cars and a parade, April in the Big Apple is going to be awesome.

Enjoy Passover at these 5 Restaurants in NYC

Restaurants in the city will be preparing to celebrate the Jewish holiday!   There are plenty of options for dining in and taking out! Our favorites include:

Mile End Deli – with two locations one in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn, this deli is sure to be popular. Just reading their description has our mouth watering Prepare for a [This] Montreal-style Jewish deli menu is highlighted by “killer” house-smoked meats.

Fung Tu – While the menu is American Chinese food, the restaurant is known to serve special Passover meals in celebration of the Jewish holiday.  

Freds at Barneys – This Madison Avenue restaurant – within-a-department-store has been offering dine-in and take-out options including a full seder plate. Previous years’ meals included  Tuscan chicken liver pate, housemade gefilte fish, roast chicken with buttery potatoes and brisket.

How to Enjoy the First Day of Spring in NYC

March 20th is the first day of spring! Here are some unique ways to enjoy the lovely occasion!

If It’s a Beautiful Spring Day, Get Outside

• Start getting your exercise outside the gym. Take a bike ride in the park, shoot some hoops or play catch. Another idea to enjoy the sweet sunshine might be to build and fly a kite. Take the kids to the park to climb on the monkey bars and swing on the swings.
• Check out the 15^th Annual Orchid Show at the Botanical Gardens. This year’s theme is Thailand, featuring an original Thai pavilion adorned with hundreds of plants creating a stunning floral display. On select nights, there are even performances and live music.
• Take a sail around New York Harbor on the historic Shearwater at the North Cove Marina. Enjoy complimentary wine tasting while you see spectacular views of the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge and Governors Island.

If the Weather Is Not Cooperating, You Can Still Have Fun

• Start some spring-cleaning so when the weather gets warmer you can fully enjoy being outdoors. Clean out and organize your cupboards and garage. Donate unused and unwanted items to charity.
• If it’s too cold to enjoy warm-weather activities, plan them instead. Plan your garden or a day trip for your family. You can also start planning your summer vacation or a picnic on the first warm day. Just planning and thinking about the fun-in-the-sun things ahead are good ways to enjoy the first day of spring.
• Bring spring indoors. A beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers will instantly put spring in the air. Fill a dish with jellybeans in anticipation of Easter. Look at some spring crafts or décor in a magazine for inspiration.

Whether the forecast for March 20 is rain, sun or even snow, spring will be here soon. Find some way to bid farewell to winter and hello to the arrival of warmer weather.

How to Celebrate Daylight Savings

On March 12, 2017, at 2 a.m., 48 of the 50 states in the United States will spring ahead. What are your plans to celebrate? Yes, you will lose one hour of sleep, but this means we are one step closer to warm summer evenings with those beautiful, late sunsets. One step closer to lingering at outdoor cafes because it’s just too nice to go inside. One step closer to packing the bulky sweaters up until fall and slipping into sundresses and shorts.

Doesn’t all this deserve a celebration? We think it does. Here are a few suggestions.

Start out by Taking a Nap to Make up for That Lost Hour

There is actually a science as to how to take a good nap. A well-timed nap can make you more productive at work and at home. Our advice includes:

• Keep it short. A 20- to 30-minute nap is the ideal pick-me-up. Longer naps can lead to postsleep grogginess that can be difficult to shake off. In addition, longer naps can interfere with your nighttime sleep rhythms.
• Find a dark, quiet and cool place to nap. You will nod off faster if there is less noise and light. Your quality of sleep will be better and more rejuvenating.
• Plan your nap. If you wait until your daytime sleepiness kicks in, it could be unsafe to do things like driving. A regular naptime will help you get to sleep faster and wake up quicker.
• Coordinate your caffeine and your nap. You don’t want to spend time trying to get to sleep because you had a cup of coffee an hour ago. It’s best to take a nap immediately after having coffee, before the caffeine hits your system. This way, 20 or 30 minutes later when the caffeine takes effect, you will wake right up.

Use Spring Forward as an Incentive to Renew Waning New Year’s Resolutions

Since daylight savings is less than three months into the new year, it’s just enough time to have lost steam on your resolutions but not so much time that you still can’t get back on track.

• If your goal was to lose 15 pounds before Memorial Day, that is still possible at this point. You have 11 weeks until the unofficial start of summer and swimsuit season.
• If you goal was to get more exercise, this may be an even better time to commit. With the weather getting nicer, you will have more options to add in outdoor activities instead of only going to the gym.
• It’s the ideal time to renew your resolution to get more organized. You need to get all your financial information together for tax season, anyway. Take some extra time to set up a system for 2017’s documents so next year’s tax time is a breeze. You also need to rotate your winter and spring wardrobe, so pull out the pieces you rarely wore and send them off to charity.

Don’t Forget the Not-So-Glamorous Tasks

This is a good time to check off tasks that should be completed twice a year when the clocks change:

• The International Association of Fire Chiefs recommends you change the batteries in your smoke detectors twice a year. An easy way to make sure you remember is to stick to the spring forward and fall back days of daylight savings.
• To get the best wear out of a mattress, it is recommended you flip it two to four times per year. By flipping the same days you change your smoke detector batteries, you will at least meet the minimal suggested number of flips.
• During the summer, you want to switch your ceiling fans to a counterclockwise motion so it blows the air straight down. The warmer it is, the higher the speed should be. During winter, your fans should run at a low speed in a clockwise direction.

Whether you take a nap, recommit or just check off some maintenance tasks, don’t forget to do something to celebrate daylight savings on March 12.

A Bright Outlook for Newspapers

The information revolution brought about an enormous amount of change in social conduct. With access to seemingly endless streams of information online, consumer behavior shifted, and demands grew to become much more instant-access oriented.

With these consumer and technology-driven marketplace changes, opportunities for online publishing became more and more appealing. Innovation in digital publishing promised less overhead and a potentially bigger piece of the consumer pie.

But the mass buy-in to the merits of online publishing left many newspaper outlets wondering how they might adapt their print-based business to today’s consumer behaviors and demands. While it’s no doubt that newspapers have no choice but to continue to develop their branded digital platforms, there are still many misconceptions about the current state and outlook of print businesses.

In fact, many newspapers that quickly jumped ship and moved entirely online are now admitting that their aggressive cuts to their traditional product might have been too hasty. On the other hand, those news outlets that elected to invest in rethinking and reshaping how they produce and deliver the news are those that have been able to reap the benefits of a continued wave of both print and digital readership.

It has taken some time for publishers to know exactly how to respond to the digital transformation, but don’t count out newspapers just yet. It is, after all, one of the world’s oldest industries — not to mention most influential.

The History of the Newspaper Industry

To understand the newspaper industry’s forecast and continued relevance, it’s important to look at its history and how it has shaped much of today’s society and culture.

Newspaper publishing is believed to have started in Europe, specifically in Venice as early as the late 1500’s. Much like today, the content newspapers centered on was information regarding Italian and European politics. This idea was well received and was met with growing demand. Recognizing the potential, newspaper producers continued to refine their processes to deliver more and better products. Though the original newspapers were handwritten, they soon moved to printed publications by the early 1600’s in Germany.

Slowly, censorship in newspapers started to loosen up just in time for more efficient printing processes that lowered the purchase price of newspapers. Around this same era, journalism as a practice started to take hold. By the 1700’s, newspapers began to grow in their cultural influence and gained greater readership due to the interest in the variety of unique news stories that were being reported. Everyday citizens, who otherwise would not have access to information even in their regions, were now enjoying the connectivity that newspaper afforded them.

Until the 1900’s, newspapers and their stories received funding from different political parties. With growing political activism and concerns over conflicts of interest, the industry decided it needed to adopt a new revenue model. Eventually, product and service advertising would become a source of revenue that held great importance for the sustainability of the industry. Advertising combined with subscriptions would become the standard two-pronged base of revenue for newspapers in North America — that is, until the early 2000’s when the potential of digital publishing opened up new possibilities for different and modern revenue streams.

Today’s Newspaper Industry Landscape

With the shift toward digital information in the early 2000’s, the newspaper industry collectively reacted as strategically as possible. In a short amount of time, the majority of the traditional newspaper consumer base began to adopt technology and Internet usage in their daily lives. This presented an important opportunity for newspapers to develop new revenue sources by providing services that matched digital readership behaviors. Social media also offered news producers a new method of reaching new audiences — something that advertisers are always looking for.

While the business strategists worked to find sustainable revenue streams for their online divisions, many news outlets began to suffer a decline in print subscriptions. Without a growing stream of revenue from print subscriptions, advertisers began to pull their business and move it online. Though it does not include all newspapers, many publishers suffered from this pattern of loss.

As a result, several news producers declared it an inevitable reality that print newspaper demand was dying from both their audience and their advertisers. The rush was then on to find the best possible revenue source for online news production to save the industry.

A number of digital business models have been proposed and attempted. These have included Internet advertising, native advertising, reader paywalls, digital subscriptions, memberships for “premium” content, as well as multimedia production and even book publishing.

While some of these revenue models have worked for some publications, others have not revolutionized the industry as expected. This has prompted some of the more pragmatic news companies to contemplate a possible harmonious existence between print and digital media instead of a tug-of-war.

The Case for Print Newspapers

It is interesting to media experts that the industry appears to be coming full circle. When the industry, in general, anticipated the defeat of the print publishing business, even newspaper veterans were shocked when print subscription saw a resurgence in the last year. There are a number of possible reasons for the recent boost in print readership and advertising.

One of the most obvious arguments is that the election-year created a flood of interest in national news and the local stories that flowed from it. While election years typically tend to boost interest in news, this year, in particular, has potentially created an unprecedented attraction and curiosity to national news stories and has included an international readership.

On top of the buzz-worthy election year, there is a definite case to be made that some people simply long for the simplicity and convenience of print news. Many people are turned off by the medium of digital news. The sheer volume of increasingly conspicuous ads, the aversion to fake news stories and newsjacking as well as the negativity of Internet trolls and commentary have combined to create an environment that many are finding to be too hostile.

This lays a foundation for the argument that print and digital should not be seen as competitors fighting for market share within their own branded publications. Rather, they should work together to complement each other with their strengths.

While there’s no doubt that digital publishing is here to stay, it’s equally undoubted that print is still a very valuable medium for the integrity and delivery of news stories locally and globally.

Here are a few of the many reasons why print newspapers are still relevant and influential in today’s media marketplace:

1. The First Source of Trusted News

The newspaper has had a strong foothold in global culture since the 1500’s. It was the first source of trusted news, and for many, it is where they learned about the happenings of the world outside. This mindset is not easily shattered. Generations of people have been brought up in households that subscribed to their local or national papers — a behavior that continues to be passed on to the new era of consumers.

2. A Relaxing Pastime

The newspaper provides a channel through which to unwind after a long day at work or to relax with on the weekend while sipping a morning coffee. There is something calming and leisurely about reading the news that transports us to another world and helps take our minds off our own immediate problems —  if only for a few minutes. This is not something that can be equally said for digital news, which continues to bombard us with device notifications and reminders. Detachment from digital sources is something many of us crave today.

3. Emphasis on Journalism

Newspapers are essentially brands in the minds of the readers, and news publishers must protect the integrity of their brand. Part of this means ensuring their brand consistency includes unique journalism and featured editorials on a broad range of topics. This is what the newspaper reader expects perhaps more so than readers who exclusively access their news online.

4. A Platform for Contextual and Local News

In addition to keeping up quality content and consistently delivering it through branded coverage, newspapers are also able to make their product more refined. Contextual and local news, with local reporters who are community-based experts, are an invaluable source of information for a local audience.

5. Internet Demographic Data

 One of the prime examples of how digital and print can work together to build a news brand and offer more to advertisers is through reader demographic data collected online. In addition to demographic data like age, gender, location and salary, the publisher can also collect information such as reader behavior, preferences and interests. This is important information for advertisers who can use this data to create more relevant and contextual print ads.

6. Greater Advertisement Recall

It’s no question that mobile communications and online media have become a distraction to many consumers. Online audiences have virtually learned to desensitize themselves to ads, promotions and the like. Additionally, with the advent of ad blocking software, many advertisers are wondering if they are really getting as much value for their marketing budget as they once did. Print advertising, however, doesn’t face the same challenges that online advertising faces. In fact, print advertisers benefit from a higher reader recall because the newspaper isn’t nearly as distracting.

7. An Avenue for Featured Content and Special Editions

Another argument for the relevance and importance of newspapers is that with the majority of our attention focused online, the newspaper becomes more uniquely positioned to audiences. This creates new opportunities for publishers to provide exclusive or featured content, and to promote and sell special editions. Not only is this great value for the reader, but advertisers also look at these editions as strategic marketing opportunities.

8. A Time Capsule

Newspapers also offer the audience a keepsake. It is a common practice to buy newspapers the day after an election or during other memorable events as a way of capturing a moment in time. These time capsules are not only sentimental, but they are important ways of deliberately recording history. As a society, we see newspapers as a symbolic means of preserving special and significant events locally and worldwide.

9. Nostalgia for the Younger Generations

While the majority of the younger generation heads online for their news, it doesn’t necessarily indicate that they’ll never develop a newspaper habit. Most people never expected that vinyl records would make a comeback, but millennials are gobbling them up as current music artists like Rihanna are releasing their music in this vintage style. This perfectly illustrates why newspapers are still important and valuable for a younger audience as well.

10. Higher Quality News Content

Finally, perhaps the most compelling argument of all when questioning the relevance of newspapers is the simple fact that people have always been and will always pay for quality content. Many digital news consumers are growing fed up with the decline in standards of news production. This is why powerhouse newspaper brands will become even more trusted and valued in the years to come.

If an audience feels they can get high-quality, exclusive and diverse content that adheres to superior editorial standards while delivered to them in a convenient medium like a newspaper, they will always be willing to pay for it. It’s not just the news — it’s the entire packaging that makes newspapers irreplaceable in the minds of the consumer.

While these are only a few of the arguments that can be made for the positive future of newspapers, it should also be noted that each reader has their own unique reasons for why they buy and trust their favorite publications. Many newsreaders develop an identity around the types of news publications they read and are very loyal to their preferred brand.

A Bright Outlook for Newspapers

While news publishers have certain challenges ahead of them, it will be the ones who stick to their editorial integrity and continue to deliver value to readers and advertisers alike that will weather the digital revolution storm. By remaining committed to news production standards while developing flexibility, newspaper brands can stay nimble. The newspaper industry has proven its success for the past five centuries and has shown it’s up to the task of implementing strategic changes that will bolster the industry.

Advertisers continue to place their trust in the newspaper industry for its demonstrated resilience. For consumers, newspapers still prove to be a trusted source of information that also combine sentiment and relaxation. So long as both sides of the equation continue to have their expectations met, the future of newspapers looks bright.

Contact Mitchell’s NY today to learn about our long list of newspapers available for delivery. We will be happy to provide you with a free quote!

Luxury Living in NYC

Are you looking to move to New York and are curious about the best locations for luxury living? While we may not all have the budget for the “1%” lifestyle, that doesn’t mean we don’t want to take a peek at just how exceptional and luxurious living in NYC can be. Our partner, Luxury Listings NYC, produces a bi-monthly publication that highlights some of the best high-end house, loft and apartment listings in the city.

Leafing through this glossy magazine is a voyage to a part of NYC we don’t get to see every day. These are the kinds of listings that attract movie stars, celebrities, successful businesspeople and millionaires and billionaires from around the world. Think about it: You’ll be perusing the same types of NYC properties as your favorite movie stars, athletes, politicians and foreign personalities!

New York is a dynamic city where things are always changing. That said, there are some areas that always attract the wealthiest customers looking for a luxury residence, including:

• TriBeCa: The “Triangle below canal” area has a name that is synonymous with luxury. That’s why many stars and celebrities have made TriBeCa their home. This appealing area combines residential buildings with many great restaurants, shops and bars, making it the perfect luxury playground.
• Flatiron District: This historical district has taken on a new image as a high-tech pole, the NY equivalent of Silicon Valley. Many start-ups and tech firms are based here, and their wealthy owners and employees have made the Flatiron District their luxury living headquarters.
• Carnegie District: Less “nouveau riche” and more “old-school money,” the Carnegie District has an architectural richness that’s hard to beat. If you can afford a home here, you’ll be rubbing shoulders with some of NYC’s most elite citizens as you enjoy your morning coffee at one of the chic cafés in the area!
• Lennox Hill: As you can imagine, any district in NYC that borders Central Park is going to be highly sought-after by luxury customers looking for an oasis in the city. Lennox Hill has its share of more affordable places mixed in, which gives the rich and famous a chance to see how the other half lives!
• Union Square: This is where you’ll find a large concentration of young professionals. They love being able to live in a luxurious dwelling surrounded by excellent cultural spaces, high-end dining establishments and unparalleled nightlife venues. Union Square is the place for vibrant luxury living in NYC!

These are just a few of the wonderful locations that offer the top-end luxury living experience New Yorkers love. Luxury Listings NYC will keep you up-to-date on the best luxury properties in the city. Thanks to our valued partnership with Luxury Listings NYC, Mitchell’sNY is able to offer you great deals on subscriptions and advertising opportunities.

If you are moving to the city, we can also help you thanks to our partnership with Katz Moving, a reliable and trustworthy mover with years of experience and a focus on quality, “green” moving.

As a one-stop service company, you can count on Mitchell’sNY for many handy service needs, such as newspaper, magazine, food and beverage delivery along with a host of other great services. Give us a call today and speak with one of our friendly team members, and we can get you a step closer to luxury living in NYC!

How to Treat Yourself for a Day in NYC

Just wandering around New York City is a treat in and of itself. But if you have a day off in the city and want to pamper yourself, you need some inside tips. We’re not talking the standard stuff that thousands of tourists will be doing, but some of the coolest, hippest hidden spots that locals love. We know how we like to spend a day off in NY, so why don’t you join us? Here are our recommendations:

• Have Breakfast at The Smith Restaurant: Set the mood for your day with the right ambiance and delicious food and drinks at The Smith Restaurant. There are four great locations, all with their own take on American Brasserie. And while they serve excellent food for every meal, they’re especially famous for their appetizing breakfasts. The hardest part will be choosing just one breakfast — so go ahead and enjoy two!
• Visit the Morgan Library Museum: Part library, part museum, the Morgan Library Museum is sure to impress! Spend a part of your day visiting this NYC jewel. It combines classic architecture, beautiful artwork and sculptures, an amazing collection of rare books and even shows and concerts. Check their website for all the details, and make sure you plan enough time to see it all!
• Stroll Through Eataly for Lunch: A few hours at the Morgan will have you hungry again, so head over to Eataly, simply the best place in NYC for fresh and authentic Italian food. Wandering around smelling, observing and tasting is a trip all its own, so make sure you bring your curiosity and your appetite. The warm, vibrant atmosphere and hustle and bustle is the best of NYC and Italy in one place!
• Take an Afternoon Spa Break at Aire: What day off in NYC would be complete without a pampering spa experience? One of the best places to go is Aire Ancent Baths, a gorgeous Roman-style spa designed to take you away from the modern world and whisk you back to a different time. They’ll treat all of your senses and make sure that you’re relaxed, calm and de-stressed before you continue on your way.
• Do Some Shopping in West Village: It wouldn’t be a pampering day if you didn’t buy yourself a little something! West Village, or “Little Bohemia,” mixes all the big name shops with smaller hidden shops and spots for local artists and craftspeople. As with many destinations in NYC, simply wandering through takes you out of your head and lets you truly enjoy a moment of leisure.

At the end of your day, there are countless restaurants, shows, clubs and bars to entertain you for hours. With a little bit of planning, it’s easy to spend a pampering day in NYC and come away full energized. The hardest part is fitting everything you want to do into one day! Of course, NYC has so many facets that you’ll want to come back again and again and discover more great ways to pamper yourself.

At Mitchell’sNY, we like to do our part in helping you relax by offering convenient, reliable delivery of things like newspapers, magazines, food and drinks. Give us a call and let us know how we can make your pampering day off in NYC even more relaxed for you!

Everything You Need to Know When Selecting Warehouse Management

What comes to mind when you think about warehouse management? If you’ve just established your business, you may not have given it much thought yet, but it’s never too early to start thinking about how you’ll handle the goods you’ll sell. This is true even if you haven’t received your first order yet.

If you’ve operated your own business for a while, you already know that the point of warehouse management is to move and store materials within your warehouse. Depending on the industry you’re in, your approach to warehouse management may be a basic system, largely dependent on spreadsheets and manual tracking, or it may be more complex and involve advanced technology.

Over time, warehouse management systems have been developed to help companies manage their inventory of products. Material requirements planning systems, or MRPs, help manufacturers manage their raw material needs. This technology eventually evolved into MRPII, or manufacturing resource planning, which added scheduling and capacity planning functions. Enterprise resource planning systems, otherwise known as ERPs, represent the next generation of warehouse management tools. ERP systems have all of the capabilities that MRPII systems have, but they also have financial reporting and customer/vendor management abilities.

Many of today’s sophisticated warehouse management systems (WMS) are ERP systems designed specifically for warehouses. Traditionally, companies use an electronic warehouse management system to track products from their delivery to the business until their eventual shipping. A WMS would be able to tell you where every product in your inventory is located in your warehouse in real-time, as it’s received, stored, picked, packaged and shipped. A conventional WMS is designed to track the items that make up your inventory exclusively. As a result, these systems require support for the other things related to inventory management to be completed, such as billing, customer service and accounting.

Modern warehouse management systems have the capabilities of a traditional WHS, but they can do a lot more that “just” track the products in your inventory. Instead of being standalone systems, today’s warehouse management systems operate like ERP systems. This means they integrate the work performed to keep your warehouse running across departments. A modern WMS coordinates activities in your accounting, purchasing, sales, customer service, shipping, payroll and inventory departments, which enables you to run your operation more efficiently and reduces the chances for mistakes across the board.

What is Third-Party Warehousing?

While tools such as warehouse management systems exist to enable business owners to manage their inventory and overall operation efficiently, it doesn’t mean managing your own inventory of goods is necessarily the best use of your time as an entrepreneur. This is particularly true at times when you need to focus on product development, sales, and marketing, such as when your business is new, your sales are growing rapidly, or you’re expanding into a new geographic area.

Fortunately, there are companies that specialize in third-party warehousing. A third-party warehousing company will store your inventory for you. In addition, many of these companies offer other value-added services such as order fulfillment, inventory management, custom labeling and shipping.

Third party warehousing is often referred to as “third-party logistics,” or 3PL, even though 3PL often involves more than warehousing services. In 2014, the worldwide third-party logistics industry recorded $750 billion in revenue, with 3PL companies in the United States alone posting $157 billion in revenue in the same year. From 2013 to 2014, the demand for 3PL services in the United States grew 7.4 percent, outpacing the growth rate of the nation’s economy. In 2014, 96 Fortune 100 companies and 80 percent of the companies in the Fortune 500 reported using 3PL services.

Although the vast majority of Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies have decided that employing some form of third-party logistics makes sense for their purposes, deciding whether you should make third party warehousing a part of your business depends on a variety of factors, including your budget. If you don’t have sufficient cash flow to pay for third party warehousing, it makes sense for you to manage your warehousing and order fulfillment in-house. If your products require custom packaging, you may also want to handle your logistics yourself.

Even though handling your business’ warehousing needs in-house often provides some unique packaging options and cost savings, it has its drawbacks. Arguably, the biggest drawback to managing your own logistics the time and attention it takes away from the things you could be doing to grow your business.

Benefits of Third Party Warehousing

While saving time is an obvious benefit of using a third-party warehousing company to manage your logistics, third party warehousing provides many other advantages. These additional benefits include:

Flexibility:

Depending on the size of your current business location, you may have to sign a long-term lease to house your inventory of products. Even if you find a commercial space that can hold your current inventory, how do you know that space will be big enough to accommodate an increased volume of materials as your business grows? Is your business cyclical? If so, you may be paying for empty space during your slower sales periods when you lease a warehouse. If you sign a lease, you have to continue to pay for the space you lease until the end of your contract’s term, regardless of whether you’ve outgrown your space or it’s close to empty at certain points of the year.

When you work with a third-party warehousing company, you don’t have to sign a lease for a location that might become unsuitable over time. Instead, many 3PLs offer flexible pricing, which means they will only charge you for the warehouse space you are currently using. During slow periods, when your products take up less space, you’ll pay less than you would during periods when you need to have more of your goods available.

Less Staff:

In order to manage your own warehouse and order fulfillment, you’ll typically need to hire staff members to help. You’ll need to invest time and money in training them. You’ll also need to pay payroll taxes and, depending on the size of your operation and other factors, provide benefits such as health insurance.

You can avoid these upfront and ongoing expenses when you hire a third-party warehousing company. When you work with a 3PL provider, it will be the third party’s responsibility to hire, train and pay the people necessary to satisfy your warehousing needs.

Increased Focus:

Unless you’ve established a warehousing or shipping business, the odds are good that your primary business skill isn’t packing boxes with goods and shipping them. You may excel at marketing, advertising, sales or another business function instead. When you hire a third-party warehousing company, it enables you to focus on your core competencies and growing your business instead of logistics.

Reduced Expenses:

Allowing a 3PL provider to manage your logistics not only saves you money on labor and payroll taxes, it can also reduce your shipping expenses. In general, third-party warehousing companies combine the amount of goods they ship for you with the volume of products they ship for other companies. They then leverage the total to secure shipping rates that are typically lower than what you’d be able to negotiate on your own.

What to Look for in a Third-Party Warehousing Partner

If you’ve decided that using a 3PL provider is the right move for your business, you’ll need to know how you should pick the right third-party warehousing company. The first step in selecting the appropriate company is to understand that you are doing more than outsourcing work when you hire a 3PL provider. When you work with a third-party warehousing company, you are hiring a partner that will be responsible for critical components of your business.

Even if you make the best products and conduct an effective advertising campaign that multiplies your sales volume, it won’t matter if your 3PL provider can’t execute the tasks required to get your goods to consumers on time and intact. With this in mind, selecting the right provider is critical to your business’ success in both the short- and long-term.

While recognizing that the 3PL company you choose will be a strategic partner in the success of your business is the first step toward making the right choice, it isn’t the only thing you need to do. With a third-party warehousing company potentially being responsible for up to 60 percent of your supply chain costs, it’s important that you invest the resources necessary to do a few other things as well.

In order to make the right decision, you should consider doing the following:

Do Some Due Diligence:

You should research at least three 3PL providers if you’re looking to hire a third-party warehousing company for the first time or you’re thinking of switching to a new partner. You can start by identifying 3PLs that have experience with managing logistics in your industry and working with businesses that are similar to yours. By picking a 3PL that has experience with similar businesses in your industry, you’re aligning yourself to work with a partner that can provide insights that you can use to grow your business because your partner is already familiar with your industry and some of the business practices that have helped others succeed.

Once you’ve selected prospects to be your 3PL provider, you should contact some of the businesses they currently

work with to ask them about the relationship they have with their chosen third-party warehousing company. Inquire about whether their provider consistently delivers on its promises and if the 3PL conducts business in a timely manner. Ask about the 3PL’s response time when a client has a question or concerns, and if the provider has helped the client increase sales and reduce returns and customer complaints. You should also ask about the kind of data the 3PL provides for a client’s review, how current the information is and how quickly they share the data.

You should take some time to talk to some of the third-party warehousing company’s former clients as well. Learning why they chose to terminate their relationships with the company can help guide you toward making the appropriate final decision for your business.

Investigate Scalability:

In order to select the right strategic partner, you’ll need to figure out if a 3PL’s services are scalable. While most entrepreneurs are constantly laboring to grow their business, you’ll still face ups and downs in demand for your product, no matter how hard you work. If your business sells Halloween decorations exclusively, for instance, the odds are good that your warehousing needs will decrease beginning in November every year. With this in mind, you need to make sure the 3PL provider you choose will be able to scale down quickly as necessary.

If demand for your product ebbs and flows, the third-party warehousing company you select needs to be able to handle sudden increases in demand for your products without disrupting your supply chain. This is an instance in which working with a 3PL that’s already familiar with the nuances of your industry can be particularly helpful.

As a general rule, you should look for a third-party warehousing company that has clients that are both bigger and smaller than your company. If a 3PL provider has clients that are larger and smaller than your business, it’s a good indication that the provider’s operations are readily scalable.

Review Available Options:

You need to consider the types of shipping and warehousing options that will be available to you when you’re choosing a third-party warehousing company. The more options a 3PL offers, the more likely it will be that you’ll find an arrangement that is the most affordable option for your business.

Evaluate Financial Stability:

During your decision-making process, you should also evaluate the financial stability of the 3PLs you’re thinking about working with. If a third-party warehousing company goes out of business, it can have devastating effects on its clients because their own operations will come to a halt at the same time the 3PL closes its doors. For this reason, it’s vital that you choose a third-party warehousing company that has the resources to continue operating even when the economy is struggling and business is slow.

Look Beyond Price:

While the amount you will pay to establish and maintain a relationship with a logistics company is important, it’s vital that you look beyond price when you’re selecting your strategic partner. You should consider the value-added services the company provides, the options they make available and how customizable the company’s services are. You should also think about how the company will address any questions or concerns you have.

Will you have a dedicated account manager or will you have to navigate your way through an automated menu to get in touch with someone who may not even be familiar with, let alone knowledgeable about, the issue you need to have resolved? Will you receive personalized service even when it’s time to scale down your warehousing and shipping needs during a slow period? What hours during the day and night will someone be available to handle a problem if one arises?

How a 3PL provider responds to these questions and other inquiries that involve the working relationship you’re going to have with a third-party warehousing company are just as important, if not more important, than price when you’re selecting a company that is going to be a trusted strategic partner.

Why Choose Mitchell’sNY for Your Warehouse Management Needs

Founded nearly 70 years ago, Mitchell’sNY is a family-owned and operated business dedicated to meeting the needs of its clients located in New York City and the tri-state area. For more than 50 years, Mitchell’sNY Logistics has been a valued part of Mitchell’sNY. Mitchell’sNY Logistics has provided courier, shipping and delivery services to clients located in the five boroughs and beyond for decades. Because our drivers and messengers know the area so well, we have an unrivaled record of on-time performance.

We tailor our personalized services to suit your needs. Our menu of services includes:

• Hand deliveries in one hour
• Van and truck deliveries
• Warehousing and supply chain management
• Facility management

We have a dedicated team of highly trained professionals who are ready to do whatever is necessary for your business to grow and be a success. At Mitchell’sNY Logistics, satisfying the needs of our clients is always our top concern. If you’re looking for a logistics company that truly understands what it means to be a partner, your search is over. Contact Mitchell’sNY Logistics to learn more about what our talented team can do for your business today.