We're really not beating around the bush here. We could sing it, or do a little dance, but the bottom line is this: your Zipcar should be nestled snug in its spot when your reservation is over. Starting soon, not returning your Zipcar when you say you will could put your membership in jeopardy. (And no one wants to have a carload of presents to haul and no Zipcar to haul them in.)

The good news is that you now have an online snapshot of your recent reservations. Check to see when you've been on time (thank you), and when you've been late. View your reservations here.

And don't forget about text alerts, the easiest way to know when it's time to head back or whether or not you can extend your reservation. Learn more and sign up here.

No matter what, always call Member Services at 866.494.7227 if you're going to be late. It gives us the opportunity to make other arrangements for the next member.

We're sprucing up zipcar.com! As we grow, car sharing becomes available to more and more people. When new people come to our site, we want to make sure that they feel welcome. We also want to be sure they're getting the best information and a feel for who we are.

As it turns out, who we are is you. It sounds really deep, but all we mean is that the Zipcar community is made up of real people who use Zipcars to do real things. If you've got a story or photo to share, we'd love for you to do just that. We'd like to do more than tell people about the benefits of Zipcar; we'd like to show them. (Or rather, we'd like for you to show them.) Send your stuff (in .gif or .jpg format) to share@zipcar.com and we'll send you some driving credit if we use it on our website.

You'll soon see that the member website is also getting a little makeover. Don't worry, everything (i.e. making a reservation, checking your invoice, etc.) will still work exactly the same way. We're just doing this to create a more consistent experience across the site as a whole. Very soon we'll be reaching out for your ideas on how we can continue to make things better. If you have something you want to tell us now, just email share@zipcar.com.

Stay tuned for next month's newsletter where we're planning to give you a sneak preview of the website before anyone else (shhhhhh...).

Say what? Gotanother. If you've "got another" family member or housemate who mooches rides in your Zipcar, you should know that it's a cinch to add people to your household account. Send them here to begin the application process. We'll walk them through it.

When it's that easy to add new peeps to your account, there is no reason for anyone but you to ever be using your Zipcard or driving your Zipcar. Think of it like a sacred experience that should only be shared between you and your chosen Zipcars. Break the covenant and you could lose your membership forever. Not worth it for a mooch!

Important note: adding someone to your account means liking them enough to be responsible for THEIR charges on YOUR credit card bill. If you don't like them that much, you can always refer them instead and earn some driving credit.

the return of the ziptrip

We recently packed a blanket, our bikes, and a picnic basket and ventured up the Palisades Parkway amidst the crimson, mustard, and orange changing leaves and thought to ourselves, "O man, why haven't we been doing Ziptrips recently." (Keep reading, this is a good thing).

With the windows down, our hair blowing in the wind, our iPod hooked up to the auxilary input in the Scion xB (we brought our own cord), and the coveted scent of fall in our noses, we were in heaven. We finally arrived at Harriman State Park (Thanks New York State Parks Department for sectioning off this beauty just for us!). Driving past the lake with a few people casually fishing and a young couple canoeing, we parked near the entrance to the beach, pulled out our bikes and enjoyed a sunny, cool, and cloudless day. Only 40 miles out of the city we'd found the perfect juxtaposition to city life and just the detox we needed.

We want to share the wealth so we're bringing back the Ziptrip— and we want you to be a part of it! Send us a proposal of your trip idea (try to keep it within 90 miles so we stay in our day limit) and a writing sample. If you're selected, we'll get you there with a free Zipcar for a weekday. All that's required is for you to have fun, take pictures, and write about it for our newsletter! So, what will it be? Email proposals to Ryan.

• 444 Washington Blvd (Avalon Cove)

young frankenstein

We love Mel Brooks, I mean really the man brought us The Producers, Blazing Saddles, and Spaceballs! Moreover, one of his classic movies is ALIVE... on Broadway. We're talking about Young Frankenstein. It's always been a good time to see it, but now's an even better time since you'll get $25 of driving credit if you do.

Believe us when we tell you that you'll have a monstrously good time at the Broadway production. It was the winner of the 2008 Outer Critics Circle Award and the Broadway.com Audience Award for BEST MUSICAL!

Take advantage of this special offer for performances through December 18. Tickets from $60 - $120. Performance Schedule: Tuesday at 7pm; Wednesday thru Friday at 8pm, and Wednesday at 2pm.

Use code ZCAR1 at Ticketmaster.com or 212-307-4100. Or, bring a printout of this newsletter to the Hilton Theatre Box Office, 42nd St at 7th Avenue, NYC.

All tickets must be picked up at the Hilton Theatre Box Office will-call booth. Ticket envelopes will include instructions on how to redeem $25 Zipcar driving credit.

free coffee friday & cozy and cool

This month we're keeping you warm as the temperatures fall! Come see us at this Free Coffee Friday and Cozy and Cool!

• November 14 - 8-11am – Esperanto CafŽ - 114 Macdougal Street - Manhattan
• November 14 – 5-9pm - Alphabet Scoop - 545 East 11th Street