Sunday, November 22, 2015

24 hours (or so) in the life of a discarded sofa section on 2nd Avenue



We begin yesterday afternoon on Second Avenue and East Seventh Street...

Before heading south a few blocks... presto — new sidewalk cafe!



Then it was back where it started...



And today, the sofa section went south a few blocks again, where its value was certainly raised with the addition of some street art...



... and continued to do what it knows how to do best — provide a comfortable place to sit...



Photos by Derek Berg

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

shame someone had to ruin it w/ spray paint ---maybe someone in need of a couch could have used it...

Anonymous said...

The girls from the last photo will be asking themselves real soon "how did I end up with bedbugs at home?"

Anonymous said...

Does each one of those sitters now have bedbugs?

Scuba Diva said...

Anonymous said...

The girls from the last photo will be asking themselves real soon "how did I end up with bedbugs at home?"

Live and learn…I used to even bring clothes home from the street, but no more.

Anonymous said...

I wonder if the clairvoyant "knew" it was coming?

Anonymous said...

Every couch has a story to tell.

Anonymous said...

Wow, people are really trusting of curb sofas.

6:01 PM said...

Couches of New York or CONY

"I moved New York to be part of something big, making a difference, like being the one that the recently transplants can rest on after hours of going out shopping, having brunch, waiting on line for cupcakes/burgers/bone/broth/black seed bagels/cronuts/sample sale. I was initially in the living room of a one-bedroom apartment, which was converted into a 7-bedroom apartment, and the students and millenials communing deemed that I was taking up too much room so they turned the livng room into a 6-bedrooms they tossed me away. They said that why have a couch, when they can have a futon and bunk beds and live and stay there most of the time just like they never left college.

I missed being part of the living room. I mean I was never treated as a furniture. I was part of the family -- cared for, cleaned, washed, and upholstered. The previous owners of the apartment were priced-out by the landlord by increasing the rent sixty-fold. But times change. And New York IS always about change. Couches are obsolete. It's all about the sharing economy now. One of the roommates that decided to toss me out is the CFO, CEO, COO, CIO, CTO of a start-up company in couch sharing, Air LnL -- Lie and Lay. He already got a $15 billion fund from multiple angel investors, including TMax, MCuban, and the former Mr. DMoore. I miss being the go to couch for those who are having difficulties balancing their love, personal, and professional life in this ever-changing city. When they are too stressed, they'd grab a rosé or Chailait and text, Tinder, or sext their problems away. And when they don't feel like waiting on line for that next trendeatery, they stay-in and have Fresh Direct and gin and tonic delivered to the apartment and watch Netflix all day. What I'm going to miss the most are the stains they spilled from the beverages that they drink. I am hoping that Ken Burns will make documentary film and a comprehensive, poignant portrait of my untimely disposal."

Anonymous said...

I'm curious how many building owners got ticketed by the Dept. of Sanitation during this couch's journey.

Anonymous said...

I have no time for people who are unable to put stuff on craigslist if you time, and freecycle.org if you don't.

Anonymous said...

Thank you 6:01. Soon to be a major motion picture.

Giovanni said...

Q: What did the optimistic couch say right after he fell off the roof?
A: Sofa, so good.

xootrman said...

Anonymous 11.01, I'm already looking forward to the sequel.

nygrump said...

more worried about fleas chiggers and mites than bedbugs really

Anonymous said...

New slogan for the couch: "Sit for free, bedbugs are extra."

Makeout said...

Fantastic insights CoNY. Hey Grieve- We should have a contest at the end of the year.

Sofa Bed Bug said...

Leave me alone.