If you’re visiting New York City for the very first time, you might be confused and amused by all the things that people leave on the sidewalk in front of their buildings—and not just furniture! Stooping is an old NYC tradition where, instead of throwing something out, folks leave awesome things for others to take home.

That’s where the popular ‘Stooping NYC’ Instagram account comes in. It documents photos of some of the most beautiful and unusual treasures spotted on the curb and also informs people when something valuable gets stooped. We’ve collected some of the most interesting finds to share with you, Pandas. Scroll down to check them out!

#1 Our First Jet Pack! 5th Ave - Between 2nd And 3rd - Park Slope

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#2 Next Level Beautiful! Corner Of Ave A And 9th St In The East Village

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#3 It’s A Perfect Day For A Stoop Concert!! 1297 Bergen. A Wurlitzer With Actual Ivory And Wood Keys

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Over 8.3 million people live in New York City, and it’s not the cheapest place to reside, so it’s no wonder that stooping is so popular. Stooping is straightforward, good for your wallet, and eco-friendly.

First, there are tons of people who want to get rid of unwanted things. Leaving something on the sidewalk for others to take is far cheaper and quicker than throwing it out, selling it, or donating it to charity. Simply put, it’s less of a hassle to ‘donate’ it to your neighbors.

#4 That's Gold Right There. Park Pl Between Classon And Washington

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#5 You Either Have A Huge Basement Or Are Opening A Really Fun Bar. Crosby Between Broome And Spring

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#6 Free Guitar Is A Free Guitar… Little Love And Someone’s Gonna Be Happy! 151 St And St Nicholas

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Secondly, because NYC is such an expensive city, some folks look to cut costs wherever they can. Bringing good-looking furniture you found on the street home with you can save you a bit of cash. If you’re thrifty, patient, and flexible, you could potentially decorate your entire home without spending so much as a single cent.

Then again, don’t forget that you’re competing against a lot of other people. Getting what you want is partly a matter of luck and partly comes down to you being faster than everyone else rushing to nab that great find.

#7 A Globe That Opens Into A Bar (Thus The Globe Bar) Is One Of Our Faves. Here Is One Getting Wet On The Corner Of 135 And Adam Clayton Powell

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#8 For Some Of Us This Is Just True During Halloween And For Some Of Us This Is True Year Round. 7th Between 4th & 5th Park Slope

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#9 Will It Fit On The Subway? Off Of 12th St. And Broadway In Manhattan

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Third of all, there are the ecological aspects of stooping to consider. We’re big fans of eco-friendly designs and initiatives. Stooping essentially is an eco-friendly way to recycle all kinds of items in a sprawling city.

The fact that it’s become so normalized and destigmatized means that it can happen on a massive scale with hardly anyone batting an eye. And an item that gets another chance at life in another home means that it’s one less item that gets produced, transported, and bought from a store.

#10 Anyone In Need Of A Casual Snake Lamp?! You’ve Come To The Right Place… 17th And 7th

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#11 Whoever Claimed This, You’re Living A Wednesday Addams Fantasy. Cornelia Street Between Broadway And Bushwick Ave

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#12 We Missed This One Earlier! Anything Still There??? 87 Havemeyer

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All that being said, you still have to be conscious of what you’re bringing home. The last thing you want is to find out that the plush couch you dragged halfway across the 5 boroughs has a family of rats living in it. And not the type to help you make French dishes in the kitchen. Inspect whatever piece of furniture you find before you take it with you. 

#13 Here Is Why You Need To Be Quick On Your Feet In These NYC Streets Of Gold!someone Sent Us This… And Sent Us The “Never Mind, It Just Got Taken!”

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#14 From A Few Hours Ago But Too Good Not To Post!! Hope It’s Still There. 3516 34th St. West Side

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#15 There Are Pianos And Then There Is This Piano. Someone Please Rescue This Beauty! Corner Of Gold & Nassau In Brooklyn

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Though many people stoop things that are in decent shape, not everyone is as socially conscious. Some individuals leave genuinely horrible quality, dirty, nasty furniture and items on the sidewalk. Stuff that probably nobody wants—and nobody should bring home. But that’s not stooping. That’s just leaving unwanted trash in a public space.

Real stooping is about maintaining some level of quality and respect for others. 

#16 Such A Cool Set. Clinton Ave Close To Gates Ave

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#17 We Know This Is A Perfect Solution For Some Of Our New Yorkers! 42 Hicks Street

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#18 Bring A Friend! 394 Degraw St

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The ‘Stooping NYC’ account has 464k followers on Instagram. It was created by an anonymous couple based in Brooklyn who run the page and actively interact with their massive community to this very day. The entire project is a creative outlet for them. During an earlier interview with Bored Panda, the couple said that New York City is akin to a “main character in and of itself.”

“As the account has grown, we’ve been able to not just show some of the amazing treasures from across the 5 boroughs, but also incredible stooping successes, also giving followers a peek into how New Yorkers live. Because of that, I think the concept continues to appeal to those inside and outside of the city,” the couple share their thoughts on the account’s stellar success with us.

#19 Alert. Alert. Alert! Egg Chair With A Stereo Input. Ask Questions Later! Goooo! 27 S. Oxford St

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#20 I Gasped. 73 Skillman Avenue Between Lorimer And Leonard These Are Out Now

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#21 Legit Couch On Willoughby Between Waverly And Washington

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The curators of ‘Stooping NYC’ are genuinely very careful about what stooped items they feature on their account. It’s a lot of responsibility! "We try our best to only post pieces that look like they are still in decent condition and could be great for a new home. In addition, we stay away from things like mattresses, knowing that we don’t have the full history and want to ensure that the items people grab are fit to be rehomed,” they told us.

#22 Does It Come With Lessons? Free Functional Loom With Slightly Broken Caster (Can Be Fixed) Sitting On The Porch Of 456 E 18th St In Brooklyn

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#23 Cute Seat! West 15th And 7th In Manhattan

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#24 Stunning Mirror!! And A Shelf Too!! 56th Street Between Lexington And 3rd

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Meanwhile, we were curious about what advice they'd give someone who's just moved to NYC and would love to take part in the stooping tradition to get their hands on some great finds.

“First, follow @stoopingnyc on IG, turn your notifications on to ensure you’re alerted to the best finds as they’re posted, and finally, get ready to run when you see something that catches your eye!” They stressed the fact that speed is incredibly important.

#25 The Question Is… What’s In The Trunks?? On The Corner Of 145st & St Nicholas Ave

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#26 So This Is Something. W85th By The Consulate

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#27 Classic

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Tons of people are constantly moving in and out of apartments in NYC. This leads to a lot of item traffic on the curb as folks decide to get rid of unwanted things. The Instagram users following ‘Stooping NYC’ tend to love anything high value, colorful, unique, and weird the most. However, it’s not just locals based in the Big Apple who follow the account. The project has followers from all over the world who love to watch the NYC hustle and bustle from afar.

#28 I’m Equal Parts Confused And Intrigued… What Is This?! 10th Between 6/5th Avenue

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#29 Super Cool. A Japanese Pachinko Machine. Don’t Know If It Works! 118 W72nd

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#30 This Is Barbie’s Dream House… It’s Not Called Ken’s Dream House. 7 E 14th St

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Which of the stooped items that we’ve featured in this list caught your attention the most, Pandas? Do any of you live in NYC? Have you taken part in the legendary stooping tradition yet? If so, what are the most unique items you’ve brought home with you? We’d love to hear your thoughts, so drop a comment or two if you have a moment!

For some more stooping goodness in NYC, check out Bored Panda's previous articles.

#31 This Has Been A Great Stooping Day If We May Say So Ourselves! Cute Desk/Table At 106 And Central Park West

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#32 Well This Is Amazing. South Side Of W 76th Between Columbus And Central Park West (Closer To Central Park West)

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#33 Trashing This Is Crushing.on 180th Street Across The Corner Of The Radio Hotel

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#34 Save Them!!! On The Corner Of Throop And Dekalb Rn

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#35 It’s Still There!!! West 25th St B/W 7th & 8th Ave In Chelsea

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#36 How Have We Never Used This Song Before. Located On 58th Between 3rd And 2nd Ave

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#37 Start A New Hobby For Free!!! Hanson And St Felix Street

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#38 Even If You Don’t Have A Bird I’d Take This. 9th Ave Between 18th/19th

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#39 Omg. Barbie Eat Your Heart Out. 5th Ave B/W 16th And Prospect Ave!

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#40 Another Pic Of The Great Piece On 12th And Greenwich

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#41 Amazing Pottery!! The Location Is 325 W 11th Street (Between Greenwich And Washington Streets)… More To Come

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#42 So Chic!! West 16 Between 7th And 8th

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#43 Thinking Of Spring? On 84th Street Between West End And Riverside Drive

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#44 Holy S**t Moment! 2nd And 18th

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#45 32 Jars Of Gefilte Fish? That’s A Stooping First. Corner Of 108th St And 64th Rd

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#46 Pretty In Pink. Two Chairs In Great Condition And One Ottoman In Mediocre Condition On Cpw Between 98th And 100th

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#47 Evidently White Claw Is Leaving A Bunch Of Stuff All Over The City Today. This White Claw LED Sign And Box Is On The Corner Of Bedford Ave, Broadway & S. 6th Street

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#48 Vintageeeeee! 89 East End And York

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#49 Sadly Urgent!!! Gerbils On Nevins Between Baltic And Warren. Stooper Thinks They’re Abandoned. Someone Go Rescue Them

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#50 The Vintage Finds Near 241 Cumberland St

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#51 This Is Every Year Actually. Usually The Last Couple Of Days Before Christmas. Lorimer Street Across From The Grand Mccarren

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#52 What A Great Dining Set! 93 1st Place In Carroll Gardens

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#53 “If Women Ruled The World” Ai Art Project! 25th Between 5th And 6th

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#54 Red Alert!!! Bill Murray Signed Poster On 17th St And 3rd Ave

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#55 Cold But Cute! Corner Of Nostrand And Hancock

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#56 For People Who Don’t Like Their Neighbors. On Putnam Ave In Between Onderdonk And Woodward Ave

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#57 I Mean Obvious Question But… What Is Happening Here??? 235 East 12th St

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#58 These Are Original Phoebe Buffay’s Yall

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#59 Late Night Book Club!!! Dumpster Full Of Books On 41st Bw 7th And 6th Ave

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#60 What’s Going On Here? Wrong Answers Only. 159 Hoyt St

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#61 Getting Watered! 46th Street Between 9th And 10th!

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#62 What Mcm Dreams Are Made Of… On 8th Between Carroll And President

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#63 Just Incase You Find Yourself In A Byog(Raveyard) Situation. N6th Btwn Driggs And Bedford In Williamsburg

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#64 The Stoops Are Green This Morning!! Free Plants On 121st Between Morningside Ave And Manhattan Ave

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#65 @mpuette Just Put This Monstera Out At Amsterdam Ave Between 106 And 107 In Front Of Bahn

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#66 Aaaaaand I’m Dead. The Beauty!!! 78 Halsey Brooklyn

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#67 Come On Barbie, Let’s Go Party… 231 Cumberland St Full Barbie Party Decor -Light Up B Flamingos Inflatable Palm Trees

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#68 Laser Discs? I Missed That Era. Spotted On Bleecker Between Central And Evergreen In Bushwick

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#69 Tag Someone Who Loves Sushi! 93rd Between 1st And 2nd

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#70 Pretty In Pink!! Pink Velvet Futon On York Between 90th And 91st. Looks Pretty Clean

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#71 Haul Alert!! On The Left Side Of Guernsey Between Norman And Meserole (Greenpoint)

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#72 We’re Told This Is A Homemade Kids Costume But It Could Def Pass For A Sick Sculpture. 6th Ave Btwn 9th And 10th Streets. Park Slope Brooklyn

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#73 These Boots Were Made For ____? Size 7 “Experimental Theatre Boots On E 4th Outside Of The Kraine. With Love From The NY Neo-Futurists”

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#74 I Think We Can All Agree… This Is Not Trash! Life Size Cutout Of Margot As Barbie On Rutland Rd Btw Nostrand And New York Ave

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#75 For Those Who Think Three’s A Crowd. 2 Chairs And A Table Between Irving And Greene Bushwick

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#76 Happy New Years, Stoopers!! 340 E. 84 Street Between 1st And 2nd Ave

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#77 Tons Of Records Outside Scorpion Records In Ridgewood. 792 Onderdonk Ave

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#78 Up And Down. So Many Ways To Sofa This Sofa. 77th Between Broadway And West End

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#79 A Stooping Classic… The Globe Bar. Clifford And Calyer St In Greenpoint

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#80 Stoop Concert Ready!! Nw Corner Of 72nd And 1st

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#81 We Have Questions. Free (We Think So)? Works? Can A Professional Photographer Tell Us More About The Camera In The Comments? 369 Bleecker

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#82 Great Stoop! In Two Bridges /Chinatown In Between Cherry And Rutgers

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#83 Forget Lies Only… Wtf Is This??? I’m Never Sleeping Again. 226 New York Ave

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#84 Someone Restring It! St Marks Btwn 2nd And 3rd Ave

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#85 Cute Is An Understatement

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#86 Haul Outside Jackson Street Between Leonard And Manhattan In Williamsburg

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#87 Holy Shit! A Trumpet, Flute And This Awesome Stringed Instrument! 99 Devoe In Willliamsburg

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#88 Giant Mirror (And Desk). 143 Lefferts Place

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#89 Ummmmm?!?!? 76th Between 2nd And 3rd

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#90 Omg. We Missed This Last Night! Worth Checking For You Seinfeld Fans. East 3rd, First House Right Off Beverley

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#91 I Think It’s Safe To Say That This Is A Need Not A Want. Corner Of 3rd And 75th Next To The Starbucks(Bay Ridge Parkway)

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#92 Looks Like The G/F Stop On Hoyt-Schndnwndnenxndn (Not Even Going To Try To Spell It!)

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#93 This Is A Stooping Success Of A Different Kind

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#94 The Most Hype Stooping Success Yet?

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#95 We’re Supposed To Know Who This Is Aren’t We? Southwest Corner Of 23rd Ave And 28th St

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#96 Any Rihanna Stoop Is A Great Stoop. Martense And Rogers (130 Martense)

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#97 Swipe For The 2nd Half! 2nd Ave Btwn 10th And 11th

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#98 For Our Brass Heads Out There. 51 West 75th

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#99 I Don’t Think You Understand…i’m Obsessed. 100th Street Between Riverside Drive And West End Avenue

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#100 Goodness I Love You People And NYC. Human Sized Wearable Bday Cake Dropped In Front Of The Nbc Observation Deck

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#101 Merry Christmas? Union And Conselyea

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#102 Art On Stoops Has Been Controversial On Here! How We Feeling About This One? 148 Frost

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#103 We Don’t Know Enough About Skate Boarding… But Surely This Shouldn’t Be Trash Right??? 332 Rogers Ave

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#104 Is Using This Stoop To Set Up A Bar A Weird New Year’s Resolution? Asking For A Friend… 14th St Between 3rd And 4th Ave

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#105 Great Get And Great Condition! 3rd St And 6th Ave

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#106 Sometimes The Stoop Of The Day Comes At Night… 28th Between 5th And Madison

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#107 Annnnd Your Holy Shit Moment Of The Day. On St. Marks Place In Manhattan Btwn 1st & 2nd Avenues

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#108 Calling All My Kings And Queens. Very Majestic Chair In Greenpoint, On Dupont Between Manhattan And Franklin

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