The New Couch Came and Someone’s Been Furniture Shopping~Harlem Style

UPDATED:

So the new couch came and we’re super impressed. There was some confusion as to whether it would make it inside the elevator and they were wondering if they had to carry it up the stairs. We live on the 8th floor, ain’t nobody thinks about carrying furniture up the stairs. It was early, we’ll forgive them. Maybe their coffee hadn’t kicked in yet but this was crazy talk. The King insisted that the long couch would fit and to prove it he went down with the ‘experienced’ guys. to show them. Now, The  King for those who don’t know, used to have a band and tour Australia and owned a 10 ton truck, full of equipment. That man could pack shit like you wouldn’t believe. People were amazed at how much stuff could fit in that truck. It was an artform. He also delivered and moved pianos single handedly as a part of his piano tuning job. He will not be stopped. EVER.

Ok, back to the couch. We know what size can come up in the elevator, a 12′ awning is beyond capacity and must be carried up 8 flights of stairs,(don’t ask) but a couch….. please! These guys weren’t trying to get out of the delivery they just couldn’t see a way. So the King went down to the street, bare foot, and got their heads right. Sometimes just taking something out of it’s packaging will fit it in, he once brought home a grill from Home Depot in a sedan by taking every part out of the box and putting it in the car. You have to think outside the box to be in this family.. It’s a pre requisite, for those thinking of joining the fun.

Once the couch was placed in the elevator surrounded by the cushions shoved in the spaces the elevator arrived on the PH level… they then worried they couldn’t get it out and into the door. It’s too tall they said. Of course having very little english to help them, it was difficult to explain the problem and we were having that couch no matter what. But with a little jostling they got it in. Actually there was no doubt from our end but sometimes people can’t see the big picture, you know…

Preparing for a new arrival means kicking the old one to the kerb, literally, and the night before we manhandled that bastard ourselves down to the basement. Under it we found 2 socks, 4 tennis balls, a super ball and about $3.50 in change. couch on the streetIt was put out in the street yesterday for trash collection. It’s a sectional, with recliners and sleeper and it has served us well. It was a little weird coming home yesterday from school to see the super had man handled it to the street but that’s New York. The garbage trucks will take anything. goodbye couchAs the afternoon wore on and we came and went, to taekwondo and groceries for dinner etc, pieces started to disappear, the small piece first, then an hour later the wedge piece, the big pieces are still there for now but who know what the day will bring. Whether someone is trying to get the whole thing or just wanted the small pieces we don’t know but it’s fun to see it go and kinda nice to know someone will get some use out of it.then there were 2

It’s the Harlem way, to get your furniture off the street. You’d be amazed what people throw out.

 

UPDATE…. Friday lunch time when I came out with Sir Lickalot, the last 2 pieces were gone. I thought the garbage truck must have taken them as all the other trash was gone too but as I walked down the path I saw a huge gouge out of the concrete, I followed and followed, well the park was that way anyway, and they ended in the building one block down. So my assumption is some brave soul dragged those heavy sons of bitches all the way home … about 200 metres. I hope they love their new couch as much as we love ours and loved our old one too.

Comments 14

  1. I wish I could get rid of our old furniture that easily – we have to call and arrange for a special pick up, blah blah blah…love how New Yorkers recycle! And let’s see a picture of your new sofa too 🙂

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  2. We just did the new couch thing as well; we live on a mountain in the country and my husband wanted to save the high deliver fee, so he and his brother put a two-piece sofa in a short-bed truck and then spent 45 minutes getting it into the front door. All went surprisingly well except for a brief moment when I was sure they were gong to drop it over the deck railing and down about 12 feet.

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  3. This is fantastic. Can I maybe come by later and drop a few things off? Like Dana, it’s beyond a hassle to get rid of anything in our town. We’re like accidental hoarders for Christ’s sake!

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  4. I consider myself an excellent packer, but your husband sounds amazing. I’m not surprised your old sofas were taken. We only have bulk pick up once a year here, but everything we’ve ever set on the curb has always been taken before the trash men arrive.

  5. Way to go for getting that couch into the elevator! My friend has found lots of nice furniture in the street. When I was clearing out my grandfather’s apartment, people took the furniture within an hour of us putting it on the street too.

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  6. I absolutely hate getting rid of my old furniture (especially large stuff like sofas and beds). Such a pain in the butt.

    Thanks for the story though! Brought back “fond” memories of my last move.

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