If you’ve ever driven through Pittsburgh after a heavy winter snowstorm, you may encounter a sight that leaves visitors scratching their heads.
A lawn chair sits in the middle of a freshly cleared parking space.
Not a traffic cone. Not a construction barrier. Not an official parking sign.
A chair.
Sometimes it’s a simple folding chair. Sometimes it’s an old wooden dining chair that looks like it came straight out of someone’s kitchen. Occasionally, you’ll see a battered recliner, a plastic patio chair, a child’s chair, or even a cooler standing proudly in the middle of a snow-free space.
To someone unfamiliar with Pittsburgh, the scene can seem almost comical.
Why would someone leave furniture in the street?
The answer is part practical, part cultural, and completely Pittsburgh.
The chair is a message:
Someone shoveled this spot. Someone intends to come back. Please respect the work that went into clearing it.
Welcome to one of Pittsburgh’s most recognizable winter traditions.
