South, where snow was a rare event that shut down the entire city. When I saw a plastic lawn chair sitting in a freshly shoveled parking spot, I was baffled. I almost moved it. Then I saw the note taped to the seat: “Please don’t move. I spent two hours shoveling this.”
I left it alone. I asked a neighbor about it later. He laughed. “Welcome to the ‘Burgh, kid. That’s how we do things here.”
Let’s dive into the story behind the chair—and why Pittsburghers wouldn’t have it any other way.
The Tradition Explained: Why Chairs Mark Parking Spots
In Pittsburgh, when snow falls and blankets the streets, residents face a familiar challenge: clearing a parking space.
This isn’t just about digging out your car. It’s about shoveling an entire spot—sometimes several feet of snow—so you have somewhere to park when you return. It’s hard work. It can take
