Why aren't there comfortable chairs in public places anymore?
Where the hell can I just sit and read a magazine in comfort and peace?!
I remember a coffee shop I used to love going to in the 90’s. Cozy, a little dark, lots of magazines, and board games with most of the pieces. Great focaccia, homemade pesto on the focaccia, music that was good and not too annoying… just… great.
This is the complete opposite of the aseptic, buy-and-go-buy-and-go, overly minimalist coffee shops of today that lack any warmth or character. And they all have those horrible white and hard wood square counter stools that are less comfortable than sitting straight on a table top.
It’s not just coffee shops either. It’s kind of everything, everywhere once I started to think about it…
Is there any comfortable place to sit that’s not at home?
I’m not even talking about places that don’t let you sit unless you buy something. I’m talking about places where there’s plenty of seating when you buy something - it’s all just… uncomfortable, rigid, wrong-sized, ugly, not cushy, not a place you want to be for an extended period of time.
Why? It wasn’t always like this.
I don’t even want to open a third-place discussion here. All I’m asking for is a restaurant with a good, cushiony booth.
I simply don’t believe that good booths were outlawed with the smoking section and carpet sweepers. They MUST exist. WHERE ARE THEY?
And I know there are good designers out there too.
So, please, if you have a spot with a good booth in NYC - let me know. Or if you’re designing a new spot - I beg of you - consider a good booth.
MAGAZINES?!
[Dreamily] This took me back to the days of Xando …