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After my mom once found a gigantic crystal chandelier lying out there near the bins, wondering ‘how did such beauty end up here?’, I immediately became a fan of stooping. The chandelier still hangs in my parents’ living room, making the space akin to Versailles, bluntly unaware of its gloomy origins.

Stooping is a term that refers to people putting out stuff they no longer need on the curb to be taken home by someone who just might need it. Think of chairs, mirrors, art, plants, anything, really. New York is known as a stooping haven since people are always on the move, and “it’s an activity that’s built into the culture of being a New Yorker,” the creators of the StoopingNYC Instagram account previously told Bored Panda.

Speaking of the account, it’s home to a marvelous collection that’s dedicated to sharing people’s stooping success. “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure!” says the description and it seems the 370K followers couldn’t agree more.

In today’s consumerist society, stooping feels like a breath of fresh air. With people becoming more aware of our insatiable consumerism having a tragic environmental impact and opting for sustainable lifestyle choices, stooping becomes an excellent, simple and approachable way to join the conscious crowd.

#2

What A Glowing Stooping Success!

What A Glowing Stooping Success!

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#3

I Had To Share My Street Find Fireplace Journey With You

I Had To Share My Street Find Fireplace Journey With You

I had to share my personal stooping success in downtown Bk on 3rd ave & Bergen, this was 3 years ago.. I just saw that amazing fireplace that was just found & so quickly ( & beautifully ) styled … that I had to share my street find fireplace journey with you & hopefully many lol .. it’s had so many different lives & vibes in two different apartments, the best part about a faux fireplace is that you can take it with ya !

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Bored Panda reached out to the creators of the StoopingNYC project to find out what they have been up to as well as how the stooping community is doing lately. “The growth of the community is incredible and we mean that in very aspect,” the founders told us.

“So many more submissions. So many more amazing items. So many more #stoopingsuccesses. And so many more great stoopers!” Today, StoopingNYC on Instagram is home to a dedicated community of 371K followers, but their audience seems to be still growing.

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#4

Disney Movie Ready! South Side Of West 55th Between 9th And 10th

Disney Movie Ready! South Side Of West 55th Between 9th And 10th

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moerbechris avatar
Chrissie Anit
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Beautiful mirror, but does absolutely not fit in with the "style" of the rest of the flat.

nikkig avatar
Nikki Gregerson
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The mirror hanging on the wall is NOT the same mirror on the curb.

jasonmarin avatar
Jason Marin
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the greatest decorator of them all.

sparkize avatar
SPARKIZE
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bad experience with ornamental mirrors.. saw a black mass hovering every night in my room. At this time i worked late hrs in nyc.. I was so tired i told it to leave me alone, idc im tired..then gently drifted off to sleep 😴 💤

marcyvernon avatar
Me
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Enlarged a photo of my kids and intended to make a frame. Found a beautiful framed mirror with a Free sign. Sold the mirror and kept the frame for the photo. The framed photo has been over my fireplace for nearly 20 years. Save our landfills.

xolitaire avatar
xolitaire
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the fact that it is not centered underneath those blue... posters (?) makes me angry

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#5

In Case You’re New Here, This Is What We Call A Banger. 93st Between Cpw And Columbus

In Case You’re New Here, This Is What We Call A Banger. 93st Between Cpw And Columbus

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Part of the success of StoopingNYC seems to have to do with the fact that so many people find stooping a very fun and cool activity. The founders explained that the concept of a treasure hunt is universal, but stooping in NYC is unique to NYC.

“It’s been a part of the city culture for way before we started doing this. People are always moving and no two homes are the same size and shape. And then there is the fact that NYC has incredible, creative and diverse people… it makes it the perfect stooping city!”

If you’re a beginner stooper, the creators behind this quirky NYC community say you should not just start by following @stoopingnyc but also be sure to “Turn on your notifications! And get ready to run!” Because real treasures get stooped up fast.

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#8

Globe Bar Alert! 95 Himrod Street Brooklyn NY

Globe Bar Alert! 95 Himrod Street Brooklyn NY

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Nunya Business
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've wanted one of these for a looong time! (But I can't justify getting one because I don't really drink)

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#9

Are We Sure These Are Free??? On 2nd Ave And 73rd!

Are We Sure These Are Free??? On 2nd Ave And 73rd!

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ashiashi avatar
DDsbread
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel like this will be great in an art room/ kindergarten room in schools... They look so fun!

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No wonder stooping is very popular among a mostly young crowd which not only likes saving money, but also enjoys the thrill of the hunt. Quite like secondhand and thrift hunting, it also gives an opportunity for ‘stoopers’ to get their hands on something they otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford.

“We’ve tried to 'game-ify' the activity, making it feel like a scavenger hunt. And I think because of this, we have seen it become popular and trendy with an entirely younger audience (75% of our followers are 18-35 years old)," the couple behind the StoopingNYC project told us in an interview a while back.

#10

Basically A Quickly Furnished Apartment! 29th And Second Ave

Basically A Quickly Furnished Apartment! 29th And Second Ave

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#11

Holy Sh*t!!! On Dekalb Between Central Ave And Wilson Ave In Bushwick

Holy Sh*t!!! On Dekalb Between Central Ave And Wilson Ave In Bushwick

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#12

Stoop Anthem Ready!! 171 Meserole St

Stoop Anthem Ready!! 171 Meserole St

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liverpoolroze avatar
Rose the Cook
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a find for a poor family/families with kids who want to learn.

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The challenge the founders deal with on a daily basis is rather unusual: they don’t just sit there and think of what stooping treasure to post next and where to find it. Instead, they have to deal with a whopping amount of submissions that land in their inbox. “On a typical weekday, we get hundreds if not one thousand submissions. On the weekend (especially at the end of the month), we get thousands of DM submissions," they said.

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#13

Ladies And Gentlemen… A Banger Of A Stoop! Thompson Between Prince & Spring

 Ladies And Gentlemen… A Banger Of A Stoop! Thompson Between Prince & Spring

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#14

Tons Of Free Books On 7th Street In Park Slope Between 4th And 5th Ave

Tons Of Free Books On 7th Street In Park Slope Between 4th And 5th Ave

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#15

You Crushed It!!!

You Crushed It!!!

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Ivo H
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh my, the tv stand is so near to the edge it gives me serious anxiety

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While scrolling through this article, you will notice that items of stooped treasure have somewhat similar aesthetics. This is because the founders are very well aware of what their followers will like. And it’s anything “high value, super colorful, unique and weird.” So they end up “prioritizing everything from beautiful velvet couches, neon-colored swivel chairs, copper claw-foot tubs, Beanie Baby collections, a pastel pink SMEG fridge and... as of this week...a collection of '90s erotica on VHS."

#16

Bird Of Paradise Needing A Home! Birdss 4th Between Kent And Wythe

Bird Of Paradise Needing A Home! Birdss 4th Between Kent And Wythe

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#17

Omg!!! One Of My Favorite Stoops. 41st And 11th!

Omg!!! One Of My Favorite Stoops. 41st And 11th!

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#18

All. The. Music. E 6th Between Ave A And B!!!

All. The. Music. E 6th Between Ave A And B!!!

stoopingnyc Report

According to the creators, they both really love the creative outlet this project gives them. “As a couple, we love the fact that we have this together (we end each day with a 'stoop review'), and more than anything, we love the community we have built.”

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Previously, the founders of the StoopingNYC project concluded that they “definitely feel an obligation to that community to keep up with everything coming in, knowing that we have the privilege of giving people so much joy through what we post.

#19

Excuse Me, TV Stand Of My Dreams! 13th And Gansevoort

Excuse Me, TV Stand Of My Dreams! 13th And Gansevoort

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#21

Do You Love Seeing Yourself While Picking Out Your Underwear In The Morning? Then This Dresser Is For You! 93 Saratoga

Do You Love Seeing Yourself While Picking Out Your Underwear In The Morning? Then This Dresser Is For You! 93 Saratoga

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#22

Plant Parents… Run!!! Cute Plants And Planters Outside 95 Eastern Parkway

Plant Parents… Run!!! Cute Plants And Planters Outside 95 Eastern Parkway

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karl briggs
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Do you expect me to grow?". "No Plant, I expect you to die!".

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#23

We Love Old Singer Sewing Tables. 81 Russel St!

We Love Old Singer Sewing Tables. 81 Russel St!

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#24

This Is 2022 Energy! Grove Street Between Myrtle And Knickerbocker

This Is 2022 Energy! Grove Street Between Myrtle And Knickerbocker

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#25

Potentialllll! 167 East 67 Upper East Side

Potentialllll! 167 East 67 Upper East Side

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lwandzilak avatar
LMW
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Minus the apple stickers (which can be taken off), we have a winner

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#26

Wonderful Stooping Success On A Tuesday Night!

Wonderful Stooping Success On A Tuesday Night!

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#27

I Think It Is Safe To Say That These Are Some Absolute Stoop Journey Legends Right Here

I Think It Is Safe To Say That These Are Some Absolute Stoop Journey Legends Right Here

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#28

You Know How We Get A Lot Of Pianos? Well… This Is The Smallest. 79th And 1st!

You Know How We Get A Lot Of Pianos? Well… This Is The Smallest. 79th And 1st!

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#30

Holy Books!! Tons Of Books! On Vessey St And Church Right Across From St. Paul’s Chapel In Manhattan!

Holy Books!! Tons Of Books! On Vessey St And Church Right Across From St. Paul’s Chapel In Manhattan!

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Huddo's sister
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They all look like old sets, so maybe they are from lawyers offices or somewhere. Like legal books or something else not rare/not worth much. Why else would you choose not to sell them?

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Note: this post originally had 125 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.