The abandoned shopping cart is the first cousin of the street couch. They both line the streets of urban areas, and they both hint at recently finished stories — interludes between a new life and another adventure.

We’ve been taking photos of shopping carts for some time now, and it’s with great pleasure (no, seriously) that we’re announcing new galleries on the site and our Facebook page devoted to the mechanical mystery of abandoned shopping carts.

Take a look. Give a push.

We’ve seen a few street couches in our day, and this one just might take the prize. Rarely do you find a street couch with cushions. Those might as well be currency for the homeless. But just as rare are street couches with no bottom at all.

This plaid couch was on Beverly in Los Angeles, nowhere near an actual house, which means someone (probably two dudes) loaded it into a truck and took it to this exact spot. The placement is amazing. Did the illegal dumpers frame that tree on purpose, or were subconscious aesthetics at play? And how about that color palette of browns and greens?

Bravo, illegal dumper dudes. Bravo.

But wait, there’s more:

• Street Couch Gallery