This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Columbia Barnard chapter.
So it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month, or even your year? Well, there’s nothing like sipping free coffee on the world’s most iconic orange couch to raise your spirits! If you haven’t heard, a pop-up replica of Central Perk from Friends will be at 199 Lafayette Street in SoHo from September 17 to October 18. No need to fret that your job’s a joke and you’re broke, because Warner Bros, Consumer Products, and Eight O’Clock Coffee are there for you! The three companies are partnering to sponsor Central Perk for the month in honor of the classic TV show’s 20 year anniversary.
You have one month to grab your favorite selfie partner and head down to SoHo one morning before class to bask in the glory of your former and possibly current fantasy life. Central Perk will sport the actual orange couch from the show, the Central Perk storefront, and your favorite blindingly bright haired waiter. That’s right, James Michael Taylor, who played the role of lovingly pathetic Gunther on the show, will be making special appearances throughout the month. In addition, there will be free give-away props to a lucky few.
But no hang out session at America’s favorite coffee shop would do without Phoebe’s fantastic musical entertainment. While many artists with actual talent are lined up for the month-long gig, we can expect to hear them play Phoebe’s deeply profound “Smelly Cat” at least once a day.
The shop will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Whether you want to grab a free coffee before your senior seminar or take a break during a luxurious stroll through SoHo on a crisp Sunday afternoon, this is definitely an event to add to your semester’s bucket list.