Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Man Posts Subway Love Letters Desperately Seeking "Sofia"!
By
Jen Carlson
Published Aug 28, 2012
Modified Aug 28, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Aug 28, 2012
Modified Aug 28, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
This sign has been spotted around town for weeks now, and we can't stand by and see poor Joe lose hope in finding his Sofia any longer. A tipster sent in the above photo, which he took last night as Joe himself taped it up at the Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center stop during rush hour. The note definitely sits on a fine line, teetering between "spine chilling" and "heart warming." On the one side we glimpse a dark and desperate world that may read "delusional" or "creepy" to some, but on the other it's like we're just one swan-filled lake canoe ride away from The Notebook 2.
Call us hopeless romantics, but we're gonna go with the latter, because it's probably just the handwriting and highlighter use that gives the letter a "serial killer" vibe anyway. Strip that away, and here are the words in black and white:
Sofia. This is Joe. The good looking Italian you met on the D train at Coney Island July 4th: U and I had strong chemistry in the few minutes we talked. I asked u out and u said take my number and call me. You were with ur friend: U were about 30, Spanish, long real brown hair, 125-130 lbs, real pretty. I asked u 2 things when I asked u out, that only u will know. I know u remember me!! There is no way I can give up on finding u just yet. I've been single for a year and I've been praying to meet someone like u and God hands me a gift of beauty and I lose ur number in my phone!! I hope u or a friend of yours sees this and helps bring us together. I hope we will meet again soon Sofia!!! Joe 347-816-3984.
We're really pulling for Joe on this, but there's just one problem: the number is currently out of service. SOFIA IF YOU'RE READING THIS EMAIL TIPS(AT)GOTHAMIST(DOT)COM!
Tagged
joe
letter
love
sofia
strangers
subway
the notebook 2
original
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
In the algorithm age, NYC college radio DJs are still broadcasting the funky stuff
We dropped by WNYU to see what the next generation of radio DJs is up to. The answer is "Br00tal Beats To Study/Relax To."
By
James Ramsay
Published Oct 22, 2026
A Queens prop shop shutters, bunnies find a home uptown, and more openings and closings
Highlights of shifts in the city's business landscape.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Arts & Entertainment
A Queens prop shop shutters, bunnies find a home uptown, and more openings and closings
Highlights of shifts in the city's business landscape.
By
Hannah Frishberg
A new film invites you to eavesdrop on one of the greatest conversations in NYC history
By
Sonia Rao
The Knicks are NBA champions. Now they have to start dressing the part.
By
Sonia Rao
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .