Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

News

Man Who Forgets Where He's Parked For 2 Days Is Saved By Advertising


By

Christopher Robbins

Published Nov 13, 2011

Modified Nov 13, 2011


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 .

Be very afraid

 

Louis Rothkopf


By

Christopher Robbins

Published Nov 13, 2011

Modified Nov 13, 2011


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

Oscar-winning movies

have been made about the noble struggle of the dazed motorist, but there is a point when comedy turns to tragedy, and that point is probably two days. After finishing last week's marathon in 3 hours and 16 minutes, Albany resident Charles Petraske couldn't remember where he parked his car in Manhattan for 48 hours. "I was completely disoriented. I had no idea where the heck I was, or where my car is parked, and I had no phone and no money," Petraske tells the Post. This is exactly why we never exercise under any circumstances.

Petraske did remember "parking near a scrolling billboard displaying ads for Coke Mini, New York State Lottery and Mastercard," which narrowed it down to 3,688,283 parking spots. Eventually he called his wife to pick him up, and called Cemusa, the firm that places ads on bus stops and loves us all, very very much. After relaying to them which ads he remembered seeing on the stop, they told him he probably parked on West 31st Street, close to Madison Square Garden. "You'd think I would have remembered that," he said. Not if he was there on New Year's Eve!

Tagged

ads

advertising

dude where's my ashton?

funny stories you tell over and over again until you're very old

nyc marathon

parking lots


Christopher Robbins

Twitter

Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE news

Forest Hills Stadium can keep its concerts under deal with neighbors

Neighbors had complained of traffic and loud concerts for years.

By

Ryan Kost

Published Oct 22, 2026


NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal

Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."

By

Elizabeth Kim

News

NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal

Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."

By

Elizabeth Kim


NYPD arrests 17-year-old in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting

By

Charles Lane

Ex-Adams aide accused of pocketing kickbacks from community program funds

By

Samantha Max

MTA to begin 6-year project to upgrade signal tech on A and C lines in Brooklyn and Queens

By

Ramsey Khalifeh


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 .