Have you heard the buzz about a third place? Along with news about the epidemic of loneliness, having a “third place” has become an often recommended solution to our social isolation.
Sociologist Ray Oldenberg characterizes third places as “locations that facilitate social interaction outside of the people you live or work with… They are places where you encounter regulars… as well as potential new connections. Third places tend to foster light, pleasant conversation.” (Today.com). Remember the famous bar from Cheers, where “everybody knows your name”? (Click the link for a nostalgic listen to the great Cheers intro song.) Well Cheers was definitely a third place.
Apparently a lot of European cities have something akin to a third place, but America is sorely lacking places where people can just gather, hang out, and chat with friends or new acquaintances. If you google “third place” you will find a plethora of articles decrying the lack of third places in today’s society, and claiming that they are practically essential to creating connected communities.
According to verywellmind.com, “Third places are essential, as they can help alleviate feelings of boredom and loneliness, and are key to fostering a sense of community—it’s particularly important in an era where we’re experiencing a crisis of connection.”
I don’t know about you, but I WANT a third place! So I’m going to try to create it. I have been experimenting with all sorts of new ways of connecting, so my next experiment is creating two types of third places.
The first is going to be on my own back patio! My plan is, I will open up my patio on certain evenings this summer, in a kind of open house format, where everyone is invited to just come on over, hang out, have a drink or some food, or just relax for awhile. It might be just me and my dog, or we might have a crowd! But the idea is to make it easy, welcoming, and regular, so we start seeing familiar faces and making new acquaintances and friends.
The second is going to be a public place that I think might work, if enough of us make it happen. It’s the Vail Ranch Cookhouse at Vail Ranch. There is both inside and outside seating at long picnic style tables. There are a few walk up and order restaurants for anyone who wants a snack or a meal, and there’s a full bar for anyone who wants wine, beer, or a cocktail. I envision having a regular, open house meet up there as well, and people can come and go, grab food or drink or not, sit and chat for awhile, and, again, make new acquaintances and friends.
Are you with me? I will put together a calendar, and hope to see you at some Third Place Events this summer!
