In the News
By Nova Berger
A Home Away from Home
A Third Place? Say what now? While you may be familiar with the quaint bookstore (Third Place Books) a little past Ravenna, (well worth the walk though!), the third place is far more than that. It’s a social concept of the necessity of a third, other space besides home and work for people to gather informally. Third places foster self expression, providing a safe space beyond the mundane burdens of the 9-5 or the 3rd load of laundry that day. It’s the answer to cabin fever - the place you go when you’re drawn to something outside everyday life. The craving for a third place is also a powerful reminder that at the end of the day, we are all just like kids. We just wanna hang the heck out.
“It’s too easy to get holed up in my apartment. I go to my third place because it’s both an individual and shared experience.” says Kris Ganjam, a local at Cafe on the Ave, an essential third place of the U District. Kris has been frequenting there for 20 years and he says his favorite thing to do is watch thw world go past from the behind the safety of his own steaming cup of joe. The cafe brings in locals, tourists and UW students alike and Kris says that’s why he picked it as his third place - he gets to learn something new everyday by simply listening and lingering.
History and Concept
First proposed by Ray Oldenburg in his book, The Great Good Place, Oldenburg outlines the necessity of a third place to a community’s foundation. To foster a happy, healthy community Oldenburg says that human connection is necessary.
He defines the third place as “A public gathering space outside the working home that allows for casual social interaction.”
Based on this definition, you're probably picturing your neighborhood coffee shop. While this may be true for some, a third place is different for everyone. It fulfills whatever intrinsic need you have to connect to something greater than the everyday, planned life. You don’t need to directly socialize in a third place, it’s just somewhere where there’s the potential for interaction and a feeling of being around others. For some, you get that individualistic sense of experiencing ‘otherness’ to the pulsating beats of electronica. Perhaps Neumos in Cap Hill is the place for you. For others it may be your church, where your sense of self is rejuvenated by Sunday services. It is simply a gathering place for a communal need of connection and identity.
The third place doesn’t even have to be a physical location. In an interview with Nicholas Tubb at Ravenna Brewing, he shared his third place was his biking community. There he felt unhindered by any sort of timeline. He says for him, right now even though he gets a community at work, it’s not enough. In the past he said his schedule dictated his days. Finding the bike community allowed him an escape- and he describes how much happier he’s felt just letting himself ‘be’ every couple days when the groups meets up.
The only connecting thread of third places is the unknown of the interactions you’ll have in that place - and the willingness of people who use those third spaces to linger in the unknown.
In a city where efficiency is so highly valued that we can’t even bother taking out our earbuds on the way to work, the unknown can be scary. However, engaging with others is vital toward breaking our own cognitive biases and taking advantage of this glorious city, and the true plethora of perspectives it provides.
Benefits of a Third Place
Are you a regular somewhere? If not, consider becoming one. Do yourself a favor- recent research shows that having a third place can be extremely beneficial to large scale community building. Third places are shown to help emotional and mental well being, combat loneliness and isolation, and from my perspective, most importantly, expose yourself to new ideas and break your own cognitive biases.
Engaging in new conversations isn't just a way to pass the time; it's a workout for your brain with surprising scientific benefits. When we talk to people from different backgrounds or with opposing viewpoints, it challenges our existing beliefs. This mental tug-of-war, according to research, strengthens cognitive flexibility. Our brains are forced to process new information, consider alternative viewpoints, and potentially even adjust our own perspectives. This improves our ability to see problems from multiple angles and fosters creative problem-solving. In a world that demands constant adaptation, the ability to shift perspectives is a valuable tool, and new conversations provide the perfect training ground.
Besides science, third places allow you to tap into your community in unexpected ways. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to try dancing, but you never had the guts to go to a dance class. A visit to your local coffee shop could contact you with folks who know of free dance classes (true story here) and then bam! Now you're dancing salsa in Volunteer Park every Tuesday AND you have a brand new crew.
The Third Place Defined
The third place concept isn’t new. In fact, our city's industry has a lot to thank for the third place - any Starbucks fans out there? The widely successful backbone of our economy rests in this concept. Born right here in Seattle in 1971, Howard Schultz pioneered the idea of transforming the "third place" into a business model. Inspired by Italian coffee bars, Starbucks founder Howard Schultz envisioned a space that offered more than just coffee. He aimed to create a place for connection, relaxation, and community that was distinct from home and work. If we can trust the numbers, the third place philosophy works- there are between 91 and 118 Starbucks in Seattle making it a significant economic driver of both jobs and tourism in the city.
The same can be said for the U District. Businesses here thrive with the human need of a third place. If you’re wondering about the validity of Oldenburg’s argument, simply look at the Ave. We aren’t known as the boba capital of the Northwest for no good reason. The literal plethora of boba shops, cafes, and bookstores and places to hang out in this neighborhood offer a third place for any flavor.
Here’s a list of some of the fine establishments in the U District that could become your third place:
Let them Linger
The third place is both a space for yourself and others. With no criteria for how time is spent there, third places can bring in anyone.
Interactions with people in third places also don’t have rules. Entering a third place welcomes new conversations, and an open atmosphere creates opportunities for anyone to stay and linger. Third spaces are fueled by spontaneity and a willingness to forget work or life stressors for the indulgence of unknown conversation with a stranger.
This concept of lingering brings me into my first story of a third place, the University Village.
Stories of Third Places
U Village: When we’re talking about typical places to hang out, besides a coffee shop the shopping mall probably comes to mind. Especially in the 1960s, and for the younger demographic these existed as a way for teenagers and adults to bask in materialism and stroll amongst people. While these spots were primarily for shopping, they were a neutral ground: folks came just to be part of the community, even if they were teenagers fueled by boredom.
Here in the U District, we have perchance the best place to be bored, right down the hill. All walks of life frequent University Village, from Young high schoolers delighting in the RH rooftop views to classic PNW moms exploring the latest discount at Cotopaxi.
I got the chance to talk with a new Seattleite from Guatemala about why he chose to visit the village and if he would consider it a third place.
Emiliano shared he was looking for places to meet people. He said he had visited a local Starbucks to meet people and was vastly underwhelmed by the social interaction.
“We need public spaces. The coffee place is now the workplace. Starbucks isn’t a third place- everyone is so focused there. Everyone’s in their own box.”
He came to U Village instead, because of the openness. Here he can get a real sense of the Seattle community without any real obligations to interact with folks. He also says he can get a sense of the vibe of the neighborhood, and potentially score his first Pacific Northwest garb to fit in.
Seven Cafe: One potentially well known third place is the 7 Café in Ravenna. Ironically close to the aforementioned third place book store, 7 meets all of Oldenburg‘s requirements. From 7 AM to 7 PM it’s open and welcoming to any type of person.
I spoke to a few ladies, Loraine and Jackie, who were visiting the coffee shop. It was one of their first times visiting Seven, but they have been living in the neighborhood for years. When I asked them about their typical third places, they said they were unfamiliar with the terminology the concept wasn’t new.
Loraine says that “Every neighborhood used to have a place like that. Where everyone knew each other. Where people would talk to you.”
Loraine and Jackie told me the wonderful story of their own remembered third place. The Last Exit on Brooklyn had been the watering hole for students and locals alike. Opened in 1967, it became a hub for the city's counterculture scene and played a key role in establishing Seattle's famous coffee obsession. It also serves as a major meeting spot for chess enthusiasts and goal players. The owner of the last exit describes its purpose as “a haven where students and the benign crazies" were welcome and where "everyone felt equal and there were no sacred cows".
“Here you can buy a PB for $.75! There were chess players playing speed chess, old folks playing go and people mingling in between it all. You could be anything you wanted there!" says Loraine.
See? I would have never been able to discover that hidden third place without a conversation at a third place while discussing third places. Wow, how many times can you say third place!
That Last Exit effect continues by creating an equal space for games galore brings me into my next third place.
Cafe on the Ave: A hot spot for board game meetups, late night fries and the best mozzarella sticks money can buy, Cafe on the Ave’s extensive menu reflects the diversity of its customers.
I interviewed self-described perpetual student Kris Canjam there. He finds that it is a great place for generating new ideas.
“There is nothing like reading a scientific paper and mixing together its ideas with the vibrant background conversations of students talking about their computer science classes, their startups, their love lives, news, gossip, the latest apps, their dreams and their greatest ambitions.” says Kris.
He has the unique ability to act as a fly on the wall or interact with interesting conversations where he sees put.
“Someone at a neighboring table was furiously typing up a technical document on their laptop. When I asked them about it, it turned out that the person was an attorney writing up a patent for their client and happened to work with the patent attorney at the same firm with whom I was currently filing a different patent.”
Kris Ganjam has been coming to the Cafe on the Ave for more than 20 years and says it's his most beloved place to linger in all of Seattle.
When I asked him if he felt fifth third place anywhere else in the city, he said he didn’t think so. Urban planning and zoning have resulted in loss of third place in neighborhoods like Capitol Hill, Kris says.
Bulldog News & Café: Another community favorite, Bulldog News, personifies the third place. Whether you're craving a locally-roasted espresso and a pastry, browsing their extensive magazine collection, or catching a free open mic night on the third Saturday of each month, Bulldog News has it all. It's community table setup paired with boothes allows for students, neighbors, and anyone in between to gather and relax.
Bella, the barista at Bulldog shared this story about an old local who found his third place there:
“He came in every other day and read the paper on the community table, wrote, read books, and talked to anyone who would listen, including us baristas. When he learned that I got the role of Janet in 'The Rocky Horror Show' in fall of 2022, he brought me his very own copy of a rocky Horror behind-the-scenes book from the 70s the following day, notes in the margins and all. He was really supportive of all our endeavors and spent almost as much time asking about the baristas' lives as he did talking about his own. He also had a strong community of other older folks in the u dist, which I feel is a somewhat forgotten population for whom bulldog is most definitely a third place.”
Support systems for all ages can be a result of using a third place. Especially for the older generation, the sense of community fostered in these spaces can combat social isolation, a major risk factor for elderly health. Whether it's striking up conversations with friendly faces at a community center or simply feeling a sense of belonging at a local park, third places provide opportunities for connection that can lead to friendships, check-ins on well-being, and even informal assistance with errands or chores.
Losing third places?
In all my interviews, there seemed to be an unfortunate hypothesis- that Seattle is losing these places. Loraine and Jackie at 7 said “They were places to go and be. To toss your deadlines and get to know the people in your neighborhood. We don’t have that anymore.”
Emiliano at University Village shared that sentiment. He says in Uruguay, where he’s from third place is the norm- you’d never have a table in a restaurant because it limits the space and point of the restaurant experience- interaction with your community. He says in Uruguay people arrange themselves, and he’s found them to be far happier. The vulnerability that people feel in public spaces in Seattle, he says, isn't felt there. Emiliano says the individual aspect of Seattle may be to blame.
For many it may feel unnatural to go to a public place to unwind. Your home equals chill while outside equals socialize and get things done. Even in coffee shops, where the ambience is geared towards friendly conversations, most customers have double headphones.
Urban planning doesn’t help the matter. Just as Kris said, Seattle, like many cities, faces challenges to its third places. Rising rents threaten beloved cafes and bookstores, while car-centric planning can make it tough to stumble upon a friendly spot. Even the tech boom that fuels Seattle's economy can be a double-edged sword, with remote work reducing foot traffic and social media potentially replacing in-person connection.
Entering a space where the next few hours is unknown is scary. But the community and the new perspectives third places are well worth the pay off.
The best part about the third place is the lack of rules. If you find yourself unhappy- leave! The only thing stopping you is the potentially unfinished cup of coffee.
“It makes life so much more rich,” says Loraine.
Can we find the places where we can linger?
So try the next new coffee shop, or follow that QR code on the flyer next to the public dance session in the park. Linger somewhere unusual, and if you like the curious interactions you have there, come back! Who knows, you might just find that you’ve secretly been a salsa expert all along.
Article written by Nova Flikweert Berger, our local journalist
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