Mini on “Third Places”

I  like to have my private space and often shy away from talking to strangers. I personally spend so much time with people in New York City – at work, at school, at networking event etc – that when I have the time I either want to be around my friends or by with my cute dogs.

However, this article intrigued me to search for the third places around me. The most obvious one was central park during off leash hour. Before 9AM in the central park, dogs are allowed to be off leashed. It is like a dog heaven. I started to go at 7AM because my dogs like to run around on a grass (not a graveled dog park). Once you start to go regularly, you will see same people over and over and people make conversation casually.

The second one that I see is the Doonya bollywood dancing workout studio. I started to go because I love bollywood dancing and I used to go on and off. Recently I started to go more regularly and you start to talk to the other regulars.

The third one is church. Every sunday people gather to share the religious belief, but the social after and eating lunch together is also the part of the experience.

After thinking about the third places that I know, it seemed like most of the third places around me isn’t deliberately made. The central park had to set up a rule that interested people and Doonya and church needed to engage people so that they sustain their business or function. It seems like the key to successful third place is some how making the people regulars.