4 ms·

I don't know how closely this is to OP, but even before the pandemic I was looking for 'a third place' to hang out after work before commuting home as public tr

I don't know how closely this is to OP, but even before the pandemic I was looking for 'a third place' to hang out after work before commuting home as public transit can be too busy for my liking. There's a lot fewer options than you might think. Few coffee shops are good to staying more than 10s of minutes (annoying music, too much traffic, etc). Not many libraries in the city core. I often just had an early dinner trying something new if I could and sat for a while more, which isn't quite what I was looking for. Now with 'the office' being the same as home, I really need to find a 2nd place. The only thing I'd found was driving less and walking to stores and coffee shops within distance. I tried some co-working spaces, but they were too worky. Seems like an opportunity: co-hanging spaces. Some places were good, but after I had a coffee, a tea, biscuits, I didn't know what else do to but leave.

solardev 4y ago
Coworking spaces can vary a lot depending on culture. A smaller one I loved had a great community that would also stick around and play games or go out for drinks after work or whatever. If you stay away from the big corporate chains, you might find more community. There are also many activity-based community hangouts, like bouldering gyms, crossfit or spinning studios, board game cafes, disc golf places, hipster arcades, yoga studios, martial arts places, wine bars, neighborhood dives, bookstores, gardens, dance communities, etc. A common thread between those is that they're usually the same group of mostly regulars, which means they can actually develop communities and cause people to organically hang out outside the activity itself. A lot of bouldering gyms, for example, recently became coworking spaces too where people can sit and do work even if they're not climbing. Bookstores often offer cafes for their clients and regulars to hang out at. Many pubs and dives have wifi now. Maybe instead of spaces where you sit and do nothing (unless that's the goal), occupying your time with activities might give you more hangout options (and hopefully fun?)

solardev 4y ago

Coworking spaces can vary a lot depending on culture. A smaller one I loved had a great community that would also stick around and play games or go out for drinks after work or whatever. If you stay away from the big corporate chains, you might find more community. There are also many activity-based community hangouts, like bouldering gyms, crossfit or spinning studios, board game cafes, disc golf places, hipster arcades, yoga studios, martial arts places, wine bars, neighborhood dives, bookstores, gardens, dance communities, etc. A common thread between those is that they're usually the same group of mostly regulars, which means they can actually develop communities and cause people to organically hang out outside the activity itself. A lot of bouldering gyms, for example, recently became coworking spaces too where people can sit and do work even if they're not climbing. Bookstores often offer cafes for their clients and regulars to hang out at. Many pubs and dives have wifi now. Maybe instead of spaces where you sit and do nothing (unless that's the goal), occupying your time with activities might give you more hangout options (and hopefully fun?)