Just finished reading Ray Oldenburg’s 1989 plea for having a place for buddies on every street corner. He holds the need for these places in relative soft focus, strangely leaning towards places “for men” of the tavern variety. Points are made that bring up emotional feelings about places we’ve known and loved in our own lives. These are the “third places,” - not home, not work - but a place to meet up with the people you know and take it easy. He contends that this has gone missing in American life.

Oldenburg seems hung up on some very specific things he likes such as witty repartee, snooker, etc. One wonders, reading his book, how much the thing he describes really is missing - or whether it’s just changing more rapidly than suits those who prefer regularity decade after decade. Is there a sharper, more scientific book on the sociology of community gathering places, or “third places” and the need for them?

I am reminded of Naomi Klein’s indication that Starbucks capitalized on the “third place” concept in the 90’s.

-AH