Great piece of writing. I've spent a lot of time living in different cities and I actively searched for 3rd spaces. One of my favorites is the Citizen M hotel on Bowery in NYC. The sunken lobby is a great place to hang out.
Thank you for the compliment and the hot tip for NYC! Hotel lobbies are becoming one of my favorite genres of hidden Third Spaces and someone I know who works in the industry actually told me that a lot of hotels welcome people hanging out there; as it imbues the most public-facing part of a hotel with visible energy and good vibes.
Miles, I am sending you, a bit late, best wishes for a Happy and healthy and benevolent new year - 2026. And to thank you for urging us all culturally forward, public hang-out spaces being only one of many, many elements we need more of. Too, too sad to learn that the former Sears Roebuck meeting hall will be closing soon. It has been one of my gathering spaces over recent years. We elders are in a special category of needing public/private gatherings and a comfortable space in which to assemble and laugh loud and long. I would readily appoint you as metropolitan assembly coordinator, along with walking trail developer and navigator. In Harvard Square, the Smith building can sometimes serve that purpose. I do appreciate your vision and energy in the work you do - bringing an urban civilization back to cities
Thanks so much, Jeanne; for the wishes and these thoughtful words. I would be *thrilled* to serve in either of the roles you envision (at one point, there was actually a super brief conversation about creating a Trail Czar type position in the city, but it never got beyond the "fun idea" stage.) The lack of political will to invest more in things that improve health and happiness is so frustrating to me; particularly in a state that often considers itself a leader on progessive matters.
But again, I suppose it boils down to this stubborn idea that government should be small and diminutive...and that imagining something different is a fool's errand. I didn't have room to mention it in this piece, but I'm very inspired by what's happening in NYC right now and I'm praying that it might shake more people out of that stagnant way of thinking about social investment from the state. The greenlighting of municipal daycare is a promising sign.
Parallel thoughts, Robin! Aeronaut is pretty much the only place comparable to Time Out that I'm aware of in Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville. I've hosted some events there over the years, for free, thanks to their vast back end seating area. They really provide an incredible service in having that space and making it so open to visitors.
New York's Central Park has recently opened the Davis Center, a flexible space with all-important bathrooms and indoor hang-out space. It is way uptown, an area that has historically (deliberately) been poorly supplied with park amenities. The Frog Pond could do the same, if there was a will.
I've also never understood why Boston/Cambridge can't have a single place to sit with a burger and a beer overlooking our beautiful river. I guess the powers that be gave all the choice spots to the colleges for their boathouses back when the Charles was a reeking sewer, and now we are stuck with the status quo.
In NYC there are a couple of third spaces I love. Pier 57 is the best. Indoors there’s a “food court” with multiple inexpensive options. And still indoors farther down the pier is a fabulous huge living room style public area. There’s great outdoor seating and a rooftop. I get an authentic chai and a dosa and sit staring at the river and writing in my journal. And it’s almost always sparsely populated. It’s basically right across the west side highway from Chelsea market, which is also a great third space, but a little too crowded for my taste.
On the lower east side is Essex Market. Food on street level and a big space above to find a chair and stay for hours. Not as comfortable as Pier 57 but some really good food options a great way to get inside when the weather isn’t nice.
Great piece of writing. I've spent a lot of time living in different cities and I actively searched for 3rd spaces. One of my favorites is the Citizen M hotel on Bowery in NYC. The sunken lobby is a great place to hang out.
Thank you for the compliment and the hot tip for NYC! Hotel lobbies are becoming one of my favorite genres of hidden Third Spaces and someone I know who works in the industry actually told me that a lot of hotels welcome people hanging out there; as it imbues the most public-facing part of a hotel with visible energy and good vibes.
Miles, I am sending you, a bit late, best wishes for a Happy and healthy and benevolent new year - 2026. And to thank you for urging us all culturally forward, public hang-out spaces being only one of many, many elements we need more of. Too, too sad to learn that the former Sears Roebuck meeting hall will be closing soon. It has been one of my gathering spaces over recent years. We elders are in a special category of needing public/private gatherings and a comfortable space in which to assemble and laugh loud and long. I would readily appoint you as metropolitan assembly coordinator, along with walking trail developer and navigator. In Harvard Square, the Smith building can sometimes serve that purpose. I do appreciate your vision and energy in the work you do - bringing an urban civilization back to cities
Thanks so much, Jeanne; for the wishes and these thoughtful words. I would be *thrilled* to serve in either of the roles you envision (at one point, there was actually a super brief conversation about creating a Trail Czar type position in the city, but it never got beyond the "fun idea" stage.) The lack of political will to invest more in things that improve health and happiness is so frustrating to me; particularly in a state that often considers itself a leader on progessive matters.
But again, I suppose it boils down to this stubborn idea that government should be small and diminutive...and that imagining something different is a fool's errand. I didn't have room to mention it in this piece, but I'm very inspired by what's happening in NYC right now and I'm praying that it might shake more people out of that stagnant way of thinking about social investment from the state. The greenlighting of municipal daycare is a promising sign.
Agree with every word. I recently visited https://www.aeronautbrewing.com in Somerville and it checks off a lot of your boxes (plus board games!)
Parallel thoughts, Robin! Aeronaut is pretty much the only place comparable to Time Out that I'm aware of in Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville. I've hosted some events there over the years, for free, thanks to their vast back end seating area. They really provide an incredible service in having that space and making it so open to visitors.
Great post, Owen!
New York's Central Park has recently opened the Davis Center, a flexible space with all-important bathrooms and indoor hang-out space. It is way uptown, an area that has historically (deliberately) been poorly supplied with park amenities. The Frog Pond could do the same, if there was a will.
Davis Center Homepage | Davis Center https://share.google/WGPRnzaIlyAP4qSeI
I've also never understood why Boston/Cambridge can't have a single place to sit with a burger and a beer overlooking our beautiful river. I guess the powers that be gave all the choice spots to the colleges for their boathouses back when the Charles was a reeking sewer, and now we are stuck with the status quo.
In NYC there are a couple of third spaces I love. Pier 57 is the best. Indoors there’s a “food court” with multiple inexpensive options. And still indoors farther down the pier is a fabulous huge living room style public area. There’s great outdoor seating and a rooftop. I get an authentic chai and a dosa and sit staring at the river and writing in my journal. And it’s almost always sparsely populated. It’s basically right across the west side highway from Chelsea market, which is also a great third space, but a little too crowded for my taste.
On the lower east side is Essex Market. Food on street level and a big space above to find a chair and stay for hours. Not as comfortable as Pier 57 but some really good food options a great way to get inside when the weather isn’t nice.