A few months back, I sent a note to my What’s Good Project newsletter crew to ask them to share with me their third places, and whether these places were in danger of being closed or eliminated.

Here’s some of what they wrote.

ABCD, community, third placesJennifer DrinkwaterJuly 2, 2025blogComment

Third Places: Don't Be Fancy

We’ve arrived at the final official quality of Third Places, according to Ray Oldenburg, and this might be my favorite one.

third places, community, ABCDJennifer DrinkwaterMarch 31, 2025blogComment

Third Places: Be a Regular

Being a regular, and being around other regulars - the fifth quality of third places – can change folks’ lives.

Regulars transform from strangers into trusted friends, and can change your perspective.

community, third places, tips, ABCDJennifer DrinkwaterSeptember 4, 2024blogComment

Third Places: Easy Streets

For all our talk of mental health these days, third places, and the short walk or bike ride they require to visit, can be an antidote.

community, third places, tipsJennifer DrinkwaterAugust 19, 2024blogComment

Third Places: The Gift of Gab

Let’s be super clear –the magic of third places comes from the literal space and time they provide us to talk to each other. Not talk at each other. Not text each other. Not send DMs. But the ability to have real, meandering conversations, in person.

community, creativity, third places, tipsJennifer DrinkwaterJuly 2, 2024blogComment

Third Places: An Ode to Pubs, Parks, Piers, and Public Libraries

As places for anybody and everybody, pubs, parks, piers, and public libraries epitomize third places.

ABCD, community, third places, tipsJennifer DrinkwaterApril 23, 2024blog Comment

Third Places: On Neutral Ground

So let’s get back to third places.

For the next few months, I’ll introduce each of the six essential qualities that effective third places share, why they matter, and wisdom we can glean for other parts of our lives.

ABCD, community, third places, tipsJennifer DrinkwaterApril 1, 2024blogComment

Oskaloosa Public Library

The Oskaloosa Public Library was built in 1903 with support from a grant from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation and leadership from the Oskaloosa Women’s Club. Beyond books, the Oskaloosa Public Library provides cultural programming, language classes, reading programs, music events, a seed library, a makerspace, a library of things, and a genealogy room.

ABCD, community, creativity, Iowa, process, third placesJennifer DrinkwaterMarch 25, 2024blogComment

What's Your Third Place?

If you’re not even sure what your first or second place is, do not fret.

According to the late Ray Oldenberg, first places are your home place, second places are your workplace, and third places are where you go to connect with people, blow off steam, and have a good conversation.

This can look like many things to many folks: coffee shops, bars, gyms, barber shops/salons, diners, libraries.

ABCD, community, third placesJennifer DrinkwaterMarch 7, 2024blog Comment

THOUGHTS