greysuru t1_j8ztiud wrote on February 18, 2023 at 3:29 AM

Musical Intervention good for musicians. Never Ending Books or Book Trader for book lovers. Gather for hipsters. +1 to Elm City Games. Owl Shop if you smoke. Stella Blues for music, a pool table, and a sofa (except they often have a small cover fee and it could be loud).

I'd suggest church, but I've never been.

6th__extinction t1_j90q358 wrote on February 18, 2023 at 9:50 AM

Tangential comment, but my parents often complain that I will have no community because my generation doesn’t go to church every Sunday. A place you regularly see people, even if you don’t talk to them, you recognize them at the grocery store and say hi. I just can’t get down with the Catholic church / most religions, but I kind of agree with them.

DeskFan203 t1_j93z20e wrote on February 19, 2023 at 1:44 AM

Ehhh I'm at church most Sundays and because I'm sort of a minority Christian (Orthodox), there aren't a lot of us and I have to go to a church about 1/2 hour away. I don't see anyone in my 'hood, sadly.

So, it's not a given, if that helps.

quinncuatro t1_j94kmte wrote on February 19, 2023 at 4:45 AM

Yeah, OP brought up some good places to hang out but most of them don’t necessarily meet the “place to develop community without having to spend money” definition of third places.

It’s a little more like bowling leagues, civil organizations, and churches than what a bar typically provides.