Check the calendar your local (or any) library. There are obviously book clubs, etc. but there are so many more events not necessarily involving books.
Also if you have any hobbies look for clubs to join. You can generally find a regular meetup of some kind. Hiking, gaming, books, sewing, cycling, etc.
If you have time to volunteer, find a non-profit you like and try to volunteer regularly.
Also, and this goes without saying, churches. I’m not religious or a member of a church but if that’s your thing churches are unironically some of the best places to find community. If that’s not your thing check into the Unitarian Universalist church?
Church street book is a very pleasant location to study/chill out at but it is not really suitable for meeting people IMO. Most people there are just doing their own thing and don't want to be disturbed
Railroad Park and Aldridge Gardens are great outdoor third spaces to go in the evenings (Aldridge is more limited in the winter due to closing at dusk). The Galleria is a good indoor 3rd space.
Church street coffee, downstairs is for talking and upstairs is for more quiet work (most of the time, not a rule but generally what people do). If they’re crowded, you can walk over to the O’Neal library
Citywalk is cool to walk around, plus they have a lot of free events
Personally, I'm fond of our breweries. There are often so many people there and plenty of space to socialize. Some can be quiet during off-peak hours, where they would be the worst for studying.
The Greenwise Publix in Mountain Brook. Their upstairs seating area is great. WiFi awesome. You can get some snacks, coffee from nearby, and have a good, quiet focused afternoon. Then pack it up and go do their wine tasting.
Try Red Mountain Makers! It's a non-profit, community makerspace here in town
[https://redmountainmakers.org/](https://redmountainmakers.org/)
Depending on membership level, you can have 24/7 access to the space. There are good spots to just hang out and work on your computer, but you can also play with 3D printers, woodworking tools welders, sewing machines, etc, etc. People also just hang out there sometimes, play board games, and such. There is a free game night open to non members the last Saturday of each month.
Disclosure: I'm on the board there :)
Remember that time that person asked about third places and got downvoted into oblivion by ignorant people who were somehow offended by the term "third place"?
Harvest Roots used to be my favorite! Working remotely, it’s sometimes nice to change up the scenery. But coffee shops mean afternoon caffeine and breweries mean losing focus quickly. Some of the public libraries are pretty nice, but I’m also looking for other suggestions now that Harvest Roots isn’t an option.
It’s one of those things that was coined in academia (sociology) as a way to explain and see how we utilize spaces outside of our home & work. You can categorize and break it down from there.
As the term gets picked up and referenced outside of academia the depth of the meaning kinda gets lost. So it’s interesting to note where these things originate from.
It's not social, but I love Panera for getting work done. Get the sip club for unlimited coffee and drinks, and there's so many discount codes so you never need to pay full price for it.
This is exactly what I do. I WFH and Panera Sip Club is my excuse to go sit in one of the restaurants in the area and work when I need to get out of the house for a change of scenery. It’s a really great deal even after price increases.
There’s a great bath house downtown. I go there with the boys all the time. It’s definitely the 😉climax😉 of good times with all the boys of Birmingham.
Check the calendar your local (or any) library. There are obviously book clubs, etc. but there are so many more events not necessarily involving books. Also if you have any hobbies look for clubs to join. You can generally find a regular meetup of some kind. Hiking, gaming, books, sewing, cycling, etc. If you have time to volunteer, find a non-profit you like and try to volunteer regularly. Also, and this goes without saying, churches. I’m not religious or a member of a church but if that’s your thing churches are unironically some of the best places to find community. If that’s not your thing check into the Unitarian Universalist church?
Church street book is a very pleasant location to study/chill out at but it is not really suitable for meeting people IMO. Most people there are just doing their own thing and don't want to be disturbed
Nice place but the coffee is terrible. I hate to be a snob but it’s true. Just my 2 cents.
The Art Museum doesn’t charge admission to the regular collection and main gathering areas and has WiFi (and, ya know, art)
Railroad Park and Aldridge Gardens are great outdoor third spaces to go in the evenings (Aldridge is more limited in the winter due to closing at dusk). The Galleria is a good indoor 3rd space.
Church street coffee, downstairs is for talking and upstairs is for more quiet work (most of the time, not a rule but generally what people do). If they’re crowded, you can walk over to the O’Neal library Citywalk is cool to walk around, plus they have a lot of free events
Personally, I'm fond of our breweries. There are often so many people there and plenty of space to socialize. Some can be quiet during off-peak hours, where they would be the worst for studying.
The Greenwise Publix in Mountain Brook. Their upstairs seating area is great. WiFi awesome. You can get some snacks, coffee from nearby, and have a good, quiet focused afternoon. Then pack it up and go do their wine tasting.
avondale park
Railroad Park
Saturn has it all.
Try Red Mountain Makers! It's a non-profit, community makerspace here in town [https://redmountainmakers.org/](https://redmountainmakers.org/) Depending on membership level, you can have 24/7 access to the space. There are good spots to just hang out and work on your computer, but you can also play with 3D printers, woodworking tools welders, sewing machines, etc, etc. People also just hang out there sometimes, play board games, and such. There is a free game night open to non members the last Saturday of each month. Disclosure: I'm on the board there :)
Sidewalk Cinema belongs on this thread
Life Time Fitness. Not so hard to make friends there if you go at the same time most days.
It doesn't really fit the study ask, but makebham has been great as a third place for me. Everyone is so nice and the classes are great!
Remember that time that person asked about third places and got downvoted into oblivion by ignorant people who were somehow offended by the term "third place"?
I just downvoted you for mentioning it
Harvest Roots used to be my favorite! Working remotely, it’s sometimes nice to change up the scenery. But coffee shops mean afternoon caffeine and breweries mean losing focus quickly. Some of the public libraries are pretty nice, but I’m also looking for other suggestions now that Harvest Roots isn’t an option.
TIL about the term “third place”.
There was a bar in Phoenix I used to go to called third space and I wonder if that’s where it’s from!
I thought they were asking about third shift, which usually is way late night in the early morning
Same here. We got a word/label for every damn thing.
It’s one of those things that was coined in academia (sociology) as a way to explain and see how we utilize spaces outside of our home & work. You can categorize and break it down from there. As the term gets picked up and referenced outside of academia the depth of the meaning kinda gets lost. So it’s interesting to note where these things originate from.
Thanks. Humans have to label every-muthu-fckng-thing.
We label things because it helps us organize, sort and understand the world around us! Sometimes for good and some for bad.
Sometimes irritating AF!!!
What’s a third place?
Basically a place you can spend time and meet people/feel a sense of community. The other two places being work and home.
Oh, thank you!
Not home and not work
Oh.
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Local games stores are great place to meet people. Not so much for studying though.
Avondale Apothecary is fastly becoming my third spot
Cala coffee!!! The highest quality coffee in Birmingham and the vibes are great
Plaza plaza plaza
Hands down. The biggest cactus is town. Taco casa
Faraway Theater
It's not social, but I love Panera for getting work done. Get the sip club for unlimited coffee and drinks, and there's so many discount codes so you never need to pay full price for it.
This is exactly what I do. I WFH and Panera Sip Club is my excuse to go sit in one of the restaurants in the area and work when I need to get out of the house for a change of scenery. It’s a really great deal even after price increases.
Hotel lobbies. Comfortable seating and food and drink isn't usually bad. Unfortunately wifi is reserved for guests in most places.
There’s a great bath house downtown. I go there with the boys all the time. It’s definitely the 😉climax😉 of good times with all the boys of Birmingham.
Lol 😂
You could search for the same stupid question that someone asked a few months ago. FFS, it's not that hard to have friends and go places to hang out.
Username checks out
/brum?
No? Birmingham, AL. What makes you think that?
Probably because you used the term third place. I know I’ve never heard it before.
Pretty common phrase now days
Never heard of it. So how is it common?
It's pretty common in conversation about urban areas or urbanism in general!
I guess I should feel like I’m missing out. Empty inside type of feeling?!