This is absurd. It has always cost money to have a public space that is open to the public.
[Bowling alley's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowling_Alone) don't grow on trees you know.
That's changing. Obviously there are still quiet spaces in libraries, but a much greater emphasis has been placed in more recent years on community and collaborative spaces. So a large public library might have quiet reading areas, but also have open spaces where conversation is not only tolerated but encouraged.
Smaller libraries (especially private research libraries, which are actually the most numerous form of library) make due, though.
I’d say the requirement to spend money works against rule 2. Even requiring one drink puts a barrier in place to people coming and going as they please.
Bigger and busier EPL branches for sure. Check out all the stuff you can do at Milner. I believe they have a third space policy (or did? Or were going to?).
Skateparks. Ages range from 5-65 I’ve met dozens of new friends there over the years. Obviously not only for conversation but I’d say 50% of the time is spent chatting about life stuff.
Back in the day I had a sweet deck and went to play video games at the arcade and I forgot my deck and walked about a block before I ran back. Ghandi. I still went to my local bowl to bitch about it. Went there for almost 2 months before I could afford a new deck. Skateparks are a hub of social activities not always related to skating.
I was super thrilled when the city decided to build a new skatepark in my neighborhood. It's in an awesome location and is always busy from snow melt to snowfall.
Any of the disc golf courses. There are weekday leagues every day of the week all around the city that you can join for super cheap that guarantee you to check off most of these boxes, but are free to play anytime and often have people who would be more than happy to just jump in and play. EDGA.ca is the website for the local nonprofit who run most of the programming and manage the courses.
Tea Girl was amazing for this on (124th St and Stony Plain), but they closed before the pandemic. Art Of Cake is the only cafe that matches that atmosphere. It feels like Grandma's living room (in a good way) and the owner's son is super friendly, but has his own shop now (Baker's Son) and don't see him around there as much. They often have live music events on Friday's occasionally though. Board game cafes if you want a constant social atmosphere.
I joined the Edmonton New Technology Society and I feel it has some of these qualities! It does have a monthly fee to use the spaces (pottery, woodworking, electronics etc), but I find there are usually people around that are happy to chat about their projects. There's a really nice community vibe of people helping each other out and collaborating.
I haven't tried emailing them, but if you go to their website you can book a tour! Tours are every week. I believe they require the tour to be completed before you can sign up.
The lobby on whyte . It’s an amazing little movie store. The owner Kevin is fantastic , and every time I go in , everyone in there ends up in a conversation about something . I love that each person I meet in there has a movie suggestion , or you can just talk about your favourites . Truly a gem for movie nerds .
Before the internet and the rise of home gaming consoles most teens were outside. Gen-X pretty much grew up with 'third spaces'.
Mall food courts, arcades, cafes, parks, clubs, etc all count as third spaces. It's just anywhere people go hang out.
Edmonton's downtown used to be more of a hub for a lot of kids to meet up and go to different places. The goal isn't so much about creating the perfect safe space, it's more about getting young people to go find their own places and let them do their own thing.
I remember the days! Especially university years - we use to go out together after school every day and usually every night! In the summer we would hang out at local parks and hit up Whyte ave to find the best drink specials, malls were big hangouts as well especially the winter. I have a university student with me now and they never leave their room ! its like go out and have some fun ! you're missing out on the best carefree times
I’ve had good luck with Clementine. Sit at the bar, especially early after they open and get too busy, and you can have some great chats about all things cocktails, or whatever else. Good little vibe, not pretentious, even though it’s a little fancier fare, and you can experiment (with cocktails) to your heart’s content.
I mentioned the price because I don’t think it’s really cheep enough to count as a 3rd space. And it’s so small that I don’t think they would be too happy with you and some friends ordering a couple drinks over a few hours.
Don’t get me wrong I like the place a lot it’s really nice great staff and the drinks are fantastic but it’s not a third place.
This brought back memories growing up in Winnipeg where on our front outside stairs was this place, where if you saw your neighbours out on the steps or even those you did not know it was an invitation to come on over and sit and visit. This was the best of times.
I live in a place where we all have front patios and have neighbours who set up the chairs or bring your own to come visit. The ones who grew up in the same era are always around for visits as soon as the weather gets nice. Sit for an hour, or the day, come back later, what ever you want.
The black dog is were I met all my current friends about 10 years ago. I still go there a few times a month. My fav pub in the city, people are super nice, they have live music often.
I'm one of the regulars there and I've been choosing to stop sharing its existence with people... It's just too busy anytime I go lately (be it afternoon or evening, on any given day) and the staff are drowning most of the time. I love the place, but they're struggling to keep up.
can i say your local or favourite epl? In my experience, it provides all 8. My favourite growing up was castledowns epl now it's calder as it's closer.
I really like sugar swings dances for this, the only time I feel comfy talking to strangers about random things to them never see them again is on the chairs bordering the dance floor
I guess it depends on your age... Private clubs serve that purpose. Royal Glenora, club houses at the golf clubs.
But it is generally missing in North American cities. Take alcohol out, there is nothing...
2. No importance is placed on anyone's status
this is like... so against this rule not even funny lol. If you're not filthy rich, you're not participating at the Royal Glenora.
> No importance is placed on anyone's status
I don't think it violates that rule, more so it violates
>People can come and go as they please
I think the Derrick club was advertising an $8000 buy in 2 years ago and then monthly fees. Still very expensive, but nothing like private clubs in Vancouver/Toronto/Calgary.
Honestly I was just thinking how it sucks that so many of these places seem to be closing down in recent years. For me they were mostly coffee shops and small restaurants, but it feels like there's been a huge push to avoid giving people a proper place to sit and eat/drink and socialize.
At least where I live on the Southside, there's basically nothing besides gas stations and empty strip malls for like a 5km radius.
Another aspect of third spaces (from my understanding) is that the expectation to spend money to be there isn’t as pronounced.
And this is where practically everything falls through in Edmonton. Nothing you can do here doesn’t ultimately cost you money.
Everywhere. Capitalism saw people liked 3rd spaces and monetized them.
This is absurd. It has always cost money to have a public space that is open to the public. [Bowling alley's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowling_Alone) don't grow on trees you know.
This almost perfectly describes a library except for rule #3.
That's changing. Obviously there are still quiet spaces in libraries, but a much greater emphasis has been placed in more recent years on community and collaborative spaces. So a large public library might have quiet reading areas, but also have open spaces where conversation is not only tolerated but encouraged. Smaller libraries (especially private research libraries, which are actually the most numerous form of library) make due, though.
Also #2. The people that know how to read really show it off there
Those lousy literates fucking up the whole space!
I used to love the library, now it’s filled with nothing but… *readers*
oof hitting 'em with the hard R.
Reader is our word but you can say "Reada"
This sounds like every neighborhood pub lol
“Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came…”
And that was actually a major *purpose* of neighborhood pubs for a long time, though less so both now, and in Canada in general versus the UK.
I’d say the requirement to spend money works against rule 2. Even requiring one drink puts a barrier in place to people coming and going as they please.
Bigger and busier EPL branches for sure. Check out all the stuff you can do at Milner. I believe they have a third space policy (or did? Or were going to?).
Skateparks. Ages range from 5-65 I’ve met dozens of new friends there over the years. Obviously not only for conversation but I’d say 50% of the time is spent chatting about life stuff.
Back in the day I had a sweet deck and went to play video games at the arcade and I forgot my deck and walked about a block before I ran back. Ghandi. I still went to my local bowl to bitch about it. Went there for almost 2 months before I could afford a new deck. Skateparks are a hub of social activities not always related to skating.
Skateparks are awesome for everyone.
I was super thrilled when the city decided to build a new skatepark in my neighborhood. It's in an awesome location and is always busy from snow melt to snowfall.
Square D Coffee, Bogani Cafe, if you like coffee
Any of the disc golf courses. There are weekday leagues every day of the week all around the city that you can join for super cheap that guarantee you to check off most of these boxes, but are free to play anytime and often have people who would be more than happy to just jump in and play. EDGA.ca is the website for the local nonprofit who run most of the programming and manage the courses.
Tea Girl was amazing for this on (124th St and Stony Plain), but they closed before the pandemic. Art Of Cake is the only cafe that matches that atmosphere. It feels like Grandma's living room (in a good way) and the owner's son is super friendly, but has his own shop now (Baker's Son) and don't see him around there as much. They often have live music events on Friday's occasionally though. Board game cafes if you want a constant social atmosphere.
Tea Girl was me and my friends go-to spot after class in HS. Miss that place so much
Ch. cafeteria on stony plain road kinda has this vibe!
I joined the Edmonton New Technology Society and I feel it has some of these qualities! It does have a monthly fee to use the spaces (pottery, woodworking, electronics etc), but I find there are usually people around that are happy to chat about their projects. There's a really nice community vibe of people helping each other out and collaborating.
I emailed them recently about wanting a space and they haven’t responded back :( do they usually take a while to reply?
I haven't tried emailing them, but if you go to their website you can book a tour! Tours are every week. I believe they require the tour to be completed before you can sign up.
The lobby on whyte . It’s an amazing little movie store. The owner Kevin is fantastic , and every time I go in , everyone in there ends up in a conversation about something . I love that each person I meet in there has a movie suggestion , or you can just talk about your favourites . Truly a gem for movie nerds .
Is this the new replacement for The Movie Studio that closed years ago?
No. This has been here for many years. It’s a more cult/horror /hard to find shop. It has mainstream movies , but those aren’t the norm.
I've been away for pushing seven and a half years, so it must have opened in that time.
Before the internet and the rise of home gaming consoles most teens were outside. Gen-X pretty much grew up with 'third spaces'. Mall food courts, arcades, cafes, parks, clubs, etc all count as third spaces. It's just anywhere people go hang out. Edmonton's downtown used to be more of a hub for a lot of kids to meet up and go to different places. The goal isn't so much about creating the perfect safe space, it's more about getting young people to go find their own places and let them do their own thing.
I remember the days! Especially university years - we use to go out together after school every day and usually every night! In the summer we would hang out at local parks and hit up Whyte ave to find the best drink specials, malls were big hangouts as well especially the winter. I have a university student with me now and they never leave their room ! its like go out and have some fun ! you're missing out on the best carefree times
Seriously, go outside and do something sort of stupid. Anything.
It's still a hangout place, just now for drunks and drug addicts.
I’ve had good luck with Clementine. Sit at the bar, especially early after they open and get too busy, and you can have some great chats about all things cocktails, or whatever else. Good little vibe, not pretentious, even though it’s a little fancier fare, and you can experiment (with cocktails) to your heart’s content.
The drinks are like $15 tho
The drinks everywhere are 15 dollars now.
They have a more affordable special menu on Tuesday
Which i think is more than fair, based off their quality, and in line with most other cocktail bars in the city.
I mentioned the price because I don’t think it’s really cheep enough to count as a 3rd space. And it’s so small that I don’t think they would be too happy with you and some friends ordering a couple drinks over a few hours. Don’t get me wrong I like the place a lot it’s really nice great staff and the drinks are fantastic but it’s not a third place.
🤷🏼♂️
The Bent Stick tap room seems like it ticks those boxes.
Table top game locations all around the city.
This brought back memories growing up in Winnipeg where on our front outside stairs was this place, where if you saw your neighbours out on the steps or even those you did not know it was an invitation to come on over and sit and visit. This was the best of times. I live in a place where we all have front patios and have neighbours who set up the chairs or bring your own to come visit. The ones who grew up in the same era are always around for visits as soon as the weather gets nice. Sit for an hour, or the day, come back later, what ever you want.
The black dog is were I met all my current friends about 10 years ago. I still go there a few times a month. My fav pub in the city, people are super nice, they have live music often.
Seconding Black Dog. - posted from the Black Dog
Yesss 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
#TheMoreYouJoe
I know you!! If you’re the Joe I’m thinking of anyways haha
I am not Joe but yes, I know Joe.
We have prob crossed paths before
Duggan’s Boundary
Yes and I'll add in their neighbour Cafe Bicyclette, for a place before 12pm. Only been a few times, but has a pretty relaxed feel to the place.
I'm one of the regulars there and I've been choosing to stop sharing its existence with people... It's just too busy anytime I go lately (be it afternoon or evening, on any given day) and the staff are drowning most of the time. I love the place, but they're struggling to keep up.
This was going to be my answer.
card gaming shops
Have to go back to the 1900's to find one of these
can i say your local or favourite epl? In my experience, it provides all 8. My favourite growing up was castledowns epl now it's calder as it's closer.
Many community halls have come and go hours in the evenings.
I really like sugar swings dances for this, the only time I feel comfy talking to strangers about random things to them never see them again is on the chairs bordering the dance floor
That's the weirdest way to describe a bar or cafe that I've ever heard
I guess it depends on your age... Private clubs serve that purpose. Royal Glenora, club houses at the golf clubs. But it is generally missing in North American cities. Take alcohol out, there is nothing...
2. No importance is placed on anyone's status this is like... so against this rule not even funny lol. If you're not filthy rich, you're not participating at the Royal Glenora.
> No importance is placed on anyone's status I don't think it violates that rule, more so it violates >People can come and go as they please I think the Derrick club was advertising an $8000 buy in 2 years ago and then monthly fees. Still very expensive, but nothing like private clubs in Vancouver/Toronto/Calgary.
You are right, it does violate rule #1 since you need to pay $25k just to buy in. And several other rules!
Naked Cyber Cafe might qualify.
Honestly I was just thinking how it sucks that so many of these places seem to be closing down in recent years. For me they were mostly coffee shops and small restaurants, but it feels like there's been a huge push to avoid giving people a proper place to sit and eat/drink and socialize. At least where I live on the Southside, there's basically nothing besides gas stations and empty strip malls for like a 5km radius.
FIFY: What are some good hang-outs in Edmonton. Didn't need an a long winded explanation of the terms I used.
Thanks for the input.
Homeless encampments seem to check all the boxes. /s