A Free Third Place, Right Under Your Nose
Plus this week's music picks
This past weekend Jenn and I were out and about at Target getting our flu shots. Afterward, we decided to go to the Starbucks in Target — STarget, if you will — because we were so brave for getting our shots. It was a novel experience because we never go there thanks to being surrounded by great local coffee shops. Also, the union busting and other anti-employee activities is NOT a good look. Oh, and the egg, sausage, and bacon wrap is super bland. But we’re not talking about the bland wraps or other problems of Starbucks today.
What I AM talking about today is what I noticed was there — or wasn’t in this case. There were no chairs to be found! Throughout the entire store, there was virtually nowhere to sit. The only chair I could remember seeing was the one I briefly sat in to get my flu shot. There might have been some benches by the bathroom, but there’s no place to just be. It’s all about getting your shit, paying for it, and leaving. No third place here!
If you’re not familiar with a third place, it’s an area that goes beyond your home and workplace. It’s a spot where you can hang out, feel like you have a place in society, and maybe even meet some new people and make friends! It’s a great concept and some examples include bars, coffee shops, gyms, bookstores, and even stoops, a place that only makes me think of Hey Arnold!
The only thing you may have noticed is that many of these places come with the unwritten rule that you have to buy something for entry. And sure, that’s not a big deal for many, but what if you’re struggling financially or are trying to cut down on spending? Or maybe you’ve already bought a couple lattes this week already and can’t stomach yet another caffeinated beverage?
Fortunately, there’s one other place I didn’t mention that’s COMPLETELY FREE, and it’s one I often see people forget to talk about. Even better, there are computers to use, plenty of places to sit, and designated places for you to eat snacks you brought from home.
This magical place is…
The library!
It may come as a surprise to you, but the library is more than just a place to read books and be shushed by a librarian. In fact, there are even parts of the library where you can talk without fear of being asked to be quiet. And while there are books to check out, libraries have been slowly adding more and more items available for check out. For example, my city’s library offers DVDs, video games, and even experience passes to local museums as well as other items like sewing machines!
And I may be a bit biased since I work at a library, but I think it’s a pretty neat place to be. And while admissions is always free, all you need to get a card and check out items is a photo ID and a proof of address.
Ten out of ten library workers agree: the library is where it’s at!
What I’ve Been listening to this week
Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft
This album caught me by surprise when I gave it a listen. I threw it on in the background while I was playing GTA: San Andreas but ended up adding it to my wishlist after I finished the album. Throughout the project, Eilish does a great job balancing between moody lows and bubbly highs, with “Birds of a Feather” probably being the most fun one on the track.
Also random fact: I like to sound like an old person and say her last like name “Eyelash” and watch Jenn roll her eyes at me.
Jefferson Airplane - Surrealistic Pillow
A trailblazer in the sound of psychedelic rock, Jefferson Airplane is one of the bands where I thought I didn’t know anything but instantly recognized. “Somebody to Love” has been remixed on TikTok and “White Rabbit” has been used in numerous films and TV shows like The Sopranos, The Game, and more. Beyond that, “Today” is a dead simple song that just works.
Il Guardiano del Faro - Oasis
Federico Monti Arduini, better known as Il Guardiano del Faro, was an Italian music producer who also dabbled in making music on the Moog Synthesizer, just like Mort Garson did! One of his favorite albums of mine is Oasis. It’s a relaxing album that always calms me down from stressful situations — like going to the grocery store in the middle of a Sunday and being incredibly overstimulated.
Charli xcx - Brat and It's Completely Different but Also Still Brat
The latest remix of Brat, the title is 100% accurate. I LOVED the reworkings of each track though and can say it’s totally worth giving it another listen. Every track is a bop and I was pleasantly surprised to learn “I think about it all the time featuring bon iver” somehow works. Now don’t get me wrong, I love Bon Iver and wrote about him in a previous post, but I could not picture how his style was going to mesh with Charli xcx. But Justin Vernon helps put together something great, even while using a goofy cuica sound effect.
Remo Drive - Greatest Hits
A great album to run to! I learned of this band when they opened for Hippo Campus back in Milwaukee many moons ago. They played some great music and providing some great background entertainment when they ate cheez-its on stage while Hippo Campus rocked out. The bands even fed each other snacks on stage and seemed to have a great rapport with each other that I normally don’t see.