Third spaces were much more common before the 2000s. Coffee shops where you could hang out with friends were actually a thing in the 90s. Open mic nights and karaoke. I remember we had a common ritual at the book store I worked where everyone who closed would meet up at TGI Fridays for late night drinks, TGIF doesn’t even exist any more. I used to meet up with a bunch of friends at Dennys every Thursday night, and then it fucking closed.

Nobody can afford that shit anymore. That was a 80/90s adult thing. That or a bar @.@ our parents really got the last of it.

I don't have friends, but the people at the coffee drive-through have started recognizing me. Can't wait to get apartments together with them soon.

"Third places" in this day and age, with this carbrained transportation and zoning policy?

You guys have friends?

When I was much younger, my friends and I would meet up at the same coffee shop/bistro every day and hang out on the back patio smoking cigarettes, drinking coffee, and chatting for hours. That place is no longer in business, and everything is WAY too expensive now... but years later, some of that same group of people meet up damn near every day at a private beach shack for beers, grilling, and swimming.

Does anyone have friends that see more than 2-3 times a year?

No. But in college, we had a pub we would go to for dinner on Wednesday every week with the same group of friends, with the occasional tag along. Does that count?

it's called "my place" or "their place", and we make coffee for a cent on the dollar

The Pub

I cannot even financially support that. A beer costs between 5 and 8 euros. Having a few beers and some snacks for 2 hours is a bill of 60 euros. Imagine doing that for several hours every day. I can't spend 100-150 euros every day.

For those of who worked at certain restaurants, you might have experienced a dedicated group of 75+ friends and yes they do meet at the same place everyday. In fact when we were closed they'd camp outside in the parking lot in lawn chairs.

The exact same group of geriatrics... every single day. Honestly it was sad to see one missing and not come back because you knew why.

We don't meet up in person too often, but my friends from college have a discord server that pretty much always at least 2 or 3 people chilling in. Sometimes we play games together, other times everyone is doing their own thing but it's nice to have people to talk to when gaming. Also most of us live too far from each other to meet up all the time. I guess this is like the modern day, post covid, equivalent of everyone meeting up in a bar or cafe after work

Of course. How else would we develop the exposition other people will need to understand our narrative?

Used to with friends who are no longer with us.

The folks I would do this with, hang out at a spot frequently, have either moved away or died.
It's been very hard to get to that point again, however Cannabis communities, particularly in Amsterdam, have really been a help at socialising and making friends. I've made more friends there since last year than I have for several years prior.
Folks are always up for a coffee and a toke!

Do friendships like that actually exist? Did TV set me up for disapointment?

You guys have friends?

Yes, the place we hang out is called a "signal thread" and we share stupid memes with each other every day.

In highschool, my classmates and I would hang out at the nearby McDonald's often enough we gave it an informal course code.

There are plenty of cafes now but it's too expensive now for me to hang out at them more than a couple times a month.

It's never too late to start. Become the sitcoms

You guys can afford to go to a cafe on a regular basis?

Yes, but we call it a bar. Same thing, just less tea or coffee

When I was a teen our spot was Dunkin’ Donuts after school - we befriended another group - of retirees. As an adult it became a bar.

I think Luke's was the only diner in Star's Hollow.

If I'm hanging out with more than 1 person at a time we better be playing D&D. Otherwise I'm probably just there out of obligation.

I know of several retiree groups that meet up for coffee first thing in the morning. One day I hope to part of one :(

I had when I was young. Good times.

In high school in the '90s we were pretty close. It was a handful of places but not that many, basically anywhere we could get away with sitting for hours nursing a coffee or iced tea. If they had pinball, big bonus. Maybe not every day, but certainly many days in the week.

Did sex in the city use the same cafe all the time? I missed that I guess.

Do you know how much a fucking CHEF works?!!! Wtf, Monica wouldn't have time to spent all day in a coffe shop

Fridays, after 1700hrs, typically at least 4 people, many times 6 and occasionally as much as 12-14.

Hanging @ local brewpub that was our old Fire House. Most all of us have been good friends between 45-55 years. I'm grateful to have my "crew".

As a young adult, last year in school and first year out I kind of had this. There was a bar in our town where we went to, not every day but very often. It was a great time!