In Ray Oldenburg's book, The Great Good Place, we’re introduced to the idea of Third Places - places we meet to eat, drink, and socialize with friends, family, and acquaintances. In the days of online dating, many of us have met a date for the first time in a coffee shop. As the way we do business continues to evolve, it's equally normal to see people working daily on laptops in coffee shops, or even conducting job interviews. We celebrate birthdays, engagements, and other life events in restaurants and bars, as well as simply enjoying the company of our friends over lunch or at the end of a long work day.

Our civic society depends on these Third Places. This TEDxScottsdaleSalon event focuses on the genesis of these places. Our speakers will briefly discuss design elements from scale, location, and scope, down to minute visual details.There are also several less immediately quantifiable factors in a space’s success, such as warmth or gregariousness of the staff. How do these diverse elements combine to make a place more than just habitable, but memorable? Better design in (and more of!) these places will make our society more resilient, and better our cities as a result. Join us as we get a peek into the process and celebrate some of Metro Phoenix's best Third Places.

Sincerely, Andrew Knochel & Jim McPherson

Cash Refreshments catered by Chi Chi's Tacos and Mulch Coffee