Third Space
Your "great good place". That's how sociologist Ray Oldenberg would describe HARRRP. He coined the term to describe the happy place you want to go to, where everyone is equal and you can meet your friends. If your first place is home, and your second place is work, than your third place is where you hang out. It's where ideas happen, where democracy is strengthened, and where creative connections occur.
HARRRP is that kind of place to me. Whether you feel like lawn bowling, or playing table tennis, meditating, dancing, drumming, singing, working with your hands, painting, reading a book, cooking lunch for your friends, sitting in a corner and doing crafts, organizing a workshop, or running a class, you can do it at HARRRP. You can bring your friends and family or come alone. You can do a formal class or check out the amazing building, borrow a book or a tool, jump on the wifi and go digital, have a party, or plan a revolution. No one will ask you what group you belong to, they know you belong there. They might ask you what you are looking for though, and help you find it.
But does HARRRP contribute financially? Does a third place have its place in a local economy? I decided to ask my friends if they ever bring their wallet to the neighbourhood. "My friend and I like to go to breakfast before ceramics", Casey said, "the Big Top is a fantastic place ". Owners Pank and Helen Patel love having the HARRRP community for neighbours. After working up a big appetite with "Hamilton Sings", many of the choir members satisfy their hunger in the homey local diner.
Owner Didar Kider of Bruno's Pizzeria is a very busy man, having recently acquired the convenience store next door. He found time to chat with me, in between juggling phone orders and supervising the assembly of one of his famous unlimited topping pizzas. "We've always known the people across the road", he says. Sharing his delicious creations at HARRRP was how I learned about the special wing sauce. Be sure to ask. The store is convenient when you need milk for your tea, or butter for your muffins, or more glue for your scrapbooking project.
Megan tries many different programs, joining aikido and checking out ceramics. She loves the vegan poutine at The Limin' Coconut, about a block away, and thinks it’s a good idea to plan her classes around their schedule. "I love how involved in the community they are", she said, "and their fries are incredible". I was talking to owner Louic LeBlanc recently while waiting for my own obsession, “whatever the special is”, with a side order of coconut truffles. "We have people come in here wearing the T-shirt", he told me, "I can't wait to check it out". If that isn't the best definition of a third place I have ever heard, I don't know what is.
