This exhibit asks you to consider who exemplifies comfort and connection, as well as the spaces for that - both home spaces, and third spaces. Sociologist, Ray Oldenburg, coined the term “third places” in his book The Great Good Place (1989). This term refers to the spaces outside of the home (first place) or work (second place) environments that help to strengthen our sense of community. Third places are locations to embrace the present, exchange ideas, share a laugh, and build relationships. These physical spaces promote social cohesion, comfort, and a sense of community where conversation and connection is the main activity. Coffee and tea houses, ale houses, biergartens, and other establishments of the sort are common third places throughout history and the world where people embrace one another and carve out space, time, and opportunity for human interaction.