WHERE IS SOUTH RENO'S "THIRD PLACE?"

No, I'm not searching for a street called Third Place on Reno's South end.  And I thought very hard about whether it was appropriate to post this particular blog entry on September 11, 2012, while it was still daylight in the Pacific Time Zone of the United States of America.  On a day that is remembered for the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.  But please bear with me, read on, and try to understand why this topic is on my mind.

Years ago, I discovered an amazing community hang-out called Third Place Books in the Seattle suburb of Lake Forest Park, Washington, USA.

To borrow a quote from the Third Place Books Web site, "Sociologist Ray Oldenberg suggests that each of us needs three places: first is the home; second is the workplace or school; and beyond lies the place where people from all walks of life interact, experiencing and celebrating their commonality as well as their diversity. It is a third place. In his celebrated book, The Great Good Place, Oldenberg discusses how the cafes, pubs, town squares and other gathering places make a community stronger and bring people together."

Third Place Books has really nailed this concept.  With a massive selection of books, a spacious, multi-ethnic food court and a stage to showcase local bands, choirs and authors, it's constantly abuzz with activity.  (A newer Third Place Books store, in Seattle's Ravenna neighborhood, features a Greek restaurant and pub with happy hours.)

In a similar vein, fans of the late, great TV series "Once and Again" might remember My Sister's Bookstore, which later was rechristened Booklovers to reflect its status as a place for singles to meet and mingle.  It was more than a book store, more than a coffee shop, it was a destination and a place of hope and promise.

Where is South Reno's version of Third Place Books or Booklovers?  Since the closure of Borders, the area's major book store (with cafe) is Barnes and Noble, at 5555 S. Virginia St.  Maybe Barnes and Noble is trying to fill the void, but this location doesn't have the welcoming vibe I'm seeking.

Don't get me wrong, it's a large and attractive store.  I like their cookbook section and the fact that they stock lots of classic movies on DVD, not just new releases.

But when I shop here,  I see customers hunkered down in corners, their noses buried in books that they're probably going to read cover-to-cover before sticking them back on a shelf.  In this Barnes and Noble cafe, most people stare blankly at their laptop computers while their coffee goes cold on the table.  People aren't chatting or flirting.  I wonder why.

And so my search for South Reno's Third Place continues. I want to find a place that makes feel people loved and connected.

  To learn more about Washington's Third Place Books,  visit  http://www.thirdplacebooks.com/

 For information about Barnes and Noble on Reno's South Virginia Street, call (775) 826-8882 or visit http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/store/2938