A wall of condoms, a table filled with breath fresheners, and a group of people reading off ice breakers to each other. This is a “Chaotic Singles” party, coined by LA local Cassidy Davis. The parties began when Davis and a couple of friends invited Tinder matches to her LA apartment.

The public library is one of the last strongholds of third spaces that is entirely free for the public. It remains uncompromising in the weather and can serve as a refuge from sweltering heat or the bitter cold of winter. You can stay as long as you like, and many public libraries often host events to bring the community together. However, this is a third space that has been significantly compromised as libraries have dealt with funding cuts, tensions over book bans, and tech

It’s market day in Andover, Mass., and everyone’s invited. Kids race between tents set up between the town’s offices and the public park. Neighbors chat with neighbors, carrying fresh produce and flowers home in their tote bags. Vendors talk excitedly about their wares, from artisanal woodworks to fresh croissants.