Coolers, cucumbers, and actual third spaces
when they go hot, we go cool 😎
Hi, welcome! I’ll be honest, these are troubled times, and it feels weird to revisit my newsletter when so many things in the world are so bleak, but I’m trying to remind myself that writing, celebrating small joys, and finding connection are acts of radical defiance, and so here we are. Thanks for being here. Let’s get to it!
It’s effectively summer (kids are out of school, which means it’s summer, even if it’s still technically spring), and that means beach trips, pool days, and cookouts — all occasions where you need to keep food on ice. To that end, I’ve got a round-up of snazzy coolers for Eater. I can attest that the Igloo Cool Tunes is perfect for simultaneously housing wax paper-wrapped sandwiches and blasting The Beach Boys (RIP Brian Wilson). Find the cooler that aligns with your exact personality type here!
And if you’re not too sweaty for a full-on picnic, I’ve got a handy guide to some of the most swoon-worthy picnic gear here.
Go forth and dine al fresco while you still can!
I enjoy ruminating on third spaces about as much as I enjoy not leaving my house (so, a lot), so I appreciated this story from Jaya Saxena at Eater. It makes the argument that there is no true third space, saying, “Every example that’s offered is somehow not right, not enough, not built to facilitate the specific kind of experience that person is looking for, even though specific experiences aren’t really what third spaces are about.“
The concept of a third space was first put forward by sociologist Ray Oldenburg in 1989, and it’s essentially a location outside of home or work where people gather to socialize, thereby forming something like a community. As I read Saxena’s piece, I found myself mostly nodding along, as she explained why it’s not realistic for restaurants with their razor-thin margins and capitalist confines to function this way, though of course, many still do. I found myself wondering what my third space is, when the simple answer dawned on me: It’s the farmers market.
The farmers market (specifically, the Birdhouse Farmers Market and the Tomten Farmstand at Pizza Bones) is a place that requires no entry fee and doesn’t necessitate spending money, though it presents many opportunities to do so. I often tell people that the Tuesday market is my ‘office hours‘ and that it’s my most social activity all week. I can take my kids, and they can roam around looking for friends and free samples, and I know that they’ll be looked after by the community, that they’re safe. That’s a priceless feeling.
I look forward to catching up with my friends at the market, a rare time when I don’t feel an overwhelming urge to cancel plans because the ‘plan’ is just to buy ingredients and be friendly. I can usually do that! There’s music, there’s art, and there is most definitely community.
So, thank you Birdhouse, Pizza Bones Farmstand, and farmers markets everywhere for providing something essential and rare. We need it now, truly, more than ever.
Here are a few other third spaces I could think of:
The VMFA lawn
Side by Side (Byrd’s third space!)
The library, sort of
The JCC, if you’re an octogenarian Jew
Tell me your third space in the comments!
We’ve gotten to the point in the ‘summer’ here in Richmond when cucumbers are abundant, but tomatoes aren’t quite ready yet, so as I bide my time until sungolds make their appearance, I’m all about the cuke!
My favorite way to eat cucumbers right now is for breakfast with a fried or boiled egg, a slice of Sub Rosa’s spelt and whey bread (from the Tuesday market!), and a few slices of Dubliner cheese. I love the combination of cucumbers and cheese, and something about starting the day with crisp, sweet cucumbers just feels good. I’m also loving cucumber and pineapple juice with a few sprigs of cilantro. So fresh! Here are a few cucumber recipes I’m into right now:
And don’t forget to put your cucumber peels in a big jar of gin and then pop that baby in the freezer for the best possible martini gin.
Stay cool, kids!
xox
SG