My brother is a West Philadelphia cop. I happened to be in the area, and joined him last night at his favorite pub in a town called Manayunk. Everybody knew everybody at this pub, and I can’t count the number of hands I was shaking. I had no idea he was so close with so many people. So I turn to him and say, ‘Brother, these people are like your family.’ He nods and smiles. I don’t usually go to pubs or bars, but last night I saw a camaraderie of locals that made me understand what a ‘third place’ looks like, and the fact that I didn’t have one.

I think you nailed it with this article.