We discovered this place by accident a couple of months ago and have gone back every weekend we have been in town since. Third Place Commons is a community space inside a large local independent bookstore, Third Place Books, and the Commons is getting ready to celebrate its 25th anniversary. There is a food court with BBQ, a bakery and dumpling place, and many tables where people gather to eat, work, play games and enjoy the great free music and dancing that they have every Friday and Saturday night. Sometimes I go there to work during the day on weekdays too. The bookstore has an amazing selection and staff, and buys and sells used and new books, with a big selection of gifts and toys. We do a lot of our gift shopping there, and the mall the store is attached to also has some great shops, and a branch of the public library in the basement! It's just a fantastic place to go, especially during these gloomy winter months. The kids can dancer and run around, play in the communal toy area, shop, take rides up and down the mall escalator and visit the bakery and chocolate shop downstairs. The bands are really talented and there is a wide spectrum of dancers from toddlers to people in their 80's, and everyone is really family friendly. The girls really look forward to weekends and have started wanting to wear their "special clothes" to go dance.
