Nice post Jim, and a very stimulating question. I actually wrote a who masters thesis on the 'third place,' well one type of tp actually--the tavern. When I lived in NYC I had a neighborhood bar that I literally went to everyday regardless if I was going to have a beer or not, if only to stop by and say hi. I miss that place, and I'm not sure that I've found its companion here. Well, I know I haven't. But it took me a while to find that place, and I've only been here a couple of years. The closest thing I have is Shaw's Bar in NE, which I only get to about once a week but the crowd is always familiar.

My wife and I return to Tanpopo in Lowertown about once a week. We always feel recognized and taken care of. The food is simple, light and carefully prepared. We always feel good after we eat there. But there is also a sort of relaxed intimacy about the place that we enjoy. It would be a great place to take a date.

i'm a recent transplant to Longfellow as well, and i too have struggled with this question. i go to Merlin's Rest (corner of Lake and 36th) every other week...it's a bit of a dive bar, in a mostly good. it'd be great if the hipster quotient was just a bit higher (but not overwhelmingly so.) i'd recommend checking it out, and maybe blogging about your findings - it'd be great to get another opinion on it.

Funny that you mention Merlin's Rest -- I was just talking to someone about it last night. The whiskey / draft beer situation looks terrific. I'll certainly blog it, if not write a column about it. Speaking as a dude with English, Irish and Scottish blood running through his veins, it sounds entertaining.

And for those of us raised way out on the eastern reaches of twin cities civilization, Meister's bar will always be the 3rd place. Even as a kid you could go in there alone and get the worlds greatest burger and a coke...Of course now it's the place to get grain belt premium on tap!

Jim, Thanks for calling attention to my Washington Post piece. I’m happy it provided some food for thought. Since writing it, I’ve begun spending more of my time in Minneapolis and hope to be there full time eventually. Many things draw me back, including the third places I featured in my essay. While I never tire of them, I’ve been enjoying some recent finds and always appreciate tips on new places to check out, so it's great to get some here.

Brian, if you happen to see this, I'd be very interested in seeing your master's thesis on the NYC tavern you frequented. My research has turned up few published studies of that kind. One memoir that I find a lot of fun for third place aficionados (even for those who aren't) is The Tender Bar. I'd be curious to know if anyone has other recommendations.