Comments on: Connecting the Disconnected: Coffee Shops and Pubs as the Office…Again http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2006/02/24/connecting-the-disconnected-coffee-shops-and-pubs-as-the-officeagain/ because technology is just another ecosystem Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:43:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: stephen o'grady http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2006/02/24/connecting-the-disconnected-coffee-shops-and-pubs-as-the-officeagain/#comment-1682 stephen o'grady Fri, 03 Mar 2006 21:34:58 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/wp/?p=746#comment-1682 Donnie: same here, though i don't really have an explanation for it. for those that haven't tried Donnie's link, BTW, metrofreefi.com is pretty sweet. Joe: will have to catch you over there at some point soon. can't say i've been in Common Grounds - i wonder if the Virtuas folks are regulars there. Doug: 'third place' is pretty interesting. on the tea time front, that actually reminds me of an old colleague who used to take smoke breaks with the devs - despite not smoking herself - b/c she found it was the best place to get things done ;) Donnie: same here, though i don’t really have an explanation for it.

for those that haven’t tried Donnie’s link, BTW, metrofreefi.com is pretty sweet.

Joe: will have to catch you over there at some point soon. can’t say i’ve been in Common Grounds - i wonder if the Virtuas folks are regulars there.

Doug: ‘third place’ is pretty interesting. on the tea time front, that actually reminds me of an old colleague who used to take smoke breaks with the devs - despite not smoking herself - b/c she found it was the best place to get things done ;)

]]> By: Doug K http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2006/02/24/connecting-the-disconnected-coffee-shops-and-pubs-as-the-officeagain/#comment-1681 Doug K Tue, 28 Feb 2006 20:50:10 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/wp/?p=746#comment-1681 I find the concept of the 'third place' quite powerful. http://www.wordspy.com/words/thirdplace.asp Of course in this context it's more of a 'second place', or possibly a hybrid. A sidelight on this - at a university I worked for, attendance at teatime, morning and afternoon, was compulsory. This seemed odd at first, but it worked wonderfully well. Everyone got out of their offices, had actual conversations: we solved more system integration issues at teatime than we ever did in meetings. I find the concept of the ‘third place’ quite powerful.
http://www.wordspy.com/words/thirdplace.asp

Of course in this context it’s more of a ’second place’, or possibly a hybrid.

A sidelight on this - at a university I worked for, attendance at teatime, morning and afternoon, was compulsory. This seemed odd at first, but it worked wonderfully well. Everyone got out of their offices, had actual conversations: we solved more system integration issues at teatime than we ever did in meetings.

]]> By: James Governor's MonkChips http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2006/02/24/connecting-the-disconnected-coffee-shops-and-pubs-as-the-officeagain/#comment-1683 James Governor's MonkChips Tue, 28 Feb 2006 12:23:14 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/wp/?p=746#comment-1683 <strong>On Beers and Innovation in London, and Irish names</strong> What is it with the Web? I talk about why the UK isn't fostering startups (too much whining and not enough action). Then Stephen posts about Denver tech meetups, and why its nice to see people face to face every now and... On Beers and Innovation in London, and Irish names

What is it with the Web? I talk about why the UK isn’t fostering startups (too much whining and not enough action). Then Stephen posts about Denver tech meetups, and why its nice to see people face to face every now and…

]]> By: Joe Hildebrand http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2006/02/24/connecting-the-disconnected-coffee-shops-and-pubs-as-the-officeagain/#comment-1680 Joe Hildebrand Tue, 28 Feb 2006 09:38:22 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/wp/?p=746#comment-1680 Common Grounds at 17th and Wazee is usually hopping. If you sit there for a while (WiFi, free refills), you'll see most of the Jabber staff, folks from Thought Equity, several VCs and the like cycle through. Common Grounds at 17th and Wazee is usually hopping. If you sit there for a while (WiFi, free refills), you’ll see most of the Jabber staff, folks from Thought Equity, several VCs and the like cycle through.

]]> By: Donnie Berkholz http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2006/02/24/connecting-the-disconnected-coffee-shops-and-pubs-as-the-officeagain/#comment-1679 Donnie Berkholz Mon, 27 Feb 2006 21:53:39 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/wp/?p=746#comment-1679 I, for one, get more work done at home than at work, and yet more work done at a local coffee shop than at home. I've probably mentioned this before, but check out http://metrofreefi.com/ for whatever city you happen to be in. It's quite complete, and if you find new places you can submit them yourself. I, for one, get more work done at home than at work, and yet more work done at a local coffee shop than at home.

I’ve probably mentioned this before, but check out http://metrofreefi.com/ for whatever city you happen to be in. It’s quite complete, and if you find new places you can submit them yourself.

]]> By: stephen o'grady http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2006/02/24/connecting-the-disconnected-coffee-shops-and-pubs-as-the-officeagain/#comment-1678 stephen o'grady Mon, 27 Feb 2006 16:11:53 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/wp/?p=746#comment-1678 Sam: don't know the pastry shop, but do know the Strand. great place. Jon: spot on. if exchanges can start in such places, what might we see within a technical profession? Richard: serendipity is indeed a major factor in the benefits, i'd agree. and presence lends that a kind of weight that, say, LinkedIn does not. Sam: don’t know the pastry shop, but do know the Strand. great place.

Jon: spot on. if exchanges can start in such places, what might we see within a technical profession?

Richard: serendipity is indeed a major factor in the benefits, i’d agree. and presence lends that a kind of weight that, say, LinkedIn does not.

]]> By: Richard Veryard http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2006/02/24/connecting-the-disconnected-coffee-shops-and-pubs-as-the-officeagain/#comment-1677 Richard Veryard Sat, 25 Feb 2006 19:29:39 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/wp/?p=746#comment-1677 What service did Mr Lloyd provide in his famous coffee shop? Presence! People formed business relationships because they were in the same place at the same time - they didn't spend their whole time talking to people they already knew - let alone talking to people (via mobile phone or Skype) who weren't even there. More on my blog at http://www.veryard.com/so/2006/02/coffee-shop.htm What service did Mr Lloyd provide in his famous coffee shop? Presence! People formed business relationships because they were in the same place at the same time - they didn’t spend their whole time talking to people they already knew - let alone talking to people (via mobile phone or Skype) who weren’t even there.

More on my blog at http://www.veryard.com/so/2006/02/coffee-shop.htm

]]> By: Jon Collins http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2006/02/24/connecting-the-disconnected-coffee-shops-and-pubs-as-the-officeagain/#comment-1676 Jon Collins Sat, 25 Feb 2006 10:31:16 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/wp/?p=746#comment-1676 And let's not forget - the stock exchange started as a coffee shop! And let’s not forget - the stock exchange started as a coffee shop!

]]> By: Jon Collins http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2006/02/24/connecting-the-disconnected-coffee-shops-and-pubs-as-the-officeagain/#comment-1675 Jon Collins Sat, 25 Feb 2006 10:29:05 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/wp/?p=746#comment-1675 I work from home mostly, but by mid-afternoon I'm going stir crazy so I'll go to one of three free-wireless cafes and bars in the area. So - confirmed! They'ye less cluttered than my work space, often pretty serene, and the journey itself can stimulate the mind. Ever tried cafe-hopping - as in, "I'm not going to go home until I've finished this paper/report/prop," then bouncing to place to place as the initiative comes and goes... ... the only downside is, forgetting to ask for decaff in the afternoon! I work from home mostly, but by mid-afternoon I’m going stir crazy so I’ll go to one of three free-wireless cafes and bars in the area. So - confirmed! They’ye less cluttered than my work space, often pretty serene, and the journey itself can stimulate the mind. Ever tried cafe-hopping - as in, “I’m not going to go home until I’ve finished this paper/report/prop,” then bouncing to place to place as the initiative comes and goes…

… the only downside is, forgetting to ask for decaff in the afternoon!

]]> By: Sam Hiser http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2006/02/24/connecting-the-disconnected-coffee-shops-and-pubs-as-the-officeagain/#comment-1674 Sam Hiser Sat, 25 Feb 2006 03:32:37 +0000 http://redmonk.com/sogrady/wp/?p=746#comment-1674 When in New York: One of my favorite and most productive places (it is very dark in back) to get work done outside the homeoffice is the Hungarian Pastry Shop on Amsterdam & 110th St. just opposite The Cathedral of St. John the Divine in the Columbia neighborhood. Heavy marsipan on everything and the guy upstairs named Sergey still doesn't use WEP. Good place to read a Beckett, a Pinter or a Joe Orton or meet my old friend Steve Cramer, brilliant man, who works for the University. The Labyrinth book shop is around the corner on Broadway if you need to kill some time: it is the best bar only The Strand -- the immortal Strand. When in New York:

One of my favorite and most productive places (it is very dark in back) to get work done outside the homeoffice is the Hungarian Pastry Shop on Amsterdam & 110th St. just opposite The Cathedral of St. John the Divine in the Columbia neighborhood.

Heavy marsipan on everything and the guy upstairs named Sergey still doesn’t use WEP.

Good place to read a Beckett, a Pinter or a Joe Orton or meet my old friend Steve Cramer, brilliant man, who works for the University. The Labyrinth book shop is around the corner on Broadway if you need to kill some time: it is the best bar only The Strand — the immortal Strand.

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