Important Meetup Tomorrow

Dear Handmade Friends,

If you’re in Seattle, I invite you to an emergency session tomorrow at 2:00 PM. We’re setting aside the usual agenda to discuss an urgent matter: reviving the idea of a “third place.”

• Saturday, August 31st
• Distant Worlds Coffeehouse (Seattle)
• 2:00 – 4:00 PM

Plus ones are welcome. Upon arrival, kindly order a drink / snack at the counter and inform them you are attending Abner’s Party.

If we finish early, we’ll do software demos too.

As always, we’ll have dinner and drinks after the meetup—check out the details in Seattle After Dark below.

“But Abner, I’m Not From Seattle!”

Not in Seattle? No problem. I’m hosting an online follow-up next Tuesday at 2:00 PM (Seattle Time) on the Handmade Cities Discord. I want to hear from everyone, especially those who host or wish to host meetups in their own cities—or help and volunteer in any way.

While you wait, you might like my recent interview with Billy Basso, creator of Animal Well, now on YouTube!

What’s the Third Place?

Most people only have home and work, with no “third place” to reliably hang out, at low-cost or free of charge, and see familiar faces.

I don’t have all the answers, but Handmade Cities can help by sponsoring weekly hangouts—a laid-back space where we meet up without any pressure to work, present, or impress anyone.

This will be our final type of Handmade in-person event. In decreasing order of formality:

• Conferences (Twice a Year)
• Meetups (Monthly)
• Coworking (Bi-Weekly)
• Hangouts (Weekly)

To the non-Seattle meetup hosts: don’t worry. Organizing is my full-time job, so I have more time for coworking and hangouts. You’re not necessarily expected to take on extra sessions—focusing on your monthly meetups is what matters most. Next week’s Discord meeting will cover monthly meetups just as much as anything else.

Why I Need Your Input

We’d like Handmade Cities to reserve the venue and cover any material costs, but I need your help deciding when, where and how these hangouts should happen. Should it be a place to play video games, read, or just grab a drink? A free-for-all? Should we leave our phones at the door? Invite non-programmer friends? And where should it be—a house, library, café, or somewhere else?

Maybe some weeks you just want to find a quiet corner, soak in the background noise of your friends, but not really talk to anyone: this should be allowed.

We shall brainstorm and vote on the important bits at tomorrow’s meetup. What you suggest will guide the direction of Handmade Cities.

Seattle After Dark 👀

• 4:00 – 8:00 PM (optional)

After the meetup, we’ll head out for pizza and drinks:

1. Olympic Pizza and Pasta 🍕: Affordable and tasty, just down the block. $8-9 for a full meal.

2. Teddy’s Tavern 🍻: A cozy bar just another block away. They know us and always welcome Handmade folks. If someone’s underage, let me know – we’ve got other options! If our group’s too big, we might move to Westy’s nearby.

Coworking Has Found Its Groove

Big thanks to my staff Morgan, Devon, and Phil for making Handmade Cities what it is. They take tasks off my plate which is the only reason we can keep expanding (and I can catch my breath.)

For coworking, it’s pretty awesome that Phil picked a library cafe called Third Place Books…!

I’m excited to announce that we’ve nailed down just the right formula for coworking sessions. We’ll discuss it some more on Tuesday’s virtual meet.

FAQ

Q: I live in Seattle but can’t attend this meetup!

A: Send me an email with your thoughts. I’ll share your feedback at the meetup.

Q: I can’t join Tuesday’s Discord chat either.

A: We’ll send out a summary shortly afterward.

Q: How can I keep up with everything?

A: Just subscribe to the main newsletter, and if you’re interested, sign up for meetup notifications for your city (scroll down to find it.)

Q: Where have you been?

A: Ernesto struck my home back in Puerto Rico earlier this month. Long story. But I’m here in Seattle and my family is safe.

See You Tomorrow ♥

Your indie organizer,
Abner