Avid reader Bethany Foulds and Ashley Christopherson, owner of Niche Books in Lakeville, chat at the bookstore’s Paperback Book Club. Photo: Chris Emeott
Meet your neighbors, and connect with new friends in third spaces.
Beyond work and home, it’s the art centers, gyms, libraries, parks, restaurants and shops that add meaning to life. These third spaces are places where we can meet new people, interact with old friends and build community connections.
In honor of our annual Best of Cities South issue, we’re shining a spotlight on three community spaces that have launched friendships and built community connections.
While you won’t find any bars, coffee shops or restaurants listed, they are undoubtedly great spaces for gathering, and we’re lucky to have some wonderful locally owned establishments in our community. Turn to our Best of Cities South readers’ choice poll on page 12 to find a whole list of potential spots to get you started.
No Mistakes Watercolor
Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools Community Education
Robert, a long-time participant with No Mistakes Watercolor offered through Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools Community Education, shows off his work. Photo: Bobbi Birkholz
When Dar Brooks started teaching No Mistakes Watercolor through Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools (PLSAS) Community Education in the early 1990s, the class quickly gained a loyal group of students.
The class, which is open to beginners and experienced artists, meets weekly to work on mastering watercolor techniques, and it has become so popular among its core students that even when Brooks isn’t available to teach, participants have asked if they can still get together to paint, prompting PLSAS Community Education to create an open studio option earlier this year.
The community surrounding the No Mistakes Watercolor class is representative of PLSAS Community Education’s broader goal of providing people with opportunities to connect and engage, says Joel Dahl, director of Community Education Services.
As the school district goes through a challenging consolidation, one of the silver linings is that PLSAS Community Education Services have additional space for a new Educational Services Center at Grainwood next year. The move allows community education to expand its daytime programming, as well as providing space for special activities and events, Dahl says. “It’s really going to give us an opportunity to provide a space for people to gather,” he says.
PLSAS Community Education Services
Facebook: Prior Lake-Savage Community Ed
Paperback Book Club
Niche Books
The Paperback Book Club launched in July 2024, one month after Niche Books opened in Lakeville, and its numbers have steadily grown. It’s a casual group, and book selections vary each month, ranging from contemporary romance to cozy mystery to literary fiction. “I try to pick books I’ve read, as well as books I’ve never read,” owner Ashley Christopherson says. And not every book turns out to be a club favorite, Christopherson notes, but sometimes those books spark the most spirited conversations.
The club often focuses on recent releases, literary fiction and lighter reads. “It has a fairly low barrier to entry,” Christopherson says, but notes that club members do actually read the book. “It’s a welcoming group.”
When possible, Christopherson invites the book’s author to attend club meetings. Ellie Palmer visited the club after the group read Anywhere With You.
While the club has an email list of about 235 people, there are about six to eight club regulars, and meetings attract upwards of 15 people, says Christopherson. She says club members often linger to chat after the formal discussion, and a few members sometimes meet outside of the club.
Niche Books also offers story time for kids, quarterly puzzle swaps and a very low-key New Year’s Eve party, complete with a whisper countdown at 10 p.m., so guests can ring in the New Year snug in their beds with a book.
Niche Books
Instagram: @nichebooksmn
Pottery Classes/Open Pottery Studio
Lakeville Area Arts Center
Adult ceramics students enrolled in the five- to six-week long courses at the Lakeville Area Arts Center are welcome to take advantage of the center’s open studio. Photo: Lakeville Area Arts Center
When the ceramics studio at the Lakeville Area Arts Center expanded into the Fine Arts Building in 2023, the additional space and studio equipment allowed the center to expand its ceramic offerings.
The center offers adult pottery classes in five- to six-week long sessions throughout the year. The small class sizes (capped at 10 students) provide an opportunity to meet new people while trying a new skill. But in addition to class time, any student who is currently enrolled in a pottery class at the art center is invited to visit during open studio hours to work on class projects as well as other work. “We have people who come almost every day,” says Scarlett Larson, recreation coordinator for the art center. “The community dynamic that occurs from this is really wonderful and supportive.”
The open studio time offers an informal way for students to help each other and give advice. Larson also notes that studio regulars have even celebrated each other’s birthdays, as well as major life events.
Hours for open studio time vary throughout the year, so currently enrolled students should check the calendar for available time each week. “It’s really kind of unique that it’s unlimited,” Larson says.
Lakeville Area Arts Center
Facebook: Lakeville Area Arts Center
Finding Community
Over the past few years, I’ve joined groups that have become an unexpected launching pad for friendship and community. These are some of my favorite third spaces, including one pick from my husband:
Moms on the Run Lakeville
Coach Angie Scheidnes (front left) runs with Liz Potasek (front right) as the sun rises and the fog clears at a sunrise miles class. Photo: Kim Burggraaf
Full disclosure: I joined Moms on the Run in April 2022 out of spite. I was jealous of my husband who spent hours training for the Birkenbeiner (a 50K nordic ski race in Wisconsin) while I stayed home with our three young children. So that spring, I decided I would reclaim some “me” time by joining the group for a walk a few times a week. Before I knew it, Moms on the Run coach and franchise owner Kim Burggraaf convinced me to start a return-to-run plan, and I was logging miles that I hadn’t even considered since I had children. I had no idea that in addition to walking, running and strength training, I’d also be tapping into a deep well of wisdom from women (not all of them are moms!) of a variety of ages. I’ve been given some great advice, discovered new-to-me local parks and trails, enjoyed countless cups of post-run coffee and even gained travel companions.
Moms on the Run
Facebook: Lakeville Moms on the Run
Lakeville Girl Scouts
When I signed up to be a Girl Scout leader almost 10 years ago, I thought I’d be fostering friendships between girls by leading troop meetings, planning field trips and, yes, schlepping boxes of those famous cookies around. What I didn’t realize was how much Girl Scouts would help me foster my own friendships. Through the organization, I’ve met and befriended like-minded volunteers, gotten to know the parents of my kids’ friends and tapped into a variety of community resources. Not to mention it’s incredibly inspiring watching girls grow into strong leaders.
Lakeville Girl Scout Community
girlscoutsrv.org
Dakota Curling Club
I am not a member of Dakota Curling Club in Lakeville, but my husband is, and I’d love to join him in a mixed league (someday, when the stars align). He joined a beginner’s league a few years ago, and he’s enjoyed learning a new sport and the weekly time spent with his friends/teammates. The nature of the game allows for casual conversation between the teams, making it easy to meet new people.
Dakota Curling Club
Facebook: Dakota Curling Club
Where’s your third space?
Have you grown your social circle in a third space? Send us your story, and it might inspire a article in an upcoming issue of the magazine. Email liz@localmedia.co.
