Bars are notable for staying open late, but I’m not really familiar with alternatives that might operate similarly. I think many cafés (at least around my area) tend to close a few hours earlier by comparison, which would be my go-to for an alternative otherwise, so what other options are there?
Find yourself a hackerspace. They’re collective-toolsheds of people around your community who find joy in making things, learning skills, and generally interested in helping teach others the skills that they know.
My local hackerspace, for example - has a 4 axis HAAS CNC, multiple metal lathes, TIG, MIG, Stick welders, leatherworking supplies, access to 3D printers, laser cutters, and lots of woodworking tools. We also had basically every console in existence and others bring in their game libraries for everyone to play.
They are also generally filled with college students that are burning the midnight oil quite regularly but may otherwise be somewhat solitary in their activities.
These places also will kind of locally crowd-fund new machines for people to use. They can vary wildly from space-to-space, some places being filled with old guys who are mostly into woodworking, or filled with young web-devs with no interest in welding, etc. If you are lucky enough to have multiple around your area, visit them all to see which one fits you best.
Also, membership usually includes 24/7 access to the space via controlled entry (membership keys, etc)
I help run a makerspace (hackerspace with a fluffier name). We’ve done many an all nighter. Often for no good reason, other than we got going on an interesting topic!
We are not all college aged though.
FamiLAB and MakerFX are my local ones, greetings from central FL! :)
Virginia/ Orange raise up!
Is hackerspace the common term for these? I think I’ve also seen makerspace, or at least it sounds like there’s overlap. I may have to do some more searching along these terms, but any time I’ve read of these it seems like they’re more around larger cities or university towns/cities, which I don’t happen to live in at the moment.
Hackerspace is the original term, but some places call themselves Makerspaces instead because “hacker” has a negative connotation with the common populace. A hack, in the original sense is almost equivalent to ‘redneck engineering’. It’s a non-formal environment, probably doing non-standard things…thus a hack.
They are generally found around larger cities, universities, etc – there’s not enough population otherwise to keep them running as they’re generally member-funded, and they still gotta pay things like rent.
Fablabs are similar, but corporate-owned and you’re expected to use tools and GTFO; not stick around and be social.
Interesting.
For me, Makerspace always made more sense. You go there to make something. Hacking, while not negative, always has the meaning of modifying existing things to me, which does not always apply.
I hack together an item = I merge several items into one. I hack an item = I modify an item.
Not a native speaker, so I’m unsure if that is the correct usage.
I always expect to see avid golfers show up to a hackerspace and get confused….
Or horseriders :D
Or trash novel writers ;D
I didn’t know about these and found one in my city. Thanks for the tip!
I like this idea. I found one in my city that’s not even that far away. I might have to check it out
Same. I also found one in my city, might have to come by sometime.