Community Events
We host regular community events in Portsmouth and the Seacoast, creating space for authentic connection in our community. These aren't networking events or forced fun. They're intentional gatherings where people show up as themselves, connect with others genuinely, and discover what becomes possible when we're fully present together.
Our community events are central to our mission. They build the connections that make communities stronger. They're also where we demonstrate what we've learned about facilitating authentic human connection, which informs everything we do.
Signature Connection Experience
Join up to 25 people for 90 minutes of genuine conversation in a completely device-free environment. Through three carefully designed rounds of small group discussions, participants move beyond surface-level interactions to meaningful connection.
How It Works: Phones go into our lockbox upon arrival, creating space for full presence. You'll participate in three rounds of small group conversations (3-4 people each), with groups rotating so you connect with most or all participants throughout the event. Each round uses professionally crafted conversation prompts that progressively deepen engagement:
Round 1: Getting Energized - Accessible questions that create comfort while revealing interesting perspectives. ("What's a small decision that unexpectedly changed your life?" or "What's something you're curious about lately?")
Round 2: Exploring Connection - Prompts that explore how we relate to others and experience presence. ("What creates a sense of belonging for you?" or "When do you feel most connected to other people?")
Round 3: Essential Self - Questions that invite sharing about who we are beyond our daily roles. ("What's a core value that has guided your life choices?" or "When do you feel most authentically yourself?")
What You'll Experience: Real conversations with multiple new people, conversation tools you can use anywhere, and the rare satisfaction of being truly seen and heard. Most participants leave surprised by how much they shared and learned in such a short time.
Connect with New People
Discover what happens when strangers show up as their genuine selves in a space designed for authentic human connection.
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Not really. We focus on who you are as a person, not what you do for work. It's about authentic connection rather than professional transactions.
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Things like 'What's something you believed as a child that still influences you?' or 'When do you feel most yourself?' Questions that help people share what actually matters to them.
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It's amazing what happens when you remove phones and create the right container. People are hungry for real conversation, they just need permission and a framework for it to happen safely.
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Each round builds on the previous one. We start with energizing questions that create comfort, move to exploring how we connect with others, and conclude with reflections about who we are beyond our daily roles. The progression feels natural and creates a sense of safety before exploring more meaningful territory.
Upcoming events.
Ready to put your phone away and have real conversations? Browse our upcoming community events and find the experience that fits.
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"Attending a Third Space Experience was such a refreshing reminder of how powerful real, device-free connection can be. The structure, questions, and pacing created a sense of ease and depth that’s rare to find in everyday interactions. I left feeling grounded, energized, and genuinely seen by people I had just met. It’s amazing how much more present and open everyone became without phones in the mix — it really allowed authentic conversation to flow naturally."
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"It was so refreshing to be in a room of strangers who were all interested in being open and connecting with one another! The conversations flowed easily, and it was so great to have extra time at the end to keep the discussions going."
Why We Go Device-Free
In our hyperconnected world, phones have become both bridge and barrier to authentic connection. While they keep us linked to distant networks, they often pull us away from the people right in front of us. By temporarily securing our devices, we create space for the kind of presence that makes genuine connection possible. And if you'd rather leave your phone at home or in the car entirely, we love that too.
When phones are put away, something shifts. Eye contact increases. Conversations deepen. People listen differently when they're not mentally composing their next social media post or anticipating the next notification. The result is the rare experience of being truly seen and heard.
For more detailed information, see the dedicated Why We Go Device-Free page.
Ready to Join?
Check out our upcoming events and register for the experience that calls to you. Whether you're meeting strangers for the first time or deepening a relationship with someone important, we can't wait to create space for authentic connection with you.
Social Experiments
Free. Drop-in. Device-free. Connection-focused.
Social Experiments are our gift to the community: casual, no-commitment spaces where people gather with a shared intention to connect. Unlike most social settings where showing up alone means navigating a room of existing groups and conversations, here everyone arrives with the same purpose: to connect with others and be genuinely present together.
Walk-ins welcome, RSVPs appreciated. No structured facilitation. Just secure your phone in our lockbox at the door to help reinforce presence, or feel free to leave it at home altogether, and settle into whatever emerges when a room full of people who actually want to connect show up for each other.
Think of it as a living room for intentional connection. Each Social Experiment is unique. You'll always find a shared conversation prompt that gets everyone started, plus access to our collection of connection prompts you can explore with anyone in the room. Some events might offer optional playful activities or mini-connection experiences for those who want them. But nothing is required. We provide the tools and possibilities. You choose your own adventure.
Perfect for:
Meeting others who are intentionally seeking connection, not just happening to be in the same space
Anyone curious about what in-person, device-free connection feels like in practice
People who want community built on genuine presence rather than agenda or outcome
Those seeking a regular ritual of showing up for connection in an increasingly isolated world
Experience what becomes possible when people gather with a shared purpose: to actually connect with each other.
Social Experiments have no structured conversation frameworks or facilitation. We create the container for connection, and everyone who shows up shares the intention to be present and engage. The device-free element simply helps reinforce that shared commitment to presence.
Not required, but it helps us plan. If you know you're coming, grabbing a free ticket on Eventbrite is appreciated. But walk-ins are always welcome. We'll have the lockbox ready for your phone, and you're welcome to stay as long (or as briefly) as feels right.
Perfect. Most people do. Everyone's there for the same reason: to connect. Without the distraction of phones and with a room full of people who actually want to engage, conversations happen naturally.
None at all. Drop in when you arrive, leave when you're ready. Some people stay for 30 minutes, others for the full duration. There's no wrong way to participate.