Alcoves 🔮

Today, every shopping block in San Francisco is lined with alcoves. These semi-permanent fixtures are covered in string lights, constructed by restaurants to enable patrons to escape into a pre-COVID world. They are a reminder of a time past, when last minute plans, chance encounters, and intimate conversations felt possible.

When you image search “alcove,”  the photos are dreamy and ethereal; soft cushions and feathery curtains, basking in warm light. 

The Twitter office is filled with alcoves and sitting areas. In a past life, they provided a break from the monotony of sitting at your own desk, or an option for a casual working sessions with peers. More importantly, the were perfect for taking a break to gossip for a few minutes while pretending to work. 

These spaces were perfect catalysts for serendipity. You would go looking for something entirely unrelated and find yourself in an unexpectedly and wonderful situation. A walk through the common areas often led to unplanned conversations with old teammates or groups of friends. These led to impromptu dinners or drinks, and longer conversations away from the office. 

At Cornell, there were two categories of places to study. The first were for real work — desks isolated deep in the library stacks, or library rooms so silent you could hear the drop of a pencil or turn of a page. The second were for social work — high-traffic areas to sit with a group of friends to do light work while hoping to run into more acquaintances. These alcoves were both welcoming and open; an implicit invitation to slide in and join with no barriers.

The literally definition of an alcove is: (al·cove) a recess in the wall of a room or garden.  But alcoves represent a figurative recess too; a respite from monotonous routine. They are filled with possibility, anticipation, and imagination. 

Pre-pandemic, the opportunity for potentially life-changing serendipity seemed unlimited. This is exactly the magic of living in any city, where a stroll through the neighborhood creates chance encounters with baristas, puppies, acquaintances, and strangers. San Francisco has the perfect backdrop of stunning views, beautiful architecture, and intimate public spaces. The radius is small and the community is even smaller — this city is ripe with possibility. Those circumstances are hard to come by these days. I miss it so much.