Founded in 2005, Café au Play • Your Community Connection was inspired by Ray Oldenburg’s concept of a “third place” – an inclusive, neutral gathering space apart from home or work where people can go on a regular basis to meet with friends without the burden of “entertaining.” As Oldenburg argues, America tends to be deficient in such places.

Kristin Heying, the founder of Café au Play, and her mama cohorts found few public places accessible and comfortable for both children and adults. They experienced all the obstacles that keep people with young children from accessing the public sphere, particularly the highly individualized routines of families that often leave caregivers feeling like their days are fragmented and isolated. While there are a few local venues where adults can take children to entertain them, they are usually costly, require scheduling, and only offer intellectual/social stimulation to the child. One rarely encounters the same people there week after week making it difficult for families to form genuine support networks. Café au Play seeks to foster overlapping communities of “regulars” in a welcoming, comfortable public space where both children and adults can experience emotional, social, and intellectual nourishment.