Beach: this third place in Chennai makes room for everyone

Youngsters relaxing at the Besant Nagar Beach. | Photo Credit: Johan Sathyadas J. When we talk about the spaces beyond home and work where social life happens, we are really talking about ‘third places’ where you can unwind after a long day, meet people habitually, build longer conversations, put the phone down, take a breather, and most importantly, just be. At a time when social isolation and the loneliness epidemic have become talking points, the idea of a third place feels relevant.For a Chennaiite, even as pedestrian plazas with mini-music concerts, parks, gyms, and cafes flood the city, there is something about the coast that hits different. As you walk barefoot on the sands of Marina, it shape-shifts into a picnic spot and reading room, a place for frisbees riding the wind and water