Introducing Kizuna: a next-gen third space
Kizuna is an all day cafe that hosts events rooted in community & joy.
The Japanese word kizuna (絆) means the enduring bonds between people, or the close relationships that are formed through mutual trust and support. Our name is a nod to our mission to bring more joy to people’s lives through social connection and community bonds.
Our Story
Hi! 👋 I’m Megan, founder of Kizuna, here to tell you a little bit about how this all came to be. Kizuna was born out of my own desire to find a space where I could build community & make new friends as an adult (strangely tricky thing to do!). I also wanted to find ways to add more fun & joyful wellness practices into my life to combat the intense burn out that I’ve experienced at nearly every job I’ve had. As I talked to others, I realized I wasn’t alone in my desire for ways to expand my community or in my feelings of burnout. And there is no doubt that we can all use as much joy as possible as we navigate the world as it currently exists. At Kizuna, we want to make your world a better, happier place.
Creating this space is something that has been on my heart for many years, but after working in hospitality, events & marketing, for a decade followed by a layoff during a very tough job market and a political & world climate that has made the need for joyous experiences & community support more essential than ever, I decided to take the leap to bring Kizuna to life, and here we are! The goal is to open additional intentional third spaces in other cities and host retreats & group trips world wide to bring as much joy to as many people as possible. But for now, we are starting in the heart of Brooklyn, NY with our all-day cafe where we can serve up joy in the form of community focused events and a menu of delicious drinks, light bites & sweet treats inspired by Hawaiian & Japanese flavors of my childhood. I hope to see you there soon!
What does“next-gen third space” mean?
Sociologist Ray Oldenburg, who popularized the term, defines third spaces or third places as informal public gathering places outside of home (first place) and work (second place) that foster conversation, connection, and a sense of belonging—places like cafés, libraries, churches, parks, and community centers that serve as anchors of community life. In recent years, third spaces have evolved and many have been lost to digital spaces and an overemphasis on productivity.
The world we live in is filled with constant, devastating news cycles, rising burnout fueled by capitalistic hustle culture, a loneliness epidemic despite our hyper-connected digital world, and screen addiction because of it. In addition to these challenges, the modern world also offers incredible opportunities that our ancestors never had—easy access to knowledge, technology that makes our lives easier, the ability to form our own "tribes," the freedom to design our own lifestyles, and the ability to connect with and bridge cultures between diverse communities. The combination of these two realities makes the perfect environment for third spaces to thrive once again. At Kizuna we aim to be an antidote for the former and a steward of the latter as a next-gen a third space designed for joy, community, and play.
Our Event Philosophy
The goal of our event programming is to help more people add more moments of joy into their routines. Since joy looks different for everyone, we aim to offer a wide range of event experiences. Regardless of the theme or activity, you can expect your Kizuna event experience to be centered around building community, deepening social connections, unplugging, and enjoying light-hearted, just-for-fun play.
Kizuna events are designed for you to make connections that don’t center on business networking or dating, but simply having a good time. While networking & dating events can be fun & effective, they can also feel very transactional and can close you off to meeting great people just because they don’t check a certain box. We contain multitudes and are much more than what we do or who we’re dating. Our events about you, your happiness, and connecting with people over shared interests, life stages, or experiences.
These events exist for the sake of wellness & self care. While it may seem frivolous to add “play time” to your already busy schedule, it is actually imperative to your overall well being and gives you a chance to recharge your batteries so you’re ready to tackle this crazy world we live in. Let us remind you, you can’t pour from an empty cup!
Get Involved
Join the Community
As a member, you can discover and attend events that inject more joy into your life and connect with other people who are doing the same. Becoming a member is completely free and gives you first access to new ticket drops plus suggested events curated just for you sent straight to your inbox.
Become a Member
Become an Event Partner
If you are part of or running an existing community that shares our ethos for genuine connection, joy, and play, we’d love to partner with you to gather and grow your community IRL. Click below to learn more about the events we hope to co-host and get in touch with our team to see how we can work together.
Learn More & Get in Touch
Sponsor a Kizuna Experience
Our goal is to make Kizuna Event Experiences as accessible as possible to our community and our sponsors help make that possible. If you are aligned in our mission to bring more joy to busy and burned out New Yorkers, and want to reach a new audience amongst our growing community, get in touch to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.
Rent the Space
Centrally located, well designed with gorgeous natural light during the day and a moody, cozy ambience once the sun goes down, Kizuna is an ideal location to host a special event, birthday celebration, corporate event, location shoot, and more. We have limited availability for full venue rentals so get in touch today to reserve the space.
Get in touch!
Our team is here to answer your questions, brainstorm on partnership ideas, listen to your suggestions, or chat about whatever else is on your mind. Fill out the form with and we’ll be in touch as soon as possible!