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| Of blankets, tea and books at The Midnight Oil, Lancaster - May 2026 |
Happy Championship Sunday my loves,
I am literally counting down the minutes to Arsenal’s final game of the season and the we-won-the-league celebrations at the local. I am so excited, I actually put out my Arsenal jersey and pants (I am in my Barrel pants Era) out last night, like I was back in the 90s looking forward to rock my Sunday best for church and the outing to follow.
Speaking of last night, a girl got home at MIDNIGHT!!!
Before you ask which Unc had me out all night, I will burst your bubble and say no, I had not gone to the rave, the club, the disco? (What are the youngins calling it nowadays?). And no Unc were involved (there are, however, rumours that I may or may not be hanging out with someone's unc this Championship Sunday...in Oprah's words, Arsenal gets a win, Auntie gets a win, Someone's Unc get a win...we all get a win).
But I digress...back to last night,
I was at a (sober, open-til-late, serves-tea-and-coffee, feels-like-grandmas) lofi social hobby lounge third space called Midnight Oil...and yes, it is open till midnight.
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| It was raining last night, but I made it to Midnight Oil Lancaster - May 2026 |
I talked about third spaces in my last post (about Little Island, the beautiful blue space I visited in New York). As a refresher, a third space is a place outside of home (first space) and work/school (second space) where people can simply be. Somewhere that does not call for productivity (at least not at the level the other spaces demand).
Yesterday demanded productivity from me.
I spent the greater chunk of my day handling an “emergency” project for a client. By the time I looked up, it was almost 7 pm. I desperately wanted to go outside, and I wanted a place where I could continue reading City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert (somewhere chilled beside my house).
The parks were no longer an option because it was getting dark. My only other options were going to a restaurant and turning dinner into a reading session (like I did at Southern Market), or finding one of those ‘entertainment’ spots that are not such a hit on Saturday nights, ordering a drink, and disappearing into a corner with my book.
Neither felt quite right.
So I shared my vision for the night with Google, asked for space that is not an eatery or a bar that I can hang out in on a Saturday evening, and Google suggested The Midnight Oil.
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| Scenes from my August 2024 drop in - The Midnight Oil, Lancaster |
I had actually been there once before, shortly after they opened in April 2024. Back then, I mostly browsed through their bookshelves, looked around, and left before fully experiencing the space.
But last night, I decided to give it a proper try.
And let me tell you Maina, I am officially hooked.
The space is "divided" into three main areas. At the front, there’s merchandise from various local vendors mixed in with their own branded items.
Further in are large game tables and the tea/coffee counter. The whole place is sober, affirming, and community-centered, with events constantly happening throughout the week.
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| Game tables at Midnight Oil Lancaster - May 2026 |
But it’s the far end of the room is where the action is at (at least for me). The corner has a couch that has seen better day, and towering shelves of books overflowing with board games.
There was a small event happening, it’s Fringe Fest weekend in Lancaster, so I didn’t take many photos of that side of the space.
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| It is also an affirming event space - The Midnight Oil, May 2026 |
I will try to describe it.
Think of a maximalist grandmother’s study. You know those grandmas who never throw anything out because “it might be useful someday.”
I don’t know if that “grandma’s house” aesthetic is deliberate or accidental, but either way it works. It makes the space feel less like it was built for the gram, and more like "you need to chill", which is exactly what I needed last night.
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| The towering shelves full of board games at The Midnight Oil Lancaster - May 2026 |
So I sunk into that couch (literally, it has a sunken middle), wrapped myself in a blanket, and read while sipping tea...what else can a girlie ask for.
I think I tried three different teas over the four hours I was there.
Four hours.
That is how comfortable I was.
The place was definitely made for reading. I will definitely be going back again and again.
And yes, I will absolutely do a review of City of Girls once I finish it because this New York love story needs to be shared.
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| Bathroom - The Midnight Oil Lancaster, May 2026 |
Looks like I am on a third space sharing spree, and I cannot wait to share my next discovery.
In honor of all the tea I drank last night, I present my latest favorite song: Chai ya Saa Kumi by Kenyan artist, Ywaya Tajiri.
For my none Swahili speaking people, chai ya saa kumi is 4 O'clock tea. Growing up we used to eagerly await 4 O'clock tea which was served with (tea) biscuits or some other simple pastry type snack. Think of it like the late afternoon snacks kids get after school as they wait for dinner. Well the song is about waiting for a lover the way people wait for 4 o'clock tea.
Until the next post, stay cozy, drink tea and find your third spaces...let me dress up then wait for this Unc celebrations.
Mapenzi Tele,
Sitawa
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