Outside a school today in the Northeastern US, various people congregated on their way to vote in local elections. The sun shone down on the benches as people conversed. One woman bemoaned the closure of a local place for bingo: the elderly have nowhere to go, she said. A line dancer instructor walked up to a pair of white-haired regular dancers and showed the woman a new step. A man pulled out of his pocket a World War One medal that had been awarded to his father and showed it to everyone. The need and desire for social interaction were all there; what was missing was a permanent venue. As the economic crisis continues to linger, I hope people will become more proactive about taking over sidewalks and other outdoor spaces and reclaiming them as informal meeting spots, providing opportunities throughout our cities for people to gather, chat, sympathize, share, and maybe even solve some problems together. After all, democracy is about a lot more than just voting!