In Proverbs, Wisdom is regularly mentioned in the feminine and depicted as a lady. The book is mostly a series of sayings from a father to his son (see :8, 10, 15) and dad refers to wisdom as a good woman.
These two verses indicate that Lady Wisdom operates out in the open, accessible and available to all (in contrast to the guys lying in wait; 1:11). The different phrases here indicate she is at the city’s gate complexes which included open public squares. This is the place of legal proceedings and public announcements and where the city’s markets are located (see also 8:2-3). Lady Wisdom is not only out there, but loudly calls out to everyone passing by.
Wisdom is not hard to find – secretly available for a few in a church, locked away with scholars in an ivory tower or hidden from view behind a high, strong, guarded wall. She publically and totally accessible to any and all who are interested.