So you’re new here, and you don’t have any friends. Here’s one step toward fixing that.
By Izzy Caswell
Let’s face it. The idea of making new friends is daunting, but you have to do it when you move to a new city. Luckily, the Twin Cities offer many opportunities to make the process easier.
The Twin Cities has a plethora of social clubs, sports teams and events to pick and choose from when leaving the house. Here is a tentative guide to finding like-minded people in the metro.
If you’re a bookworm…
Choose from one of many book clubs in the Twin Cities. They’re easy to find, just simply Google “best book clubs in the Twin Cities”. You’ll find almost too many to choose from.
Books and Bars Book Club claims to be the ‘biggest and best’ in the metro. A typical meeting size is roughly 50 people, according to the club’s moderator, Jeff Kamin. They meet every third Wednesday at Sociable Ciderworks in Minneapolis and every fourth Tuesday at Urban Growler in St. Paul. Their last book, discussed on Oct. 24, was Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
Kamin said his favorite thing about the club is the sharing of different perspectives, especially since the ages in the club range from college-age to post-retirement. Interpretations vary quite a bit.
“The 21-year-old and the 51-year-old read the same book, but they really didn’t,” Kamin said.
Kamin also said he goes out of his way to welcome new members and make them feel at ease. When other members hear the words “hey, I’m new here!” they give a round of applause. Inevitably, there will be a few empty chairs here and there for the newbie to sit with groups of people they’ve never met before. And, according to Kamin, a little liquid courage always helps.
Kamin’s advice to people new to the Twin Cities is this: “Do the things you like to do, just do them loudly.” If you like to read and talk about books, this club or any other would be a good fit.
If you’re athletic…
Join a sports team or league. Simple as that. Most, if not all, sports teams have a registration or membership fee. So, if you don’t mind spending money, this option may be for you.
The Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board offers more than 20 Spring-Summer, Fall and Winter adult sports leagues, such as basketball, softball, volleyball and soccer. People who can’t afford registration fees can apply for the board’s Recreation Fee Assistance Program.
The Minneapolis Social Sports Leagues doesn’t offer as many sports as the Parks and Recreation Board, but they do offer a couple different sports including bocce ball, bowling and cornhole. You can register as an individual, small group or a team captain. Different sports vary in price.
If you’re just here to bowl, there is also a separate bowling league called Better Off Bowling. Bowling takes place at Memory Lanes Bowling Alley on 26th Ave S, Minneapolis. There are three seasons a year, and people gather to bowl on Sunday afternoons or Thursday nights. Registration fees are under $100.
If you like to give back to the community…
You can make strong connections when working together with people who want to make a difference. There are many volunteering programs and events to attend in the Twin Cities to make this happen.
Hands On Twin Cities, the first and oldest volunteer center in the country, connects people looking to volunteer with nonprofits and organizations that need support. On the website you can filter volunteer opportunities based on your personal interests.
Volunteering is a great way to get out there, meet new people and learn about the community, according to Katie Walsh, the Hands On program director. On giving advice to people new to volunteering in the Twin Cities, Walsh said to ask yourself three questions:
- What causes do I care about?
- What does my time commitment look like?
- Do I want to learn something new or learn more about a specific issue?
Hands On gives a lot of support to Feed My Starving Children, and they are looking for people who can volunteer on a weekly basis. In those cases, volunteers run into each other more often, Walsh said.
“Volunteers will see the same people and create a bond if they’re seeing each other on a regular basis and volunteering together,” said Walsh.
If you’re a student…
Take advantage of your school’s resources. In general, colleges and universities offer hundreds of clubs to students led by students. Even if there isn’t a club you are interested in, you can always start your own. It is a great opportunity to surround yourself with like-minded people and make friends with shared interests.
Overall…
The internet is your best friend. Yelp or Meetup.com can connect you to dozens more social groups and events you can attend.
Friendships enhance your life and play a large role in benefiting both mental and physical health. Healthy social connections can help prevent depression, high blood pressure and an unhealthy body mass index.
You should also go out of your way to spend more time outside and around other people. Mayo Clinic suggests taking a walk, talking to your neighbors or simply complimenting someone in an elevator. Whenever you see an opportunity to say something to someone, do it.
Regardless of your interests, you’ll be able to find a way to meet new and interesting people here in the Twin Cities.
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