good places to meet people/make friends in Miami? (home, living in)

[mailyn38]

Hey all, I'm 38 years old and I've been living in Miami for a long time. My circle of friends was mostly from back in my student days but, by now, most have moved away or we've simply lost touch as they settled down and started new families. I would love to meet new people to talk or hang out with but I've no idea where to do so! I guess I've been out of the loop for a while now. I usually love to read at Starbucks or B&N but it doesn't seem like people just like talking to strangers. Are there any new places to chill and meet people? Thanks if anyone can help!

[StarfishKey]

Do you know what MeetUp is? There are some 2,000 groups on there to try in the Miami area. You can find a few that sound good to you and try them out, giving you a chance to meet people and maybe try something you've never done before at the same time! Nearly every interest is on there - just stay away from the "photography" ones that ask for models... super skeevy. The others are mostly normal, and can be really fun and interesting. I know a girl who tried a co-ed soccer team that said they were willing to train people totally new to soccer (which she was), and a few years later she was married to one of the guys she met that day! I have seen some groups that even plan trips abroad together using some of the connections of the members - like one planned a trip to Thailand for 20 people based on a common love of tropical fruit and having several Thai members in the group! You never know what you'll find.

It is hard to just start talking to strangers in Miami, it's not really a common practice. People mostly go somewhere to get something done or meet people they already know, not to just hang out. Nowadays you have to go online and type first, just to be able to meet someone in person and speak to them out loud. Life has gotten weird. But, there are new adventures to be had.

[mailyn38]

Thanks so much! I'm going to look it up online now. I have noticed that indeed people here just seem to be in a hurry to get things done and leave. I rarely see people just hanging out and reading at coffee shops or bookstores! Kinda sad.

[angelscorpio]

How horrible is having to recur to those sites to make friends in Miami... when it should happen naturally.

[straight shooter]

Originally Posted by angelscorpio

How horrible is having to recur to those sites to make friends in Miami... when it should happen naturally.

Sadly less and less things happen naturally in this day and age.

[TooLoud]

Originally Posted by angelscorpio

How horrible is having to recur to those sites to make friends in Miami... when it should happen naturally.

I think it's more of a smartphone thing to be honest. We don't have to talk to people anymore when you can just crank up the music in my headphones, while texting someone you already know.

[Cubanchic]

Op I work from home and just moved to a new area last year so I have lost most of my close by friends which made lunch dates and quick coffee meet ups easy.

But there are a few places that I have made new friends and a bit more socializing during the day. I attend all the local community town halls and have met lots of nieghbors and also attend the local small business owners meetings for networking. I do have my fellow cross fit pals that really bond with each other especially the women that are close to my age.

In the past I joined a gardening club which focused on roses and met a lot of folks that way.

There is a woman that teaches on how to cook Indian food in south Miami and that is a great way of meeting new people and learning something as well.

Also if you have time in the evening MDCC has a lot of classes like cooking, floral design home design etc. when I was single before meeting second husband I met a lot of freinds this way.

You can always join a single groups in varies churches and meet folks that way too.

Basically I think these days you have to get involved in a groups or activities to meet folks, where at least there is a way to introduce your self.

[mailyn38]

Originally Posted by Cubanchic

Op I work from home and just moved to a new area last year so I have lost most of my close by friends which made lunch dates and quick coffee meet ups easy.

But there are a few places that I have made new friends and a bit more socializing during the day. I attend all the local community town halls and have met lots of nieghbors and also attend the local small business owners meetings for networking. I do have my fellow cross fit pals that really bond with each other especially the women that are close to my age.

In the past I joined a gardening club which focused on roses and met a lot of folks that way.

There is a woman that teaches on how to cook Indian food in south Miami and that is a great way of meeting new people and learning something as well.

Also if you have time in the evening MDCC has a lot of classes like cooking, floral design home design etc. when I was single before meeting second husband I met a lot of freinds this way.

You can always join a single groups in varies churches and meet folks that way too.

Basically I think these days you have to get involved in a groups or activities to meet folks, where at least there is a way to introduce your self.

Thanks so much for all your suggestions! I am going to see if there are any groups that need volunteers to help at animal shelters and also cooking classes sound like a lot of fun. Especially since my cooking skills are extremely limited. Indeed, I ind that just chatting up strangers in coffee shops/bookstores or just about anywhere else seems to be frown upon. It's a pity since, in most of the cities I've visited outside Miami, I've always had random strangers start up a conversation on just about anything.

Originally Posted by TooLoud

I think it's more of a smartphone thing to be honest. We don't have to talk to people anymore when you can just crank up the music in my headphones, while texting someone you already know.

I actually think it has more to do with the fact that people in Miami tend to prefer to just hang out with friends and people they already know. Most people just seem to go places to either get something done or meet up with someone. I think it may have to do with the fact that you have to drive everywhere as opposed to cities where you can just walk or take the metro/subway and chill anywhere. The cost of gas plus the time it takes to get somewhere just to sit and chill by yourself, I think, puts most people off down here.

[Cubanchic]

Originally Posted by mailyn38

Thanks so much for all your suggestions! I am going to see if there are any groups that need volunteers to help at animal shelters and also cooking classes sound like a lot of fun. Especially since my cooking skills are extremely limited. Indeed, I ind that just chatting up strangers in coffee shops/bookstores or just about anywhere else seems to be frown upon. It's a pity since, in most of the cities I've visited outside Miami, I've always had random strangers start up a conversation on just about anything.

The Miami dade animal shelter needs volunteers to feed kittens since they are overwhelmed post spring time.

[mailyn38]

Originally Posted by Cubanchic

The Miami dade animal shelter needs volunteers to feed kittens since they are overwhelmed post spring time.

Thanks! Is that the one on 74th? I've heard some horrible things about that shelter. Do you know if it's gotten any better?