Even after an entire year of this pandemic, we're still confused about how the heck you're supposed to meet new friends during it.
If not shouting to each other over the loud sound of a bass guitar at a crowded show, how else do people make friends??? We've gotten pretty lonely, so we decided to find out. Here are a few ways we've found that you can Meet People in Austin During COVID.
Contributed by Sabrina Macias
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Bond While Your Dogs Sniff Each Other's Butts
We can guarantee you’ll meet a new friend after visiting the Auditorium Shores Off-Leash Dog Park - we just can’t guarantee how many legs this new friend might have. This dog park is beautiful and blissful, with a massive area and the river nearby to splash in. There’s just something magical about watching puppies play carelessly on a beautiful day, and dog lovers are sure to gather about in this massive space. You just might meet your puppy’s next playdate here.
For all the butt-sniffing places around town to meet friends at, check out our Dog-Friendly Guide to Austin.
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Mutually Sweat at a Running Club
Photo via Instagram
East Side Beer Runners is a free-to-join running club, established in 2016. They’ve managed to combine everyone’s two favorite passions - burning calories and basking in booze. The Running Club is currently meeting virtually and in-person every Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m. and will be ready to greet you with an ice cold ale.
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Geek Over Your Favorite Author at a Book Club
A book is the best way to break the ice (it’s not gossip if it’s fictional). The Austin360 Book Club is a group for book-lovers to discuss, recommend, and discover new literature. The club is often joined by authors and readers via Zoom sessions to further analyze a novel. Typically, the group chooses one book a month but members are encouraged to update their daily reading habits within the Facebook Group!
Even more book clubs: The Austin Contemporary Fiction Book Club, Glitterary Austin: a queer book club
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Take the Hands-On Approach with a New Skill
Photo via Facebook
The best way to meet new people? We prefer the hands-on technique. Cafe Monet is an Austin walk-in art & clay studio. Whether you’re a first time artist or long time pro, this studio is yours to call home. Cafe Monet offers various classes and workshops on their website, and even offers summer camps for the kiddos!
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Connect on a Deeper Level Through Yoga
Photo via Instagram
Why not pick up a healthy new hobby whilst on the journey to find a new friend? This yoga studio offers classes virtually and in-person so you can find the perfect balance on what works for you. You don’t have to bend over backwards to make new friends, but it can be fun to bend right?
There are even more ways to make friends at all these Yoga Studios in Austin.
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Fail Miserably, Together, at a Cooking Class
Photo via Instagram
The best bonds are formed in mutual failure. That's what they say, right? Even if not, we think that attempting a cooking class is a sweet way to make friends (especially if both of your concoctions turn out to be duds). Whether you're a newbie to cooking or a pro chef, you can make new pals at Faraday's Cooking Classes, where they demonstrate techniques and give you the skills needed to prepare simple, delicious meals at home. Most classes are two hours and range from 12 to 16 students per class, with a light meal provided.
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Find Your Good Samaritan Pal as you Volunteer
Photo via Facebook
Your new best friend may wear a lot smaller shoes than you expect. By volunteering at Big Brothers Big Sisters, you gain so much more than what you give. By forging a relationship with a younger person and being their mentor and friend, you can share your interests, discover new ones, and walk away with a much bigger sense of purpose than you ever expected. They're always in need of more Bigs, particularly those who are male, bilingual, and/or of color.
Check out even more ways to Volunteer in Austin.
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F*$# It, Download an App
Photo via Instagram
“The apps” are notorious for finding love, but sometimes we have to remember that friends can be soulmates too. This Austin-based app has three different features. One for finding love, another for networking in the world of business, and the other for meeting new friends in your area! With the Bumble BFF feature, you can “swipe right” on people that share the same interests as you and start planning cute friendship dates around town. Check out our events calendar for some inspo on things to do with your newfound bestie!
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Did we miss a good way to make friends during COVID?
