How to Win Friends and Influence People

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

...or at least win friends.

I moved to this area a few months ago from far, far, away and don't really have friends here yet. I'm finally realizing that my job/lifestyle aren't conducive to making friends here, so I wanted to both get some suggestions on awesome social functions and "introduce" myself in case anybody is in a similar situation. My work schedule is demanding enough that I can't commit to regular volunteer gigs, which has always helped me meet people in the past. How do smart, artsy (but not hipster), progressive, twenty-something women make friends around here?

I'll also add that I'm applying to be an adjunct English instructor and I'm a writer, so I'd love to meet people involved in academia and/or writing. I'm happily coupled and not looking for a date; I'd just like to try to form a social life here. If you have any suggestions or want to say hi, let me know of any awesome activities or send me a message.

Thanks! :)

Comments

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Well, for starters, keep an eye on here for the monthly davis_square meetup. You also might want to join boston_teaparty, boston_brunch, and/or attend '90s Night, every Friday at the Common Ground (it would help to be a member of b0st0n, the DJ is phatmike, and he's a good guy).

There's also the creepy stalker goodness of b0s_sightings.

[diego001.livejournal.com]

Hey! We're not all creepy stalkers!

[diego001.livejournal.com]

Pics or it didn't happen!

[libberding.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's because you didn't see what I did there on Lilac Sunday. Teehee. *dashes away*

[diego001.livejournal.com]

*snerk!* I still don't believe it without photographic evidence! Whee!

[libberding.livejournal.com]

Oh, there's plenty of photographic evidence...

But damnitall, not much of you. Hmm... Must remedy this.

[diego001.livejournal.com]

I'm not photogenic. That's why I'm glad there isn't much photographic evidence.

[libberding.livejournal.com]

Oh, psht. I will get you, one day, my pretty!

Err... something...

[diego001.livejournal.com]

I guess that's my cue to blush? :P

[libberding.livejournal.com]

Of course, you sexy thing! Hahahaha. ;-)

Hey, when we going to the symphony? Wait. Season ended. There's still stuff to go to. I got the mad crazy hookups for free tix, yo.

[diego001.livejournal.com]

Mmm, okay! We can go to the Symphony during the next season if you want. I was looking at the schedule and there's a couple of things I do want to see.

Otherwise, there could be the other stuff also. I'll have to see as to what it is so as to be able to get the appropriate dress.

Incidentally, I need to get black tie for the Symphony next season...

[diego001.livejournal.com]

Both!

[libberding.livejournal.com]

Can I have copies?! ;-)

[diego001.livejournal.com]

Hee. That'd be something.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Just most of us.

[makoshark.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I'd say the meetup is probably your best bet.

[makoshark.livejournal.com]

And with some luck and a little work, I'll finally make it to one as well. :)

[unferth.livejournal.com]

In addition to the events and communities thetathx1138 mentioned, there's a monthly Davis square games night as described here (http://community.livejournal.com/davis_square/1268738.html).

[spud.livejournal.com]

Perhaps it would also help a bit to state what sort of things you like to do socially. There are people on here from all sorts of "scenes", and there is always something going on in each various "scene". (Goth, hip-hop, techno, gamer-geek, knitting, sewing, crafts, writing, spanking) Heh!

90's night, as stated, is a great time to meet people from this Boston group, as well as friends of friends of friends of Boston group people. If you want to go, just make a post so people know to look for you.

[kjc.livejournal.com]

The Somerville Garden Club meets every second Wednesday of every month. Big, friendly, accepting group of eclectic folks who like to get their hands dirty.

http://www.somervillegardenclub.org

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

Oooh! My plants thank you for this.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

You could go to Rock Band nights at Orleans that are every other week on Sundays and just hang out if you don't want to play.

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

I agree!!! Come by this coming Sunday at 9 pm.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

I'll be coming myself, and hopefully bringing my girlfriend. Her sister is in town, though; can somebody under 18 attend?

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

My friend Dave will be filling in for me again this weekend (don't worry; Dave is the bomb.com). My sister is also visiting(!), so if I swing by, it will be later on.

Technically, since the restaurant part is still open, y'all should be able to come in with people of any age. I don't think I've ever seen a bouncer there on Sunday nights. But, I can't guarantee it with 100% definite-ness.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen one either. OK, cool!

[aki.livejournal.com]

Are those still fun if you've never, um, played Rock Band? I've been wanting to try, but considering that I'll only suck, I'm hesitant...

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

Well, I don't play.

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

Neat! I just finished my MFA in poetry, so that's mostly what I write, though I've recently been committing acts of fiction. I've looked around for writing groups and such, but most of what I've found seems geared toward either spoken word poetry or beginning writers.

And I'm applying to adjunct anywhere and everywhere. Any advice?

[justjess.livejournal.com]

I'm heavily involved in the English department at Suffolk University (I am, though, still a student - entering my senior year). I don't know if we're looking for more adjuncts, but it's a great place and you should look into it if you're interested. I love it there... I'm on my way in for summer work-study in a few hours, actually. =D
(I am, indeed, a huge dork.)

Writing Group

[mowe.livejournal.com]

There is a good writing group via meetup.com; the Cambridge Chill Writers Group. Good people, mostly good writing. Meets regularly. You can find it easily at Meetup.com or look me up for details.

Tom

[ayelle.livejournal.com]

I adjunct around the area! (I teach writing and children's literature -- I have an MA and an MFA.) My e-mail's on my profile page if you want to contact me to chat about it.

[masslibrulgirl.livejournal.com]

There's also the Mouthful Open Mic (http://www.centerfornewwords.org/events/2008/01/mouthful_5.php) at the Center for New Words in Cambridge. It's the second Friday of every month, although it won't be happening in July and August. I've been going for a while, and it's a great group of people. I usually go with a few friends, and we go out to a cafe afterwards, so if you want to come to the June open mic, you could come out with us.

If you're interested in contra dancing (http://www.sbcds.org/contradance/whatis/), it's also a great way to meet people. It draws a very progressive and artsy crowd, and there's a strong sense of community. It's how I've met most of my friends in the area. There are dances on Mondays, Thursdays, some Saturdays, and occasional Fridays at the Concord Scout House (http://www.concordscouthouse.org/), and some Tuesdays at MIT (http://mit.edu/fdc/contra.html). There is also a gay and lesbian contra dance (http://www.lcfd.org/jp/) in JP.

[redcolumbine.livejournal.com]

If you want to try dance, Springstep (http://springstep.org/) offers just about every kind you can imagine! I'm an RSCDS (http://rscdsboston.org/) member myself (that's Monday evenings), and can recommend it from personal experience - live music every week (including for the beginners' class, which is perpetual and you can join any time), loads of fun, and no worries if you've got THREE left feet because that's how we all start out. I'm not at all athletic, either - it's energetic and fun, but you select your own bounciness level.

[etana.livejournal.com]

I'll be your friend for a grande extra hot soy toffee-nut latte from Starbucks....