Concerts!

I just got invited to a concert with a friend who I don't get to see very often (she lives about a half hour away from me). And we're going to go with her boss and her friend. Sounds like making connections to me! Plus, I get to go to a fun concert in one of my favorite venues--Cricket Wireless in Chula Vista. If you come visit me, we should go here!

Unfortunately, this isn't really something that you can control as far as having your friends ask you to events where other people will be there. However, I think the reason she asked me to go is because we've been to a few concerts together in the past. Maybe there's something to be said about having different friends for different types of activities. Just a thought.

PS. Games

I just had another thought (who knew games would be so great?!). A lot of bars these days have game nights, whether with the older games like chess and ping pong or the newer games like Wii and Rock Band. I would think it would be a great way to meet people to go to your local bar and meet some people that way. A little competition brings out your personality. And, having one goal amongst the entire bar gives a common ground to start up a conversation.

Hmm...Anyone want to go Wii bowling with me?

Playing Games Can Be A Good Thing

Quit playing games with my heart, with myyy heart, myyy hearttt....

Last night I went to a wine bar with a new friend (roommate of an old friend who's new to San Diego, which I think is a great sign of friends to come) and I was reminded of something that used to do that ended up being a great way to meet new people. My friend Laura (co-creator of the Pittsburgh chapter of Widen Circle of Friends) and I used to play games at bars. Anything you can think of will work. We loved to play Telephone (a.k.a. Whisper Down the Lane), but you can also do scavenger hunts, take polls, give quizzes. It was such a fun way to spend the night and--bonus!--ended up being a super stress-free way of meeting people that lived in our area.

My new friend, Nikki, reminded me of it last night when she mentioned that she gives polls when she's at bars. Sounds great to me!

On a similar note, having game night seems to be a great way to meet people. You get to hang out in an intimate way, which allows you to control your setting and allows you to get to know your guests a bit better. Maybe a game night should be in my near future where everyone brings a guest...although that sounds like an awful equation for a singles' night! Whatever works ;)

We're All in This Together

Apparently there are more people worried about the same thing: making friends as adults. I had NO idea! We should start a support group :) My friend, Michelle, just forwarded me this article on "The Frisky" that you need to read. It's encouraging to know that there are women out there (and probably men, too) who have outgrown their childhood friends, recently moved, changed lifestyles, etc. and are looking for new girlfriends. I think the main component of the desire is not just a friend you can grab a cup of coffee with, but someone who you don't need to explain the back story every time something great happens in your life. Just because we have loved ones in our life doesn't mean we don't need friends!

Happy Hunting!

Restaurant Week

Clearly I haven't been on here in a while to post updates on my friend search. With my sister's babies shower in New York and changing jobs (new friend potential!), I've been moving through the motions of life. So, now that my life is a bit less stressful, I wanted to give a suggestion for making new friends AND to say that I still plan on explaining my first encounter with meetup.com. Perhaps I'll do that writeup next Tuesday after my first book club meeting through the aforementioned Web site.

I would like to offer the suggestion for our "Trial & Error" section: attend your local Restaurant Week! I know this seems like a simple idea, one that you've probably already entertained, but hear me out on this one. If you invite one friend, and they invite another, who then invites another, you now have two new people to meet and an intimate setting to get to know them! Most cities now have its very own week to encourage you to spend money at a new restaurant (just do a Google search for your city). And this year, with the economy being in the crapper, San Diego has decided to add a few restaurants with $20 menus. So, now you get to choose to pay between $20, $30, and $40 for appie, entree, and dessert.

I'm super excited for tonight's dinner! I'm trying out a new restaurant (aptly named Restaurant at The Pearl Hotel) and for the cherry on top of my treat, I'll be meeting two new people. Hooray for Mission: Widen Circle of Friends!

Yes, I'm a cheeseball, which if we're not friends yet you will soon learn ;) Happy hunting and happy fall!!!