Lehigh Valley Style | The Ultimate Guide to Meeting People

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO MEETING PEOPLE

: BUDDY UP THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO MEETING PEOPLE B Y D A I S Y W I L L I S // W I T H C O N T R I B U T I O N S F R O M K R I S T E N W A G N E R

As other priorities start taking the lion’s share of our time, many adults find friendship falling by the wayside.

And a global pandemic that necessitated social distancing certainly didn’t help. Getting back in the game or expanding our circle may take effort, but studies have shown that feeling isolated and lonely can be just as harmful to our health as drinking, smoking and obesity. So how do we add friendship back to our to-do lists?

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF FRIENDSHIP GET TO KNOW YOURSELF.

CHASE PASSIONS, NOT PEOPLE. BE INTERESTED. RECONNECT.

START SOMETHING.

Looking for friends with similar interests isn’t much help when you’ve lost touch with what your interests are! Take an inventory of what you enjoy doing, want to do more of and what you want to learn or get into. You could share a love of cooking with themed potluck dinner parties, explore your love of history with day trips to historical sites or gather buddies to do a craft beer swap.

Building relationships takes time, so take the pressure off yourself by putting the focus on the activity you’re pursuing, and let friendships form in due course. This will help stave off anxiety as to whether you’re making friends fast enough.

That said, showing an interest in others and listening mindfully is foundational to any relationship. Not only do people love being listened to, giving attention to someone else helps relieve selfconsciousness. Something to think about if any social anxiety is slowing you down.

You probably have some friends or acquaintances already who could be a bigger part of your life. Maybe you’ve fallen out of touch or haven’t been able to move past the “We should totally hang out,” “Yeah, totally, let’s hang out” phase. Reach out to old friends if you miss them—you can start branching out into their network of friends and meet new people that way.

If you would love a group for a monthly brunch and crafting rotation, or a graphic novel book club, or a snail mail social, you’re probably not the only one. Make a Meetup, and they will come.

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In order to find people to laugh with, lounge with and learn new things with, here are a ton of venues and activities that will put you in touch with sociable folks who have common interests. Whether you’re looking to meet new faces or invite existing acquaintances to share these experiences, there’s no end to the options.

ONLINE RESOURCES Hiking and biking, campy movies and meditation, birdwatching and language learning—Meetup.com is the go-to online resource to find in-person get-togethers for every interest imaginable. Enthusiasm for meeting new people is baked into the whole concept, so all are welcome.

Online dating has been instrumental in hooking people up with compatible partners, and the app approach is also eager to assist in the platonic department. While friend-finders like Bumble BFF, Hey! VINA and Meet My Dog (dog required) might offer slim pickings outside metropolitan areas for now, the more we use them, the better they’ll be!

UBMe is a hyper-local app that was developed and launched in the Lehigh Valley. It’s a real-time communication network based on a shared specific location. Basically, users can check in somewhere (ranging from a local bar to a sporting event to a college campus) and immediately join a live chat with people who are also in that same place.

It’s a great way to make a connection with someone while you’re out—and because you’re in the same place or doing the same thing, there’s already a shared interest to connect upon. So much easier than initiating an awkward encounter! | ubme.com

THE GREAT OUTDOORS Afros in Nature is a collective that aims to connect Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) with nature. Past events have included paddleboarding, wildlife watching, indoor rock climbing, nature hikes, bike rides, book clubs and more. Every meetup begins with introductions, an ice breaker and the setting of intentions.

afrosinnature.org

If you’re looking to leave the shore, enjoy the beauty of nature while plying its waters with Lehigh Valley Kayak & Canoe Club. It’s one of the largest paddling clubs in the country, where you can get trained and join scheduled and pick-up trips throughout the year.

lehighvalleycanoeclub.org

Running can be a solitary sport, but it helps to have encouragement and accountability. Lehigh Valley Road Runners coordinates group runs and 5K participation for every level of runner so you can fly with a flock, plus plenty of social events to meet new friends. | lvrr.org

SONG & DANCE From the tinkling shimmies and sequins to the jiggle-positive perspective, belly dance is a fun and powerful art form. Bellydance Classes with Carmen in Emmaus are based on Egyptian tradition and offer a great environment for women to build each other up.

carmenbellydance.com Welcoming to newbies and experienced swing dancers alike, the Allentown Area Swing Dance Society meets every Tuesday night in the Fearless Starlight Ballroom to brush up on such frolics as West Coast Swing, East Coast Swing and the Country Two-Step.

allentownswingdance.org Salsa has a huge following from all walks of life. Join the rhythm through Lehigh Valley Salsa Social’s Friday night classes and regular dance meetups, whether you’re a beginner or already a passionate salsero.

lehighvalleysalsasocial.com Making chorus accessible to all who enjoy the harmony of human voices, Lehigh Valley Chorale is a coming together of people of all ages who simply love to sing. With no auditions, powerful performances and fun rehearsals, it’s easy to get involved and be part of something melodious.

lvchorale.org OUT in the Valley creates pop-up dance clubs and entertainment for members of the LGBTQ+ community to connect with one another. Allies, mentors, friends and youth are also invited to attend these quarterly events.

/outinthevalley

FUN & GAMES

ARTS & CULTURE

As a soccer fan in the U.S., you might feel a little lonely amid all the baseball and football fervor. Well, the American Outlaws bring passionate fans together to watch and attend men’s, women’s and junior national soccer teams. Grab a drink and watch a game with the group at their home base, Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub, and be among your own.

The perks of joining Allentown’s Miller Symphony Hall as a donor extend beyond helping to bring amazing concerts and educational outreach to the Valley. Donor events and receptions before each concert bring you together with other aficionados of amazing music.

/aobethlehem Put your heads together at one of the many, many trivia nights at local breweries, from Quakertown’s The Proper to Fegley’s Bethlehem Brew Works. Nothing satisfies like high-fiving because you correctly identified a 20-year-old jingle, and trivia topics make rich conversation material.

/theproperbrewing /bethlehem.brew.works Lehigh Valley Sports Leagues is now Heyday Athletic, our local chapter of an organization giving adults access to social sports from bar games and corn hole to soccer and basketball.

Stay active and revive the excitement of joining a team, forging friendships in benign battle.

millersymphonyhall.org Exclusive events and service opportunities reward members of the Allentown Art Museum’s Circle 31.

Connect with fellow donors you’ll know share your commitment to arts and culture.

allentownartmuseum.org Sounds safe to operate a pottery wheel while drinking, right? Classes in photography, printmaking, mosaics, events like the aforementioned Sip and Spin, and many more forays into creativity are available at The Art Establishment in Fountain Hill.

theartestablishmentstudios.com

heydayathletic.com/lehighvalley

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LOCAL LIBATIONS Now that beer is good, women are into it. The local chapter of Girls Pint Out makes craft beer part of every gathering. Let breweries be the backdrop for book club meetings, cookie decorating socials, happy hours and hikes.

girlspintout.org

McCarthy’s Red Stag Pub & Whiskey Bar hosts fun and educational monthly whiskey tastings led by their knowledgeable in-house Whisky Ambassadors and staff. This month, their Jam-O-Treat Whiskey Tasting features candyinfused Jameson cocktails prepared with in-house infusions and their own bakery-prepared homemade candy. It’s a great opportunity to sip, sample and get to know other aficionados.

redstagpub.com/whiskey-tastings

W.I.N.O.S. (Women in Need of Sisterhood) is creating a space and knowledge base where learning about viticulture can be both approachable and fun.

While members are based all over, the founder resides in Easton and the group regularly frequents many wineries and festivals in the Valley. The entire founding group is made up of Women of Color, and W.I.N.O.S. was launched because of the lack of BIPOC representation that they noticed in the space.

The goal is to encourage a diverse appreciation of wine that is inclusive to all.

sisterhoodofwinos.com

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GENEROSITY OF SPIRIT The Savvy Single is a six-week course that helps women own their now by upgrading their self-image, strengthening their communication skills and breaking free from the toxic patterns of old relationships.

The course launches several times a year and is coached

by Allentown-based Michaela Parlett. Community is at the heart of this course, connecting like-minded women that celebrate each other without shame or judgment. Members are invited to join a private and engaging Facebook group where additional live chats and group coaching sessions are offered!

Many of the events and efforts to improve life and make things happen are volunteer-run.

From museums and historical societies to soup kitchens and fundraisers, there are endless opportunities to help out and meet people who care about the community. Check the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley to see where your strengths can serve.

volunteerlv.org

Friendship is a natural product of the Bacon & Lox Society’s raison d’être: elaborate gatherings, celebrations and events fueled by collaborative effort and shared experience.

Founder Alisa Tongg created her congregation to inspire the generosity that goes with the best incarnations of tradition and ceremony.

baconandloxsociety.com

PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING The Allentown Young Professionals offers not only a supportive community but a venue to join together in support of Allentown’s continued growth. What better way to meet people who care not only about their own passions but about also bettering the place they call home?

/allentownyoungprofessionals Meet and greets for professionals 35 and under are hosted by the Young Professionals Council, an effort to enhance the experience of those working in the Valley.

The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce also offers a Women’s Business Council and LGBTQ Business Council, among others, so you can find a networking niche that works for you.

@thesavvysingle

lehighvalleychamber.org For creative entrepreneurs who like their business with a big dose of beauty, The Rising Tide Society’s local TuesdaysTogether chapter meets monthly to support and inspire each other, tackling topics like Personal Branding, Money Mindset and Self-Care. Are you a designer, florist, photographer, event planner, artist or aspiring to a creative career? Find friends who know the struggle (and the satisfaction!) here.

/risingtidelv

BENEFITS OF A GOOD FRIEND:

1

Help you get through hard times, illness and loss

2

Encourage you to achieve your goals

3 4 Lower stress and boost immunity

Improve longevity and happiness

SCORE is the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, and is dedicated to helping get small businesses off the ground, grow and achieve their goals. Did you know there’s a SCORE Lehigh Valley chapter? If you’re launching a new business or managing an existing one, SCORE can provide expert advice and feedback through its mentoring program. While workshops are currently being held virtually due to COVID, members can still find the connection and motivation they’re seeking.

lehighvalley.score.org

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