How to Make Friends in Boston: Part 3 - Fall Edition

Your favorite How to Make Friends in Boston series is back with a little twist! Whether you’ve just moved to the city during the fall season or you’re looking for new pals to explore the beauty of Boston as it turns to shades of orange and red, this list has some ideas for how to put yourself out there and grow your community. 🎃

By Yelena Nicolle Salvador

1) Enjoy cozy activities

As the weather turns a bit cooler, you might be feeling the urge to begin to nest inside. No worries, there’s plenty of things to get you to meet folks as you huddle indoors.

• Check out Pottery With A Purpose, a lovely business that hosts make-your-own pottery mugs, vases, planters, and other containers. Most people come solo to these classes, which are usually small and intimate. It’s a fun way to create, sip on a brew while you channel your inner artist, and talk to your neighbor while having a laugh. Throughout the fall months, they host lots of events that are Halloween-themed like pumpkin pot making and a jack-o-lantern candle holder. 
• Test your knowledge with some trivia around Boston at a different place every day of the week. It’s a nice way to hide away from the impending cold and have a laugh with groups of people over random fun facts.
• Wine always seems to taste better when it’s a bit chilly out, so stop by local wine shops that are hosting fun social events. Bonde Fine Wine Shop has a weekly Friday Social Club series where four tables are available on a first-come first served basis, so you can enjoy a flight and light bites in an intimate setting. You can bring your own vinyls to add to the ambiance but it must be in line with their weekly theme. 
• Speaking of wine, learn about it in a judgment free zone at free weekly tastings. Local wine shops, like Georgie’s and Urban Grape, host regular classes to meet folks who want to get into the wine scene too.

2) Meet others at community reading spaces

Fall is the perfect time to swaddle up with a book. Grab a tea or a coffee and get ready to chat over your must-reads!

• Meet some fellow bookworms at local book clubs! In fact, the months of fall usually inspire book clubs to host spooky meetings about thrillers, mysteries, and other haunting novels. 
• Check out your favorite local bookstores who host pop-up book clubs and other events as well. For example, All She Wrote Books has lots of book club events at Juliet Social Club and Park-9. 
• In fact, stop by Side Quest Books and Games, a new woman-owned, fantasy-focused bookstore, that hosts regular monthly book clubs and fun events like “Cozy Hours” where you can vibe with other folks in a small, quiet, heartwarming space. 
• And the local favorite, Trident, hosts fun game nights, free movie showings, and other spooky activities like “Muder Mystery Dinners,” where you can meet new folks as you solve a classic whodunnit.
• Don’t forget to check out other Spooky Book Events in Boston.

3) Cheer on your favorite sports teams

If you’re looking for something fun and consistent, come cheer on your favorite sports teams at fun bars all over the city. As you sip on a brew, a cocktail, a mocktail, or a soda, and munch on some bar food noms, strike up some easy conversation with the people around you as you make some noise and rep your team.

• The Anchor hosts weekly Patriots Watch Parties and Notre Dame Watch Parties where you can enjoy waterfront views and some camaraderie. 
• If you’re looking for a different venue to cheer on your favorite teams, join Monday Night Football Watch Parties for free at Primitiv where each evening is capped at 75 guests to ensure an intimate setting to mix and mingle with folks.
• For even more options for all the football fans, put these 10 Weekly Watch Parties in Boston in your rotation.
• Check out these spots in Fenway that are great for watching games of all kinds!
• Some local favorite spots include: ParlorSports, Scores, Phoenix Landing, and Cathedral Station – each with their own weekly updates about what games will be on view!
• Keep your eyes peeled for more events too as different seasons start throughout the fall months — let’s cheer on our C’s as they go after Banner 19. 

4) Attend events for making new friends

Lots of local organizations are popping up to host more opportunities for folks to meet new people! Check out these experiences that are coming up in the fall months.

• Club Volo hosts regular events to connect with others. Join a league while trying a new sport (use ‘JOYRAFT’ for $10 off your first league), head to organized bar outings, and enjoy watch parties too. Don’t forget to stop by one of their free Pickleball Day Parties that happen every Saturday (the last one for this year is on Nov.2). 
• Strawberry Matcha is a new community group that’s hosting meet-ups for people to make friends. Head to their organized outing in Cambridge or at the Public Garden. Don’t forget to fill out their interest form, where they match you every month with a different group of 4-6 folks that they think ~vibe~.
• The local FB group, How to Make Friends After College, always hosts events that are usually in-theme with the season. Check their listings regularly for new experiences. Some fun ones coming up are a brewery social at Aeronaut Somerville and a foliage walk at Mt. Auburn Cemetery. 
• The Civic Discussion Meetup group adds a twist to meeting people with a common topic already chosen to break the ice. Head to their next event that is promptly named, “How to Make Friends in Boston?,” for a lively chat with strangers about how to build community. 
• Finally, Skip the Small Talk hosts some speed-friending events throughout the year! Head to upcoming experiences at Trident for one where you can meet folks across age groups or a 30s specific event. They bring the prompts, bring yourself and/or a friend!

No matter what you choose to explore, just remember to be yourself. A smile and a warm hello can get you far in any of these events, so take a breath and put yourself out there. Happy friend making! Check out Part 1 and Part 2 for other ideas.

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