9 Excellent Ways to Make New Friends in a City ...

If you’re looking for a simple way to make new friends in a city, it can be as easy as showing off your pearly whites. Smiling makes you instantly approachable, especially to fellow newbies searching for a neat new coffee shop. Let’s face it: would you walk up to someone who looked like she wanted to chew you up? Think about that the next time you’re out and about.

By that same token, if you keep your arms crossed and your eyes are constantly rolling, people will be less likely to invite you in to their group. No one likes a Debbie Downer. And even if you’re bright and sunny on the inside, negative body language can make you appear uninterested or downright mean. Uncross those arms, ladies!

A quick way to make new friends in a city is to ask the right questions. No, that doesn’t mean you should follow city dwellers around and ask them where the nearest McDonalds is. Instead, drop by a local bakery and ask the guy or gal ahead of you in line what they’d recommend trying. If you both can’t live without a good brownie, for example, strike up a conversation and offer up your cell phone number. Voila!

A word to the wise: devouring mozzarella sticks in a restaurant in the middle of Times Square isn’t such a great idea. It’ll make you look like a clueless tourist and you’ll be overcharged to boot. Plus, tourist-ridden areas tend to be overcrowded and no city slicker would stick around to chat. I’d recommend conducting a quick online search before you go out; this way, you’ll know what you’re getting yourself into. Ah, the power of Google.

If you need a way to make new friends in a city but tend to be painfully shy, you should sign up for an online dating profile. Even if you’re not looking to meet your soul mate just yet, creating an okcupid.com account will allow you to meet new people in your city –just be sure to let them know you’re on the hunt for new friends. A major plus is that you can fill in an About Me section and list your interests, so those who contact you are already interested in being your new friends. If you’re uncomfortable with that, you can join a meetup.com group instead. There’s one for just about every type of chick out there, I promise. So what are you waiting for?

If you’re up for an immediate in-person meeting, join a local group. As a Manhattanite, I can attest to the fact that cities have groups for anything and everything. Whether you’re religious, a book nerd, or a social justice activist, there is a group for you. Check your local paper, craigslist.org, or do a little Google snooping for more details.

As an avid volunteer, I know that this is a surefire way to make new friends in a city. You’ll meet countless new people, work for causes you care about, and boost up your resume. It’s a sweet deal, right? The best part about volunteering is that you can usually set your own schedule. To score a gig, identify an organization and search online for an office in your new city. Chances are, you’ll get lucky!

You’ve been best friends with Tina for the past 10 years. Tina’s married to Jeff. Jeff has buddies in your new city who would be happy to be your new pals. See how easy that was? Don’t hesitate to ask childhood friends or former neighbors if they have the connections you need. You might just have this one in the bag!

So you’ve had a few chats with a co-worker or fellow volunteer and you’ve really connected. Don’t be afraid to make that first phone call or send that first Facebook message. If he or she turns you down, move on to someone who wouldn’t dream of saying no to a movie night or shopping trip. ‘Cause you deserve pals who treat you right.

Now that you know a few of the top ways to make new friends in a city, get out there and make an impact. Which tips will you be using? What has worked for you in the past?

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