How To Make New Friends In Chicago

Chicago is a wonderful place to create and develop friendships. It abounds with activities. It boasts approximately 30 miles of lake front and beaches, not to mention Millennium Park, Navy Pier and numerous cultural events and restaurants.

Now, how do you make friends so you can go out and enjoy all of this?

First check out this web site, http://www.meetup.com

Put in Chicago and your zip code. You can join a group based on your interests such as dining, sports, travel and wine tasting. When your group has an event, you will be notified. You can also start your own group.

Second, check out the Discovery Center, 2940 N. Lincoln, phone: 773.348.8120. http://www.discoverycenter.com

Here, you can take short term, moderately priced classes on just about anything.

Third, if you like to dance or would like to learn how, go to http://www.ballroomchicago.com

This site lists all the dance lessons and dance events in the Chicago-land area. Dancing is a fun way to meet and socialize with people.

Finally, do some volunteer work. One site that lists volunteer opportunities is http://www.idealist.org.

One of my favorite organizations for volunteering is Blind Services Association, located at 17 N. State Street in Chicago. Phone: 312.236.0808. Volunteers read material such as mail and books to people who are blind or visually impaired. The staff is friendly and will welcome you warmly.

Another volunteer opportunity is through the Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing program, http://www.juddgoldmansailing.org/ This organization is located at Burnham Harbor. It teaches people with disabilities how to sail using specially adapted sail boats. Volunteers learn to sail. They assist the sailing instructors and the crew. They also assist at cruise events and races. What a way to spend an afternoon sailing on Lake Michigan!