Modern life for the busy New Yorker doesn’t have its own definition – it is simply a natural state of being. Rarely is your focus ever on just one to-do item. Whether it be checking emails en route to your office, ordering your grocery delivery during your run in Central Park, or Hinge-ing multiple prospects at once. Frankly, the latter sounds exhausting and much too time-consuming with little return. Statistically, online daters have a bleak 9-12% success rate and are 15% more likely than the national average to divorce than those who meet organically, or through a reputable, high-end matchmaking service. For members of Ambiance Matchmaking, going the professional route to meet other like-minded, high-caliber, serious-minded singles has resulted in 94 percent of them finding their forever match!
However, if you’re dead set on meeting other singles at your level on your very own, it means taking the time to engage with others “IRL”, and possibly devote yourself to one or two pastimes (outside of work!) so that your chances of getting in front of more people increase. And, as we all know…dating is a numbers game.
Below you will find ten unique ways to meet singles organically in NYC. And before you ask, yes…people do still meet this way. Under each general category, we list our favorite organizations, websites, and groups to narrow down the research for you. Do you have a recommendation or two to add to the list? Leave us a comment!
1. Sports Leagues
Volo Sports
Volo is a great way to get physical in the fresh air, meet new friends, and if you’re lucky, your next great love! Volo also offers kids leagues as well, for any of you single parents. With several locations and 12 sports options throughout the year, Volo also hosts many co-ed events sure to help you get your sweat and socializing on!
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Meetup
Meetup has long been the go-to online catalog for interests that suit anyone’s fancy, opening the doors to meeting other minglers who enjoy the same pastimes, from quirky to mainstream. Just create a free account, then enter your parameters to join any sporting league of your choosing. You can even scope out the other members to see if anyone catches your eye at a glimpse. Just remember, photos aren’t everything!
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2. Social Clubs
The Ned
One of NYC’s newest members-only clubs and hotels includes a rooftop bar and terrace restaurant. Application for membership is available on their website, and upon acceptance, gives you access to members-only events both on- and off-site such as live music, rooftop parties, immersive experiences, and more. Members also receive discounts on their hotel rooms globally.
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NeueHouse
Branded “A Community of the Curious”, this trendy, modern co-working collective markets to creators, innovators, and thought leaders, allowing professionals to socialize, connect, and even work together to bring a sense of community back into our digital existence. With memberships starting at $3,200 per year, NeueHouse members enjoy full access to their refined private work and meeting spaces 8 business days per month, unlimited access to their restaurants, gathering spaces, cultural programming across all Houses, and more.
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Convene – Social Club + Workspace
Convene’s beautiful members-only designed co-work spaces provide work-from-home professionals an opportunity to leave the confines of their high-rise homesteads to be in the physical presence of other people…the “old-fashioned” way. Boasting onsite culinary services, and unlimited snacks, and beverages, members also have access to a range of interests and networking opportunities via a curated events calendar hosted by Convene.
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3. Volunteering
SCORE NYC
For more than 50 years, this nonprofit organization is dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentoring. A great way to meet other community-minded singles, volunteering is a generous way to ignite a bond with other thoughtful, kind-hearted samaritans.
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Habitat for Humanity
With roots dating back to 1984, this organization is the largest builder of Habitat homes in the Northeast, with more than 380 homes and more than 5,000 volunteers under its belt. Now building in the Bronx, Staten Island, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens, helping your community alongside other service-minded people is a beautiful way to forge a meaningful connection.
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New York Cares
Founded in 1987, New York Cares enables more than 54,000 volunteers each year to serve on flexibly-scheduled, team-based projects serving schools, social service agencies, and other organizations. Volunteers tutor children, feed the hungry, assist people living with HIV/AIDS, revitalize gardens, take homeless children on recreational outings, visit the elderly, and so much more. This is a great spot to meet genuine, altruistic individuals…and these types of people tend to make caring partners.
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4. Training Groups
NYRR Group Training
Geared toward local runners of all levels, this group offers coaching, camaraderie, and the joy that comes from sharing your love for running with others.
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Mile High Run Club
Perfect for new and elite runners alike, this club has been featured in a variety of top publications and provides a motivating, fun training experience that allows runners to train side by side with expert coaching.
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Session NYC
This welcoming, elitist-free training club with rave reviews pairs functional strength, conditioning, and circuit training with a community for a holistic, total-body, and inclusive experience.
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5. Food & Drink
Cocu Social NYC
Hosted by top chefs and amazing venues in many locations across NYC, this decadent, fun, social cooking class has a variety of menu items available from which to choose.
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Taste Buds Kitchen
Pique your culinary curiosity with one of their regularly scheduled adult cooking classes. No prior experience is needed – just grab a date or friend (or heck, meet a new potential date there) and come ready for a good time.
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6. Community Events
Meetup
For 20 years, Meetup has been the go-to spot for sourcing a plethora of singles events, community gatherings, and more. Just create a free account, enter your parameters and meet other singles no matter what your interests.
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New York Times Events Page
That’s right, this 170-year-old publication may be as far as you need to go to find plenty of unique, varied social events that you can receive alerts about, by subscribing directly on their website.
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7. Networking Events
Eventbrite
Eventbrite’s website is an extensive catalog featuring a variety of networking events spanning all industries, across all of NYC’s many neighborhoods, and is very easy to navigate. Keep an open mind, mingle and see what transpires with a new stranger.
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8. Professional Organizations
Young Professionals Organization NYC
This highly elite, members-only professional organization is extremely difficult to get into, but if you’re game for trying your hand at making it into this 71-person-max club, it may just be well worth the connections, both personally and professionally, that you will undoubtedly make.
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Meetup
Yet again, with two decades in cyberspace operation, Meetup has a profusion of networking events specified to your interests, but this is one of the largest of its category, comprised of 1,071 members. It’s OK to admit you kinda want to scope out the other attendees’ profiles to catch a glimpse of who might just be the next love of your life – and hopefully the last!
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NYSN (New York Social Network)
Established in 2004, NYSN boasts more than 50 events per month in a variety of categories, for an abundance of interests. Imagine the possibilities…and that’s not including the people you could meet.
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9. Animal Lovers
Meetup
Not to repeat ourselves, but Meetup has been alive and well for as long as the Internet was practically a thing, so…we have to give a shout-out to Meetup yet again for being the best resource for mingling with other fur baby families. Who doesn’t think that chemistry flying over a shared love of animals is easy to understand? These social opportunities aren’t only limited to dog lovers, though. A variety of events are at your disposal that initiates connections with other bird lovers, dog lovers, and every other creature-lover in between.
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10. Intellectuals
Book Club
The East Village’s independent bookstore and bar titled Book Club hosts events such as “Books & Burlesque,” “Drinking and Drawing,” and “Poetry in New York.” Every Thursday they also organize a Literary Trivia Night. As the name suggests, they also run a book club titled Book Club² run by the bar’s staff. Interested participants should sign up as soon as possible since the allowed number of participants is limited. Check out all of their events here.
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