Moving to a new city feels exciting at first - the skyline, the food, the energy. But after the boxes are unpacked and the novelty wears off, loneliness hits hard. Chicago isn’t like small towns where everyone knows your name. Here, you’ve got to build your own community. The good news? Chicago is full of people looking to connect, and the easiest way to find them is through clubs and classes.
Join a Book Club - But Not the Quiet Kind
Most people think book clubs are quiet, coffee-sipping gatherings. Chicago’s are different. The Chicago Book Club meets at local bars in Logan Square and has over 1,200 members. They don’t just talk about plot twists - they debate politics, share personal stories, and sometimes even organize pub crawls. You don’t need to have read the book. Just show up, say what you think, and ask someone else what they thought. That’s how friendships start.
Other options: Chicago Reads at the Harold Washington Library (free, every third Thursday) and Booked & Brewed in Wicker Park (pay $5, get a drink, talk for two hours). Both have waitlists. Sign up early.
Take a Class - Any Class
You don’t need to be good at something to start. You just need to show up. Chicago’s adult education scene is booming. The Chicago Cultural Center offers free weekly classes in everything from Polish embroidery to urban gardening. The Chicago Botanic Garden runs a 10-week Herb & Spice Cooking course that fills up in minutes. You’ll be chopping garlic next to a nurse from Ohio, a retired firefighter from Wisconsin, and a grad student from Nigeria.
Want something more active? Try Chicago Dance Collective - salsa, swing, or hip-hop. No experience needed. The instructors are patient, the music is loud, and the energy is contagious. You’ll sweat, laugh, and forget you’re new here.
Volunteer - It’s the Fastest Way to Belong
Volunteering isn’t charity. It’s connection. Chicago has over 300 organized volunteer groups. Feed the City serves meals downtown every Saturday. You’ll be packing sandwiches next to a 72-year-old retired teacher and a 24-year-old software engineer who just moved here last month. By the third week, you’ll know each other’s names. By the fifth, you’ll be texting about weekend hikes.
Other high-impact options: Chicago Riverwalk Cleanups (every second Sunday), Animal Rescue Chicago (foster dogs), and Chicago History Museum docent training (free, six-week course). These aren’t just tasks - they’re rituals that build trust.
Find Your Niche - Yes, Even the Weird Ones
Chicago has a club for almost every obscure interest. There’s a Board Game Night at a basement bar in Andersonville that’s been running since 2012. A Urban Foraging group that hikes parks looking for wild mushrooms and dandelions. A Stargazing group that meets on the roof of the Adler Planetarium. A Vintage Typewriter Collectors meetup in Wicker Park.
Don’t laugh - these are the places where real bonds form. You’re not just sharing a hobby. You’re sharing identity. If you’ve ever said, “I wish there was a group for people who ______,” there probably is one. Search Meetup.com for “Chicago” + your weird interest. Filter by “New Member Friendly.” Show up. Say hello.
Use Public Spaces - They’re Designed for This
Chicago’s parks aren’t just pretty. They’re social engines. Millennium Park has free yoga every morning. Lincoln Park hosts free concerts on summer nights. Grant Park has weekly pickleball tournaments. You don’t need gear - just show up with a water bottle and a smile.
Try the Chicago Public Library branches. They host Language Exchange tables (practice Spanish with a Polish immigrant, help a Chinese student with English). You’ll leave with a new friend and a new skill. No pressure. No cost.
Be Consistent - Not Perfect
One class. One meetup. One volunteer day. That’s not enough. You need rhythm. Go to the same book club every month. Take the same dance class. Show up for the same cleanup. People notice consistency. They start to expect you. And then, they invite you to their apartment for dinner.
It takes 3-5 visits before someone says, “You should meet my roommate.” That’s the moment you stop being new.
What Not to Do
- Don’t wait for someone to talk to you first. Start the conversation. Ask, “What brought you here?”
- Don’t skip events because you’re “too tired.” Show up even if you’re exhausted. Energy builds energy.
- Don’t compare yourself to others. Everyone here is trying to figure it out. You’re not behind.
Quick Starter List
Here are five groups to try this month:
- Chicago Book Club - Logan Square bar, every Tuesday
- Chicago Dance Collective - Salsa class, $10, every Wednesday at 7 PM
- Feed the City - Volunteer, every Saturday at 10 AM, Union Station
- Chicago Riverwalk Cleanups - Second Sunday, meet at Michigan Ave Bridge
- Language Exchange - Chicago Public Library, Logan Square branch, Thursdays 5-7 PM
You don’t need to join all of them. Pick one. Go. Talk to one person. Say your name. Ask theirs. That’s it. The rest follows.
It Gets Easier
After three months, you’ll know three people by name. After six, you’ll have a group. After a year, you’ll realize you didn’t just make friends - you built a home. Chicago doesn’t hand you community. You build it, one class, one club, one awkward hello at a time.
What if I’m shy and don’t know what to say?
Start simple. Ask, “How’d you end up in Chicago?” or “Have you been coming here long?” Most people love talking about how they got here. You’re not expected to be funny or deep. Just be curious. People respond to genuine interest, not performance.
Are these groups expensive?
Most aren’t. Book clubs and volunteer groups are free. Dance and cooking classes usually cost $10-$20. Many libraries and community centers offer free or sliding-scale options. If you’re on a tight budget, focus on public spaces - parks, libraries, and free museum nights. You’ll meet just as many people.
What if I try a few things and still feel alone?
It’s normal. Building connections takes time - often longer than you expect. Keep showing up, even if it feels pointless. The first few times are the hardest. After the fifth visit, people start recognizing you. That’s when the magic happens. Don’t quit before the breakthrough.
Can I meet people without joining anything?
Yes - but it’s harder. Small moments matter: chat with the barista at your local coffee shop, ask the neighbor about their dog, comment on a mural you like. These don’t lead to deep friendships right away, but they build familiarity. Over time, that familiarity turns into invitations - “Hey, you should come to the block party.”
Is there a best time of year to move to Chicago to make friends?
Spring and fall are ideal. People are outdoors, events are active, and everyone’s coming out of winter hibernation. But winter? That’s when the real connections form. People huddle together - at indoor book clubs, cooking classes, and volunteer kitchens. If you move in January, you’ll build deeper bonds faster than someone who moves in July.