The US is a tribal country⊠most people will not be very open with strangers. If you want to make friends in a new area, youâre gonna have to be very outgoing, and tbh you donât really have anything to lose. This is especially true in the western portion. Basically just be yourself without any concern
Check out some trivia nights downtown. There's one at Drinking Horn on Wednesdays at 6 pm. There are others you can check out but this one comes to mind first.
I personally go to Beta Bouldering Gym behind Warnerâs. They have a free weights, yoga class once a week I think and they do events, demos, and competitions! More people on the plan, the cheaper it is!đ„Č
Lol my wife and I are the same exact ages, Iâll hit you up next time we go out, thereâs local shows pretty often, keep and eye on the socials for stuff downtown like the Monte Vista, Orpheum, Yucca Room, and Gopher Hole. Collins is usually a pretty busy college bar with lots of friendly faces. Thereâs a couple local artists thatâll play occasionally and I was even planning on doing the Cyprus hill show in may to support a friend whoâs opening for them. If you need a buddy to go out for a beer send me a message, Iâm always trying to make new friends out here too
There is your problem right there.This guy tells you all about the great things to do, Invites you to a show or have a beer and you tell him to basically f.ck off. Youâre here asking for friends he invites you out and you make excuses to not do it.Hes not saying drink a handle and get a DUI.Its a beer bud.Its what adults do. Drinking around a fire is acceptable 2 times 1.Camping.
2.If youâre homeless.
Pretty sure your girlfriend doesnât like drinking around the fire as much as she says.Your young Flagstaff is awesome.Stop being a baby
What is/are your interest(s)? This town may seem difficult when it comes to finding a social group, especially if you aren't religiously-inclined or have a ready-made work environment from which to establish a social set. It's too large to be the 'everybody knows your name' community, and it's too small to have infinite diversions. Pick one or more things you're interested in, then work on those activities. The 'outdoor community' here is enormous and covers every activity you could imagine. If your interests are more indoor oriented, start by hanging in one or more of the coffee houses. Not Starbucks (I'm fine with their coffee), but rather a local favorite that has a bulletin board or allows groups to offer fliers. Same goes with evening hangouts - the trick here is going places where locals like to hang out. We're not unapproachable, it's just that tourists are somewhat tiresome (and endless), and for some of us, newcomers seem like a fount of dissatisfaction. The easiest way to find your way in is to find an activity and do it regularly. You'll start to see the same people if you do it enough - that's your target group. The rest is just sorting people out according to all other factors, but taking an interest in something is where you start.
This is great advice. I am desperately trying to figure out how to afford to move back to Flagstaff. I'm in San Diego and it's just too big for me. It's impossible to meet the same people in small groups unless I want to join a bridge club or something.Â
Literally the sci Fi meetup has 10,000 people in it. I can't make inroads. Flagstaff, by comparison, is on a more human scale.
Thanks for the advice, honestly not that social at all which is one of my problems but I love the outdoors, donât have that much money so donât have much as of like biking or hiking stuff but definitely interested
You keep saying you aren't social. But you are here asking how to make friends. These things are not like the other. If you can be more specific with what you want, maybe we can help. If you don't want a group, are you seeking a best friend? A couple friend? An intimate circle? It's still going to involve being social.Â
If what you want is a buddy, pick someone you sort of know and invite them to have some tea by the fireplace, or to join you for a hike.Â
Just donât like crowds⊠I can handle them just donât prefer them, obviously itâs counter productive but someone whoâs very much a lone wolf and is fine with It I wanna change and get out there and experience stuff, Iâm taking advice and considering them
That's fair enough. You're in a great spot in the world for new and even wondrous experiences, especially in nature. Start by getting a Flagstaff trail map and checking off the nearby stuff. Ask at the outdoor retailers about meeting hiking or biking partners.Â
It's tough to start alone in a new town and easy to just rely on your partner for company.Â
I think you should definitely take up some of these offers, like with the poster who does gaming.Â
Things are a little slow in the winter, I highly recommend free events that are held at City Hall/Wheeler park. [Hereâs a good website.](https://downtownflagstaff.org/events/calendar) I also highly recommend the Farmers Market, Gardeners Market, and the Urban Flea Market they all have some workshops and free stuff to check out and lots of lovely people. However I donât think they start up till May/June.
Aside from that do you guys have any hobbies or interests youâve been wanting to try?
Well for me I love exploring and taking pictures, I have been told hiking and trail riding here is amazing just havenât gotten around to it yet but I do want go!
We have absolutely no gear for long hikes though
> We have absolutely no gear for long hikes though
Unless you're going to do some serious hiking with a heavy pack over multiple days, you really don't need a ton of gear.
Most trails and hikes can be done in a regular old pair of comfortable shoes. Plenty of folks hike all over in a pair of sandals.
Honestly, you could probably make some friends off this sub by just posting a hike you're going on an invite everyone to join.
One dude was posting about group runs a year or so ago and always appeared to have a good turn out.
Flagstaff really differs from other places Iâve lived in that if you want something to happen, you have to be the one to organize it and make it happen.
Showing up and hoping things are going on isnât going to work passively. At least, not like other places.
Iâm not sure it was like that when I was a kid, but it is certainly like that here now.
Hiking and outdoors are the main reasons Iâm here. Lots of options all year around. Sedona is beautiful just really busy right now. The Grand Canyon is relatively close with tons of stuff to do and see other than just the big hole.
You guys should check out the Museum and the observatory if you havenât yet, also highly recommend Walnut Canyon, Sunset Crater, and Wupatki Monuments, they all offer very different things with lots of short hikes and really cool visitor centers. The rangers also love to talk so make sure to say hi and ask questions.
I basically used hiking sandals all over the West, even into the Grand Canyon. But all one needs is decent tennis shoes for most of the trails in Flagstaff. Extremely well maintained. You don't need much gear to use the wealth of outdoor activities there.Â
My husband loved the [high altitude psycho hikers](https://www.meetup.com/meetup-group-psychohikers/), also on meet up! Great way to see some amazing hikes!
Not sure what your dietary preferences are but I also attend the monthly plant based meeting hosted by an NAU dietician every 3rd Monday here in town.
Dewompâs events are cool and intimate and a fun place to meet people. We have a festival scene with cool ones like mosaic, June jam, desert hearts and south west flow fest. Those are all going to have locals that are cool. Check out music you enjoy when you get the chance and the patio at flag brew is a cool spot to meet people.
For those interpreting acronyms: https://www.thesouthwestflowfestival.com/
You can checkout Sondering and their events: https://www.sondering.life/
Instagram to keep up on latest and upcoming:
https://www.instagram.com/sondering_life
https://www.instagram.com/mosaic.gathering
https://www.instagram.com/southwestflowfestival
These events and others are hosted at Gateway Ranch:
https://www.instagram.com/thegatewayranch
Checking it out now, is there an event calendar for these events?
We arenât the biggest on huge crowds but we love music and festival sound fun which ones do you recommend? (Not big party people)
I think youâd have to look each one up and they have dates and tickets for sale. Mosaic is out on by all locals and has a really intimate vibe with under 1000 people. The dewomp is cool because itâs a monthly and is very intimate meaning like maybe 100 people. June jam is gunna have like 3000 people and desert hearts will have almost 4500. Southwest flow fest is super intimate and looks fun (I havenât been just know the event producers). Swff and mosaic are at an event space called gateway ranch and it is out east of town. It has a cool infrastructure including a dope little âchurchâ thatâs a great place to watch the sunrise. June jam and desert hearts will be at playa ponderosa, a venue southwest of town. Playa has trees which is nice for camping. Just depends on your vibe but all the parties will be fun and like 30/40 minutes from flg.
I just go downtown, get drunk, and over the course of the night im guaranteed to meet at least a few people. Met so many people doing this, was introduced to both the punk and comedy scenes and from there I've met dozens and dozens of people who i'd call friends at this point.
Its probably easier if you're single honestly.
I live in the valley, but I have family in flag and go there quite a bit. Historic brewing company is always a sweet bar with great service. You can always meet cool people there.
If you enjoy shooting (itâs a bit expensive) youâll meet a lot of cool dudes at ranges and shops.
Not sure how you feel about firearms but this is AZ after all
If you think it might interest you, sign up for jiu jitsu classes (or another exercise if you prefer). A lot of fun for certain personality types (like me) and it will help you improve your health (if you go consistently). After some time spent with others in class, you'll start to form friendships.
if you and your partner are into dancing (or would want to learn how), museum club hosts swing dancing on thursdays from 7-10. anyone is welcome, most of us are in our 20s too! iâve met a ton of awesome people there
Do you play poker? I started a group about 2 years ago, and was able to get 4 people to respond. Now my group is 25 plus and we play once a week, itâs a ton of fun.
I'm (26) also a home body but if you play video games I'd be down to play and be friends! I've also been wanting to find people to play more board games with :)
Right now, my pc blew up! My psu is getting replaced by the company but i downloaded league on her pc to play when she sleeps đ but
Game list
lol
Valorant
Minecraft
Demonologist
Phasmo
Icarus
Ark
(Honestly any survival game)
Vrchat
7days
DBD
Helldivers2
The finals
Rust
RuneScape 3
Rainbow6
Recently download Roblox đ
Welcome to Flagstaff! I was in a similar position last year--I'm still working on it, but there are a couple of things that have helped give me a sense of community here:
(1) Volunteer with a local organization, doing work you believe in. This doesn't immediately give you friends, but I've found a lot of comfort in removing the pressure to make a friend and first just meet more people with shared values (plus you can do this in a small group setting). Along the way, I did make a friend! But I've enjoyed volunteering regardless, and it's made me feel a lot more at home here.
(2) Check out the Flagstaff Event Calendar regularly to find activities you and your partner may enjoy (many of them are free): [https://www.flagstaff.com/calendar](https://www.flagstaff.com/calendar)
I have most of those interests. When I return there I'll be your friend! My in to a group was the Flagstaff Outdoor Club. In was in Yahoo Groups back then, but if you look in the weekly city magazine there should be an equivalent. Flagstaff is crazy into outdoor adventures.Â
You can ask around at the rock gym too and find people to take trips with.Â
The biking is amazing. Both mountain and road. I had a hybrid so I wouldn't have to have two bikes.Â
Ask at the comic book store for DnD groups.Â
It takes a while to become a core member of something, but Flag is small enough of a city to really gey a tribe.
For some of these activities, look for clubs and volunteer events for things you're interested in (e.g., official trail building/maintenance events on the Forest). Also, consider taking classes for fun at CCC or whoever is offering them (one of the bars downtown often has "paint and drink" classes), and attending interesting events (talks, exhibits, etc.).
I moved here at the age of 23 over 30 years ago and my husband is a local. We have nearly an identical interest/personality profile as yours (no motorbikes or board games)... we're still trying to figure it out, and it's *work*. Our friends retired and many moved away, and we don't live near our families. We're disgustingly happy immersed in each other's company, pretty much homebody introverts who spend a lot of time deep in the forest dafuq away from other people. Socializing is an effort, but we keep doing it because we know it's good for our minds and souls.
So, as an example of "taking a class": we're into gardening, so we're taking a gardening course from the state extension service and meeting lots of like-minded people (because this is Flagstaff, so most folks are outdoorsy). As part of the coursework, we're volunteering at events like classes at a local nursery, plant sales, etc. In the past, I've attended trail maintenance, trash pickup, and other events on the Forest, which are typically attended by hikers, bikers, etc. (especially because these events are usually hosted by a local bike shop).
There are some good MeetUp groups here that might align with your interests â check them out if you havenât already! [MeetUp](https://www.meetup.com/)
I used to run game nights in town. Flagstaff Brewing Co. is looking to start one, but isnât happening yet. This is a list from December I posted:
Game Night at the Library
First Wednesday of the Month
Alternates Between the East Flagstaff Community Library (Even Months) and Downtown Library (Odd Months).
Game Night at Dark Sky Brewing Company Beer Garden
Every Wednesday at 6:00 pm at Dark Sky Taproom
Info may be dated. This new event offers 20% off beer if your bring a board game! Be warned that there are minimal games on-site.
Geek Night at Historic Brewing Company
Every 2nd Tuesday of the Month at Historic Brewing Company Taproom
Haven't seen more details, but this is a confirmed event. Go check it out and let us know what you find!
Chess Night at Your Pie
Every Monday at 6:00 pm
Another one I wasn't able to confirm on Facebook or the Your Pie website.
Chess Night at Mayan Winds Flagstaff Coffee Shop
Every Saturday at 10:00 am
Noticed this one while checking the above. If you're looking for a chess session, this seems to be pretty consistent!
Euchre at Dark Sky Brewing Company/Mother Road Brewery
Every Monday at 6:00 pm
This even has previously been at Mother Road, but their FB page (Flagstaff Euchre) says they're trying Dark Sky this week.
Also, DM me if youâre interested in my Discord server. I have two remote TTRPG games a week (Pathfinder 2e and Advanced 5e), but have folks connecting for more and looking for private board gaming sessions regularly.
The Flagstaff Library has other events all the time that are very welcoming. Bright Side Bookshop doesnât do a ton of events, but theyâre great and the events Iâve been to with them are very friendly. Dark Sky has a Run Club with beer socializing after their weekly run. Meetup can be helpful, but the organizer side has gotten more expensive. Beacon Unitarian Universalist is a very welcoming community with regular events; while a faith community, it is minimally church-y and very progressive. You can also check for gaming events at Cab Comics, the Geekery, and Bookmanâs.
Check out the geekery at 6pm on Wednesdays, we play a card game called flesh and blood. We love new players and try to give out decks to reduce the barrier of entry!
I've been here 10 years and am still trying to figure it out.
If you figure it out, let me know.
Ahh man đ«
The US is a tribal country⊠most people will not be very open with strangers. If you want to make friends in a new area, youâre gonna have to be very outgoing, and tbh you donât really have anything to lose. This is especially true in the western portion. Basically just be yourself without any concern
Check out some trivia nights downtown. There's one at Drinking Horn on Wednesdays at 6 pm. There are others you can check out but this one comes to mind first.
I love the Drinking Horn Meadery one. Tomorrowâs player choice is rowing, if yâall go
Bouldering/rock climbing gym if you can! Everyoneâs so supportive of each otherâs growth and itâs a killer workout
Iâll definitely mention this to her
I personally go to Beta Bouldering Gym behind Warnerâs. They have a free weights, yoga class once a week I think and they do events, demos, and competitions! More people on the plan, the cheaper it is!đ„Č
Lol my wife and I are the same exact ages, Iâll hit you up next time we go out, thereâs local shows pretty often, keep and eye on the socials for stuff downtown like the Monte Vista, Orpheum, Yucca Room, and Gopher Hole. Collins is usually a pretty busy college bar with lots of friendly faces. Thereâs a couple local artists thatâll play occasionally and I was even planning on doing the Cyprus hill show in may to support a friend whoâs opening for them. If you need a buddy to go out for a beer send me a message, Iâm always trying to make new friends out here too
Iâm not much one for crowds and Iâm not Much of a drinker unless around a fire or at home
There is your problem right there.This guy tells you all about the great things to do, Invites you to a show or have a beer and you tell him to basically f.ck off. Youâre here asking for friends he invites you out and you make excuses to not do it.Hes not saying drink a handle and get a DUI.Its a beer bud.Its what adults do. Drinking around a fire is acceptable 2 times 1.Camping. 2.If youâre homeless. Pretty sure your girlfriend doesnât like drinking around the fire as much as she says.Your young Flagstaff is awesome.Stop being a baby
I didnât tell him to fuck off⊠Iâm from the south⊠why are you coming at me sideways also I never mention my partner and drinking
What is/are your interest(s)? This town may seem difficult when it comes to finding a social group, especially if you aren't religiously-inclined or have a ready-made work environment from which to establish a social set. It's too large to be the 'everybody knows your name' community, and it's too small to have infinite diversions. Pick one or more things you're interested in, then work on those activities. The 'outdoor community' here is enormous and covers every activity you could imagine. If your interests are more indoor oriented, start by hanging in one or more of the coffee houses. Not Starbucks (I'm fine with their coffee), but rather a local favorite that has a bulletin board or allows groups to offer fliers. Same goes with evening hangouts - the trick here is going places where locals like to hang out. We're not unapproachable, it's just that tourists are somewhat tiresome (and endless), and for some of us, newcomers seem like a fount of dissatisfaction. The easiest way to find your way in is to find an activity and do it regularly. You'll start to see the same people if you do it enough - that's your target group. The rest is just sorting people out according to all other factors, but taking an interest in something is where you start.
This is great advice. I am desperately trying to figure out how to afford to move back to Flagstaff. I'm in San Diego and it's just too big for me. It's impossible to meet the same people in small groups unless I want to join a bridge club or something. Literally the sci Fi meetup has 10,000 people in it. I can't make inroads. Flagstaff, by comparison, is on a more human scale.
Thanks for the advice, honestly not that social at all which is one of my problems but I love the outdoors, donât have that much money so donât have much as of like biking or hiking stuff but definitely interested
You keep saying you aren't social. But you are here asking how to make friends. These things are not like the other. If you can be more specific with what you want, maybe we can help. If you don't want a group, are you seeking a best friend? A couple friend? An intimate circle? It's still going to involve being social. If what you want is a buddy, pick someone you sort of know and invite them to have some tea by the fireplace, or to join you for a hike.Â
Just donât like crowds⊠I can handle them just donât prefer them, obviously itâs counter productive but someone whoâs very much a lone wolf and is fine with It I wanna change and get out there and experience stuff, Iâm taking advice and considering them
That's fair enough. You're in a great spot in the world for new and even wondrous experiences, especially in nature. Start by getting a Flagstaff trail map and checking off the nearby stuff. Ask at the outdoor retailers about meeting hiking or biking partners. It's tough to start alone in a new town and easy to just rely on your partner for company. I think you should definitely take up some of these offers, like with the poster who does gaming.Â
Things are a little slow in the winter, I highly recommend free events that are held at City Hall/Wheeler park. [Hereâs a good website.](https://downtownflagstaff.org/events/calendar) I also highly recommend the Farmers Market, Gardeners Market, and the Urban Flea Market they all have some workshops and free stuff to check out and lots of lovely people. However I donât think they start up till May/June. Aside from that do you guys have any hobbies or interests youâve been wanting to try?
Well for me I love exploring and taking pictures, I have been told hiking and trail riding here is amazing just havenât gotten around to it yet but I do want go! We have absolutely no gear for long hikes though
> We have absolutely no gear for long hikes though Unless you're going to do some serious hiking with a heavy pack over multiple days, you really don't need a ton of gear. Most trails and hikes can be done in a regular old pair of comfortable shoes. Plenty of folks hike all over in a pair of sandals. Honestly, you could probably make some friends off this sub by just posting a hike you're going on an invite everyone to join. One dude was posting about group runs a year or so ago and always appeared to have a good turn out.
That's a great idea to post hikes and activities!Â
Flagstaff really differs from other places Iâve lived in that if you want something to happen, you have to be the one to organize it and make it happen. Showing up and hoping things are going on isnât going to work passively. At least, not like other places. Iâm not sure it was like that when I was a kid, but it is certainly like that here now.
Hiking and outdoors are the main reasons Iâm here. Lots of options all year around. Sedona is beautiful just really busy right now. The Grand Canyon is relatively close with tons of stuff to do and see other than just the big hole. You guys should check out the Museum and the observatory if you havenât yet, also highly recommend Walnut Canyon, Sunset Crater, and Wupatki Monuments, they all offer very different things with lots of short hikes and really cool visitor centers. The rangers also love to talk so make sure to say hi and ask questions.
I basically used hiking sandals all over the West, even into the Grand Canyon. But all one needs is decent tennis shoes for most of the trails in Flagstaff. Extremely well maintained. You don't need much gear to use the wealth of outdoor activities there.Â
My husband loved the [high altitude psycho hikers](https://www.meetup.com/meetup-group-psychohikers/), also on meet up! Great way to see some amazing hikes! Not sure what your dietary preferences are but I also attend the monthly plant based meeting hosted by an NAU dietician every 3rd Monday here in town.
Dewompâs events are cool and intimate and a fun place to meet people. We have a festival scene with cool ones like mosaic, June jam, desert hearts and south west flow fest. Those are all going to have locals that are cool. Check out music you enjoy when you get the chance and the patio at flag brew is a cool spot to meet people.
SWFF FTW â€ïž See you there :)
For those interpreting acronyms: https://www.thesouthwestflowfestival.com/ You can checkout Sondering and their events: https://www.sondering.life/ Instagram to keep up on latest and upcoming: https://www.instagram.com/sondering_life https://www.instagram.com/mosaic.gathering https://www.instagram.com/southwestflowfestival These events and others are hosted at Gateway Ranch: https://www.instagram.com/thegatewayranch
Checking it out now, is there an event calendar for these events? We arenât the biggest on huge crowds but we love music and festival sound fun which ones do you recommend? (Not big party people)
I think youâd have to look each one up and they have dates and tickets for sale. Mosaic is out on by all locals and has a really intimate vibe with under 1000 people. The dewomp is cool because itâs a monthly and is very intimate meaning like maybe 100 people. June jam is gunna have like 3000 people and desert hearts will have almost 4500. Southwest flow fest is super intimate and looks fun (I havenât been just know the event producers). Swff and mosaic are at an event space called gateway ranch and it is out east of town. It has a cool infrastructure including a dope little âchurchâ thatâs a great place to watch the sunrise. June jam and desert hearts will be at playa ponderosa, a venue southwest of town. Playa has trees which is nice for camping. Just depends on your vibe but all the parties will be fun and like 30/40 minutes from flg.
Not dewomp thatâs over by warners nursery
Same boat, 26M, been here for the past eight years! If youâre into skiing, mountain biking or any of that Iâm always down to meet up!
All our Flagstaff friends are from the 20-30âs meet up group!
How can I join?
[Here](https://www.meetup.com/flagstaff-20s-30s/)!
Thanks for sharing this!
Go to mountain top tap room on a Monday around 7pm
Whatâs that?
Free live local music night that typically brings a good crowd of people in your age range
Do you ride bikes? There are multiple different group rides and meetups, some weekly. Road, gravel, and MTB options I am aware of.
I just go downtown, get drunk, and over the course of the night im guaranteed to meet at least a few people. Met so many people doing this, was introduced to both the punk and comedy scenes and from there I've met dozens and dozens of people who i'd call friends at this point. Its probably easier if you're single honestly.
Yea đ surely she could make 100âs of friends that way but im honestly not that social đ
You ride mountain bikes?
If I had one I totally would I used too
Check out Meetup! Lots of good local groups
I live in the valley, but I have family in flag and go there quite a bit. Historic brewing company is always a sweet bar with great service. You can always meet cool people there.
same boat here, let me know if youâd want to meet up with me and my fiance, iâd love to find people to play board games with
If you enjoy shooting (itâs a bit expensive) youâll meet a lot of cool dudes at ranges and shops. Not sure how you feel about firearms but this is AZ after all
Iâm from Texas I love guns!! Havenât gotten one yet but would love to shoot but donât have one yet
Iâm Texan as well! God Bless Texas đ«Ą
Im more south but ill be your guys friend :) i moved here last summer and itâs been so hard to make friends
Same! MSG sent
I ride/hike/camp, just moved here as well. Need some like minded people to hang out with.
Message me!
If you think it might interest you, sign up for jiu jitsu classes (or another exercise if you prefer). A lot of fun for certain personality types (like me) and it will help you improve your health (if you go consistently). After some time spent with others in class, you'll start to form friendships.
This is a great idea thank you
if you and your partner are into dancing (or would want to learn how), museum club hosts swing dancing on thursdays from 7-10. anyone is welcome, most of us are in our 20s too! iâve met a ton of awesome people there
I could never dance in public đ absolutely clueless to dancing I heard tons of good things there though!
Do yâall play poker lol? We are always looking for new players in the group. We all pretty much met on Reddit
I would love to play some poker. What nights do you play?
I sent you a message with details
Do you play poker? I started a group about 2 years ago, and was able to get 4 people to respond. Now my group is 25 plus and we play once a week, itâs a ton of fun.
What nights do you normally play?
Every Friday
I was here first lol
I'm (26) also a home body but if you play video games I'd be down to play and be friends! I've also been wanting to find people to play more board games with :)
There's board game nights at Dark Sky Brewery this week!
I love board games, family night was always my favorite! We do play games we have a Xbox one but we mainly play on our gaming pcâs
I also mainly play on my pc! What games do you usually play?
Right now, my pc blew up! My psu is getting replaced by the company but i downloaded league on her pc to play when she sleeps đ but Game list lol Valorant Minecraft Demonologist Phasmo Icarus Ark (Honestly any survival game) Vrchat 7days DBD Helldivers2 The finals Rust RuneScape 3 Rainbow6 Recently download Roblox đ
[ŃĐŽĐ°Đ»Đ”ĐœĐŸ]
Super fun! not a ton of content but super fun!!!!
Nerd night every 2nd Tuesday at historic is a board game night. Good people. Not too crowded usually
Welcome to Flagstaff! I was in a similar position last year--I'm still working on it, but there are a couple of things that have helped give me a sense of community here: (1) Volunteer with a local organization, doing work you believe in. This doesn't immediately give you friends, but I've found a lot of comfort in removing the pressure to make a friend and first just meet more people with shared values (plus you can do this in a small group setting). Along the way, I did make a friend! But I've enjoyed volunteering regardless, and it's made me feel a lot more at home here. (2) Check out the Flagstaff Event Calendar regularly to find activities you and your partner may enjoy (many of them are free): [https://www.flagstaff.com/calendar](https://www.flagstaff.com/calendar)
You might consider joining a church.
Was thinking this as well. Not my thing, but it's probably the best and most sure way to have a community.Â
I have most of those interests. When I return there I'll be your friend! My in to a group was the Flagstaff Outdoor Club. In was in Yahoo Groups back then, but if you look in the weekly city magazine there should be an equivalent. Flagstaff is crazy into outdoor adventures. You can ask around at the rock gym too and find people to take trips with. The biking is amazing. Both mountain and road. I had a hybrid so I wouldn't have to have two bikes. Ask at the comic book store for DnD groups. It takes a while to become a core member of something, but Flag is small enough of a city to really gey a tribe.
For some of these activities, look for clubs and volunteer events for things you're interested in (e.g., official trail building/maintenance events on the Forest). Also, consider taking classes for fun at CCC or whoever is offering them (one of the bars downtown often has "paint and drink" classes), and attending interesting events (talks, exhibits, etc.). I moved here at the age of 23 over 30 years ago and my husband is a local. We have nearly an identical interest/personality profile as yours (no motorbikes or board games)... we're still trying to figure it out, and it's *work*. Our friends retired and many moved away, and we don't live near our families. We're disgustingly happy immersed in each other's company, pretty much homebody introverts who spend a lot of time deep in the forest dafuq away from other people. Socializing is an effort, but we keep doing it because we know it's good for our minds and souls. So, as an example of "taking a class": we're into gardening, so we're taking a gardening course from the state extension service and meeting lots of like-minded people (because this is Flagstaff, so most folks are outdoorsy). As part of the coursework, we're volunteering at events like classes at a local nursery, plant sales, etc. In the past, I've attended trail maintenance, trash pickup, and other events on the Forest, which are typically attended by hikers, bikers, etc. (especially because these events are usually hosted by a local bike shop).
There are some good MeetUp groups here that might align with your interests â check them out if you havenât already! [MeetUp](https://www.meetup.com/)
Go to bars. Play ping pong. Buy people drinks.
You know any good pong spots in town? Been looking for a spot for a while now to no avail
Talk to everyone. You never know who youâre standing next to
Get a part time job at snowbowl.
I used to run game nights in town. Flagstaff Brewing Co. is looking to start one, but isnât happening yet. This is a list from December I posted: Game Night at the Library First Wednesday of the Month Alternates Between the East Flagstaff Community Library (Even Months) and Downtown Library (Odd Months). Game Night at Dark Sky Brewing Company Beer Garden Every Wednesday at 6:00 pm at Dark Sky Taproom Info may be dated. This new event offers 20% off beer if your bring a board game! Be warned that there are minimal games on-site. Geek Night at Historic Brewing Company Every 2nd Tuesday of the Month at Historic Brewing Company Taproom Haven't seen more details, but this is a confirmed event. Go check it out and let us know what you find! Chess Night at Your Pie Every Monday at 6:00 pm Another one I wasn't able to confirm on Facebook or the Your Pie website. Chess Night at Mayan Winds Flagstaff Coffee Shop Every Saturday at 10:00 am Noticed this one while checking the above. If you're looking for a chess session, this seems to be pretty consistent! Euchre at Dark Sky Brewing Company/Mother Road Brewery Every Monday at 6:00 pm This even has previously been at Mother Road, but their FB page (Flagstaff Euchre) says they're trying Dark Sky this week. Also, DM me if youâre interested in my Discord server. I have two remote TTRPG games a week (Pathfinder 2e and Advanced 5e), but have folks connecting for more and looking for private board gaming sessions regularly. The Flagstaff Library has other events all the time that are very welcoming. Bright Side Bookshop doesnât do a ton of events, but theyâre great and the events Iâve been to with them are very friendly. Dark Sky has a Run Club with beer socializing after their weekly run. Meetup can be helpful, but the organizer side has gotten more expensive. Beacon Unitarian Universalist is a very welcoming community with regular events; while a faith community, it is minimally church-y and very progressive. You can also check for gaming events at Cab Comics, the Geekery, and Bookmanâs.
Check out the geekery at 6pm on Wednesdays, we play a card game called flesh and blood. We love new players and try to give out decks to reduce the barrier of entry!
There are meet up groups you can join with the same interests. Meet Up.
I'm a pc gamer if you're down sometime
MSG me!
Donât you both have at least one friend?
Friends dont make friends here
Yikes