The “social network,” that digital world we all half-live in, is not really all that social. True, you can find someone to chat with at any hour of the day – but sometimes you need to see a friendly face, not just those three flickering dots as your friend composes a reply.
So a handful of enterprising locals are crafting their own gatherings, from SunRail pub crawls to healthy dance nights to grown-up Show and Tell.
If you’re into debating whether Pluto is or is not a planet, or the finer points of X-Men costumes, there are others like you getting together at Nerd Nite at the Geek Easy. The Hive, which calls itself a “think tank and do tank,” meets monthly to brainstorm solutions to environmental problems. Independent types can put their names in the lottery for the monthly Dinner Party Project, which brings together eight strangers for a meal. Hostess Dana Marie Roquemore says new friendships and even job offers have come out of the random connections made at the table.
As Nerd Nite organizer Ricardo Williams points out, “When you have a topic, you can start a conversation. … That can lead to an authentic relationship.” It’s all about finding a common interest and getting out from behind that screen. For more about meet-ups around town, go to orlandoweekly.com.