Maintaining and keeping friends in adulthood is difficult, especially with the demands of life, travel and work. In volunteering I find more people like me, which is good, but sometimes it is difficult to participate without a lot of commitment to the organizations. I want to explore smaller, more intimate groups to build a community with people I share similar values with. I am interested in personal growth, psychology, games, mindfulness and yoga. “I loved the LA Times story.”Awaken your inner child in this cozy collage club for adults” and I would love to know about similar activities. Thank you! —Marlen I.
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Marlen, I couldn't agree more. As we get older, it can become increasingly difficult to maintain friendships, especially in Los Angeles where people live far apart and have busy lives. This struggle is exactly why so many social clubs have sprung up in Los Angeles in recent years. From board game clubs to junk journal meetups, there are lots of different ways to connect and maybe try something new. I've compiled a list of social clubs and community spaces that I think you'll enjoy.
Since you're already familiar with Art+Mind Studios, you should definitely check it out. Junk Journal Club. Junk journaling is essentially a craft practice that combines elements of collage, journaling, and scrapbooking. With the rise of junk journaling content on social media, the once solitary pastime has become a lively social scene. Junk Journal Club, dubbed “the original junk journal club,” hosts monthly meetups, which can be found on their Instagram page. When my colleague Malia Mendez went to an event recently, people told her that attending Junk Journal Club “has made it easier to make friends with strangers” and many of them stay in touch.
Another craft-focused event worth exploring is the Crafters Clubhouse, which founder Victoria Ansah calls “a third creative space for adult makers.” She hosts monthly arts and crafts workshops that include activities such as scrapbooking, punch needle embroidery, and clay art.
Since you're interested in yoga and mindfulness, you might like WalkGood LA, a community-focused wellness organization that offers a variety of activities including a running club and affordable yoga classes. During the pandemic, I found solace by attending her weekly yoga classes called BreatheGood. Outdoor sessions are held every first Sunday at the Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area and feature free chiropractic adjustments and healthy food vendors. The atmosphere of the intergenerational event feels warm and welcoming. All you have to do is show up with your yoga mat. The organization also offers several classes including yoga, breath work, mindful meditation, mat Pilates and step aerobics at its studio, WalkGood Yard, in Arlington Heights.
Another social club I recommend is Love, Peace & Spades, which my friend Kevin Clark started in 2022, to create a space where people could play the card game with others. With music provided by a live DJ, the monthly game night feels like being at a family cookout. Spades can be extremely intimidating to start with as a beginner playing with professionals. But don't worry. Love, Peace & Spades has instructors who can teach you how to play.
If you are interested in chess, Los Angeles Chess Club It is “an event with the tranquility of a quiet game night and all the social and romantic possibility of a night out on the town,” according to Times contributor Martine Thompson, who wrote a story about the event. At the weekly gathering, which features a food vendor, cocktails, tattoo artists, and DJ, you can “play chess competitively, learn how to play, meet new friends, or socialize as one person,” Thompson shares. Another fun event is RummiKlub, a monthly Rummikub game night held in elevated, design-forward spaces throughout the city.
Los Angeles also has several creative and fun venues that regularly bring people together, such as Junior High, a nonprofit art gallery and inclusive gathering space that hosts artist exhibitions, comedy nights, pottery workshops, and more. There's also Nina at Atwater, who hosts a variety of meetups including a monthly series focusing on mindfulness called “Be Here Now: Simple Tools for an Everyday Nervous System Reset.”
I hope these suggestions are a good starting point for finding the group, or groups, that are right for you. By just putting yourself out there and being open, you are sure to build and find a community. Good luck on your trip!
