18 awesome ways to meet new people in Orlando

Midnight Mass
midnight Saturdays, Backbooth, 37 W. Pine St., 407-999-2570, backbooth.com, $4
If you're religious about partying, you can do no wrong dropping down to worship at the indie altar known as Midnight Mass, which is one of downtown’s most popular dance nights.
Photo by Christopher Garcia

Critical Mass
6 p.m. last Friday monthly, meet at Loch Haven Park, 777 E. Princeton St., facebook.com/orlandocriticalmass, free
For cyclists who want to get to know other active riders in town, Critical Mass can be great common grounds. At the lovely Loch Haven Park, you join a large crew to take back the streets (er, to promote sharing the road!) and these fast friends can also point you down trails, to city bike routes and to essential local bike shops.
Photo by Chris Tricoli via Orlando Critical Mass on Facebook

1st Thursdays at OMA
First Thursday of each month, 6-9 p.m., 2416 N. Mills Ave., 407-896-4231, omart.org
There's a new theme every month for this mix-and-mingle event at the Orlando Museum of Art, featuring local artists, cash bars, live music and food from local nosheries.
Photo via 1st Thursdays on Facebook

Body//Talk
time and date varies, bodytalkparty.org
Explore the city’s hippest venues (from DIY spots like the Space to entire Milk District strip takeovers) and get your face painted to join the cult of Body//Talk, an indie dance party that draws swarms of subculture in every themed iteration.
Photo by Drew Perlmutter

Audubon Park Community Market
6 p.m Mondays, Stardust Video and Coffee, 1842 E. Winter Park Road, audubonmarket.com, free
Local artisans trying to get to know the crafters and doers in the area should make a point to stop by Audubon Park’s market on Mondays, with dozens of earnest vendors who’d love to talk your ear off about their life’s work – and if you can get a word in, learn about yours!
Photo by Tipso Photo

East End Market Classes
3201 Corrine Drive, 321-236-3316, eastendmkt.com/events-classes
What could possibly solidify a friendship better than a shared love of good food, local beer and cold-brew coffee? East End Market's classes and lectures bring together those of similar interests.
Photo via East End Market on Facebook

Wednesday Night Pitcher Show at Enzian Theater
1300 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland, 407-629-0054, enzian.org
Bring your blankies and order a couple of pitchers and flatbreads to share with the people behind you (free food = instant pals) at this free flick on the lawn in Maitland.
Photo via Enzian Theater on Facebook

FamiLab
members get 24/7 access to lab space, 1355 Bennett Drive, Longwood, 407-900-7974, familab.org, $50-$100 monthly
Tinkerers who enjoy soldering, woodwork, screen printing or any number of maker-minded crafts but don’t have the space for a devoted workshop or want access to the mind-blowing tools lodged at FamiLab should check out their public classes for an introduction or contact the organization to apply for membership, where you’ll join a curious crew of skilled individuals equally intrigued by how the world works.
Photo by James Dechert

Orlando Conductor Crawl
Monthly, Church Street SunRail Station, $3.25, facebook.com/orlandoconductorcrawl
Starting at the Church Street SunRail station and continuing up and down the track, switch cars at each station for a new crop of partner potentials.
Photo via Orlando Conductor Crawl on Facebook

Cocktail Classes at the Courtesy Bar
First and third Saturdays of each month, 5:45 p.m., 114 N. Orange Ave., 407-450-2041, thecourtesybar.com
Shake things up in a cocktail shaker and in your social life twice a month for $55, which covers materials for three full-sized DIY cocktails.

Food Truck Bazaar
Various locations in Central Florida, schedule available at thedailycity.com
Check the Daily City's website for the schedule, but you can count on a gathering of more than 20 food trucks most Fridays in the month, where you can bond over mutual love of mobile meals.

Celebrity Ballroom Social Dance
4241 L.B. McLeod Road, 407-270-5936, celebrityballroomorlando.com
If your foxtrot needs fixing or tango needs a tune-up, come to the free class before the dance begins, where asking a stranger to mambo isn't at all uncomfortable.
Photo via Celebrity Ballroom on Facebook

Open Mic Poetry and Spoken Word
9 p.m. Wednesdays, Austin’s Coffee, 929 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park, 407-975-3364, austinscoffee.com, free
The open mics at Austin’s Coffee enjoy a long history of bringing together communities of comedians, rappers, poets, writers and thinkers, so if you’re trying to exchange words with someone new, the conversation tends to flow at the 24-hour coffee shop.
Photo via Austin's Coffee on Facebook

Painting With a Twist
6700 Conroy Windermere Road, 407-601-7800, paintingwithatwist.com/orlando
You don't have to be Matisse to put a paintbrush on a canvas and drink some wine. Go with a group and let the wine do the work while you chat up the cutie next to you.
Photo via Painting with a Twist on Facebook

Seneff Arts Plaza at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
445 S. Magnolia Ave., 844-513-2014, drphillipscenter.org/shows-and-events
Another perk of our new performing arts complex: free live music where dancing and mingling is encouraged.
Photo via bizjournals.com

Geek Trivia Tuesdays at the Geek Easy
7 p.m. Tuesdays, The Geek Easy, 114 S. Semoran Blvd., Winter Park, 407-332-9636, acomicshop.com, free
Not for n00bs, Geek Trivia Tuesdays are for people dedicated to accuracy and the satisfaction of perfect recollection of innumerable popular and eccentric franchises within the nerdy realm, so if you’re a genius who can talk meta and mecha anime, go meet your people.
Photo via The Geek Easy on Facebook

Shit Sandwich Comedy Showcase
9-10:30 p.m. every first and third Saturday, Bull & Bush, 2408 E. Robinson St., 407-896-7546, free
For those looking for a laugh, meet a rotating lineup of funny folks at one of the town’s best underground comedy showcases.
Photo via Shit Sandwich on Facebook

There Will Be Words
Second Tuesday of each month, 7-8 p.m., 39 S. Magnolia Ave., therewillbewords.com
For the literary set, this live reading series features local writers sharing their poetry, short fiction and nonfiction at the Gallery at Avalon Island.
Photo via There Will Be Words on Facebook

Orlando City Soccer Watch Parties at Harry Buffalo
129 W. Church St., 407-422-6656, harrybuffalo.com
A little less intense (but no less crowded) than the tailgates, the watch parties at OCSC's official bar are full of chicks and dudes who bleed purple.
Harry Buffalo photo via Harry Buffalo Downtown Orlando on Facebook