New Places, Friendly Faces

By Alison Stoos , Photo by Steve Moakley

With these fun and funky activity picks, finding friends as a newly minted Austinite is as easy as finding chips, salsa and margaritas in our fair city.

According to Austin demographer Ryan Robinson and the Austin Business Journal, 110 people move to our city every day. As our not-so-small Texas town draws in more than 3,000 newly minted Austinites every month, the odds of someone you know moving to the Texas capital are in your favor. And although we pride ourselves on giving a mostly warm (and weird) welcome, despite the worsening traffic and never-ending festival market, feeling at home in a new city can be a challenge.

That’s why we’ve created a list of fun and unique ways to find your tribe when you are starting out. Some are fitness-based, others involve giving back, but each one is truly Austin, and therefore, a little weird.

The Austin Beer Run Club

Wednesdays, 6:35 p.m., Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que

For those wanting to dip their toes in two of Austin’s most vibrant scenes, drinking and exercise, there’s the Austin Beer Run Club. Every Wednesday at 6:35 p.m., the club meets at Uncle Billy’s on Barton Springs Road. An organizer discusses the course beforehand, which surmounts to the distance of a 5K. After the run, enjoy discounted brew and ’que from Billy’s as you revel in your truly Austin hobby. There’s no charge for the run and it’s open to runners of all levels.

Free Tango Nights at Russian House Austin

Tuesdays, 8:30 p.m. to midnight, Russian House Austin

Those looking for a little more flair for their mingling can enjoy free tango lessons every Tuesday night, courtesy of Russian House Austin. Enjoy some delicious food, festive drinks and a vibrant atmosphere while you dance the night away. Classes are set to both DJs and live music.

BookPeople Book Club Monthly

BookPeople Austin

Connect with other bookworms through one of Austin’s favorite independent bookstores, BookPeople. Regardless of your literary tastes, BookPeople has a circle for you. The numerous groups include the Required Reading Revisited club, which covers books assigned to students in high school, and The Nightmare Factory club, which tackles horror books. Check out the website to see all of the options. Book Club is free and open to all.

Volunteering For Animal Lovers

Austin is consistently ranked as one of the most dog- friendly cities in the U.S., and it’s with good reason. If you’re a recent transplant to our city, expect to get friendly with many four-legged buddies. Another local favorite, Austin Pets Alive! is a nonprofit no-kill animal shelter from which many Austinites rescue their furry best friends. Volunteer opportunities range from office work to dog behavioral training. Only a simple volunteer orientation and registration fee is required to find your loving animal tribe. And for the athletic dog lovers, you can join Rufftail Runners to walk or run the dogs out on iconic Lady Bird Lake.

Volunteer at Feed my People

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5 a.m., First United Methodist Church

If you’re wanting to connect while giving back to the city, consider serving breakfast to the homeless and working poor in downtown Austin. Volunteers are comprised of more than 15 religious congregations, along with others from the community, and provide emotional support and a listening ear.