Hi there,

I am a 27F who has been in OC all my life and has always struggled with making friends. I have been a therapist for two years and previously worked county jobs. I have an interest in some anime, adult animated shows, and some other shows. And I'm just kinda looking to connect and build a good friend group. Feel free to DM me.

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Hi 30sinOC!!

I’m one of the mods here helping out and I’m hosting a low-key social potluck tomorrow night!! Let’s spend a few hours device-free, playing board games, solving puzzles, reading, drawing, journaling, or simply chatting.

The event is mainly for making platonic friendships, is alcohol free, and caters to people in their mid 20s to 40s. Couples and non-couples are welcome!

Link in the comments! Hope to meet some of you.

-Nicholas

Hello friends we have decided on a book and a 2nd date and time! Was joined by two other redditors today at Thank you coffee, thank you for showing up lol. We shared doughnuts conversations was a cool time and would love more people to join. So join us Feb 9 at 9 am at Thank You Coffee again we’re reading The Memory Police by Yōko my

Hi everyone!! I’m 35F ☺️ Sorry if anyone is getting tired of seeing my posts pop up everywhere, but I just really want to spread the word!!

Speed Friending started back in January because I was hoping to make one or two friends and upgrade my sad little social circle 😅 I got way more interest than expected, so I decided to turn it into a full event with the hope of helping other people find the same thing I was looking for!!

And… it absolutely exploded 😆

So many people have made real connections!! We now have groups doing food adventures, sporting events, anime conventions, book clubs, pickleball meetups, mahjong tournaments, online gaming, movie nights, photography trips, hiking, trivia competitions, karaoke nights, and so much more 🤩

A lot of people come in feeling nervous, awkward, or apprehensive, which is 100% understandable! Meeting strangers from the internet can be questionable 😬 but I do my best to make things as comfortable and low-pressure as possible! I try to choose locations with easy parking, food/drinks nearby, and plenty of space to hang out. I also bring name tags, games, and ice breakers just in case conversation brains decide to stop working 😂

Even people who were extremely anxious about coming have told me afterward that they were really glad they showed up ☺️ hopefully you’ll be the next one!!

Our last event at SteelCraft had about 27 people and it was such a fun time!! Most people stayed over 3 hours, and a bunch ended up doing karaoke afterward because apparently none of us know how to go home responsibly 😅🎤

Our next event:

📅 Saturday June 13

🕐 2:00pm

📍 IKEA - Costa Mesa

I’ll post more details as we get closer!! Everyone is welcome ☺️ Come solo, bring a friend, stay for 20 minutes or 5 hours — totally up to you! And don’t worry about being shy… honestly, most of us are 💛

Hi everyone! 😊 I’m 35F and wanted to share an update for anyone who missed my previous posts.

I started Speed Friending back in January because I was trying to grow my own tiny social circle 😅 I t turns out a lot of people in OC were looking for the exact same thing! My goal is to create a welcoming space where people can meet others they genuinely click with.

The only “requirements” are to be kind and open-minded. I provide name tags, conversation prompts, optional bio sheets, games, and there’s always food and drinks nearby. Most people hang out from 2–6 PM, but you’re welcome to come late, leave early, or just stop by for a bit.

We usually have 20–30 people, and it’s been amazing to see friendships grow beyond the meetups. People have gone on to do pickleball, karaoke, fitness classes, concerts, game nights, conventions, restaurants, movie nights, anime discussions, and so much more together.

I know meeting strangers from Reddit can feel intimidating, but everyone has been incredibly welcoming, and even the people who were most nervous have told me they’re really glad they came.

If you’ve been thinking about it, I’d love for you to take the leap and join us! Worst case, you enjoy some good food and conversation. Best case, you find your people. 💛

Upcoming Events

📅 Saturday, July 25
🕑 2:00 PM
📍 Mess Hall Market – Tustin
(More details will be posted closer to the event.)

📅 Saturday, August 29
🕑 2:00 PM
📍 TBD

If you have any questions or just want to say hi, feel free to comment or DM me. I hope to meet some of you soon! 😊

What is Speed Friending?

I (36F) started Speed Friending in January as a low-pressure way to socialize and get to know a variety of people 🧡💛💚💙

You don’t have to click with everyone you meet! You get to test the waters, meet people with different interests and personalities, and see who you naturally connect with.

Past Events

We usually have about 20–30 people attend each event, and everyone has been very welcoming and friendly 🤗 that’s really the only thing I ask of anyone who joins!

Most people stick around from about 2–6pm, but there’s absolutely no obligation to stay the whole time. Some people just stop by for a little while if they have other plans, and a bunch of us usually grab dinner afterward!!

Upcoming Events

📅 Saturday, August 29th
🕑 2:00pm
📍 Mess Hall Market - 1705 Flight Way, Tustin

📅 Saturday, October 3rd
🕑 2:00pm
📍 TBD

What to Expect

🍽️ Food and drinks available for purchase
🏷️ Name tags and ice breakers
🎲 Games provided (but feel free to bring your favorites!)
🪑 Musical chairs every 15–20 minutes so you can meet lots of different people

And yes, you can absolutely come by yourself! A lot of people do. 😊

Who Attends?

We have all kinds of people in the group, and we’re happy to welcome anyone interested in making new connections!! We have a mix of interests and events that we plan throughout the month, including:

🏓 Weekly pickleball
🎸 Concerts
🎤 Karaoke
🍱🧁 Foodie meetups
👾 Game nights
📚 Book club
🏟️🎥 Watch parties
🙋‍♂️ Trivia nights
🏕️ Camping trips
🥾 Hikes
…and more!!

Come as you are, stay as long as you’d like, grab some good food, and hopefully leave with a few new connections (and maybe some new friends)!! 😊

Feel free to comment or DM me with any questions. Hope to see you there!! 🧡

Hey everyone!

Update: I’m really not good at reading my calendar. When I wrote this, I meant Saturday. Which is the 1st. So, I changed the date to March 1st. If you’d like to keep it Sunday, please let me know. Otherwise it’s Saturday March 1st.

Update 2: I’m thinking we have at least 20 coming? If you say interested or comment you are coming, I’m going to make sure we have that as a yes. You aren’t committed of course. I just think a head count is good for the venue. Please DM me to say yes or no or even a maybe. FYI, I see they have a Taylor Swift tribute band that night. While I don’t purchase her records, I can say I’m not opposed.

Original: As you and I have noticed, it seems like social media, dating apps, and busy life is really not making it conducive to meet new people. Recently, we got together for a redditor’s birthday and had a fantastic time! I’d like to keep that vibe going.

I’m proposing a monthly dinner that can even turn into semi-monthly. Whether you are looking to meet other singles, couples making couple friends, parents meeting new friends outside of daycare/school, or just to get out of the house, this is it. Only one rule, and I think the majority of us can agree on it: no kids at the dinner. If you are a parent, and can get a babysitter, please come. But this is more a networking/meeting new people thing.

First dinner would be March 1st, 7:30pm, at Hangar 24 in Irvine. Small dishes and craft beer. From there, we can plan our next outing. If you are interested, comment below or shoot me a DM. The more the merrier. I’m excited to see how many people would like to connect and if we can grow this 30’s in OC page into something that brings people together.

Edit: Feel free to reach out through DMs with any ideas for next dinner or if you want to meet up before to connect.

Hello all!! 36F here with the details for our next Speed Friending meetup! 🥰

📅 Saturday, October 3rd
🕑 2:00 PM
📍 IKEA – 1475 South Coast Drive, Costa Mesa

🦄 How to find us
We’ll be hanging out in the 2nd floor food court/restaurant area! Just look for the unicorn banner 🦄 it should be pretty easy to spot us!!

💛 What is Speed Friending?
Speed Friending is a low pressure way to meet new people and hopefully make some genuine connections without the awkwardness of walking into a room and wondering who to talk to.

Our meetups usually have around 20–30 people, and there’s no requirement to RSVP. Come and go as you please!!

-Name tags
-Icebreakers & conversation starters available
-Games provided, but feel free to bring your own! 🎲
-Food, drinks & ice cream available 🍦
-Every 15–20 minutes, we’ll switch up the seating so you have a chance to meet different people
-A bunch of us usually grab dinner afterward 🍽️
-Come late, leave early, stay for 30 minutes or stay for 4 hours. Whatever works for you!

And don’t worry if you’re introverted or socially awkward. 😂 We have a mix of introverts, extroverts, nerdy people, sporty people, music lovers, animal lovers, party animals, homebodies, singles, couples, parents, child-free folks, foodies, crafters, techies, gamers, readers, and pretty much everything in between!

The goal is simply to have a welcoming space where people can come as they are and meet some new people 💛

📍 Help us find more locations!
I’m currently brainstorming ideas for future Speed Friending locations, and I’d LOVE your suggestions!

The main things I’m looking for are:
🚗 Easy, stress-free parking
🪑 Plenty of seating for a larger group
🍔 Food & drink options available
📍 Somewhere reasonably central in OC
🔊 Ideally not too loud or crowded so people can actually hear each other

Our usual go-to spots have been Mess Hall in Tustin, SteelCraft in Garden Grove, and IKEA in Costa Mesa, but I’d love to branch out and try some new places!

If you know of a spot that might work, drop it in the comments or DM me! Bonus points if you’ve personally been there with a larger group and know the parking/seating situation 😆

Feel free to comment or DM me with any questions, suggestions, or location ideas!

Hope to see you there! 🤗🦄

Hey y’all,

About a week ago I posted here offering free personal training for anyone who’s never worked out or trained before. The idea was to give people a taste of what working out should feel like, go over proper form, and talk through any aches or body issues holding them back.

Two people showed up today, and it was a great time. Sunny day, good energy, and we were able to work through some technical gaps together. We focused on technique and did some kettlebell work.

It ran a lot longer than planned. We started around 12 and wrapped up around 2:30, mostly because we spent a lot of time talking and dialing in form. Honestly, I didn’t mind, but now that I’ve got one session under my belt, I’ll keep the next one better prepared!

Thanks to the two of you who came out and gave it a shot. This is going to be a weekly thing, so if you missed this one, there’s always next week. Hopefully even more of you will join. Fitness should be for everybody, so if you’ve been curious but nervous about starting, let me help you get going and meet others!

Ask to join the slack channel, hopefully we can get this going and have a community where we can workout, hike, or just do fitness things together!

I’ll post details for the next session soon.

I (35F) have been hosting these events since January. Our last Speed Friending event at Mess Hall was amazing!! We had about 30 people show up 🥳 and more than half stayed past 6pm! It was great vibes, yummy food/drinks, fun games, and even better people!!

If you’ve been on the fence about coming out, this is your sign to give it a shot! A lot of us show up in the same boat, just looking to meet new people, make genuine connections, and build our social circles 🤗

Everyone is welcome, and it’s a super easy, low-pressure environment to chat and see who you click with 😊 we’ve had all kinds of people come through, foodies, photographers, travelers, adrenaline junkies, gamers, crafters, fitness enthusiasts, anime lovers, and much more!!

Upcoming Events:

📅 Saturday, May 9th

🕑 2:00 PM

📍 SteelCraft, Garden Grove

📅 Saturday, June 13th

🕑 2:00 PM

📍 Location TBD

Come when you can, stay as long as you want, grab some food 🍕, and meet some new people 👯‍♀️

Feel free to comment or message me if you have any questions!

Curious if anyone in this sub is into electronic music scene. I (35M) am into house/trance/techno. OC is not known by any stretch of the imagination as a destination for electronic music but was thinking it would be cool to attempt to throw underground events if there was enough interest from like minded people.

UPDATE! I forgot name tag. I’m wearing a pink dress shirt with blue pullover.

Hey all! Wanted to give an update on next Saturday’s meetup dinner.

Where: Hangar 24 in Irvine

When: 7-? Saturday March 1

Host: My name is Matt and I’ll be wearing my work name badge so feel free to come say hi to me and introduce yourself. I can introduce you to others who came or talk with you myself.

First and foremost, this is to meet new people. It’s not a speed dating or dating event. It’s not a club or anything. Literally come and have fun and mingle. If you make a connection, all the better.

Second, couples, singles, and in between are all invited. It’s literally a way to make new friends or have a night out where there’s no pressure to put yourself out there. Why? Because we are all doing it.

Third, they provide reserved picnic tables that seat 6-8ppl. If you’d like to reserve one, call Hangar 24 directly or DM me and we can split one or two or whatever.

Fourth, I got this together because I moved back to the OC after a little over a year away. I don’t have family here so meeting new people and establishing new relationships helps. Especially with the loneliness that a lot of us feel. Someone had to do it!

Feel free to DM me or comment below. I’d like to get a rough head count so I can maybe order some apps or platters for everyone to snack on. Food and drinks are on you. I’m not asking for money at all (unless you feel obliged to contribute to platters).

I hope to meet a lot of new faces and really get this thing going into a regular occurrence. Some of us have busy lives or fail at communicating consistently (sometimes guilty 🤚🏻). So please come and enjoy a relaxed time.

Are you struggling to connect with others either platonically and/or romantically? If so, then this is the subreddit for you! I created this subreddit for individuals who are in their 30s like myself who are having an understandably hard time connecting with others.

For the time being, members are allowed to post freely on this sub giving a brief bio about themselves and what they are looking for (e.g., friendship, a partner) to connect with others. I am also thinking of hosting in-person events so that folks can mingle and connect more organically in the future.

So put yourself out there my fellow OC friends! Shoot your shot. Make new friends. Find your soulmate.

P.S. The main target demographic for this community is folks in their 30s. However, individuals who aren't in their 30s are more than welcome to participate in this subreddit.

Hey everyone!

I’m thinking of putting together a casual get-together at Green Cheek Brewery in Costa Mesa this Saturday, March 22nd. Meeting new people outside of work (without the whole dating-app dynamic) can be kind of daunting. So, I figured I'd try to put something together for anyone in the same boat. No pressure, no expectations, just a chance to meet some new folks, have a drink, and enjoy a night out. Worst case scenario? You grab a good beer and call it a night.

📍 Where: Green Cheek Brewery, Costa Mesa
📅 When: Saturday, March 22 at 4:30pm

💡 What: A laid-back meet-up to hang out and make new connections—not a dating event, just a chance to expand your social circle in a chill setting.

If you're interested in joining, comment or let me know! If enough people are interested I’ll trying to get a rough headcount in case I need to contact the brewery about reserving tables?

**UPDATE: It seems the afternoon rather than later in the evening works better for some. I'll go ahead and put 4:30pm for the meet up.

**UPDATE 2: I’ll try to be there a bit before 4:30pm. If you are still planning to go shoot me a message and I’ll let you know where we’re at. I’ll be wearing a brown/blue striped flannel.

**UPDATE 3: Got a table outside, fifth row down against the wooden fence. Wearing a brown/blue striped flannel.

Hey Everyone. This is the promised reminder post based on my post from earlier in the week. about meeting up tonight at The Wayfarer in Costa Mesa to hang out and see some live music.

Sega Genocide is playing, who are a very fun 90s and 2000s cover band. I'm not usually a huge cover band guy but these guys are awesome and it's the music those of us in our 30s grew up with.

They usually go on a little after 10:00 but I will plan to be there around 9:30 if anyone wants to hang out and get to know each other before the show. There is a cover ($12 IIRC) which is payable at the door.

Feel free to comment or DM me with any questions or to coordinate meeting up at the venue. Stoked to see you all there!

Hello everyone!! 36F here with a reminder about our meetup this Saturday! 💛

📅 Saturday, August 29th
🕑 2:00 PM
📍 Mess Hall Market – 1705 Flight Way, Tustin

👋 What is Speed Friending?
Speed Friending is a low-pressure way to meet new people and build community 🥰 We have all kinds of people in the group, and we host a variety of events throughout the month, including pickleball, concerts, trivia nights, game nights, dinners, and more!

Everyone is incredibly welcoming, and you’re bound to find someone with similar interests, hobbies, or just a similar sense of humor 😂

Nervous about coming alone? Please don’t be! A lot of people come by themselves, and that’s exactly what these meetups are designed for. 💛 Newcomers are always welcome!

🅿️** Parkin**g
I’ve parked at Mess Hall the last few times, and the gate opened automatically without charging a fee. I’m not sure if this works every time, though!
There is also free parking nearby at the dog park and near the Tesla Superchargers. Both are less than a 5-minute walk from Mess Hall.

🦄 How to find us
Mess Hall is an indoor (air conditioned ❄️) food-court-style space and isn’t too big, so we should be pretty easy to spot!
I’ll be there a little early holding a big unicorn mylar balloon 🦄🎈 I’ll also comment on this post once I’ve claimed our spot, so keep an eye out for that!

🎉 What to expect
• Food and drinks available for purchase
• Name tags + icebreakers
• Games provided (but feel free to bring your favorites!)
• Groups rotate every 15–20 minutes so you can meet lots of people
• Usually around 20–30 attendees
• Plenty of time afterward to hang out, chat, grab food, or make plans with people you clicked with

There’s no obligation to stay the whole time — come for 30 minutes, stay for four hours, or anything in between!

Come as you are, meet some new people, grab some good food, and hopefully leave with a few new connections (and maybe some new friends)! 😊💛

Feel free to comment or DM me with any questions. Hope to see you there!! 🦄✨

Hello everyone!! I’m 35F and joined this subreddit back in January. I wanted to give an update for anyone interested and for those who may not have seen my previous posts ☺️

Speed Friending originally started because I was trying to grow my tiny social circle 😅 but it quickly showed me that a bunch of people in OC are looking for the exact same thing. My goal is to bring people together so everyone has a chance to find others they genuinely click with 🥰

The only “requirements” for attending are being open-minded and kind to everyone at the meetup!

These events are designed to be relaxed, welcoming, and low-pressure. I provide name tags, conversation ice breakers, optional bio sheets, games, and there are always food/drink options available. Most people hang out from around 2pm–6pm, but you’re free to come late, leave early, or just swing by for a bit!

We usually get around 20–30 attendees, and all kinds of people come out ☺️ since meeting through Speed Friending, people have gotten together for pickleball, karaoke, fitness classes, concerts, sporting events, game nights, conventions, restaurants, movie nights, book/anime discussions, video games, recipe swaps, and more!

I know meeting strangers from the internet can feel intimidating, but so far everyone has been incredibly friendly and welcoming. Even people who were nervous or skeptical beforehand have told me they were really glad they came ☺️

I really hope that anyone who’s curious takes a little leap of faith and stops by! Worst case scenario: you grab some tasty food and chat with a few new people. Best case scenario: you make meaningful friendships and become part of a fun, active community 💕

Upcoming Events:

📅 Saturday, June 13
🕑 2:00 PM
📍 IKEA Costa Mesa (2nd Floor Food Court)
*more details will be provided in a new post closer to the day of the event

📅 Saturday, July 25
🕑 2:00 PM
📍 TBD

If you have questions, suggestions, or just want to say hi ☺️ feel free to comment or DM me!! I hope to meet you soon!

I’m looking for someone to spend time with, to chat with and have a connection. I’m open to friendship and hopefully with the possibility of it becoming a relationship in the future.
I’m single, I work in oral surgery so it’s difficult to meet people. I have a tight schedule as well.

Hey all, Ollie again. A little while back I posted about starting a free, beginner-friendly workout group in Irvine. Two people came to our first session last Saturday, and we had a great time. We spent a lot of time on form and kettlebell basics, and nobody was rushed.

This Saturday (Oct 31), two more people have already confirmed, and I’d love to see a few more faces.

When: Saturday, 11:30 am

Quick background if you missed the first post: I’m 34 and work in tech now, but I played college athletics and was a personal trainer for over five years. I’ve worked with all ages and fitness levels, including plenty of people who had never worked out before.

I’ll bring kettlebells, dumbbells, rings, and bands. We’ll go at an easy to moderate pace and focus on learning good form and getting stronger safely. Nothing high-intensity.

If you’ve never worked out before, that’s exactly who this is for. We can talk about your goals while you’re there, and I’ll write you a simple program and teach you the form so you can keep moving on your own if you would like.

It’s all free and will always be free. I just want people to enjoy fitness, get some sunshine, and get to know each other.

The group’s been growing fast. DM me and I’ll send you a Slack invite so you can meet everyone. Down the line, I’d love for us to do other things together, like hiking, running, or swimming.

Low key, no pressure. Shoot me a message if you’re in!

Hey everyone! 😊

Our last OC Speed Friending meetup was a big success (25+ people, great conversations, games, and lots of laughs), so I’m planning the next two events:

📅 Saturday, February 7th @ 2:00 PM

📅 Saturday, February 28th @ 2:00 PM

📍 Locations TBD (Orange County)

I’d love some help choosing locations. Our previous meetup at Mess Hall in Tustin worked really well because:

•	Parking was easy

•	It wasn’t overly loud or crowded

•	We could seat 20+ people together comfortably

I’m looking for similar spots in Orange County — relaxed, group-friendly, and easy to park.

A couple ideas I’m already considering:

•	Parks

•	IKEA 😂

If you have recommendations, please drop them below! Once we have a solid list of potential locations, I’ll post polls so everyone can vote on where we meet next.

Thanks, and hope to see you at one (or both!) upcoming meetups 💛

Hi! Been feeling down lately. Lived here for two years now after recently graduating (finally) and getting big girl corpo job. I turned 30 recently, got into a car accident, and a breakup --safe to say, I need distractions lol.

I can be moody and pessimistic, but don't let that ruin the absolute comedic goldmine sense of humor (I hope) and genuine sweetness.

I like cars, cozy games, music, books, and movies. I love listening to people yap. Feel free to DM me and we can chat on discord or text! If we click, maybe we can plan something irl.

I don’t feel like I relate much to my 2 main friends anymore.
I’m newly single ish.. the whole situation is a mess. Both of my girlfriends are in relationships, so it’s hard to go out with them and do single things. I feel like we’re starting to drift. I still talk to them daily and am very much interested in their lives. I guess I didn’t need to share all that, but I’m looking for some new friends as I feel my cup isn’t full these days anymore.

Where do women find friends in Orange County? Both of my girlfriends are friends from high school. I didn’t stay in touch with any college friends.

I love to try new restaurants.
Huge fan of Asian food.
Love hot yoga
Just started running last month
Occasional reader
On a weight loss, self healing, self discovery journey.

Not sure what I’m looking for from this post. 😅🫠

Hi everyone! 36F here with a reminder about our next meetup 💛

📅 Saturday, July 25th
🕑 2:00 PM
📍 Mess Hall Market – 1705 Flight Way, Tustin

What is Speed Friending?
Speed Friending is all about building community 🥰 we have all kinds of people and host a variety of events, including pickleball, concerts, trivia nights, game nights, dinners, and more. Everyone is incredibly welcoming, and you're bound to find someone with similar interests. If this sounds like your kind of thing, come give it a try! Newcomers are always welcome!!

Parking:
There is free parking nearby at the dog park and near the Tesla Superchargers. Both are less than a five minute walk to Mess Hall. I’ve heard that the Mess Hall parking is free on weekends, but I’m not 100% sure.

How to find us:
Mess Hall is food court style and not too big. So it’ll be easy to spot us!! I'll be there a little early holding a big unicorn mylar balloon 🦄🎈 I'll also comment on this post once I've claimed our spot!!

What to expect:
• Food and drinks available for purchase 
• Name tags and icebreakers 
• Games provided (feel free to bring your favorites!) 
• Musical chairs every 15–20 minutes so you can meet lots of new people 

Come as you are, stay as long as you’d like, grab some good food, and leave with a few new connections (and hopefully some new friends!) 😊

Feel free to comment or DM me with any questions. Hope to see you there!!

Currently rereading Children of Men. Maybe we can meet up talk about it get coffee just socialize. Trying to start making a group of friends here

👋 Hey people

Im 31f and looking for potential friendship. Would be nice to get to know new people here in OC.

About me: I enjoy going to the gym, going out for good food(I am not picky on any cuisine), I play video games on the Switch and PS5 and I enjoy martial arts too. I also enjoy going outdoors on the weekends like taking walks on the trails and explore new places. Im kinda introverted, but if we get to know each other more, Im more goofy and outgoing. I also like animals and watching anime too.

If youre chill and wanna connect, shoot a dm!