City Girls DC
Inspired by 2020’s viral “hot girl walk”—an outdoor walking routine centered on women’s empowerment—City Girls DC turns strolling into a way to make new friends. The women’s social club leads weekend walks across neighborhoods such as Capitol Hill, Rosslyn, and Navy Yard and hosts happy hours, ice-cream socials, sunrise fitness classes, jewelry-making meetups, and more. If you don’t see a hobby that interests you on the calendar, pop into the Discord community group chat, with more than 15,000 members. There you can locate smaller groups based on your age, interests, or where you live, so you can find your crew with ease (free to become a member).
Friends.In
If you need a break from adulting, check out Friends.In’s calendar (@friends.in_ on Instagram). Here, introverts and newcomers can find low-pressure ways to make intentional connections and possibly spark new friendships. Influencer Onose Ijewere curates playful, wellness-focused events so you can escape the day-to-day grind and tap into your inner child—at, for example, a laid-back pajama dance party, an outdoor hula-hoop session, or a community tennis match. Connection cards offer conversation prompts at most events, so you can swap ideas and thoughts with someone new (prices vary based on the event).
Something Different DC
Cofounded two years ago by Prince George’s County native Chance Albury, Something Different DC gives locals an alternative to clubbing and partying. What began as an escape-room gathering has grown into a lively community where gamers, trivia whizzes, and people seeking connections attend nostalgic game meetups: Name That Tune bingo, Uno tournaments, and Amazing Race –inspired competitions on the National Mall. The events are geared toward interaction and inclusion, so arriving solo isn’t out of the norm. At the most popular social outing, Unpopular Opinion, attendees are seated with strangers and chat—or debate—crowd-submitted presentations that announce quirky thoughts and hot takes on pop culture, politics, music, and more. The joyful night out returns to the DC area in November, so sign up before it sells out (prices vary based on event).
This article appears in the October 2026 issue of Washingtonian.
