“This should be easier.”

Hey, I'm Stefan. A few years ago I realized I didn't have a ton of friends in my own neighborhood. I lived in Astoria, one of the best neighborhoods in New York, and most of my friends were scattered across the city. And I kept having the same conversation with people: everyone wanted more friends nearby, and nobody knew how to actually make them as an adult.

The usual advice is “just go to a bar and talk to people.” But most people hate that. Walking up to a stranger at a bar feels awkward, and you never know who actually wants to be talked to.

This should be easier.

So I thought, this should be easier. What if we found the people who are actually open to making friends and put them all in one room? That's Astoria Connect. Every person at our socials came to meet people. You can walk up to anyone. Most people come alone, and almost everyone leaves with new friends, new numbers, and plans for next weekend.

What started as one meetup at a local bar became the #1 social community in Astoria, with thousands of neighbors following along, a Greek social called Parea, dinner socials, singles mixers, and collabs with other local groups. I'd love to meet you at the next one.

Stefan Ciancio
Founder