Make a new friend, do a hobby, join a cult this new year (maybe not the last one tho)

These are Meetup groups in the Grand Rapids area who have events planned during the month of January. I weeded out groups that haven't had/won’t have at least three people attend an event within a 45 day window from today. I've grouped them by similar characteristics and included a line or two from their descriptions. Also, hyperlinks!

NOTE: Some groups have been removed from the list because they didn’t meet the attendance requirement this time while others have been added because they hit it this time.

If you're in a Meetup that I've missed, list it in the comments. Non-Meetup groups are welcome too--include contact info or links. If you are a member of a group or have recently attended an event, share your experience. Meetup is free to use as an attendee; organizers are charged $99 every six months to operate a group and are able to set their own pricing to assist with these fees (typically $5 - $20 per year). Many groups have a free trial period before their annual membership fee kicks in.

AGE/GENDER/ETHNICITY

• All Things Social West Michigan 30's and 40's: This group is for people in their 30's & 40's only. We will be doing a variety of different events. This includes local restaurants, breweries and cafe's.
• Fun, Dynamic, Adventurous Friends Over 50: We are an active group of friends who enjoy sports, music, dancing, dining, theater, concerts and many other fun events that comes our way
• The Grand Rapids Spanish Language Meetup Group: Meet local Spanish language and culture lovers for conversation and fun!
• Vibrant Women: Each meeting we will have a special speaker or topic to learn and discuss. This group's topics will be focused on women over 40.

BOOK CLUBS/MOVIES

• Children’s Literature Book Club for Adults: This club is for any adult whose heart skips a beat when reading children’s literature. If you want to revisit old literary friends and discover new ones, then this group needs you (and your impeccable literary taste). [NOTE: This group is taking a break in January but meeting on February 4th.]
• Grand Rapids Area Movie Meetup with Jim: This Meetup group is dedicated to Movie goers whom [sic] want to go to the theater and share a movie with others of all ages.
• Grand Rapids Sci-Fi Fantasy Book Club: We read everything from Neil Gaiman to George R.R. Martin, dystopian young adult to classic science fiction.
• Nonfiction History Book Club: A book club for those who daydream about the lost city of the Monkey God and get pumped talking about the French Revolution!
• Poetry Friends: Do you count syllables under your breath while people talk? Have you been kicked out of a cocktail party for talking about Sylvia Plath too much? Well golly, do I have a group for you!

FINANCE/PROFESSIONAL

• Agile West Michigan: We are an “Official” chapter of the Agile Leadership Network.
• Culinary Conversations Grand Rapids: A new Meetup serving West Michigan’s food industry professionals (growers, producers, restaurateurs, and others) designed to strengthen the conversation of the region’s food creator system.
• Data Science & Analytics West Michigan: Calling all data scientists, analysts, engineers actual and aspiring! Join us to socialize with practitioners and decision-makers and learn about the evolving analytics toolset and techniques.
• Grand Rapids Bitcoin: This group is for anyone with an interest in Bitcoin regardless of if you own any.
• Grand Rapids Business Engagement: A newly formed group of business professionals who connect weekly to build relationships and pass referrals. Guests are welcome.
• Grand Rapids Toastmasters A Speaking Group: This is the place to develop speaking and leadership skills. We learn by doing. Our one hour weekly meetings include: speeches, evaluations, inspiration, humor, and much more.
• GRPUG - Grand Rapids Python Users Group: Whether you're a certified Pythonista or just curious about getting started with the Python programming language, join us on the third Monday of each month at The Factory in Grand Rapids, Michigan for our regular meetings.
• GRWebDev: Grand Rapids Web Development Group: Join us to learn from each other about best web practices, cross-browser compatibility, Javascript frameworks, style hacks, project management, and other web-related topics.
• The Law of Attraction Toastmasters Meetup: Are you interested in developing your speaking and leadership skills? Are you interested in networking, making friends, learning new skills and strategies for success, being accepted for who you are, or strengthening your confidence level?
• Midrange (IBM i, AS/400, iSeries) Meetup Grand Rapids: An open Meetup in Grand Rapids, MI for anyone and everyone connected to IBM Midrange Systems running IBM i (AS/400, iSeries, System i). You don't have to be an IBM i evangelist, super user, or even running on the latest and greatest technology IBM i has to offer.
• RPOA Real Estate Investor Mastery Network: We welcome all landlords, investors, and other real estate professional to come and make connections, share ideas and strategies, and ask questions.
• Short-Term Rental Networking Group: Have you wondered about the success of Airbnb and similar rental marketplaces and how you can incorporate that into your income?
• Startup West Michigan: We are a community of innovators, developers, investors, professionals, and business leaders who have a passion for entrepreneurship and new technology.

FOOD/DIET

• DRY Sober Social: We will host regular gatherings, centered around fitness, yoga, dancing, music, and socializing. Our goal is to create a space where people can socialize without the pressure of drinking alcohol.
• Grand Rapids Natural Health and Nutrition: This group is for anyone interested in learning more about natural health and healing through nutrition and natural substances like herbs and nutrients. The intent of this group is to educate you on the principles of natural health and nutritional healing.
• Grand Rapids Psychedelic Society: Whether you’re an experienced psychonaut or an individual who is simply curious about learning more, the Grand Rapids Psychedelic Society will be a space for you to build community with other psychedelic users.

GAMES/NERD CULTURE

• House Rules Lounge: House Rules Lounge is West Michigan's first combined board game bar and lounge.
• Muskegon Area Gamers: This group is for anyone interested in playing board games, card games, or any table top [sic] game. This group learns and teachs [sic] new games all the time.
• We Hate Bards: This group is dedicated to pen and paper RPGs of all kinds.
• Wednesday Friendsday Boardgame Group: We're folks in our 30s-50s who enjoy good conversation, good eats, and good games, in that order.
• West Michigan Geeks, Nerds, and Medical Professionals: We help people meet friends that they want to hang out with outside of group events and have helped form more friendships and relationships than any other meetup group.
• West Michigan Tabletop Gamers: This is a group for anyone interested in board games, Dungeons and Dragons, RPGs, tabletop gaming, and any game that brings friends together.

OUTDOORS/SPORTS

• Blue Heron Academy: We have provided training in self-defense and personal protection for over 40 years. If you are interested in Tai Chi, meditation, and the Asian healing arts this class may be for you.
• Grand Rapids Dancing Meetup: Whether you have been dancing for years or are simply a fan of Dancing With the Stars, we are here to celebrate the love of ballroom dancing.
• Grand Rapids Hiking & Adventure Group: Hikes may include: rain, snow, sleet, sun, mud, sand, hills, clouds, fields, sun, obscure meeting places, trees, bees, wind, mosquitoes, sun, birds, snakes, water, roots, holes, bears, dogs, sun, great conversation and new friends.
• Greater Grand Rapids Ski Club Meetup: Our group welcomes those that wish to join fun-loving people, many who may focus on skiing in winter, but year-round enjoy socializing, dancing, hiking, biking, golfing, kayaking, camping, etc
• Lakeshore Hiking Group: The hiking trails will be focussed [sic] in Ottawa and Muskegon Counties and will mainly be held in the evenings during the week and early-mid afternoon on the weekends.

MISCELLANEOUS/PERSONALITY

• Citizen Labs: Citizen Labs is a Grand Rapids based non-profit organization that believes engaged citizens can improve their communities. We work together with our community to use open data and open source technology to promote transparency, better understand problems, make better choices, and provide solutions that work.
• Friday Fun Days: The events/activities will vary from live music/concerts, festivals, flea markets/thrifting, lunch/dinner outings, hiking, going to the beach, bowling, and much more.
• Meet, Grow, Create: Events at Little Space Studio: A professional space to meet, co-work, collaborate, teach, design, experiment, and play. Built with humans at the center of the conversation.
• People Who Plan Things: Through fun dinner conversations, occasional outings, as well as other activities designed to bring connection, our group is for anyone seeking to enrich their life and attract, build, and co-sustain healthy strong relationships.
• West Michigan Adventures with JIM: Hello, My name is Jim. My hobbies and interests will be made into events for cinema, live theater, sporting events, concerts, trade events, geo caching [sic], road trips, fitness, camping, learning events or classes, festivals, amusement parks, and travel.
• West Michigan Cuddle Connection: We hope you join us for an evening of authentic connection, optional consensual cuddles, creating new friendships, bonding with existing friends, and BEING YOURSELF!
• Shy People Looking for Friends: Hang out with us in a judgment and harassment-free zone if you're shy, introverted, or just a bit awkward around new people.
• Veterans Rising Meetup Group: We are a Veteran community fostering connection and friendships through recreational activities and social engagement. We have a number of gatherings from fun and social to recreational to deeper friendship building.

SEXUALITY/DATING

• Bauer Christian Singles Group - Hudsonville, MI: Adult singles (18+) of all ages are invited to Bauer Community Fellowship Church for a free evening of laughter, fun, and Christian fellowship--no books or “homework” required!
• Fun-Loving Singles Over 50!: This is a social group for youthful, SINGLE peeps in their 50s, 60s, and beyond.
• Grand Rapids Single Life: Whether you want to meet new friends or meet the one, this group is for you.
• GR Queer Social: Anyone who identifies as LGBTQ+ or as an ally is welcome to join our social events!
• Holland PRIDE Events: Holland PRIDE, presented by Out On The Lakeshore, hosts Holland PRIDE Events monthly and throughout June, PRIDE Month. Join us for these fun-filled events where you can meet like-minded individuals and create life-long connections
• Professional Singles Between 45 and 55 Seeking Community!: This is a social group for youthful, active SINGLE professional [sic] between the ages of 44-55. We are interested in forming quality friendships through active events such as dinners, Pickelball games, kayaking, hiking, cross country skiing, beach days and anything else we can think of!

TRAVEL

• Michigan Day Trips: This group is for people who love to spend a day checking out a different town/city, whilst meeting new friends! I will post a destination 2+ weeks in advance. Carpooling is suggested to save on gas.

WRITING/PHOTOGRAPHY/DRAWING/ACTING

• Acting Workshops for All Ages: The ultimate goal is to ultimately [I don’t write these descriptions, people] improve your well being. Whether its [sic] eliminating your shyness, building your team building [dear god] skills, making new friends, enhancing your mental heath [sic], or just bringing some positivity to your life, you will be a better person after 6 weeks.
• Grand Rapids Drawing and Painting: This group is for everyone who’s interested in drawing or painting.
• Illusory World Building: As writers lets get past the writing groups that discuss word choice or punctuation. and grapple with the BIG picture--world building.
• Nonfiction Writing Group: If you are a nonfiction author, starting to freelance, or writing a nonfiction book, and are interested in being part of a writing community, this group is for you.
• See Like A Photographer: There are millions of tutorials devoted to HOW a camera works and WHAT “photography rules” you should be implementing but I never could find anything that focused on how to SEE your world around you as a Photographer.
• Writing Time: We meet on weekends to write in a group setting. Sometimes it's nice to work quietly with others.

YOGA/MEDITATION/PHILOSOPHY/RELIGION

• The Bible Training Center: Discipleship Bible Study: Our mission is to help each person discover God’s vision for life, helping them find their passion and focus their purpose in God’s kingdom. We do this by engaging, equipping, and empowering each person within discipleship groups and civic engagement opportunities to influence our community and society at large.
• Church Vent Session: The Church has hurt people as it has helped people. If you are willing to share your experiences - good, bad, and ugly - you will be listened to. This is an effort to help the Church heal itself and those it has hurt.
• Community Meditation Circle: This is a non-religious, non-sectarian trauma-informed group that is interested in creating and holding space where meditators from all backgrounds and experience levels can gather for the purpose of connecting to ourselves, each other, and the community.
• Grand Rapids Buddhist Meetup: This group is for anyone interested in working with their minds and emotions, as well as deepening their spiritual life through the practice of Buddhist meditation.
• Grand Rapids Free Yoga: Classes are meant to help you strengthen, lengthen, and connect to your spirit.
• Meaningful Conversations Grand Rapids: Individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and beliefs gather together each week to explore uplifting (and sometimes challenging) topics and to engage respectfully and civilly in elevated conversations, inquiry, consultation, and mutual learning.
• Michigan Humanists: Our Mission is to advance a secular community and promote humanist values. Our vision is to lead an engaged, statewide secular society guided by the values of Humanism and Its Aspirations.
• Secular and Social: This group is meant to be light-hearted-- events will often be focused on socializing, not education or debate. While all topics are fair game for casual discussion, the main goal is having fun with others that can relate to you in your lack of faith.
• Unity Spiritual Community: This space is created to assist you in living your most conscious, authentic, and soul aligned life. We offer a variety of classes, workshops, resources, and materials to support you in creating, practicing and embodying your most spiritual self.