Want to meet new people in Boise? Here are 4 options, and how to stay safe while doing so

As Boise continues to grow and more people move to the city, it can certainly seem like a daunting task to meet new people and make new friends.

Although making friends at work or from within your apartment complex are good options, finding friends with similar interests can be more challenging. Whether you’re the sporty type or the arts and culture type, there are plenty of activities in Boise that’ll have you making new friends in no time.

Active and outdoor options around Boise

Boise is an outdoor paradise year-round — in the summer, the foothills provide plentiful hiking opportunities, while the Boise River Greenbelt is a great place for a relaxing walk or a bike ride. Once winter rolls around, skiing and snowboarding are just a short drive north at Bogus Basin, and Camel’s Back Park is a great place to go sledding.

While summer and winter can be easier seasons for making outdoor friends, your best bet any time of the year is to join a local club. The Boise Area Runners is a free local running club that schedules group runs several times a week along Boise Foothills trails and to and from local breweries.

If you’re looking for something more than just running, Gameday is a Boise-based organization that sets people up with a sports team in various sports. You can sign up as an individual or a group and be placed with a team of like-minded people. Gameday offers bowling, indoor and outdoor kickball, indoor volleyball and sand volleyball.

You can also join one of Boise’s many other recreational and competitive sports leagues, such as the Southern Idaho Soccer League, adult softball and adult basketball leagues.

Non-alcohol options in Boise

It can sometimes be hard to break the ice with people if you’re not a fan of drinking alcohol, but you’re surrounded by people who are. Boise has a couple of options that can bring together drinkers and non-drinkers in one place.

Trivia is always a reliable option, and there is no shortage of trivia nights at local breweries. The website Game Night Live keeps track of trivia nights throughout the area, such as Sunday nights at Prost!, Wednesday nights at White Dog Brewing or Thursday nights at Mad Swede Brewing Company.

The downtown arcade bar Spacebar is also a great option to enjoy a fun night out downtown without a drop of alcohol. Although alcohol is served at Spacebar, the main attraction is the wide selection of old-school pinball machines and arcade games, evoking childhood memories with classics like Galaga, Street Fighter and Donkey Kong.

Spacebar is temporarily closed as it moves to a larger building at 620 W. Idaho St.

Boise social gaming

The term “gaming” nowadays typically invokes images of PlayStations, Nintendo devices and VR headsets. But Boise isn’t afraid to keep things traditional, and All About Games in the Overland Park Shopping Center on Overland Road is leading the charge.

All About Games hosts game nights most nights of the week, ranging from chess on Mondays to Magic the Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokemon nights on the weekends. A calendar of events can be found online.

The Boise Area Boardgame Enthusiasts and Treasure Valley Gamers also organize gaming events.

Boise arts and culture

If you want to see a show or concert, you don’t need to break the bank in Boise. Plenty of brew halls and bars around the downtown area host open mic nights throughout the week; Mad Swede hosts open mic nights on Mondays and Thursdays, and Pengilly Saloon also hosts an open mic night on Mondays.

Watson’s Mystery Cafe and Spirits is also a prime place to see stand-up comedy, partake in a live murder mystery show, or enjoy an improv show on Friday nights.

If you’re into music, Knitting Factory and The Olympic are two intimate downtown venues that often host cheap concerts from local and traveling bands.

Staying safe in Boise

With all of the options around Boise, meeting new people can still be scary and potentially dangerous. Going somewhere with a group is always a good option, but if you’re meeting someone alone, it’s good to be prepared.

The Idaho Statesman talked to Krav Maga Experts chief instructor August Ritter about ways you can stay safe. Krav Maga Experts offers self-defense classes in Boise to anyone of any level.

“One of the best things to do is to make a lot of noise,” Ritter said. “Using your voice, yelling ‘stop, no, get back, help,’ these types of things, that attracts people.”

When it comes to self-defense, Ritter said that anything you’re carrying could be your first line of defense, such as hot coffee or keys. That would be followed by looking to neutralize the person by aiming for vital targets such as the groin or eyeballs.

The website Damsel in Defense is a good resource for self-defense weapons, Ritter said, such as stun guns that deactivate when not in possession of the owner or bags and wallets that conceal weapons that can quickly be reached.

Those who want to learn more about Krav Maga can attend classes at 6431 W. Ustick Rd. in Boise or 3210 East, W. Chinden Blvd. in Eagle. Training includes instructors putting pupils in positions they could potentially find themselves in and teaching them what to do and how to escape.

“It could be as simple as Stress Inoculation in the form of closing your eyes, and then your partner is going to choke you,” Ritter said. “And then at that point, open your eyes, and then pull out that defense, which, you know, it’s much more difficult than it sounds.

“That’s the only way to train. It’s the only way to actually learn these things,” he continued. “And it’s a big eye opener for a lot of people that come in the door, whether they have experience or not.”