About us
Random Acts of Connection began as a personal step. After the pandemic, I realized I wanted more connection in my life and moved to Boston willing to try. What started as a small experiment—showing up and inviting others to do the same—has grown, since August 2024, into a vibrant, community-led group with multiple organizers and a wide range of events.
This is no longer just one person’s group. It’s a shared space built by people who are curious, open, and willing to step a little outside their normal box.
Our events are designed to help people:
- meet new people
- practice self-expression
- explore Boston and its surroundings
- try new experiences
- and create real connection
We host everything from restaurant outings and movie nights to walks, museums, games, and collaborative events. Whether you’re new to the city, starting over, or simply looking for more meaningful connection, you’re welcome here. This is not networking or forced socializing. It’s about creating conditions where connection can happen naturally—through presence, conversation, and shared experience.
### Help Us Keep This Going
If you’d like to support the community:
- Donate via DonorBox: https://donorbox.org/random-acts-of-connection-2026
- Support us by buying merch: https://randomactsofconnection.dashery.com/
Support is always optional. Showing up already matters.
A FEW RULES TO KEEP US ORGANIZED AND SAFE:
PICTURE POLICY:
We require that you have a photo (for security reasons) that is a current picture of yourself on your Meetup profile that clearly shows your face (without sunglasses), first name (please no one letter or number names). Anyone without a photo and name will not be allowed to attend events.
RSVP POLICY:
PLEASE RSVP with integrity as space is limited & it's not fair to others or the venue to do a last minute cancellation. Last minute cancellations (meaning after the event closes - time which can be seen on the app if set for the event) count as NO SHOWS & it's 3 strikes you're out of the group. Emergencies/illness happen--we get it--and it only takes a few seconds to change your RSVP from ATTENDING to NOT ATTENDING. This is also YOUR responsibility. And it's common courtesy.
WAITLISTS:
You are responsible for managing your own RSVP when on a WAITLIST. IF you stay on a WAITLIST, you could move to the going list at any time. If you assume you will not get on the going list and make other plans, it is YOUR responsibility to update your RSVP to not going to avoid a no show or last minute cancellation. You have potentially taken a spot away from another member who would have loved to join the event.
CODE OF CONDUCT AND DISCLAIMER:
By participating in any event, activity, gathering, or initiative organized by Random Acts of Connection (the “Club”), you acknowledge and agree to the following:
- Voluntary Participation: All participation in Club events is strictly voluntary. Attendees assume full responsibility for their actions and interactions, and participate at their own risk.
- No Duty of Care: The Club and its main organizer(s), officers, agents, and volunteers (collectively, the “Organizers”) do not owe a legal duty of care to attendees beyond that required by law. The Club is a voluntary, non-commercial social group and makes no warranties or guarantees about safety, fitness, or suitability of any event, venue, or participant.
- Limitation of Liability: To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Organizers shall not be liable for any injury, illness, loss, damage, liability, or expense of any kind (including but not limited to physical or emotional injury, property damage, theft, or death) arising out of or related to participation in any Club event or activity.
- Assumption of Risk: You understand that certain activities may carry inherent risks, and by participating, you knowingly and voluntarily assume all such risks, both known and unknown.
- Third-Party Venues and Services: The Club may host events at third-party locations or involve third-party services. The Club and Organizers do not control these third parties and are not responsible for their actions, omissions, or policies.
- Media Release: By attending events, you grant the Organizers permission to use photographs, video, and audio recordings taken during events for promotional purposes, unless you explicitly request otherwise in writing prior to the event.
- Code of Conduct: Participants are expected to behave respectfully and responsibly. The Organizers reserve the right to deny participation or remove individuals from events for disruptive, inappropriate, or dangerous behavior, at their sole discretion.
- Indemnification: You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Organizers from any claims, demands, damages, or expenses (including legal fees) arising from your actions during or related to participation in any Club activity.
***
BY ATTENDING OR PARTICIPATING IN A RANDOM ACTS OF CONNECTION EVENT, YOU CONFIRM THAT YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD, AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS DISCLAIMER.
Upcoming events
16
Make Friends, Not Small Talk
Aeronaut Brewing Company, 14 Tyler Street, Somerville, MA, USThis is a ticketed event, please purchase your ticket here:
https://www.skipthesmalltalk.com/store/skip-the-small-talk-night-at-aeronaut-monday-august-24-2026 in order to attend .Folks in this meetup get 20% off! Use code: RAC at checkout.
This event is cross-posted so Meetup RSVPs won't accurately reflect the actual number of attendees; we already have 25 people who have already bought tickets, and usually expect between 30-40 people at an event.
What's It Like?
Do you wish you could have more of the kinds of conversations you have late at night where for some reason, you feel safe talking about the things you actually care about?
Bring your friends (or come by yourself- most people do!) and spend your Monday night at an event where you know everyone else is there for the same reason.
We'll be offering 'big talk' conversational prompts on them to get you started, and we'll have lots of structure to make sure that you actually talk to people and that it's not awkward.
There will be food and beer for sale!
Check-in for this event will begin around 6:15 pm. Please do your best to arrive before 6:30 pm so we can begin as close to on time as possible.
Skip the Small Talk is dedicated to providing an inclusive, welcoming environment for everyone. Check out our safety policy here: tinyurl.com/ststSafety
Please see our event page for more accessibility info.
Ready to Skip the Small Talk With Us?
Grab a ticket since entry is on a first come first serve basis and we tend to sell out in advance for these-- once we are out of tickets, we will NOT be able to accommodate folks at the door.
Want to check out what else is going on at Aeronaut? Check out their full event calendar here. If you want to be the first to hear about our events before we sell out, feel free to join our mailing list at Skip the Small Talk Mailing List Sign-Up
###PLEASE NOTE: Even if you RSVP on Meetup, you will need to grab a ticket here https://www.skipthesmalltalk.com/store/skip-the-small-talk-night-at-aeronaut-monday-august-24-2026 in order to attend### This event is cross-posted so Meetup RSVPs won't accurately reflect the actual number of attendees; typically there are around 30-40 people in attendance.
17 attendees
Millennial Speed-dating
Aeronaut Brewing Company, 14 Tyler Street, Somerville, MA, USThis is a ticketed event, please purchase your ticket here:
https://www.skipthesmalltalk.com/store/millennial-speed-dating-monogamous-wednesday-august-26-2026 in order to attend .Folks in this meetup get 20% off! Use code: RAC at checkout.
This event is cross-posted so Meetup RSVPs won't accurately reflect the actual number of attendees; we already have 25 people who have already bought tickets, and usually expect between 30-40 people at an event.
About This Event
Want to get off your dating apps and meet someone in real life, but where you don’t have to find out that every cute person at the party is unavailable? Do you think that IRL speed dating is generally awkward and weird? So do we. That’s why we’re putting a Skip the Small Talk twist on dating.
We'll be offering "big talk" conversation prompts to get you started, and we'll have lots of structure to make sure that you actually talk to people and that it's not awkward.
There will be food and drinks for sale! A free drink is included in the ticket price.
Check-in for this event will begin around 6:45 pm.
Please do your best to arrive before 7:00 pm so we can begin as close to on time as possible. Please note that there is an arrival cutoff, meaning that if you are not in line to check in before 7:10 pm, unfortunately, you will not be able to participate and we will not be able to offer refunds.
Skip the Small Talk is dedicated to providing an inclusive, welcoming environment for everyone. Check out our safety policy here: Skip the Small Talk Safety Policy
Who Is This Event for?
You would probably have a good time at this event if all of the following are true of you:
- You are aged 30-45 (plus or minus a year or two is cool, too, and if you’re not in this age range, feel free to check out our other events).
- You are monogamous (polyamorous events are also often available— feel free to check out our other events!)
- You either feel a connection to the identity of “man” and you are interested in dating women, or you feel a connection to the identity of “woman” and you are interested in dating men. Gender nonconforming folks who feel connected to one of those genders in some way are absolutely welcome. (We also host other events to accommodate gender nonconforming folks who don’t feel a connection to the identity of “man” or “woman”).
If any of the above statements are NOT true of you, you might want to see if our other events are a better fit. We do our best to accommodate as many different demographics as possible given limited capacity for our speed-dating events, and we are always working to include more! Any suggestions for how we can be more inclusive? Please feel free to reach out to us at info@skipthesmalltalk.com.
This event is trans-inclusive. We do not tolerate transphobia at this or any of our events.
We can only accommodate a limited number of guests at this event, so please plan to grab a ticket as soon as you think you'd like to join us.
Ready to Skip the Small Talk With Us?
Grab a ticket since entry is on a first come first serve basis and we tend to sell out in advance for these-- once we are out of tickets, we will NOT be able to accommodate folks at the door.
Want to check out what else is going on at Aeronaut? Check out their full event calendar here. If you want to be the first to hear about our events before we sell out, feel free to join our mailing list at Skip the Small Talk Mailing List Sign-Up
###PLEASE NOTE: Even if you RSVP on Meetup, you will need to grab a ticket here https://www.skipthesmalltalk.com/store/millennial-speed-dating-monogamous-wednesday-august-26-2026 in order to attend### This event is cross-posted so Meetup RSVPs won't accurately reflect the actual number of attendees; typically there are around 30-40 people in attendance.
14 attendees
Making Connections at Tree House Brewing Outdoor Beer Garden
Tree House Brewing Outdoor Beer Garden at Faneuil Hall, 200 Faneuil Hall Market Pl, Boston, MA 02109, Boston, MA, US### About The Event ###
Join us for another Making Connections—our signature social gathering designed to bring people together in a relaxed, welcoming environment.This time we'll be meeting at the Tree House Brewing Outdoor Beer Garden at Faneuil Hall, one of downtown Boston's favorite outdoor gathering spots. Come enjoy a summer evening with great conversation, new friendships, and the lively atmosphere of one of the city's most iconic neighborhoods.
Whether you're attending your very first event or you're one of our regulars, you'll find a friendly community that's always happy to welcome new faces. Come on your own or bring a friend—either way, we'll help make introductions and get conversations started.
There are no structured activities or icebreakers—just genuine conversations, shared laughter, and the opportunity to meet interesting people from all walks of life.This is not a dating event. While meaningful connections of all kinds can happen naturally, please be respectful, mindful of personal boundaries, and help us maintain the welcoming, inclusive atmosphere that makes our community special.
Please check in using the Meetup QR code upon arrival; not checking in counts as a no-show under our attendance policy.
### Help Us Keep This Going ###
If you’d like to support the community:- Donate via DonorBox: https://donorbox.org/random-acts-of-connection-2026
- Support us by buying merch: https://randomactsofconnection.dashery.com/
Support is always optional. Showing up already matters.
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FAQ- What is the age range?
We don’t police connection by age, but plenty of other groups do if that’s what you’re looking for - Where do people meet?
The exact meeting spot is shared in the Discussion section of the event once the hosts arrive at the location, unless otherwise specified. Please check there the day of the event. - I'm arriving late. How do I find the group?
If you arrive late, please note that hosts are not responsible for helping attendees locate the group once the event has started. Hosts are focused on welcoming and facilitating those who arrived on time and may not be able to respond to messages.
Any location updates will be posted in the event’s comment section. We strongly encourage arriving on time to ensure you can find the group and participate fully. - What about parking?
Parking is your responsibility. We don’t manage or guarantee parking options for attendees. Check apps like SpotHero, ParkWhiz or BestParking.
72 attendees
Past events
369
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