Hi again, my lovely readers!

As per usual, a reminder to share this link with your event producer friends! I’d love to feature any gatherings that facilitate new connections.

Send me your stuff. Or BONUS POINTS, go ahead and submit the form for the communities you love. You’ll become the organizer’s favorite.

ALSO! this is the link to purchase an ad, which is great for anything that is NOT a one-off event in NYC. (Or just to guarantee your event is featured.)

Now, onto the GIF and the gatherings:

You Have a Lot of Friends. Why Do You Still Feel So Alone?

You're in 3 group chats, a Slack channel and play basketball every week but feel like no one knows you. Dismantle is a 10-week virtual and IRL men's group designed to build real friendships while addressing problems that normally stay private (sex, money, grief, loneliness, trauma). 4 of 5 grads left with a clearer sense of who they are and more connected to other men than ever. Sliding scale ($60–$120/session).

Free Opportunity to Transform Your Relationships

Want 3 weeks of FREE group therapy? Volunteer to be part of this documentary, which explores what it’s like to be part of a process group. You’ll save money, meet people who are interested in personal development, and help others understand if group therapy is for them. The dates are May 4, 11, and 18, 8-9:30pm. Learn more and express interest here.

Gatherings

Double check details before you go, and contact the organizers with questions! The Joy List does not run these events.

Monday, April 27: Take the Night: A Community Week NYC Karaoke Takeover

You don't have to be good — you just have to show up. In collaboration with Chris Min, this event takes over Baby Grand LES for an evening of karaoke and making new connections.

Free, 6 PM–midnight, Baby Grand LES, 187 Orchard St. Info here.

Monday, April 27: How to Listen

Good listening is shockingly hard and painfully rare — it's also the most powerful tool we have for emotional connection, and yet most of us were never taught how to do it. We're trained to respond, to fix, to relate back to ourselves, but what people actually need isn't our answers — it's our presence. In this Lifeshop, you'll practice the lost art of real listening.

$33 each when you bring a friend (code LISTEN60 on 2 standard tickets), 8–10 PM, 199 N 8th St, Williamsburg. Info here.

Tuesday, April 28: Plus-One Party™: Sapphic Edition 🌈 [Admits 2]

Everyone says they want to meet someone "through friends," and Met Through Friends helps make it happen. Grab a pal and join for a dating event with a twist: everyone brings a great single friend for someone else to meet. Each ticket includes admission for 2 single sapphics.

$45 (admits 2), 7–10 PM, 174 1st Ave. Info here.

Wednesday, April 29: Love Meditation

Whether you want to strengthen your relationship with yourself, feel more grounded and connected, or simply bring more love into your everyday life, this evening will offer a warm and welcoming space to do just that. No meditation experience is needed — just come as you are, with an open mind and heart. Wear comfortable clothes that allow for gentle movement and bring a water bottle.

$20, 6–8 PM, Balance Arts Center, Room 1, 3rd Floor. Info here.

Thursday, April 30: She Shaped the Seaport: Secrets and Lies

Discover how the East River wasn't just shaped by merchants — it was run by formidable women of the waterfront. Join the Seaport Museum and NYC's Secrets & Lies for a deep dive into the feminine force of the New York City seaport, exploring the lives of women who held power in the harbor's most clandestine corners. Come aboard the 1885 tall ship Wavertree and listen as four storytellers share their tales — three are steady on the compass, one will have you steering by the wrong lights. Your $15 ticket includes the storytelling show, time on the ship, drinks, and snacks.

$15, 7–8:30 PM, Tall Ship Wavertree, 89 South St, South Street Seaport. Info here.

Thursday, April 30: Common Ground

COMMON GROUND is a high-energy live music experience where the house band, featured artists, and the crowd come together on one shared stage. Presented by Sound Mind & MusiCollage, the night blends curated talent with real-time collaboration, creating space for spontaneous moments, surprise pairings, and audience participation. It's more than a show — it's a shared experience where the room feeds the performance and the performance feeds the room.

$25, 7–9:30 PM, Crossroads Cafe, 119 Knickerbocker Ave. Info here.

Thursday, April 30: Talent Show [for Adults] Hosted by: Journaling Classes

Come to The Talent Show [for adults] for an evening of play, joy, and celebration. This gathering is an invitation to lean into your spontaneity, step out of your comfort zone, and make room for joy — a night you get to attend and be held while having a blast.

$25, 7:30 PM, 61 Wythe Ave. Info here.

Saturday, May 2: Jane’s Walk

The world’s largest chapter of Jane’s Walk, the annual festival of free, community-led walking conversations inspired by Jane Jacobs. Over 200 walks led by volunteer New Yorkers who know their neighborhoods cold: community gardens, hidden architecture, forgotten histories, waterfront ecology, you name it. No tickets, no reservations for most walks, just show up.

Note from Jillian: shoutout to the Unmuted newsletter for bringing this to my attention!

Free. Info here.

Sunday, May 3: Seeding Songs of Resistance

Join us in Prospect Park for what we are calling Seeding Songs of Resistance: a free community gathering where we’ll sing, teach, share, and invite songs that can serve us in moments of action — marches, demonstrations, protests, and beyond. This is a space to practice leading, learning, and singing songs that can rise up when we need them most — songs that carry joy, solidarity, defiance, and power.

Whether you’ve led songs at protests before or are just beginning to find your voice in this kind of space, all are welcome. We'll hold space for experimentation, collaboration, and rootedness in the values Gaia holds dear.

Free. 1:30 to 2:30 PM. Grand Army Plaza. Info here.

That's it for this edition. Sending hugs.

Stay cozy,

Jillian