Hi again, my lovely readers!

Welcome to all the new subscribers who found the newsletter this week. I’m so glad you’re here!

Our New Yorker of the Week today is Stephanie. She’s 35 and is looking for friendship and love.

Interested? Reach out to [email protected]. And if you want to be super cool and get involved in the newsletter yourself, you can:

• Submit yourself to be a New Yorker of the Week

• Share events that you think should be featured (for free)

• Purchase an ad to promote your business

Now, onto the goodness:

How would someone who loves you describe you?

They'd probably say I'm thoughtful, curious, encouraging, and the person who remembers the little things. I genuinely love helping people feel seen and included, whether that's introducing friends, hosting gatherings, or cheering someone on toward a big goal. I'm equal parts deep conversations and spontaneous adventures, and I'm always up for exploring a new neighborhood, museum, or coffee shop.

What sorts of things do you want to do with your friends?

Long walks around the city, hiking, picnics in the park, museum days, trying new restaurants, bookshops, live music, open mic nights, game dinner parties, volunteering, taking classes together, weekend trips, and having the kind of conversations where you accidentally stay out for four hours.

What's something that people might not guess about you?

I'm an introvert who teaches public speaking. I wrote a book called Confident Introvert because I believe meaningful connection doesn't require being the loudest person in the room. I also love bringing people together and have hosted community events in multiple cities.

Are you looking for love? Tell me about the type of person you're looking for!

I'm open to love if I meet the right person. I'm drawn to someone who's kind, emotionally mature, curious, and intentional about building a meaningful life. I appreciate consistency, good communication, a sense of humor, and someone who enjoys both adventure and quiet moments. I'd love to build a relationship rooted in friendship, mutual support, and shared experiences- whether that's exploring New York, traveling, cooking together, or hosting friends.

Anything else that the Joy List community can help you with?

I'd love to meet more thoughtful, community-minded New Yorkers who enjoy bringing people together. I'm also always excited to connect with organizations looking for speakers or workshops on communication, confidence, and relationship-building. If you know of great hiking groups, creative communities, volunteer opportunities, or unique events around the city, I'd love those recommendations too!

Gatherings

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

Tuesday, July 21: How to Build a Happier, More Connected Workplace in the Age of AI

You can be happy at work and still be wildly ambitious. Come meet Nidhi Tewari in NYC for an interactive evening on how to build a happier, more connected workplace and celebrate the launch of her new book "Working Well". You'll leave with practical tools you can apply immediately to build deeper relationships at work. AI will change how we work, but how we connect is still up to us.

$15, 6-8 PM, 12-16 Vestry St 4th Floor, New York, NY 10013. Info here.

Wednesday, July 22: Skip The Small Talk

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?

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. Not feeling like answering a particular question? No worries, we'll have plenty to choose from, like, "When are you the happiest?" and, "If you were going to become close friends with me, what would I need to know about you?" We'll give you ground rules to make sure you feel comfortable and safe sharing as much of yourself as possible while still feeling in complete control of how much you divulge.

$24. 7 to 9 PM. Bilbiotechque. Info here.

Wednesday, July 22: Garbage and Rats in New York City Walking Tour

Learn more about the dark and dirty history of garbage and rats in NYC during a 2.5 hour walking tour with a graduate of the Rat Academy and Trash Academy, and a member of the NYC Rat Pack ("elite squad of dedicated anti-rat activists"). We'll (dumpster) dive into 400 years of sanitation history, starting with Dutch Niuew Amsterdam and ending with what City Hall is doing today about garbage and rats.

Along the way, we'll visit multiple rat habitats, talk about how rats thrive in NYC, and share fun stories. If we're lucky (or unlucky, depending on how you feel about rats), rats will make a guest appearance or several. RSVP required. Sandals or open toed shoes not recommended, as we traverse some gross areas.

$35. 8 to 10:30 PM. Southeast corner of Wall Street and Pearl Street, behind the Hyatt Hotel. Email [email protected]

Thursday, July 23: Cacao Ceremomny: Return to Body and Heart

This guided sensory experience weaves ceremonial cacao, breath, gentle movement, scent, sound, touch, taste, and visualization to support nervous system regulation, heart connection, and embodied presence.Come if you've been feeling disconnected, overthinking, always "on," or simply craving a deeper sense of ease, aliveness, and connection.The evening includes Soul & Spirit ceremonial cacao, Anima Mundi herbal tea, somatic practices, and heart-centered connection.

$50, 7-8:30 PM, 31 Noble St, Greenpoint. Info here.

Thursday, July 23: Karl Popper Discussion Group #2 

Join us for our second Karl Popper discussion meetup!This is an informal discussion group where we will have a discussion loosely based around a recommended (but not mandatory) reading.This week's reading: Karl Popper's "What is Dialectic?"

Free. 6:30 to 8:30 PM. Fractal Tech. Info here.

Friday, July 24: Creative Women Walk: Astoria Park

Join the Creative Women Entrepreneurs community for our next Creative Women Walk on Friday, July 24th at 6PM.On this walk, we'll explore the beautiful Astoria Park, one of Queens' most scenic waterfront gems!This is a relaxed, no-pressure way to meet fellow creative women while moving and chatting together. Confirmed RSVPs will receive our meeting location one day before the walk.We welcome artists, makers, designers, writers, film and media makers, product creators, event planners, marketers, educators, and musicians to join us.

Free, 6-7:30pm, Astoria Park. Info here.

Saturday, July 25: raise the roof, Cuban salsa and sunset dance party

Raise the roof during golden hour with us! Join Dance Social Club for a facilitated Cuban salsa lesson on a rooftop designed to introduce you to new friends and rotating dance partners. Option to stay for a sunset dance party hosted by 3 amazing DJs dancing to latin fusion, tropical vibes, and top commercial hits. DSC is like a run club but for dancing, and our events are hosted by friends, for friends.

$20, 6-11pm, 13-02 44th Ave, Long Island City, NY. Info here.

Saturday, July 25: Boundless Mind Temple Saturday Morning Program

Join us for our Saturday morning program at Boundless Mind Temple in Brooklyn, which will include meditation, chanting, service, as well as a dharma talk by Charlie Korin Pokorny at 11:20 AM ET.

Free. 8:30 AM to 12:40 PM. Boundless Mind Temple, 326 Clinton St. Info here.

Sunday, July 26: The D Word (Drag!)

Calling all sapphics, trans people, and anyone who loves drag, burlesque, or a fun night out! THE D WORD is Henrietta Hudson's monthly all-trans, dyke, and/or sapphic drag and burlesque revue. THE D WORD is hosted by Pacha and features Baby Blue, Blue, Charlie Wo, and Queerly Femmetastic. Our next show is on Sunday, July 26th at 8pm — come make a friend (or more) while enjoying show-stopping drag and burlesque, games, and more!

$0-$25 optional PWYC donation, 8-11pm, Henrietta Hudson 438 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014. Info here.

Random Jillian lore drop

Jillian, The Joy List founder, here! If you’re new, you might not know that I’m a LinkedIn content creator and ghostwriter. Surprise!

I was on a podcast last week called Messy Growth, and it’s already at 4.6K listens. We get into why people hate LinkedIn, how to find your creativity on the platform, and why I’m a wounded healer. Casual.

Syed is a killer interviewer, and I had a lot of fun.

Listen in here.

Radical Parts Work - 12 week in person therapy group

Radical Parts Work is a 12-session long group therapy that uses tools from improv acting, drama therapy, and authentic relating to help build up spontaneity, tolerance with the uncomfortable, and expression of hidden parts of the persona. It’s a supportive group that focuses on intimacy and resilience in interpersonal conflict. We meet on Mon, Tues or Wed evenings in midtown Manhattan, Sept thru Nov. $60/session but I take most insurances.

That's it for this edition. Sending hugs.

Stay cool,

Jillian