What New Haven IRL Is
New Haven IRL (In Real Life) hosts small-group conversation nights in carefully chosen spaces around the city.
You sit with three or four people, follow a good prompt, and let the evening unfold in a way that feels natural, lively, and surprisingly fun.
No one-on-one intensity. No awkward ice breakers or business networking.
Just conversation that moves the way it should, made easy by our event structure.
Why We Do It
I started New Haven IRL because people are lonely. Most adults are trying to build a life while missing one of the things that makes life livable: real connection with people who get them.
We’ve lost our third spaces. We scroll more than we talk. We text instead of showing up. We make plans with our friends in vague ways that never end up happening. And when you finally decide you do want to meet new people, the options are either dating apps, crowded bars, or awkward networking events -none of which actually help you feel less alone.
I’m building IRL because I care about bringing people together in the real world, on purpose. Not for romance. Not for “networking.” Just for the simple fact that people feel better when they get to talk to other people in a space that feels safe and interesting.
Meeting people as an adult shouldn’t feel impossible. It shouldn’t require you to to be naturally extroverted. It shouldn’t leave you drained. When the structure is thoughtful and the room is full of people who actually want to be there, conversation becomes easy again. Stories come out. Curiosity returns. People remember what it feels like to be part of something instead of watching from a distance.
That’s why IRL exists. To make it easier to find good people, have real conversations, and feel a little less alone walking out than you did walking in.
What an IRL Event Feels Like
Most people walk in alone, a little nervous and a little curious, and then the hardest part is already behind them. The room settles quickly. Within minutes, conversations start to stack on top of each other — relaxed, layered, and more interesting than anyone expected on a weeknight.
People tell stories they almost never get to share. Someone laughs. Someone leans in. Someone has that moment of, “Wait… this is actually fun.”
It’s not heavy or overwhelming.
It’s not shallow or performative.
It’s that middle zone where people loosen up, let their guard down, and end up more themselves than they ever get to be with strangers
Who Shows Up
People who like a real conversation.
People who enjoy smart prompts and thoughtful questions.
People who are tired of feeling lonely in a room full of other adults.
People who haven’t quite found their people yet, but are ready to change that.
Not exclusive - just the kind of people who want something better than the usual options.
Where We Are Going
New Haven IRL will keep experimenting with new formats, new prompts, and new venues across the city and into Connecticut.
The goal doesn’t change: to create nights where people talk easily and leave feeling more connected than when they arrived.