Because New York City is such a mixture of people, there are plenty of opportunities to gather with others who are of similar backgrounds. From the neighborhood bars to churches and religious functions, opportunities abound to gather with those who share religions, cultures or ethnicity. For example:

German - The German-American Hiking Club is a group of people who share both an ethnic background and a love of hiking. You'll find more information about this group at http://www.nynjtc.org/clubpages/gah.html or by sending e-mail to GAHC@prodigy.net.

Lebanese - The Lebanese Club is a source of information for all things Lebanese. You'll find special events including a monthly meeting time for official club members. The club advertises itself as an opportunity to meet others of similar backgrounds, though there are some stipulations to participation - no fundraising, no politics and no religion. You'll find more information about the Lebanese Club and upcoming events at http://nyc.lebaneseclub.org/.

African - There are several organizations dedicated to helping expatriates from Africa find their way in NYC. One of those is the Institute for Research on the African Diaspora in the Americas and the Caribbean. You can check out the group's website at http://www.ccny.cuny.edu/IRADAC/. You'll also find some groups that simply offer up fun things to do and places to go if you're looking for African culture. Check out the information at http://www.afropop.org for a listing of upcoming events.

Looking for people who live and work in the Upper East Side? This is only one of the groups at http://www.nyc.com/groups/groupsearch.aspx?catname=Cultures+%26+Community. Find others with similar social, cultural or religious interests, or create your own group.

If you're simply planning a night on the town but don't know the hottest spots, you might want to check out the information at http://www.ny.com/nightlife/. You'll find listings for all the late-night places to be, from pool halls to jazz clubs. This site even includes listings for those clubs for the younger set.

If you're looking for the lighter side of the city, people who share your warped sense of humor, you should probably start at http://www.nynewcomer.net/. You'll find a myriad of information about the 'weird' side of the city, including the hottest places to meet and greet. Or you may sign up for the Flavorpill, a weekly e-mail newsletter alerting New Yorkers to cultural and ethnic events. To sign up, visit http://nyc.flavorpill.net/mailer/issue225/.

The beauty of New York City is that there are cultural events and entertainment opportunities available at any given time. If you're looking for bars, nightclubs, music or art, parades, museums or exhibits of almost any genre, all you need do is find the appropriate organization and make your plans to attend. You'll find a comprehensive guide to New York City posted at http://connect.juilliard.edu/handbook/nyc_resources.asp, or you can check out the city's official website at http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcla/html/seemore04/seemore04_home.shtml where you'll find an up-to-date calendar of cultural events planned around the city.

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