The 5 types of events that are totally acceptable to attend by yourself

The scenario: You just moved here and don’t know a single soul in this city, or all of your plans fell through for the night or your friends are busy and you feel lonely.

The problem: You’re not a fan of ordering a glass of wine by yourself at a bar, and/or eating dinner alone at a restaurant, and/or going to a movie at the theater by yourself at 7:30 p.m. on a weekend.

The solution: Fly solo to these five types of events, and like it.

(1) Charlotte Storytellers’ story slams

This group does stand-up storytelling based on themes and hosts frequent story slams for the public to come out and enjoy (laughter and drinks are generally involved).

The next event is an interactive workshop June 17 at C3 Lab as part of No Vacancy. Check their Facebook page for updates/future events.

(2) SlamCharlotte competitions

If you like poetry, or inspiration on any level, grab a ticket and a drink and plop down in the audience at the Stage Door Theater. You’ll fit right in, and be mesmerized. Fun fact: SlamCharlotte’s current slammaster, Bluz, was the 13th ranked individual poet internationally in 2007.

The next slam competition is June 29 and continues monthly.

(3) Any and all art receptions

Yes, these are really fun to go to with a sidekick if you like to sip wine and try to talk about the meaning you’re getting out of the various works of art that are being unveiled. But art is a beautiful thing to enjoy alone, to contemplate with little distraction. Besides, you never know who you’ll bump into in front of a brilliant canvas.

Tonight (June 10), No Vacancy opens to the public at C3 Lab with music by Erik Button, Dust & Ashes and Patabamba, plus brews from Three Spirits Brewery.

[Related: Why is there a resort motel under construction in C3 Lab?]

Tomorrow (June 11), the McColl Center for Art + Innovation is hosting Prompt Party on Open Studio Saturday. Check out new site-specific art installations by three McColl Center Alumni Artists, music by Patabamba and It’s Snakes, a cash bar and food from the Two Chicks and a Truck food truck.

(4) Summer Pops concerts

Since people bring picnic blankets (and snacks and wine) and flop out on the grass at SouthPark’s Symphony Park for this concert series, flying solo here is the social equivalent of sunbathing on the beach alone. Perfectly normal. And the music rocks.

The five-part series by the Charlotte Symphony continues Sunday, June 12 with Symphony Swings featuring favorites from Glenn Miller’s “In The Mood” as well as Duke Ellington, plus the remaining Sundays in June.

(5) InstabeerupCLT

The purpose of this monthly event is to come meet the people you stalk (sorry, follow) on the social media, and to meet new people you will then start following. It’s a happy swarm of such random people wearing name tags and drinking beer at a brewery that it’s easy to sidle into a conversation and say, “Hi, this is me.”

The next #instabeerupclt is June 30 at The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, when the event turns 2 years old.

Now go forth, solo social butterfly, and prosper.

This story was originally published June 20, 2016 at 12:00 AM.