Dry January in Toronto, and still out of the house.

Pub Chess Liberty (Left Field Brewery)

Snakes & Lattes Annex Social Game Night

Alter Sauna + Ice Bath Studio

Element Outdoor Sauna

Loyly Floating Sauna Toronto

Othership Adelaide

Othership Yorkville

Unbounded Well (stackt market)

Evening Book Club, new members welcome, Fairview library, Toronto

A relaxed neighbourhood book club that meets on the first Tuesday of every month, so the first week of January is a natural moment to join. Discussions of popular novels are lively but friendly, and the library says new members are always welcome. Copies of the current book can be borrowed at the Fairview branch; the January title is not listed online, so ask at the desk. Free; drop in, no registration. «Evening Book Club & Play Reading» Starts 18:45, ends about 20:00. Source: Toronto Public Library events.

Silent Book Club at Highland Creek Library

Bring your own book or pick one from the shelves, read quietly alongside others for a while, then everyone talks about what they have been reading. It meets on the first Tuesday of the month as a drop-in, with no registration. It is ideal for introverts who still want company.

Drop-in knitting and crochet circle at Don Mills library, Toronto

A weekly drop-in circle for knitters and crocheters: bring whatever you are working on, show it off, swap ideas and get advice, or simply sit and chat while your hands are busy. Beginners are welcome and the library keeps a small supply of materials, so a new-year hobby can start right here. Free, no registration. «Knitting and Crochet Circle» Starts 13:00, ends about 14:00. Source: Toronto Public Library events.

Saturday Drop-In Chess Club at Gerrard/Ashdale Library

Players of every age and level meet on the second floor every Saturday afternoon for friendly games of chess. It is a free drop-in, and under-18s must come with a parent or guardian. Sitting down across a board is an instant way to meet someone new.

Movies From Around the World at Lillian H. Smith Library

On the second Monday of each month, this branch screens a film from a different country, starting with a short introduction. The screening is free and aimed at adults. Watching together and comparing notes afterwards is an easy way to meet other film fans.

Friendly drop-in book club, Taylor Memorial Library, Toronto

On Tuesday 12 January 2027 the Taylor Memorial branch of the Toronto Public Library, at 1440 Kingston Road in Scarborough, holds its Taylor Memorial Book Club in the meeting room. The listing invites you to join on the second Tuesday of the month to try out new titles and discuss them in a friendly atmosphere. It is a drop-in, with no registration required. The autumn list on the page included The Adversary by Michael Crummey, The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman, The Massey Murders by Charlotte Grey and The Women by Kristin Hannah. The club is free and the page is in English. An afternoon book club is a low-pressure way to meet people from the neighbourhood: you can listen at first, share an opinion when you are ready and pick up your next read from the others. The club starts at 14:00 and ends at about 15:00. «Taylor Memorial Book Club» Starts 14:00, ends about 15:00. Source: Toronto Public Library events.

Drop-in Tuesday chess club, Eatonville Library, Toronto

On Tuesday 12 January 2027 the Eatonville branch of the Toronto Public Library, at 430 Burnhamthorpe Road in Etobicoke, holds its Chess Club. The listing describes a drop-in for a friendly game of chess every Tuesday evening, with all skill levels welcome and chess sets provided, so you do not need to bring a board or a partner. The club is free and the page is in English. The library notes that personal information collected for programme registration is used only for event and programme purposes. A weekly chess night is one of the simplest ways to meet new people in a big city: the game gives you something to do with your hands, an easy way to start a conversation and a natural end after each match if you want to move on to the next table. Beginners are as welcome as long-time players. The club starts at 18:00 and ends at about 19:30. «Chess Club» Starts 18:00, ends about 19:30. Source: Toronto Public Library events.

Afternoon contemporary fiction book club, Northern District, Toronto

A friendly, spirited monthly discussion of a different book, usually an eclectic piece of contemporary fiction; recent picks included «Orbital» by Samantha Harvey and «Stone Yard Devotional» by Charlotte Wood. Ask at the branch for this month's title. No registration listed; free. The same book is also discussed at an evening session on the third Wednesday of the month at 19:00, and you are welcome at either or both. The branch is one block from Eglinton subway station. «Northern District Book Club—Afternoons» Starts 14:00, ends about 15:00. Source: Toronto Public Library events.