There's a worthwhile chance that someone you already know back home has connections with others where you live now. That's how I made such a smooth social transition from one state to another twice in the space of a year: I asked everyone I knew for connections, and someone set me up with an existing gaming group even before I arrived. I had new friends within a week of moving.
In the meantime:
+ Check out as many conventions or conferences as you can, but focus on the "hallway track" and the bar (you don't have to drink, either!).
+ Check out Meetup.com or even OkCupid.com (or the EU equivalents). Other people are trying to make new friends through those sites.
+ Chat with the folks where you work. Spend time in a coffee shop or co-working space if you don't already. I made a good friend, for example, out of a totally random Starbucks encounter.
It is ironic, I am in one of the biggest city of this country right now but on Meetup.com I can't find more than 4 - boring - events in the next 30 days
Anyway I already planned to join an hackthlon this weekend even if I never tried one and fear to be the "noob of the group" but well, I hope we all started from that position somewhere
I have for sure to improve my start-a-discussion-with-strangers skill.
In the meantime:
+ Check out as many conventions or conferences as you can, but focus on the "hallway track" and the bar (you don't have to drink, either!).
+ Check out Meetup.com or even OkCupid.com (or the EU equivalents). Other people are trying to make new friends through those sites.
+ Chat with the folks where you work. Spend time in a coffee shop or co-working space if you don't already. I made a good friend, for example, out of a totally random Starbucks encounter.
Hope that helps!