I would give the opposite advice: go for a tech group! Since the goal is meeting people, and the challenge making friends, it will be much easier if you do it

I would give the opposite advice: go for a tech group! Since the goal is meeting people, and the challenge making friends, it will be much easier if you do it IN your comfort zone. Seriously, I think most of the people on HN is likely to be more "actually interested" in tech, rather than art... But overall I agree, go for a meetup where the goal is not just "meeting people", but has a definite goal or activity that you would enjoy already doing alone.