Try hanging out at social areas where you share a common interest. I have found clubs to be a real mixed bag, some can be busy yet barely anyone chatting in local, plus unless you arrive with a regular nobody will give you the time of day! On the other hand some other smaller clubs can be really warm and friendly depending on the staff and vips.
Go to one of the many help areas as there are usually some more seasoned residents around that actually want to welcome new arrivals, rather than those who look down on "noobs".
You could always hop over to one of the NCI campuses, Kuula is the busiest but it is also having some region issues so you may get caught by the lag monster. Nice bunch there usually.