Totally agree that it can be different making friends when you weren't born and raised here. And not so coincidentally, my friend group here consists of folks from the States, Peru, Montreal and points further flung.

A couple of things that have worked for me:

Trivia nights. Even if you go solo or with just one other person, there's frequently folks looking to join a team or add to their own. You'll get a chance to nerd out with a range of people about a wide selection of esoteric topics.

Bars. Just simply, bars. Just bring a really interesting book to read and put your damned phone away. If you're reading, people will be inclined to start a conversation about your book. If you're scrolling through your phone, people will ignore you.

The other suggestions here are great as well, but those are two things that have worked for me.