You can connect with people online through websites such as twitter, quora, facebook or other forums.
Offline you can connect with people at a bar, library, coffee shop etc.
Connect with others at places you already go to.
There are places that you go to over and over again - these are great places to strike up conversations and start to make friends.
At work you might ask a co-worker to join you for lunch or to grab a cup of coffee.