I found Meetup and volunteering very helpful for practicing small talk. The task at hand makes it so you're actually doing something besides just making small talk. Also in a group you don't have to contribute a lot, you actually get to listen a lot more since the conversation is divided among more people.

I do find people who like to talk but not to listen tiring. Since I usually don't have as much to say, I actually like it when someone wants to pick up the slack. But when I do have something to say, I don't like it when you just see in the person's face the only thing they are thinking about when you are talking is what they are going to say next.