Our Sister, Faye Tillery, one of our Los Angeles City Hosts, took some time out of preparing for the next LA Dinner to share some of her thoughts on how Our Family Dinner fits into the LA social scene, and her own social life since moving to Los Angeles.

Photos Courtesy of Our Sister Kara McFarlane

It has always been a dream of mine to live in LA, and some years ago I realized that I could make it happen, so here I am! As much as I love LA, the social scene here has taken some adjusting to. It’s very random, and there aren’t a lot of concrete solid spots you can hit and guarantee a certain crowd and a good time.  I’ve found that it takes a lot of work to find hot spots here. It’s easy to assume the exact opposite for a city like Los Angeles, but not so much.

Since I moved to L.A., there has been a loss of that sense of family and bonding, which is why I was so excited to become a part of Our Family Dinner as soon as I heard about it. Growing up in the south, family dinners included not only family but anyone we may have come across that week or even that day who wanted to have a good meal and meet some great new people. So for me, it’s always been about forming lasting bonds over good food.  

“For me, it’s always been about forming lasting bonds over good food. “

Before attending my first Family Dinner, I have to admit, I was worried it would just be another event full of L.A. folks who just wanted to have surface level relationships. I was pleasantly surprised to find that people really seem to genuinely want to build relationships.  Since attending Family Dinners I have met some amazing new friends and have reconnected with others.  L.A. is so spread out that one could never possibly know everyone.  Attending family dinners have exposed me to a whole new group of folks that I may have never come across any other way.  

“I was pleasantly surprised to find that people really seem to genuinely want to build relationships. “

I decided to become a host for one basic reason, I’m a southerner, and I love a good get together.  Whether it’s at our home, in the park, or at a public venue.  It’s just our thing, and I’m no different.  I love welcoming people into my space, introducing them to others and making them feel at home.

I love being a host because Our Family Dinner makes you feel at home and comfortable.  You feel like you can turn off for those 3 hours and just be a normal human being instead of being a job title or resource. For that period of time, you’re just family.

“For that period of time, you’re just family.”

If I were to describe my hosting experience in one word, it would be exciting. I’m always excited because the opportunity to meet some amazing new people is on the horizon, and I love it.