# Buffet — full text > Buffet is an app for meeting people in real life. Pick a spot, invite someone, or get a plate at a table — one-to-one or in groups of six or less. Tagline: All you can meet. Company: Buffet Co, Inc., Los Angeles, California. Founder and CEO: Rich Hacking. Launched in Los Angeles on March 15, 2024; Buffet 2.0 relaunched there in September 2026. Platform: iOS, free. App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buffetapp/id6451276445 Site: https://joinbuffet.com/ · Index: https://joinbuffet.com/llms.txt · Feed: https://joinbuffet.com/rss.xml Contact: info@joinbuffet.com Buffet is a social connection app, not a dating app and not a ticketing app. People meet one-to-one or in groups of six or less around a place and a time. A table forms once three people have claimed a plate, and the group chat opens then. ## Key pages - https://joinbuffet.com/about/ — facts, timeline, press and brand assets - https://joinbuffet.com/meet-people/los-angeles/ — how to meet people in Los Angeles, and how Buffet works there - https://joinbuffet.com/things-to-do/los-angeles/this-weekend/ — this week's lineup of real Los Angeles events - https://joinbuffet.com/news/ — every article ## This weekend in Los Angeles (Fri Oct 23 – Sun Oct 25) - Friday 2026-10-23 5 PM — Happy Hour at Morrison Burbank at Morrison Burbank, 3821 W Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505 (Burbank; $$). Burgers, wings, fries and drinks at a Magnolia Park gastropub that keeps winning Burbank's best happy hour. It is a Buffet hangout, not a ticketed event. Come at 5 to catch happy hour before it ends at 6, then stay for dinner with the group. https://morrisonburbank.com/ - Friday 2026-10-23 6 PM — Boo-ze, Bites & Frights: Sinners & Blade at Heritage Square Museum, 3545 Pasadena Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90031 (Lincoln Heights; $$). Street Food Cinema's Halloween double feature, Sinners then Blade, on a big screen among the Victorian houses of Heritage Square. Food trucks, three bars, a haunted walkway, adult trick-or-treating and a costume contest. Doors 5:30, first film 6:45. 21 and over. Use the Pasadena Ave entrance. https://www.streetfoodcinema.com/events/boo-ze-bites-frights-sinners-blade - Saturday 2026-10-24 11 AM — Grand Ave Arts: All Access at The Music Center, 135 N Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (Downtown LA; Free). One free day when 14 arts institutions along Grand Avenue open their doors: The Broad, MOCA, LA Phil, LA Opera, REDCAT, the Central Library and more, with workshops, performances and tours from 11 to 4. Meet the group at the Music Center plaza and wander down Grand together. https://grandavearts.org/ - Saturday 2026-10-24 3 PM — Oktoberfest at Red Lion Tavern at Red Lion Tavern, 2366 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039 (Silver Lake; Free). Steins, pretzels and German beer at one of LA's classic beer gardens, a Silver Lake institution since 1959 that runs Oktoberfest on weekends through the fall. No cover; you pay for what you drink. Meet the group on the rooftop beer garden. https://www.redliontavern.net/events/red-lion-oktoberfest - Sunday 2026-10-25 11 AM — Bagels at Noah's NY Bagels at Noah's NY Bagels Westwood, 10910 Lindbrook Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90024 (Westwood; $). Bagels and iced coffee in Westwood Village, an easy way to start Sunday. It is a Buffet hangout, not a ticketed event. Grab a bagel sandwich, find a table together and take your time. https://locations.noahs.com/us/ca/los-angeles/10910-lindbrook-dr - Sunday 2026-10-25 12 PM — Boo at the Zoo at Los Angeles Zoo, 5333 Zoo Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027 (Griffith Park; $). The L.A. Zoo dressed up for Halloween: pumpkin treats for the animals, a corn maze, costume characters, a vulture talk at noon and photo spots across the park. Included with regular admission, about $27. Meet the group at the front entrance and walk it together. https://lazoo.org/plan-your-visit/special-experiences/boo-at-the-l-a-zoo-2026/ Each pick comes with a small group from Buffet: https://joinbuffet.com/things-to-do/los-angeles/this-weekend/ ## Articles (19) --- # Apps to Meet People in Los Angeles That Aren't Dating Apps URL: https://joinbuffet.com/apps-to-meet-people-in-los-angeles/ Published: 2026-10-22 Section: Socialization Summary: An honest comparison of apps for meeting people in Los Angeles without dating: Timeleft, 222, Bumble BFF, Meetup, Pie, Washed Up and Buffet. Formats, prices, group sizes, and which one fits how you want to meet people. Two years ago the phrase "app to make friends" got a wince. Now there's a category. The U.S. Surgeon General called loneliness a public health crisis in 2023, a generation that met its partners on apps stopped seeing why friends should be different, and by last year more than a dozen local friendship apps had done [roughly $16 million in U.S. consumer spending](https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/05/as-people-look-for-ways-to-make-new-friends-here-are-the-apps-promising-to-help/), per Appfigures. Los Angeles, the loneliest well-populated place in America, is where most of them want to be. We make one of them, so read this with that in mind. But we also use the others, and the honest answer to "which app should I use to meet people in LA" is that it depends entirely on *how* you want to meet them. There are really only four formats. Here's each one, who does it well, and what it costs. ## Format 1: Dinner With Strangers **Timeleft**, and **222** The idea that made this category: you're matched with a handful of strangers and sent to a restaurant on a set night. Timeleft does it every Wednesday at 7pm, five to a table, matched on age and a personality questionnaire; you learn a little about your tablemates the night before and pay for your own dinner on top of a ticket. 222 is the LA-born version with a harder edge: a vetting process, a $22.22 curation fee per event (or a monthly subscription at the same price), and venues that range beyond dinner into wine bars and comedy clubs. Both are iOS first. **Good for:** people who want the decision made for them and don't mind a stranger-dinner having the slight air of a blind date with four people. **Watch for:** the cost adds up fast if you go weekly, and the format is one-shot: the five of you may never see each other again, and friendship runs on repetition. ## Format 2: Swipe for Friends **Bumble BFF** Bumble's friendship mode has been around since 2016 and became its own app in 2023; a 2025 redesign pushed it toward group meetups and communities, which is an admission that swiping one-to-one for friends never quite worked. It's free, it's the biggest by user base, and it works the way you'd guess: profiles, swipes, matches, a chat that you then have to turn into a plan yourselves. **Good for:** people who like choosing exactly who they talk to. **Watch for:** the chat-that-never-becomes-a-plan problem. Everything dating apps get wrong about logistics, friend-swiping gets wrong too, because the app's job ends at the match and the hard part starts after it. ## Format 3: Big Groups, Shared Interests **Meetup**, and **Pie** Meetup is the elder: around since 2002, millions of users, every hobby you can name and a few you can't. In LA that means hiking groups with 20,000 members, language exchanges, board game nights, and a lot of groups that haven't posted since 2019. Pie is the newer, slicker version of the same instinct: RSVP to an event, take a quick personality quiz, and the algorithm sorts attendees into groups of six and drops them into a chat before the night. It's in Austin, Chicago and San Francisco; Los Angeles isn't on the list yet. **Good for:** people with a specific interest who want a crowd that shares it. **Watch for:** Meetup's groups vary enormously in quality and size, and a 40-person hike is a crowd, not a conversation. You can go to ten Meetups and know nobody. ## Format 4: Small Groups Around a Plan **Washed Up**, and **Buffet** The newest format and the one Los Angeles seems to be inventing. Washed Up launched in early 2026 for LA specifically: people create or join small "plans" tied to real events, concerts, trivia, comedy, and chat with the group before they go. Buffet is ours, so we'll describe it the way we'd want to be described. Every week there's a short list of things happening around LA, around six, chosen by hand, Thursday to Sunday. You claim a plate at one. When the third person claims a seat the table is real and the group chat opens; a table never grows past six. You can also invite one person directly for something one-to-one. It's free, iOS only, Los Angeles only, and [the list is public](/things-to-do/los-angeles/this-weekend/) if you want to see what's on before you download anything. **Good for:** people who've worked out that the obstacle was never meeting people, it was organising them. **Watch for:** both are new and LA-only, so the question is whether there's a plan near you on the night you're free. (For Buffet, the honest answer is that the list is two picks a night across the city, so some weeks your neighbourhood is on it and some weeks you drive.) ## A Quick Comparison | | Format | Group size | Price | Where | |---|---|---|---|---| | **Timeleft** | Dinner with strangers | 5 | Ticket + your dinner | Many cities | | **222** | Curated events | Small groups | $22.22 per event or per month | Los Angeles and others | | **Bumble BFF** | Swipe for friends | 1:1, some groups | Free (paid tiers) | Everywhere | | **Meetup** | Interest groups | Any, often large | Free to join; some events paid | Everywhere | | **Pie** | Events, sorted into sixes | 6 | Not stated | Austin, Chicago, SF | | **Washed Up** | Small plans at events | Small groups | Not stated | Los Angeles | | **Buffet** | Weekly list, claim a plate | 1:1 or six or less | Free | Los Angeles | Prices and cities are as published in October 2026 and change often; check the app before you commit. ## What Actually Predicts Whether an App Works Having used all of these, three things seem to matter far more than the matching algorithm. **Does the app make the plan, or just the introduction?** Every format that ends at a chat window inherits the dating-app problem: a thread that goes quiet. The ones that work hand you a place and a time and make you say yes or no to it. **Is the group small enough to talk?** Five or six is the number. At a table of five everyone speaks to everyone; at a hike of forty you speak to the person next to you and lose them at the car park. **Does it repeat?** This is the one almost none of the apps solve, and the one [the research says matters most](/how-long-it-takes-to-make-a-friend/). A friend takes something like fifty hours; a great dinner is two of them. Whichever app you pick, the thing that will decide whether you make friends is whether you use it every week, with a bias toward the same places and the same faces. An app that puts something on your calendar weekly, without you having to arrange it, is doing the part that counts. ## Our Honest Recommendation If you want one memorable night, try a stranger dinner. If you have a hobby, Meetup still has the deepest bench. If you'd rather choose people than plans, Bumble BFF. And if you've noticed that your problem was never a shortage of people in Los Angeles but a shortage of plans that actually happen, that's the format we built, and [the list for this weekend is up](/things-to-do/los-angeles/this-weekend/). Whichever you choose, go alone, go again next week, and stay a bit longer than you meant to. The app is the easy part. [Download Buffet](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buffetapp/id6451276445) · Free · Los Angeles --- # You Just Moved to Los Angeles. Here's the First 90 Days. URL: https://joinbuffet.com/moving-to-los-angeles-first-90-days/ Published: 2026-10-22 Section: Socialization Summary: Moving to Los Angeles alone? The first three months decide whether the city feels like home or a hotel. A week-by-week plan for making friends in LA, built around how friendship actually forms. There's a moment, about ten days after a move, that nobody warns you about. The boxes are gone. The Wi-Fi works. You've found a grocery store and a route to work and the good taco place, and you sit down on a Saturday afternoon with the whole day open and realise your phone hasn't buzzed since Tuesday. It isn't sadness exactly. It's quieter than that. It's the discovery that everything you used to do on a Saturday had a person attached to it, and the people stayed behind. Los Angeles is a particularly good city to feel this in. It is enormous, it is beautiful, it is full of people who are also new, and it is built so that none of you will ever bump into each other. So here is a plan. Not a list of bars. A plan, in order, built around the way [friendship actually forms](/how-long-it-takes-to-make-a-friend/): proximity, repetition and unstructured time, applied to a city that resists all three. ## Week 1: Draw the Circle Before you do anything social, get a map and draw a circle around your apartment. Twenty minutes' drive, in evening traffic, without the freeway if you can help it. That's your city now. This feels like giving something up. It's the opposite. Angelenos who've been here a decade will tell you that their real friends, the ones they see on a weeknight, all live inside about four miles. The rest are people they love and see at birthdays. A friendship that requires the 405 does not survive contact with a normal week, and the first three months are nothing but normal weeks. So pick the circle and mean it. If you live in Culver City, your life is the Westside for now. Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Echo Park are one world; Santa Monica and Venice another; Pasadena and Highland Park a third. You can cross later, once you have someone worth crossing for. ## Week 2: Find Three Things That Repeat Now, inside the circle, find three things that happen every week at a fixed time. Not three great things. Three recurring things. A run club, even if you walk the back of it. A pickup game, a climbing gym, a trivia night, a Sunday market, a weekly class, a volunteer shift, a reading at a bookshop. The content barely matters. What matters is the cadence, because a thing that's on again next Wednesday removes the two hardest parts of adult friendship: deciding to go, and having an excuse to see the same faces twice. LA is spectacular at this once you know to look. Venice Run Club on a Wednesday night draws crowds in the hundreds. [Smorgasburg](https://la.smorgasburg.com/) is every Sunday. Griffith Observatory runs a [free public star party](https://griffithobservatory.lacity.gov/) every month where strangers queue to look at Saturn together. Nearly every neighbourhood has a run club, a farmers' market and a bar with a quiz. Pick three inside your circle. Put them in the calendar as standing appointments, the way you'd put in a dentist. ## Weeks 3 to 6: Go. Then Go Again. This is the part everyone skips, so it gets its own month. The first time you go to anything, you will meet nobody. You'll arrive, feel conspicuous, talk to one person for four minutes about parking, and leave thinking it didn't work. It did work. You were seen. Friendship is counted in hours, not introductions, and the first visit is worth about one of the fifty it takes to make a casual friend. It cannot be good enough to matter and it cannot be bad enough to matter either. The second visit is where it starts. Someone half-recognises you. You half-recognise them. The third week, you nod. The fourth, you're the two people who were both here last time, which is a relationship. Repetition does what charm can't: it turns you from a stranger into a regular, and regulars get talked to. Two rules for this stretch. **Go alone**, because arriving with someone is socially airtight and you'll leave having met no one. And **stay twenty minutes past the point you wanted to leave**, because that's exactly when the people who are staying start talking to each other. ## Week 7: Make the First Move Sideways By now you have faces. The run club woman with the dog. The two guys who always lose at trivia. The person at the market who also buys the ugly tomatoes. You've said hello a dozen times and it hasn't gone anywhere, because everyone is waiting for someone else to propose something. Be the one who proposes. Not a big thing: the sideways move. "A few of us are getting a drink after, come." "I'm going to that thing Saturday, want to come?" The lowest-stakes invitation you can make, to the most obvious person, about something that's happening anyway. In Los Angeles, this is rarer than it should be, and it's rare for a structural reason, not a personal one. Everyone here has done the maths on traffic and quietly stopped inviting. Which means the person who does invite isn't competing with anybody. You will be surprised how often the answer is yes, and how grateful the yes sounds. ## Weeks 8 to 10: Budget for the Flake Some of those yeses won't show. This is Los Angeles. Plan for it instead of taking it personally. Prefer plans that still work at two people. Invite one more than you need. And when someone cancels, which they will, do the thing that almost nobody does: propose the next one, immediately, casually, without a trace of injury. "No worries, next week?" Most friendships in this city die not from rejection but from two people each waiting for the other to reschedule. Be the one who reschedules. It costs nothing and it is, quietly, the whole skill. By now you should also notice something about your calendar. Week eight is about the point where the recurring things stop being effort and start being Tuesday. That is not a sign you've plateaued. That's the hours accumulating, which is the only thing that was ever going to work. ## Weeks 11 to 13: Let Something Become a Standing Thing The last stretch is about converting. Somewhere in the people you've been seeing is one, maybe two, you actually like. The goal of the final month is to get one of them onto a standing thing of your own: a Thursday, a Sunday walk, a weekly game. Anything that happens without being arranged each time. Once you have that, you're no longer new. You have a person you see without planning, which is the actual definition of a friend, and the city stops being somewhere you live and becomes somewhere you're from. ## The Honest Caveat Ninety days gets you to the start. The research is clear that a close friend takes something like two hundred hours of unstructured time, and three months of weekly things is maybe forty. What you'll have at the end of this isn't a best friend. It's a social life with momentum: faces, regulars, a standing thing, and the one habit that matters, which is proposing. The rest is arithmetic, and the arithmetic is on your side now. ## Where [Buffet](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buffetapp/id6451276445) Comes In Everything above is a version of the same job: find a place, pick a time, get a few people to show up, and do it again next week. That job is why most people's first year in LA is lonelier than it needed to be. It's also the job we built Buffet to do. Every week there's a [short list of things happening around Los Angeles](/things-to-do/los-angeles/this-weekend/). You claim a plate at one. When the third person claims a seat the group is real and the chat opens. Six or less, all of whom chose the same night you did, none of whom you have to organise. It's the sideways move, made for you, every week, starting week one. [Download Buffet](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buffetapp/id6451276445), draw your circle, and go. --- # Third Places in Los Angeles: Where People Actually Gather URL: https://joinbuffet.com/third-places-in-los-angeles/ Published: 2026-10-22 Section: Events Summary: Real third places in Los Angeles, with addresses and times: the markets, parks, beer gardens, run clubs and libraries where you can show up alone and end up in a conversation. Ray Oldenburg's idea was simple. Home is the first place. Work is the second. The third place is everywhere else you go without an appointment, where you're known, where the regulars outnumber the staff, and where showing up alone is normal. The café, the pub, the barbershop, the square. [We've written about why they're disappearing](/whatever-happened-to-the-third-place/). This is about where they still are, in a city that supposedly doesn't have any. Los Angeles has plenty. They just don't look like a Viennese coffeehouse. They look like a lawn with telescopes on it, a parking lot full of food stalls, a German beer garden that's been on Glendale Boulevard since 1959. The test for everything below is the same one Oldenburg used: can you go alone, on a whim, and leave having talked to a stranger? Every one of these passes. ## The Lawn at Griffith Observatory **Griffith Park · Monthly, after dark · Free** Once a month, volunteer astronomers haul their own telescopes up to the Observatory lawn and point them at whatever's up. Hundreds of people come. There's no ticket, no programme and no way to see Saturn except to stand in a line with strangers, which turns out to be the entire point. By the time you reach the eyepiece you've talked to the people on either side of you, and by the time you leave you've said "did you see the rings" to a dozen more. Dates are on the [Observatory's site](https://griffithobservatory.lacity.gov/). Bring a layer; it's colder up there than it looks. ## Smorgasburg **ROW DTLA, 777 S Alameda St · Sundays, 10am to 4pm · Free entry** A market is the original third place, and this is the city's biggest. Seventy-odd food stalls in a downtown lot every Sunday, with communal tables you share whether you meant to or not. The move is to go alone, buy something from a line, and sit wherever there's a seat. The person across from you is holding a plate they're also unsure about, and that's a conversation. [la.smorgasburg.com](https://la.smorgasburg.com/). ## Red Lion Tavern's Beer Garden **2366 Glendale Blvd, Silver Lake · Daily · No cover** A proper Bavarian beer hall on the edge of Silver Lake since 1959, with a rooftop beer garden of long shared tables. Long shared tables are the secret weapon of European social life and almost extinct in America; here they survive. You will be seated next to people. Steins are large enough to justify staying through a second one. Oktoberfest runs on autumn weekends and fills the place with strangers in a good mood. ## Venice Run Club **Venice · Wednesday nights · Free** The run club is the twenty-first century's answer to the pub, and Venice's is the one that proved it. Wednesday evenings draw crowds in the hundreds, from people chasing a pace to people jogging the back and chatting the whole way. Nobody minds which you are. Running is the rare activity where you can talk to someone for forty minutes without ever having to make eye contact, which is why so many friendships start on the slow side of a run club. Nearly every neighbourhood now has one; this is the one to start with if you're on the Westside. ## Grand Central Market **317 S Broadway, Downtown · Daily · Free entry** Open since 1917, and the closest LA comes to a European market hall: a block-long room of counters, stools and standing tables under neon. The counters are the point. Sit at one and you're elbow to elbow with whoever else is waiting for their order, and the staff talk to everyone. Go at off-peak hours on a weekday and it's a village; go on Saturday and it's the whole city at once. ## Echo Park Lake **751 Echo Park Ave · Daily · Free** A lake, a lotus bed, a loop you can walk in twenty minutes, and swan boats that nobody over the age of nine is too cool for. It's the neighbourhood's living room: people reading, people running, families, dog walkers, and the kind of sitting-on-a-bench idleness that third places are supposed to produce and modern life has mostly abolished. Pedal boats are rented by the half hour, and are a far better second date than dinner. ## The Central Library **630 W 5th St, Downtown · Daily except Sunday · Free** Oldenburg would have put the library near the top of any list, and the Richard J. Riordan Central Library is one of the great ones: a 1926 landmark with a garden, a makerspace on the lower level with equipment you'd never buy yourself, a programme of free talks and readings most evenings, and the simple fact that you're allowed to be there for hours without buying anything. LA has seventy-two branch libraries. The one nearest you probably has a book club. ## The Beach at Sunset, Anywhere **Santa Monica to Manhattan · Every evening · Free** It sounds too obvious to list, and it's the one most newcomers forget to use. Every evening, the stretch of sand around any lifeguard tower turns into an unofficial gathering: volleyball games that need a sixth, people with speakers, people with dogs, people who came alone and sat down near other people who came alone. Nobody is "at" anything, which is exactly what makes it approachable. Pick a tower, make it your tower, and keep showing up at the same time. ## Your Local Run Club, Trivia Night and Farmers' Market **Inside your twenty-minute radius · Weekly** The honest answer to "where are the third places in LA" is that the best one is the one you can walk to. Every neighbourhood in this city has a weekly farmers' market, a bar with a Tuesday quiz, a run club, a climbing gym and a coffee shop where the same people sit outside every morning. None of them are famous. All of them are better for your life than anything on this list, because the whole machinery of a third place is repetition, and you will only repeat what's close. ## What Makes These Work Notice what they have in common. None of them require a ticket. None of them put you across a table from one stranger with the explicit job of talking. All of them give you something to do with your hands and your eyes, a shared object of attention, so that conversation happens sideways. And all of them are on again next week. That last one is the thing. Oldenburg's point wasn't that the café was a nice place. It was that you went every day, and so did everyone else, and that's how a city of strangers turns into a town. LA doesn't have a corner café. It has a lawn with telescopes on it once a month, and if you go every month, that's the same thing. ## Where [Buffet](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buffetapp/id6451276445) Comes In The hard part of every place above is the first visit, alone, not knowing anyone. That's the part we built Buffet for. Every week there's a [short list of things happening around LA](/things-to-do/los-angeles/this-weekend/), a lot of them exactly the kind of place on this page. Claim a plate and you arrive with a group of six or less, all of whom chose the same thing you did, with the chat already open. A third place, with the regulars supplied. [Download Buffet](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buffetapp/id6451276445) and go find yours. --- # How Long It Actually Takes to Make a Friend URL: https://joinbuffet.com/how-long-it-takes-to-make-a-friend/ Published: 2026-10-21 Section: Science Summary: Research put an hour count on friendship: about 50 hours to a casual friend, 90 to a real one, 200+ to a close one. Here's what that means for your calendar. Think of someone you'd call a close friend. Not a contact, not a person you'd wave to — a friend. Now try to work out how many hours the two of you spent together before they became that. Most people guess low. A researcher at the University of Kansas stopped guessing and counted. ## Somebody Counted In 2018, Jeffrey Hall, a communication studies professor there, published a study in the [_Journal of Social and Personal Relationships_](https://news.ku.edu/news/article/2018/03/06/study-reveals-number-hours-it-takes-make-friend) that did something nobody had bothered to do. It put an hour count on friendship. He ran it across two groups: 355 adults who'd moved somewhere new within the last six months and were actively trying to make friends, and 112 first-year students tracked over their first seven weeks on campus. Then he mapped time spent against where people said the relationship stood. The thresholds came out remarkably consistent: - **40 to 60 hours** to move from acquaintance to casual friend - **80 to 100 hours** to become an actual friend - **200-plus hours** before someone counts as a close friend That's the shorthand you'll see quoted everywhere — 50, 90, 200. And put like that, it sounds bleak. Two hundred hours is five working weeks. But the hours were never the hard part. ## Not All Hours Count Here's the finding people skip past. Hall found that time spent working alongside someone barely moves the needle. As he put it, "hours spent working together just don't count as much." What builds a friendship is the other stuff — "hanging out, joking around, playing video games." Unstructured time, with no deliverable at the end of it. Which lands badly if you've been quietly assuming your colleagues are your social life. You can spend two thousand hours in a room with someone and stay exactly where you started, because almost none of it is the kind of hour that counts. The clock only runs when nothing in particular is being achieved. Small talk is worse than neutral. In [the same paper](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0265407518761225), Hall found that catching up, joking around and meaningful conversation strongly predicted friendships getting closer — while small talk was associated with closeness going *down*. Raw talking time predicted nothing at all on its own. So the hours have to be both unstructured and real. Standing near someone at a work happy hour discussing the parking situation isn't worth zero. It may be worth less than staying home. ## Do the Arithmetic on Your Own Calendar So take the 200 hours and start dividing. Meet someone once a month for a two-hour dinner and you're looking at **eight years**. Nobody has eight years, and nobody's attention holds that long — the friendship dies of exposure somewhere around month five, when one of you stops replying and neither of you notices. Now do it weekly. Two hours a week gets you past casual friend inside six months and into real-friend territory inside a year. Same two hours. The only thing that changed is the spacing. That's the whole finding, really. **Frequency does the work that intensity can't.** A great once-a-quarter dinner loses to a mediocre standing Thursday, every time, because the standing Thursday accumulates and the dinner doesn't. It also explains why your childhood friendships feel unrepeatable. You weren't better at friendship at nineteen. You were in a building with the same people for thirty hours a week, doing nothing in particular. You cleared 200 hours by accident, in about a month and a half, and never once thought of it as effort. ## What This Changes Once you take the arithmetic seriously, a few things follow — and most of them are the opposite of the usual advice. - **Stop optimizing the first meeting.** It is worth roughly two hours out of two hundred. It cannot be good enough to matter and it cannot be bad enough to matter either. Go, be unremarkable, go again. - **Pick things that repeat.** A weekly thing beats a spectacular one-off by an enormous margin, and the decision only has to be made once. Recurring plans are also the only kind that survive a bad week. - **Stop counting people, start counting hours.** Meeting forty new people once is worth less than seeing the same four eight times. Most people's social lives fail on depth, not volume, and adding more introductions makes it worse. - **Protect the pointless time.** The hours that count are the ones with no agenda. Ironically that makes them the easiest to cancel, because nothing is technically lost. Something is. - **Let it be boring for a while.** Friendship has a long unglamorous middle where you're past strangers and short of close. That stretch isn't a sign it's failing. It's the 200 hours, happening. ## The Real Bottleneck None of this is hard to understand. It's hard to *schedule*. The 200 hours were never the obstacle — the obstacle is that adult life offers almost nowhere to put them. The [third places](/whatever-happened-to-the-third-place/) that used to bank these hours for free have thinned out. The structures that made friendship automatic — the dorm, the team, the office you actually went to — [mostly ended in your twenties](/making-friends-after-25/). What's left is a calendar where every social hour has to be proposed, negotiated and defended by somebody, and that somebody is usually nobody. So the hours never get scheduled. Not because people don't want them. Because arranging them is a job, and it's a job nobody was given. ## Where [Buffet](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buffetapp/id6451276445) Comes In We built Buffet to be the thing that puts the hours on the calendar. Every week there's a place and a time and a small group of people who all said yes to the same thing. You don't organize it, you don't chase anyone, you don't have to be the one who suggests it. You pick something and you turn up. Do that most weeks and the arithmetic quietly takes care of itself. Two hours a week is a hundred hours a year. Hall's numbers say that's a real friend, possibly two. [Download Buffet](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buffetapp/id6451276445) and start putting hours on the board. That was always the whole game. --- --- # How to Meet People in Los Angeles URL: https://joinbuffet.com/how-to-meet-people-in-los-angeles/ Published: 2026-10-21 Section: Socialization Summary: Everyone says Los Angeles is hard to make friends in. It's not the people — it's the geography, the driving and the flaking. Here's what actually works. Everyone who moves to Los Angeles gets told the same thing, usually by someone who's been here four years and is still slightly annoyed about it: *LA is really hard to make friends in.* It's true. It's also almost never true for the reason people give. It isn't that Angelenos are fake, or flaky by temperament, or too busy being famous. It's that this city is built in a way that makes casual, repeated contact between two people extraordinarily unlikely — and casual, repeated contact is the entire mechanism by which friendship happens. Fix the geography problem and the friendliness problem mostly dissolves. ## The Problem Isn't You. It's the Layout. In most cities, you bump into people. In Los Angeles you do not bump into anybody, because between you and every other person in this city there is a car. LA drivers lost **87 hours** to congestion in 2025, according to [INRIX's global traffic scorecard](https://inrix.com/press-releases/2025-global-traffic-scorecard-us/) — fourth worst in the country. But the raw number understates it socially. What matters isn't the hours lost, it's what the *threat* of those hours does to a Thursday evening. A plan in Silver Lake, viewed from Santa Monica at 6:15pm, isn't a plan. It's a commitment. So the invitations quietly stop. Not out of unfriendliness — out of arithmetic. And a city where nobody proposes anything looks identical, from the inside, to a city where nobody likes you. ## Pick a Neighborhood, Not a City The single biggest improvement most people can make is to stop trying to have a social life in Los Angeles and start having one in a **twenty-minute radius**. Pick the neighborhood you'd realistically go out in on a Tuesday when you're tired — not the one with the best restaurants, the one you'd actually drive to. Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Venice, Los Feliz, Highland Park, whatever it is. Then put nearly everything there. This feels like giving something up. It isn't. A friendship that requires a freeway will not survive contact with a normal week, and you'll trade three exciting acquaintances across the county for four real ones you can see on a weeknight. The people you end up close to will be the people you can reach without planning. ## Recurring Beats Remarkable The other structural fix: choose things that happen **again**. There's a reason run clubs took over this city. A run club isn't better than a dinner party — it's just on again next Wednesday, which means missing it costs nothing and attending it takes no decision. That's the whole advantage, and it's enormous. Anything that repeats at a fixed time removes the hardest part of adult friendship, which is not liking people. It's scheduling. LA is unusually good at this if you look for it. Weekly run clubs across almost every neighborhood. [Smorgasburg](https://la.smorgasburg.com/) every Sunday at ROW DTLA. Monthly [public star parties at Griffith Observatory](https://griffithobservatory.lacity.gov/), free, where volunteer astronomers set up telescopes on the lawn and total strangers queue up to look at Saturn together. Neighborhood art walks. Pickup leagues. Bookshop readings. The rule is simple: **anything with a fixed cadence, that you can attend twice without explaining yourself.** One-off events are fun. Recurring ones are how you actually end up knowing people. (If you want a starting list, our [fall guide to LA](/fall-in-la-2026/) is built almost entirely from things that come back around.) ## Budget for the Flake Tax Los Angeles has a reputation for flaking, and it's earned. Plan around it instead of taking it personally. Assume some fraction of any plan evaporates. Which means: invite more people than you need, prefer plans that still work at two, and — the important one — **don't read a cancellation as a verdict.** Nine times out of ten it's traffic, a shoot that ran long, or the same low-grade logistical exhaustion you're feeling. The right response to a flake is to propose the next thing, immediately and casually. Most LA friendships die not from rejection but from two people each waiting for the other to reschedule. Be the one who reschedules. It costs you nothing and it's rarer than it should be. ## Let the Format Do the Talking If you find unstructured mingling excruciating — most people do, including most of the people who look like they don't — pick activities where the thing itself carries the conversation. Running, climbing, volleyball at the beach, a class, a league, volunteering, a screening, trivia. Anything with a shared object of attention means you're never responsible for generating small talk from nothing. You get to be side by side rather than face to face, which is where nearly every real conversation actually starts. Pure "networking" or "mixer" formats do the opposite. They make socializing the explicit task, which is the fastest way to make it feel like work. ## Go Alone, and Stay Too Long Two habits that do more than any advice about opening lines. **Go alone.** Arriving with a friend is comfortable and socially airtight — you will talk to each other and nobody else, and leave having met no one. Alone, you're approachable, and so is everyone else there alone. **Stay past the point you wanted to leave.** There's a moment, usually about forty minutes in, where going home becomes very appealing. Almost everything good happens in the twenty minutes after that. The people who seem to effortlessly know everyone are, mostly, just the people who stayed. ## Where [Buffet](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buffetapp/id6451276445) Comes In Every item on that list is a version of the same job: find a place, pick a time, get a few people to actually show up, and do it again next week. That job is the reason most people's social lives stall. It's also exactly what we built Buffet to do. Each week there's a short menu of things happening around LA. You claim a seat at one. When the third person claims a seat, the group is real and the chat opens — no organizing, no chasing, no being the person who has to propose everything. A place, a time, and people who chose the same night you did. We started in Los Angeles, properly, because a city this spread out is exactly where this problem is worst. **Buffet 2.0 is live here now** — and [this weekend's list](/things-to-do/los-angeles/this-weekend/) is already up. [Download Buffet](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buffetapp/id6451276445) and let us handle the where and the when. You just have to show up — and then stay a bit longer than you meant to. --- --- # Fall in LA: Six Things Worth Leaving the House For URL: https://joinbuffet.com/fall-in-la-2026/ Published: 2026-08-24 Section: Events Summary: Six real, recurring things happening around Los Angeles this fall — with addresses, times and prices — plus who to bring. LA doesn't really do autumn. What it does instead is stop being 95 degrees, which turns out to be the more useful version. The evenings get long and mild, the outdoor stuff stops being a survival exercise, and the city fills up with things worth putting on a calendar. Here are six of them. All real, all recurring, all easier with company — which is where [**Buffet**](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buffetapp/id6451276445) comes in. ## Eat Your Way Through a Sunday ### [Smorgasburg LA](https://la.smorgasburg.com/) – Downtown 📍 **Location:** ROW DTLA, 777 S Alameda St, Los Angeles 🗓️ **When:** Every Sunday, 10am–4pm 💰 **Price Range:** Free entry 🌮 **Tags:** Food Market, Weekly, Outdoors Every Sunday, dozens of food vendors take over ROW DTLA and it becomes the most reliably good afternoon in the city. Entry is free and the first couple of hours of parking are too, which makes it a genuinely low-commitment plan. It's also the rare LA thing that works with a group of any size. Nobody has to agree on a cuisine. Everybody wanders off, everybody comes back with something different, and the table becomes a tasting menu nobody planned. ## Get There Before Sunrise (Or Don't) ### [Rose Bowl Flea Market](https://www.rgcshows.com/rose-bowl/) – Pasadena 📍 **Location:** 1001 Rose Bowl Dr, Pasadena 🗓️ **When:** Second Sunday of the month — Sept 13, Oct 11, Nov 8, Dec 13 💰 **Price Range:** $15 general admission from 9am, $22 VIP from 5am 🛍️ **Tags:** Vintage, Antiques, Enormous Roughly 2,500 vendors spread across the Rose Bowl parking lots, once a month, since 1968. It's the flea market other flea markets are measured against, and it is genuinely too big to see in one visit. The serious people go at 5am for VIP entry. Everybody else turns up at nine, drinks a coffee, and spends four hours looking at things they don't need. Both are correct. Tickets go online in advance, and gates close at 4:30pm. ## Watch a Movie Under the Sky ### [Street Food Cinema](https://streetfoodcinema.com/schedule) – Griffith Park and beyond 📍 **Location:** The Autry in Griffith Park, plus other parks around LA 🗓️ **When:** Saturday evenings — check the schedule for the current lineup 💰 **Price Range:** $$ 🎬 **Tags:** Outdoor Movie, Food Trucks, Live Music A film, a musical pre-show, and a car park's worth of food trucks, on a lawn, as it gets dark. Street Food Cinema has been doing this around LA for years and the formula hasn't needed changing. Bring a blanket and get there early — the pre-show and the eating are half the point, and the good spots on the grass go fast. ## Look at Something Very Far Away ### [Public Star Party at Griffith Observatory](https://griffithobservatory.lacity.gov/visit/calendar/star-parties/) 📍 **Location:** 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles 🗓️ **When:** Monthly — Sept 19 and Oct 17, 2pm to 9:45pm 💰 **Price Range:** Free 🔭 **Tags:** Free, Astronomy, Griffith Park Once a month, volunteers from the Los Angeles Astronomical Society, the Sidewalk Astronomers and The Planetary Society haul their telescopes up to Griffith Observatory and let anybody look through them. The Sun early on, then the Moon and whatever planets are up. It costs nothing, the people running the telescopes are delighted that you asked, and the view back down over the city is worth the drive on its own. Lines get cut off in time to finish by 9:45, so don't roll in at 9:30. ## Walk the River on a Friday ### [Frogtown First Fridays](https://www.frogtownarts.com/) – Elysian Valley 📍 **Location:** Starts at The Left Bank on Fletcher Drive, Elysian Valley 🗓️ **When:** First Friday of the month, through October 💰 **Price Range:** Free 🎨 **Tags:** Art Walk, Car-Free, Local The Elysian Valley Arts Collective turns Frogtown car-free for an evening and opens up to sixteen venues along the LA River bike path — art, music, craft stations, food pop-ups, local shops staying open late. It's free, it's walkable, and it's the closest thing LA has to just wandering somewhere and seeing what's on. Which, if you read our [piece on third places](/whatever-happened-to-the-third-place/), is exactly the kind of evening that's been getting harder to find. ## The Biggest Night of the Season ### [Día de los Muertos at Hollywood Forever](https://www.ladayofthedead.com/) 📍 **Location:** Hollywood Forever Cemetery, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles 🗓️ **When:** Saturday, October 24, noon to midnight 💰 **Price Range:** $$ — ticketed, sold in entry windows 💀 **Tags:** Cultural, Enormous, Book Ahead Now in its 27th year, and still the event of the LA fall. Altars, a ceremonial procession, Aztec performers, an art exhibition, and food and craft vendors filling the cemetery grounds from midday until midnight. Tickets are sold in admission windows — noon to 4, 4 to 7, and 7 to 11 — so pick your slot depending on whether you want to see the altars properly or be there when it gets atmospheric. Buy in advance; this one sells out. ## Go With Someone Every one of these is better with company, and none of them require a group chat that takes four days to decide anything. That's the whole idea behind [Buffet](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buffetapp/id6451276445). We pick the place and the time, you say yes, and you show up to find people who said yes to the same thing. No planning, no chasing, no "we should do something soon" that never becomes a date. [Download the app](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buffetapp/id6451276445) and let us serve up the season. --- --- # Making Friends After 25: Why It Got Harder, and What Actually Works URL: https://joinbuffet.com/making-friends-after-25/ Published: 2026-08-22 Section: Socialization Summary: Adult friendship isn't harder because you got worse at it. The conditions that made it easy quietly disappeared — and they can be rebuilt on purpose. For the first twenty-odd years of your life, friendship mostly happens _to_ you. You get assigned a classroom. You get put on a team. You end up in a dorm with strangers and by October three of them know your coffee order. Then it stops. Not dramatically — there's no day it ends. You just look up one year and realize you haven't made a genuinely new friend in a while, and that the last few came from a job you already left. If that's familiar, it's worth knowing that this isn't a personal failing. The conditions changed. ## The Three Ingredients Rebecca G. Adams, a sociologist at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro who has spent a career studying friendship, has a well-known answer for why close friendships form so easily when we're young. It takes three things: - **Proximity** - You have to keep being in the same physical place as someone. Not once. Repeatedly. - **Repeated, unplanned interaction** - Not a scheduled catch-up. The kind of running-into-each-other that nobody organized and nobody could cancel. - **A setting that lets people drop their guard** - Somewhere it's normal to say something real, rather than the polished version. School gives you all three at once, for free, for years. Most adult life gives you the first one at work and then quietly withholds the other two. ## The Numbers Back It Up This isn't just a feeling people have. Tracking by the [American Time Use Survey](https://www.bls.gov/tus/) found that between 2003 and 2020, the average American's in-person time with friends fell from around **60 minutes a day to roughly 20**. For 15- to 24-year-olds it dropped even faster, from something like 150 minutes a day to about 40. In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General published an [advisory on loneliness and isolation](https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/connection/index.html) treating it as a public health issue, noting that roughly half of U.S. adults reported experiencing loneliness. The [Survey Center on American Life](https://www.americansurveycenter.org/commentary/why-americans-are-spending-less-time-with-friends-and-what-to-do-about-it/) has documented the same trend across two decades of survey data. So: it did get harder. Broadly, measurably, and for almost everyone at once. Which is oddly reassuring — whatever you thought was wrong with you probably isn't. ## What Actually Works The fix isn't becoming a different, more outgoing person. It's rebuilding those three ingredients deliberately, since they no longer arrive on their own. ### Choose repetition over novelty One run club you attend eight times will do more for your social life than eight different events you attend once. Novelty feels productive. Repetition is what actually produces friends, because it's the only thing that manufactures the second, third and fourth encounter. ### Put something in the middle The easiest conversations happen sideways, over a shared activity, rather than face-to-face across a table with nothing to do but talk. A class, a game, a hike, a volunteer shift — anything that gives your hands a job and takes the pressure off the silence. ### Go first, and go small Someone has to move from "friendly" to "friends," and most people are waiting for the other person to do it. Being the one who suggests something is a small social risk with a wildly disproportionate payoff. Keep the ask tiny — a coffee, a walk, an hour. ### Accept a lower hit rate Not every promising person becomes a friend, and that's normal rather than evidence of anything. The people with big social lives aren't better at this; they've just had more attempts and mind the misses less. ### Show up when you don't feel like it The evening you almost skipped is, with irritating frequency, the one where something clicks. Motivation tends to arrive after you're already there. ## Where [Buffet](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buffetapp/id6451276445) Comes In Look back at those three ingredients and you'll notice the hard one isn't proximity. It's the repeated, unplanned, low-stakes contact — the part school handed you and adulthood took away. That's the part we built Buffet for. We pick the place, we set the time, and we put you with people who chose the same night out that you did. No group chat that dies before anyone commits. No spending a week deciding where to go. You say yes, and you turn up. Do that a few times and the ingredients start doing what they've always done. [Download Buffet](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buffetapp/id6451276445), and let us handle the logistics. The rest is just showing up — which, it turns out, was always most of it. --- --- # Whatever Happened to the Third Place? URL: https://joinbuffet.com/whatever-happened-to-the-third-place/ Published: 2026-08-20 Section: Science Summary: Sociologist Ray Oldenburg called them third places — the spots that are neither home nor work. They're vanishing, and the research on what that costs us is hard to ignore. Think about the last place you went where you weren't expected, weren't working, and didn't have to be anywhere after. Not your apartment. Not your desk. Somewhere you just… were, and other people happened to be there too. If that took you a minute, you're not alone. And it turns out there's a name for the thing you were reaching for. ## The Idea In 1989, sociologist Ray Oldenburg published a book called _The Great Good Place_, and gave us a phrase we've been using ever since. Home is the **first place**. Work is the **second place**. Everything else — the cafés, the barbershops, the corner bars, the bookstores, the parks where the same faces turn up every Saturday — those are **third places**. Oldenburg described them as the public spots that host "the regular, voluntary, informal, and happily anticipated gatherings of individuals beyond the realms of home and work." Which is a very academic way of saying: the place where you go for no reason, and run into people. ## What Actually Makes One Not every business with chairs qualifies. Oldenburg was specific about it, and his list is worth reading closely, because it explains why some spots feel like home after two visits and others never do. - **It's neutral ground** - Nobody's hosting. Nobody's a guest. You can arrive and leave whenever you like, and it costs you nothing socially either way. - **It's a leveler** - Your job title doesn't come through the door with you. What you do for a living matters less than whether you're good company. - **Conversation is the main activity** - Not the soundtrack to something else. The point. - **It's accessible, and it has regulars** - Open when you need it, close enough to get to, and populated by people who set the tone just by showing up. - **The mood is playful** - Wit over seriousness. Nobody's networking. - **It feels like a home away from home** - Which is the whole trick. You get the warmth without the responsibility. ## Where They Went Here's the part that stings. Between 2003 and 2020, the average amount of time Americans spent in person with friends fell from roughly **60 minutes a day to about 20** — a two-thirds drop, tracked across nearly two decades by the [American Time Use Survey](https://www.bls.gov/tus/). Among people aged 15 to 24, the fall was steeper still: from around 150 minutes a day to roughly 40. In 2023 the U.S. Surgeon General went as far as issuing a [public health advisory](https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/connection/index.html) on loneliness and isolation, reporting that about half of American adults said they felt alone. Researchers at the [Survey Center on American Life](https://www.americansurveycenter.org/commentary/why-americans-are-spending-less-time-with-friends-and-what-to-do-about-it/) have been tracking the same slide from a different angle, and their numbers point the same direction. The third place didn't die in one dramatic moment. It got squeezed — by delivery, by remote work, by rising rents on exactly the kind of small, unglamorous business that made a good hangout, and by the fact that a phone will happily fill the gap a bar used to. ## Why It Matters More Than It Sounds The obvious loss is fun. The less obvious one is how friendships actually get made. Close relationships almost never start with a scheduled one-on-one. They start sideways — you keep running into the same person, you exchange nothing important several times, and then one day you're actually talking. Third places are the machinery that makes those accidents happen. Take them away and you're left trying to manufacture on purpose the thing that used to happen for free. That's genuinely hard. It's also why so many people describe adult friendship as exhausting in a way it never used to be. It isn't that you got worse at it. The infrastructure moved. ## Building One Anyway The good news is that a third place is more of a habit than a building. A few things that help: - **Pick somewhere and go back.** Regularity is the ingredient people skip. The magic isn't the venue, it's being recognized when you walk in. - **Go without a mission.** No laptop, no errand to run afterwards. The absence of a purpose _is_ the purpose. - **Go at the same time.** The same Thursday evening will start producing the same faces surprisingly fast. - **Say the first thing.** Someone has to. It might as well be you, and it can be completely trivial. - **Stay a bit longer than is comfortable.** Almost everything good happens in the twenty minutes after you thought about leaving. ## Find Yours on [Buffet](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buffetapp/id6451276445) We built Buffet because the hardest part of meeting people was never the meeting — it was everything you had to sort out beforehand. Where to go. Who's free. Whether anyone will actually show up. Buffet handles that part. You get a place, a time, and people who said yes to the same thing you did. Do it a few weeks running and you've got something that starts to look a lot like what Oldenburg was writing about. [Download the app](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buffetapp/id6451276445) and we'll take care of the where. You just have to show up. --- --- # Unlocking Genuine Connections: Your Guide to Mastering Social App Etiquette URL: https://joinbuffet.com/unlocking-genuine-connections-your-guide-to-mastering-social-app-etiquette/ Published: 2025-04-15 Section: Socialization Summary: Navigate the world of social apps with confidence. Learn the unwritten rules and best practices. Using social apps can feel like a lot, especially when you’re hoping to build real connections and actually meet someone. That’s why we put together this quick guide with simple, helpful tips to help you make a great impression online, plus how Buffet can make the whole experience feel a little more human. ### 3 Must-Follow Etiquette Tips for Social Apps ### 1. Respond Promptly and Thoughtfully Have you ever waited anxiously for someone to reply to your message? Prompt responses show respect and interest, crucial for building trust. Even when busy, a quick acknowledgment helps maintain connections. **Real-Life Tip:** Reply briefly if you’re busy: “Hi! I’m tied up right now, but I’ll follow up later today!” ### 2. Show the Real You Authenticity is magnetic—it builds trust and draws people closer. Avoid pretending to be someone you’re not. Share your real interests, opinions, and personality traits. Buffet helps by fostering genuine interactions and a secure environment, making authenticity comfortable and rewarding. **Buffet Tip:** Regularly review your profile and interactions to ensure they genuinely represent you. ### 3. Engage With Purpose Tired of receiving impersonal messages? Others are too! Stand out by referencing specific details in profiles or posts. Meaningful interactions build stronger, more lasting relationships. **Practical Example:** Instead of “Nice post!”, try “I loved your recent update on travel—what was your favorite part of your trip?” ### 3 Common Mistakes to Avoid on Social Apps ### 1. Don't Ghost - End Conversations Respectfully Ghosting leaves a negative impression and can hurt feelings. Always end conversations respectfully if they’re not progressing. **Helpful Message Example:** “It’s been great chatting, but I don’t think we’re quite clicking. Wishing you the best!” It’s a small gesture that reinforces respectful online connection. ## 2. Resist Oversharing Early On Sharing too much personal information immediately can overwhelm others and risk your privacy. Pace yourself and let trust grow naturally. **Buffet Advantage:** Buffet’s secure communication features help you build trust safely and comfortably. ### 3. Avoid Spammy Messages Quality matters more than quantity. Sending repetitive or generic messages quickly turns others off. Invest time in thoughtful conversations instead. **Buffet Tip:** Use Buffet’s intuitive interface to organize and prioritize meaningful interactions. --- ### Take Your Social Connections to the Next Level with Buffet Practicing good social etiquette transforms your online presence. Buffet’s innovative platform is designed specifically to enhance genuine interactions and provide a safe, authentic user experience. Ready to cultivate meaningful relationships that last? Join [Buffet](/) today and experience firsthand how authentic connections truly thrive. **Join Buffet Now and Start Building Real Connections!** --- # Mastering Your First Impressions: How to Connect Comfortably and Authentically URL: https://joinbuffet.com/navigating-first-interactions-what-to-do/ Published: 2025-03-07 Section: Socialization Summary: First meetings don't have to be awkward. Discover techniques for authentic connections. We all know meeting someone new for the first time can feel a bit awkward. Whether it’s online or face-to-face, taking the right approach can turn initial awkwardness into a genuine connection. Here’s how you can make that first interaction more meaningful and less stressful: #### 1. Ease Into Conversation with Warm-Up Questions Starting off with deep or overly personal questions can feel unnatural and forced. Instead, begin with comfortable, warm-up questions to gently break the ice. Asking something simple yet engaging, like “Where are you from?” or “Have you always lived around here?” creates common ground and allows both parties to become comfortable before diving into deeper conversation. These approachable topics help you establish rapport naturally, paving the way for more meaningful discussions later on. #### 2. Set the Stage with Clear Communication Clarity creates comfort. If you’re organizing an interaction, especially online, be transparent and specific about logistics. Clearly state the platform, timing, and the goal of your conversation. For in-person meetings, provide straightforward details like, “Let’s meet at 2 PM at this café and chat for about an hour.” Being organized reduces anxiety and allows you both to focus fully on connecting rather than navigating logistics. #### 3. Choose the Right Environment Choosing the right setting greatly influences your interaction by establishing a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere where both people feel relaxed enough to truly engage. Buffet enhances this by matching users to thoughtfully curated locations based on mutual interests, creating a natural, effortless experience. By exploring new experiences that spark interaction, Buffet also helps create exciting, memorable moments that deepen your connection. #### 4. Prioritize Active Listening We’ve all experienced interactions where the other person barely lets us speak—no one likes it when you’re telling a story and it feels like no one is listening. Avoid dominating the conversation by genuinely listening and responding thoughtfully. It’s important to feel heard, so maintain eye contact, acknowledge their points with verbal and non-verbal cues, and ask relevant follow-up questions. For example, if someone shares about their recent vacation, respond by asking, “What was your favorite part of the trip?” Don’t be the person who doesn’t stop talking about themselves; instead, aim for a balanced, back-and-forth dialogue. This mutual exchange fosters a comfortable, engaging conversation that shows empathy and genuine interest. #### 5. Strengthen Bonds with Shared Effort Authentic relationships take genuine effort from both individuals involved. Buffet makes building these connections easier by carefully selecting meet-up spots and activities aligned with mutual interests, fostering natural and meaningful interactions. While Buffet provides the foundation, it’s important to actively contribute your own creativity and ideas to nurture deeper connections. By combining Buffet’s thoughtful curation with your personal engagement, you can form stronger, more authentic relationships. --- By adopting these empathetic and practical strategies, your first interactions will feel less awkward and become more meaningful. Buffet makes it easier to foster genuine connections, serving up endless possibilities for memorable experiences. Explore more relationship-building tips and activities with [Buffet](/) today! --- # Valentines Day in LA: The Ultimate 2025 Guide URL: https://joinbuffet.com/valentines-day-in-la/ Published: 2025-02-13 Section: Events Summary: The definitive guide to making this Valentine's Day unforgettable in Los Angeles. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and whether you’re celebrating with a partner, friends, or embracing the solo experience, Los Angeles has no shortage of unique and unforgettable options. From donuts and helicopter rides to interactive events, there’s something for everyone on [**Buffet**](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buffetapp/id6451276445). Here’s your LA guide to making February 14th one to remember. Find your partner in crime on [**Buffet**](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buffetapp/id6451276445) ## Sweet Treats ### Valentine’s Day Donuts at [Randy’s Donuts](https://randysdonuts.com/) 📍 **Location:** Various across Los Angeles 💰 **Price Range:** $ 🎉 **Tags:** Festive Desserts, Limited Edition, LA Favorite Nothing says ‘I love you’ like a heart-shaped donut. From February 1st through February 16th, participating Randy’s Donuts locations are offering Valentine’s Day Raised & Heart Donuts, featuring delightful designs and flavors. ## Unique Valentine’s Day Experiences ### [Chaotic Singles Party at NeueHouse](https://chaoticsinglesparty.com/) – Venice Beach 📍 **Location:** 73 Market St, Venice, CA 💰 **Price Range:** $$ 🎉 **Tags:** Singles Event, Themed Cocktails, Fun Atmosphere Not feeling the romance this year? NeueHouse Venice Beach is hosting a lively singles party featuring themed cocktails, icebreaker games, and heartbreak anthems. Whether you’re looking to meet someone new or just have a fun night out, this event is a great alternative. ## [Orbic Air Valentine’s Day Lovers Tour](https://orbicair.com/c-304639-valentines_day_orbic_air.html) – Burbank 📍 **Location:** Atlantic Aviation 10750 Sherman Way Burbank, CA 💰 **Price Range:** $$$$ 🚁 **Tags:** Helicopter Tour, Champagne, Unforgettable Views For the ultimate wow factor, take to the skies with Orbic Air’s Valentine’s Day helicopter tour. Complete with champagne, chocolates, and breathtaking aerial views of LA, this experience is sure to impress. ## [Valentine’s Day Singles Masquerade Party](https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/event/2025/02/14/valentines-day-singles-masquerade-party) – Santa Monica 📍 **Location:** Weary Livers Bar, 2819 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 💰 **Price Range:** Free Entry 🎭 **Tags:** Masquerade, Singles Event, Themed Cocktails Step into a world of mystery and flirtation at this masquerade-themed singles party. Enjoy complimentary masquerade masks, icebreaker games, romantic cocktails, and a captivating atmosphere designed to spark new connections. ## [Night Dive at the Aquarium of the Pacific](https://www.aquariumofpacific.org/events/info/night_dive/) – Long Beach 📍 **Location:** 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 💰 **Price Range:** $$ 🌊 **Tags:** Adults-Only, Live Music, Unique Atmosphere Experience the ocean in a new light with the Aquarium of the Pacific’s adults-only after-hours event. Featuring DJs, live music, food trucks, and interactive art installations, this event is perfect for those looking for a non-traditional way to celebrate. ## [Valentine’s Day City Cruise](https://www.cityexperiences.com/marina-del-rey/city-cruises/valentines-premier-dinner-cruise/) – Marina del Rey 📍 **Location:** 13757 Fiji Way Marina del Rey, CA 💰 **Price Range:** $$$ 🚢 **Tags:** Dinner Cruise, Live Music, Romantic Evening Set sail on a luxurious City Cruise in Marina del Rey and enjoy a romantic night under the stars. This special Valentine’s package includes a gourmet dinner, live entertainment, and unbeatable views of the LA coastline. There’s no better way to experience romance than gliding across the water with a glass of champagne in hand. ## [Happy F\*n Valentine’s Day](https://www.showclix.com/event/bots-february14th) at The Comedy Store 📍 **Location:** 8433 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069 💰 **Price Range:** $$ 🎤 **Tags:** Comedy Show, Nightlife, Entertainment Laugh the night away at The Comedy Store’s “Happy F\*n Valentine’s Day” event. Featuring a lineup of talented comedians, this show offers a fun and entertaining way to spend the evening, whether you’re with a date or flying solo. ## [Love at LACMA](https://unframed.lacma.org/2025/02/11/celebrate-art-and-love-lacma-valentines-day) – A Celebration of Art & Connection 📍 **Address:** 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036 💰 **Price Range:** $$ 🎭 **Tags:** Art Museum, Interactive Activities, Valentine’s Event For those who appreciate art and culture, Love at LACMA is a fantastic way to celebrate love in all its forms. With activities like musical chairs speed dating for singles, romantic photo opportunities, and love song karaoke, this event makes for a playful and engaging night. Plus, LA County residents receive free admission to the museum galleries after 3 PM. ## Celebrate with [Buffet](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buffetapp/id6451276445) Looking to meet new people this Valentine’s Day? Buffet is here to help you connect with like-minded individuals and discover the best experiences LA has to offer. Whether it’s a romantic dinner, a fun singles event, or a unique adventure, Buffet makes finding the perfect outing effortless. [Download the app](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buffetapp/id6451276445) and let us serve up the best experiences for you. --- --- # The Importance of Social Fitness URL: https://joinbuffet.com/the-importance-of-social-fitness/ Published: 2025-01-15 Section: Socialization Summary: Why exercising your social muscles is just as important as physical fitness. ### The Importance of Social Connections for Mental and Physical Well-being Social connections and interactions are crucial to our health and well-being. Just like working out, it’s not always fun or easy, but it’s essential to make the time. The more we listen and engage, the fitter we become. At [Buffet](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buffetapp/id6451276445), we connect people across all social purposes, ensuring that whatever your reason for connecting, there’s something for everyone. ## Mental Health Benefits - **Reduced Risk of Depression and Anxiety** - Meaningful relationships provide emotional support and a sense of belonging, which help alleviate feelings of loneliness and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. - **Improved Stress Management** - Strong social ties act as a buffer against stress, offering support during challenging times and helping to lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels. - **Enhanced Cognitive Function** - Regular social engagement stimulates the brain, improving memory, focus, and overall cognitive abilities, and may even reduce the risk of dementia in older adults. ## Physical Health Benefits - **Improved Cardiovascular Health** - Social connections help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease by minimizing stress and promoting relaxation. - **Stronger Immune System** - Regular interactions with others enhance the immune system by decreasing stress-related hormones, helping the body fight off illnesses more effectively. - **Increased Longevity** - People with strong social ties tend to live longer, as these connections encourage healthier behaviors, reduce stress, and promote overall well-being. ## Tips for Enhancing Social Connections **Tips for Enhancing Social Connections** - [**DOWNLOAD BUFFET**](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buffetapp/id6451276445) - **Join Community Groups**: Participate in local clubs or organizations that align with your interests to meet like-minded individuals. - **Volunteer**: Offering your time to help others can introduce you to new people and provide a sense of purpose. - **Stay Connected Virtually**: Use technology to maintain relationships with friends and family, especially when in-person meetings are not possible. - **Pursue Hobbies**: Engaging in activities you enjoy can lead to meeting others with similar passions. Incorporating these practices into your daily life can lead to a more connected, healthier, and happier you. --- --- # Building Connections in the Digital Age: Is It Really Possible? URL: https://joinbuffet.com/building-connections-in-the-digital-age-2/ Published: 2024-11-15 Section: Socialization Summary: Exploring the intersection of technology and human connection in modern times. In today’s fast-paced, screen-centered world, building genuine online connections can feel challenging. Digital connection platforms have transformed how we meet new people, from professional networking to forming meaningful friendships and joining interest-based communities. But with endless options and the common “swipe culture,” one question remains: can we truly build authentic, lasting connections online? Let’s dive into the world of digital connection and explore how you can make the most of it while staying true to yourself. ## 1. Be Clear About What You’re Looking For Before diving into any social connection platform, clarify what you’re hoping to find. Are you looking to make friends, join communities based on shared hobbies, or expand your professional network? Being specific can guide your interactions and help you connect with others who share similar intentions. This focus makes conversations more engaging and helps you find meaningful online connections. ## 2. Crafting a Profile That Feels Like You Your profile is often the first thing people see, so make it count! Share photos that showcase your personality, and be genuine in your bio. Describe your hobbies, passions, and the types of communities or people you’re interested in connecting with. A well-crafted profile that authentically reflects you is more likely to attract meaningful connections on social and networking platforms. ## 3. Navigating the First Message Starting a conversation on a digital connection platform can be tricky. Instead of a simple “Hey,” try opening with a personalized message. Look at the other person’s profile for common interests, like hobbies or professional goals. Asking a thoughtful question shows genuine interest and can lead to more engaging, authentic conversations—setting the stage for a real connection. ## 4. Setting Up a Virtual or Real-Life Date Once the conversation is flowing, you may want to take things further by arranging a virtual meetup or in-person hangout. Video chats are a great way to gauge someone’s personality and build rapport from a distance. If meeting in person feels right, choose a relaxed location like a coffee shop or park, allowing for a comfortable, natural conversation. Taking online connections offline can deepen bonds and make connections feel more real. ## 5. Keeping an Open Mind One of the most rewarding parts of using digital platforms is the chance to meet people outside your usual social circle. Stay open to connecting with individuals from different backgrounds, hobbies, and perspectives. Some of the most enriching connections often come from unexpected places, so try not to limit yourself to a specific type. ## 6. Learning from Each Experience Each online interaction offers valuable insights. Whether or not a connection evolves into something significant, every experience helps you understand more about yourself and what you’re looking for in friendships or professional networks. Reflecting on each conversation allows you to refine what makes an online connection meaningful for you. ## 7. Enjoying the Process Building connections online should be a positive experience! While it’s easy to get caught up in the idea of finding the perfect friend or contact, remember to enjoy the process. Approaching online interactions with curiosity and an open heart makes the experience more fulfilling and enjoyable. --- With these exciting trends redefining online connections, 2025 is set to be a transformative year for social platforms. For those seeking meaningful connections, [Buffet](/) stands out as a platform designed around the latest innovations to offer a secure and authentic experience. --- # Stagecoach Parties – No Invite Needed URL: https://joinbuffet.com/stagecoach-parties-no-invite-necessary/ Published: 2024-04-25 Section: Events Summary: Your guide to the best Stagecoach experiences without needing exclusive invites. ### We're done with invite-only events Tired of every article sharing 10 different parties and events at festivals but they’re all invite-only? So are we. We decided to do our own list for Coachella and now we’re back again for Stagecoach – you’re welcome. These events and parties either are RSVP or paid ticket entry. Make sure to read over their Eventbrite pages to see if there are more specific instructions that could impact your entry! ## [Electric Cowboy](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/electric-cowboy-tickets-888621309257?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios) [![Stagecoach Parties - No Invite Needed](/images/articles/stagecoach-parties-no-invite-necessary-01.webp)](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/electric-cowboy-tickets-888621309257?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios) _We found this picture helped capture the vibe of "Electric Cowboy"._ **_When:_** Thursday, April 25 at 9 PM – 2 AM **_Where:_**[Bart Lounge](https://maps.app.goo.gl/6QKjSBUXMXoXf3E59) **_Cost:_** FREE; must reserve a spot You have to start Stagecoach off right – This neon country shindig from Party Time Magazine is the perfect way to kick off the weekend if you like a more vibrant country scene. With several DJs and $5 whiskey, you’ll be swing dancing under the neon lights in no time! So grab your flashy cowboy boots and your light up cowboy hat to hit Stagecoach running at this party! Did I mention $5 whiskey? $5 any alcoholic beverage is simply unheard of in LA – so if you’re someone who measures your intoxication by the impact the night has had on your bank account… be careful! ## [Desert Oasis: Stagecoach](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/desert-oasis-stagecoach-tickets-876412933677?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios) [![Stagecoach Parties - No Invite Needed](/images/articles/stagecoach-parties-no-invite-necessary-02.webp)](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/desert-oasis-stagecoach-tickets-876412933677?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios) _The pool at Drift Palm Springs where all the relaxation magic will be happening._ **_When:_** Saturday 27th, starting at 9 am – 4 pm **_Where:_** [Drift Palm Springs](https://www.drifthotels.co/palmsprings?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_qexBhCoARIsAFgBlesQna4iwcAIi98Ig5KBtbpzuPvm5eMf-L5ItOxppEtnzFUs1iSQY9QaAgdBEALw_wcB) **_Cost:_** Free; must reserve a spot If you’re getting a bit worn down by the festival grind, this relaxation-focused event will have you back in your cowboy boots in no time! Hosted by TMC Hospitality, this poolside recharge event at Drift Palm Springs features yoga, laid-back DJs, cocktails and chilling – don’t want to go too hard and miss out on Miranda Lambert. Yoga starts at 9 am and DJ Soft Cuss will be playing poolside from 12 – 4 pm. At Buffet, we’re not too keen on cussing during yoga, but maybe it enhances the experience – guess we can’t knock it until we try it. ## [IRON | Palm Springs Cowboy](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/iron-palm-springs-cowboy-tickets-879884607547?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios) [![Stagecoach Parties - No Invite Needed](/images/articles/stagecoach-parties-no-invite-necessary-03.webp)](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/iron-palm-springs-cowboy-tickets-879884607547?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios) _The beautiful nature surrounding the Desert Palisades community._ **_When:_** Saturday, April 27 at 5 – 10 PM **_Where:_**1111 W Racquet Club Rd **_Cost:_** $50 If you’re looking for a bit of a more artistic Western experience, IRON will provide. IRON is an entire satellite event to Stagecoach, put on by Desert Palisades. Looking to engage in the beauty of the desert wilderness, this event will be off the beaten path and near the mountains. For entertainment, there’ll be live bands, cowboy poetry, art installations, Desperada cowgirls, and more at this party overlooking Palm Springs. If you were curious about your chances of seeing a horse at Stagecoach, this could be the right party for you as there will be horses here. To our resident horse girls, get excited! ## [Country Themed Pool Party at Casa Cody](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/country-themed-pool-party-at-casa-cody-tickets-877404870587?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios) [![Stagecoach Parties - No Invite Needed](/images/articles/stagecoach-parties-no-invite-necessary-04.webp)](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/country-themed-pool-party-at-casa-cody-tickets-877404870587?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios) _Casa Cody's Southwestern ranch style accommodations and pool backed up against the mountains._ **_When:_** Sunday, April 28 at 12 – 4 PM **_Where:_**[Casa Cody](https://maps.app.goo.gl/CM9iegB9BELtXCBZA) **_Cost:_** $20 – 35 Want to keep the party rolling into Sunday? Ambitious, we love that – thankfully this event has a laid back vibe to help you get groovin ‘on the last day of the festival. This poolside event at the beautiful and rustic Casa Cody in Palm Springs is the perfect way to get your day started. Upon arrival, you will be greeted with a Sprinter canned cocktail and will have the chance to try their photo booth, Palomas and light bites! From the drinks to the country music by the pool, enjoy cooling off before rolling out for the last day of Stagecoach. --- If any of our extracurricular finds have piqued your interest, make sure to secure your spot and a friend’s ASAP! Nothing worse than partying alone – but if you find yourself in that situation [Buffet](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buffetapp/id6451276445) is always here to help! As always, be safe, drink responsibly, and have fun! --- # Buffet’s Buffets – An AYCE Tier List URL: https://joinbuffet.com/buffets-buffets-an-ayce-tier-list/ Published: 2024-04-19 Section: For Fun Summary: There's something for everyone. Our definitive ranking of all-you-can-eat spots. #### An AYCE Tier List Some people are confused when I tell them that our social connection app is called Buffet. Usually however when I say our cute little tagline – “There’s something for everyone”, their slight confusion turns to a chuckle & a smile. Not to pat ourselves on the back, but c’mon it’s a cool name – & it makes just the right amount of sense. Like Twitter? Iconic name; doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Hinge? Sure, cool name, but does it mean something? Not too sure. Tinder? Cool name for an app designed for lumberjacks – oh wait it’s a dating app?? Hmm seems like there is a little precedent for app names that are a bit out there… So all that to say – I am going to purposely misunderstand our app name & take it literally – call it our lumberjack moment. Today I will be providing you a tier list of the different brands & types of endless food consumption (otherwise known as _Buffets_). Because who else would you go to for this crucial information other than THE BuffetApp?? ### Any KBBQ establishment S Tier. I will not be taking any feedback on this one. Absolutely unparalleled endless food experience. Kimchi, rice, & delicious marinated meats of all kinds – simply what more could you want? Not to mention the social & borderline evangelical nature of the KBBQ – Social: hanging around the table with friends, cooking the food in the center & eating as you cook. Evangelical: could potentially be the only negative to the KBBQ experience, however the optimist that I am – I choose to see it as a positive. When you go to a KBBQ, the cooking is on you – so you really can’t all be first time KBBQ’ers, you need that one veteran to show all the initiates the way. But once your boy has educated you in the art of the BBQ – Boom. Evangelized. Sorry, I don’t make the rules. You now will rave to all your friends about KBBQ that have never had it & you will continue to spread the good news that is KBBQ. ### Sizzler B Tier. Truthfully, I do not remember the food. I had my steaks medium well, embarrassing I know, but I have fond memories of going here as a child but that location closed. RIP Sizzler, you will be missed. ## Fogo de Chao A Tier. I struggled with this one, I really wanted to say S-Tier but I just couldn’t. My first experience at the Beverly Hills Fogo De Chao was incredible. The servers continuously coming around with different cuts, & not to mention a decent salad bar too? I was quite satisfied. The Bottom Sirloin? To die for, just leave the whole skewer at the table. You might be thinking, intern writing this article, this sounds pretty S-tier – & you would be right. It _WAS_ S-Tier. However, this was 4 years ago. I recently returned to Fogo but this time to the El Segundo location & the quality was simply not the same. You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain. A Tier. ## Golden Corral Now this may or may not be a hot take, but I’m gonna have to go with B Tier. This is not to invalidate your own Golden Corral horror story but… well, maybe it is. I’ll be darned but Golden Corral is an American staple! What’s more American than unlimited “just-passable-enough” food that will surely erode your physical & mental health in the long term?? My goodness – I need to close the book on this one before I bring it up to A Tier. Man, I love America! ## Endless Sushi & Sake Oh man this one takes me back. There is nothing more fun than heading to a little hole in the wall in Upland, CA with AYCE sushi & sake with a couple buddies. Sharing stories & sake-bombing & absolutely stuffing your face with varying qualities of sushi – there’s nothing better. BUT the quality of Upland, CA endless sushi just does not match up to a sit down, non buffet in LA like Katsuya or Catch LA. For that reason, it makes it difficult to place in S Tier. But at Buffet we love doing difficult things (like meeting new people for the first time :), so S Tier it is! --- Thank you for coming to my TED talk, that concludes our lumberjack moment. If you stuck around this long, thank you & I hope you got a chuckle or two out of it. If you did, please let my boss know (info@joinbuffet.com) because I’m kinda going off-script here… Oh, & last thing: [download](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buffetapp/id6451276445) Buffet now! --- # Our TechCrunch Feature URL: https://joinbuffet.com/our-techcrunch-feature/ Published: 2024-04-12 Section: Updates Summary: Guess who just got featured? Buffet tackling the loneliness epidemic. We’re back with a cool update: we were featured on TechCrunch. Definitely go read the article for yourselves but we’ll give you some excerpts here. _“A new app called [Buffet](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buffetapp/id6451276445) is aiming to address the loneliness epidemic by helping users meet new people by quickly matching them with a person and a place to meet up (think Tinder + OpenTable). The app is designed to remove the barriers and hassles that come with meeting new people and then trying to find a place to hang out. Buffet aims to help users meet like minded individuals, whether they’re looking for a new friend, romantic partner, or gym buddy.”_ (Source: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2024/04/10/buffet-is-tackling-the-loneliness-epidemic-by-connecting-people-in-the-real-world/)) Like we’ve mentioned in our previous articles, face-to-face interaction is so important! And we want to make that as easy as possible for our members. Whether it’s romantic or platonic, having strong social connections is vital to your wellbeing. The best way to build and maintain those relationships is, you guessed it, in person! (preferably starting on Buffet though) _“The app will be free to use for the foreseeable future,” Hacking said. “We want to win over users. We want to build trust and right now, when you read the market, people are frustrated with all of the paywalls.”_ (Source: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2024/04/10/buffet-is-tackling-the-loneliness-epidemic-by-connecting-people-in-the-real-world/)) We couldn’t agree more, Mr. Hacking! Having to pay to make friends or meet the love of your life sounds like something out of a Black Mirror episode. The experience you have as a member of the Buffet community is our top priority. From giving you weekly suggestions on places, activities, and events to connecting members through their interests, everything we do seeks to bring you one step closer to a genuine, in-person connection. We won’t give too much more away so go take a look at [their article](https://techcrunch.com/2024/04/10/buffet-is-tackling-the-loneliness-epidemic-by-connecting-people-in-the-real-world/)! And as always, download [Buffet](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buffetapp/id6451276445)! --- # Why Music Festivals Are Good for Your Health URL: https://joinbuffet.com/why-music-festivals-are-good-for-your-health/ Published: 2024-04-05 Section: Science Summary: The scientific justification for going to Coachella. Yes, really. #### The Scientific Justification for Being Annoying About Going to Coachella With the weather warming up in & around LA, festival season is upon us! If you’ve been on the fence about whether or not to see your favorite artists in person, let us use some science to convince you. In recent years, more & more research has connected music in its many forms with various health benefits, both psychological & physical. A 2021 study decided to look into the data & [have summarized the findings](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8455907/) for us which we took the liberty of sharing with you all here. Studies have revealed that whether you’re lost in the background tunes of a waiting room or queuing up your favorite song on Spotify, music is working its magic on your well being – & guess what? Scientists believe it’s not much of a stretch to say that magic is amplified when you’re out there in the wild, dancing under the open sky at a music festival, or feeling the bass reverberate through your bones at a concert. When you’re hanging out at a festival, not actively listening to a set, but soaking in the sounds, that’s a bit like _receptive music listening_. Studies on receptive music listening in the form of background music in medical settings & patient care found reduced levels of anxiety & distress & improved relaxation, social connection & interactions. If the constant thumping of a festival counts as background music, you can count on it to help you vibe with your fellow festival goers & relax during your favorite set. It’s the music working its subtle powers, making everything a bit brighter, a bit lighter. & it’s not just background music that has benefits – actively listening to music is something you can count on to make you feel better. Focusing on the music or _intentional music listening_ can reduce feelings of anxiety & stress & improve social engagement. So, when your favorite track drops live, & suddenly, you’re in a bubble of bliss, making the Bass Face (TM), you know why. Let’s not forget the whole body experience – _dancing_! Moving to the music isn’t just fun; it can improve your cognitive health, keep you fit, & connect you deeper with the music & those around you. It’s the difference between listening to a festival anthem on your phone & feeling it live, where the beat dictates your every move, & for a moment, music, movement, & people are one. If you aren’t convinced yet, you’ll be impressed by the effects of _sharing music_. There’s magic in sharing your favorite song among hundreds if not thousands of other people. Shared music was shown to improve mood, social interaction & communication, cognitive performance & memory formation & recollection. Live performances help create experiences & memories that last a lifetime, through emotion & the friends you share them with – a testament to music’s power to unite. So, next time you’re debating whether to hit up that concert or festival, remember: it’s not just about seeing your favorite artists live. It’s about a shared experience that lifts spirits, strengthens bonds, and, quite literally, tunes our well-being to the rhythm of joy. Science says music is good for you, & nowhere is that more palpable, more vivid, & more fun than amidst the collective heartbeat of a concert crowd. So buy that ticket & get closer to your friends, fellow fans & strangers alike through the shared music experience! --- If you’re thinking all this sounds great but don’t want to go alone, we’ve got you covered. [Download Buffet](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buffetapp/id6451276445) to find those festival-going friends you’ve been looking for! Source: “How Do Music Activities Affect Health and Well-Being? A Scoping Review of Studies Examining Psychosocial Mechanisms”, Dingle et. al., [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8455907/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8455907/) --- # Healing Through Connection URL: https://joinbuffet.com/healing-through-connection-combatting-loneliness/ Published: 2024-03-29 Section: Science Summary: Combatting the loneliness epidemic with in-person relationships. #### Combatting the Loneliness Epidemic with In-Person Relationships In a world buzzing with digital interactions, emojis, and virtual hangouts, there’s something truly magical about good old-fashioned face-to-face connections. From heartfelt hugs to belly-aching laughter, these in-person interactions aren’t just nostalgic—they’re vital for our health and well-being. Social connectedness is an underappreciated part of individual and societal well-being. Social isolation (objectively few social relationships, roles, or group memberships and infrequent social interactions) and loneliness (subjective internal state) have been linked to dire physical and mental health consequences. From increased risk of heart disease, stroke and premature death to anxiety, depression and dementia, the number, function, and quality of your relationships is important! Picture this: you’re chatting with a friend over coffee, laughter fills the air, and you can feel the warmth of their presence. That’s more than just a delightful moment—it’s a boost to your mental and physical health. The [Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Importance of Social Connection](https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf) emphasizes just how crucial these real-life connections are for our overall well-being. It’s a long read so let’s break it down in a way that’s easy to digest: 1. **Brain Boost**: When you’re face-to-face with someone, your brain lights up like a Christmas tree. It’s not just about the words you exchange; it’s about the non-verbal cues, the subtle expressions, and the shared experiences. These interactions stimulate your brain, keeping it sharp and engaged. 2. **Stress Buster**: Ever noticed how sharing a laugh with a friend can make your worries melt away? That’s the magic of in-person connections at work. They release feel-good hormones like oxytocin and reduce stress hormones like cortisol, leaving you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. 3. **Immunity Hero**: Believe it or not, regular in-person interactions can give your immune system a superhero boost. Studies have shown that people with strong social connections are better equipped to fight off illnesses, from the common cold to more serious conditions. 4. **Heart Health**: Your heart loves a good chat over a cup of tea. Social isolation has been linked to a 29% increased risk of heart disease and a 32% increased risk of stroke. Strong social connections are linked to a healthier heart, lower blood pressure, and reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases. So, keep those coffee dates and dinner parties on the calendar—they’re good for your ticker! 5. **Mood Lifter**: Feeling a bit blue? Reach out and touch someone—literally! Human touch releases a cascade of feel-good chemicals in your brain, lifting your mood and banishing those blues. Whether it’s a hug, a high-five, or a pat on the back, physical contact is like a happiness potion. 6. **Longevity Secret**: Want to add more candles to your birthday cake? Invest in meaningful face-to-face connections. Studies have found that strong social ties are linked to a longer, happier life. So, cherish those friendships, nurture those family bonds, and keep making memories together. 7. **Resilience Builder**: Life throws curveballs, but having a strong support network can help you bounce back stronger. In-person connections provide emotional support, encouragement, and a shoulder to lean on during tough times. They remind you that you’re not alone in this journey. In a nutshell, connecting in person isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity for our health and happiness. So, that’s why we at Buffet have created our platform to help create those all important real-life connections. Whether it’s a stroll in the park with a friend, trying a new restaurant with a date, or finding a cool new activity for your group, prioritize those face-to-face moments—they’re the secret sauce to a fulfilling life. As the Surgeon General’s Advisory reminds us, social connection is not just a nice-to-have—it’s a must-have for our well-being. So, let’s keep nurturing those in-person connections and savoring the joy they bring. After all, life is better when shared with others. --- Here at Buffet, we are dedicated to bringing people closer together, through connection and community. We are striving to make it easier to get back to meeting people in-person through our platform. If you’re looking to take advantage of the health benefits, [download Buffet](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buffetapp/id6451276445) and meet someone new! --- # Buffet Launches Friday! URL: https://joinbuffet.com/buffet-launch-friday-march-15th/ Published: 2024-03-11 Section: Launch Summary: Buffet launches in Los Angeles on Friday, March 15th, 2024. ## Get Ready LA - Buffet Launches This Friday We are thrilled to announce that Buffet will be launching in the App Store this Friday, March 15th! Designed to redefine social connection in Los Angeles, Buffet offers a streamlined avenue for connecting young adults with similar interests. Whether you prefer surfing in Venice Beach or drinking matcha at La La Land Kind Cafe, discovering new friends or romantic prospects is just an invitation away. With Buffet, cultivating genuine connections and expanding your community has never been easier. Join us in revolutionizing the social landscape of LA with Buffet!