We recently had some friends over, and I jokingly invited them to vote on which of our throw pillows was the ugliest.

I personally had not put much (if any!) thought into the selection and placement of the pillows until then. After a healthy discussion, we each picked our ugliest one and moved on to another topic.

Later that evening, Megan (my wife) and I had a robust and insightful discussion about more constructive ways to solicit feedback that could be viewed as less of an attack on any one family member’s decor choices. A lightbulb moment to be sure.

I’m trying to take a more thoughtful approach to soliciting feedback for MeetWell, starting with the most tedious and time-consuming parts of planning and executing client entertainment.

I’ve already spoken with many of you about this, and your feedback has been immensely helpful.

If we haven’t spoken and you’d be open to a short chat to save you from WFH isolation, share your perspective, and vote on my ugliest throw pillow, I would seriously love your input.

Reply with a time that works or grab one on my Calendly. If a call isn’t your thing, just hit reply with your thoughts.

Hope to hear from you.

- Robbie

Activate at Westfield Culver City is an interactive gaming experience where you and your clients work your way through rooms filled with physical and mental challenges.

You’ll check in, get a wristband, and choose from quick 1-3 minute games that involve dodging lasers, racing across illuminated floors, hitting targets, and solving puzzles. Some require teamwork, others a little competition, and most will get your heart rate up. Check out their Instagram for a sense of the vibe and what you’ll actually be doing.

It’s an active outing. You’ll be running, jumping, ducking, and probably sweating, so give your clients a heads-up to wear athletic clothes and comfortable shoes.

Gameplay works best in teams of 3–5. If you’re entertaining 6 or more, you’ll need to split into smaller groups, though you can switch up teammates between games.

You can book 60- or 90-minute sessions. The 90-minute option is only $10 more per person, and the extra time gives everyone a chance to figure out how the games work and run back a few favorites.

You can’t bring food into Activate, but since you’re already at the mall, why not live out your teenage dream of mall dinners with your friends? I’d head to Super Dumpling.

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Added value: This was a great suggestion from a seller I recently met who said it landed well with his clients. I like this one as an option for clients who are more interested in moving and interacting after a day at work instead of sitting around a restaurant table.

The games give everyone something to do together, and there’s enough variety in formats to appeal to our TikTok-addled brains. It reminds me of the Sandbox VR experience I took some clients to earlier this year, which was a big hit.

The Mountain Goats are celebrating their 35th anniversary with a concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Tuesday, November 24.

Led by singer-songwriter John Darnielle, the band has built a devoted following in the indie rock and folk world. This is one for clients who grew up listening to college radio, dig indie music, or appreciate a good singer-songwriter-warbler. It’s also part of the KCRW concert series, which adds some cool factor.

Beyond the music, I think the bigger draw is the chance to take a client to Disney Hall. Unless they’re regular classical music concertgoers or the type to rock out to La Traviata on the treadmill, there’s a decent chance they’ve never been.

There are several good options around Disney Hall if you want to meet for dinner beforehand.

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Added value: When my parents moved to LA, my mom made the bold decision to sign up for a full season of programming at Disney Hall. I’m fully in support of her enthusiasm for the arts, but after their fourth visit in three months, my dad’s interest started to wane. My brother and I would often get called in to take his place.

The upside was getting to spend a fair bit of time in one of LA’s most remarkable buildings. Disney Hall is a genuine LA bucket-list experience, and I like this as an opportunity to bring a client somewhere they might not otherwise get around to visiting.

The Chocolate Dispensary is an independent chocolate boutique in Echo Park that hosts private, guided tastings in the shop after hours or offsite at an office or another location you choose.

Over about an hour, your group tastes 10 bites of craft chocolate while the host shares the story and flavors behind each one. I spoke with co-owner Kala, who said her team will work with you to personalize the chocolate lineup around your group.

The store closes at 7PM, so in-store tastings happen after hours. Cheese, wine, and hot chocolate pairings are available as add-ons.

For smaller groups, the shop also offers public tastings during store hours. No booking is needed, and it’s an easy way to fill the hour before dinner.

If you want to get dinner before or after your tasting, Bacetti is a cute local Italian spot down the block with a very Gram-friendly dining room and chic servers.

The Chocuterie board. They also offer a chocolatey take on a charcuterie board to upgrade your next lunch-and-learn, or something unexpected to send a client team for the holidays. The Chocuterie board can be customized by the number of people and chocolate styles. The standard board comes in at $195 for 10–12 people.

Holiday client gifts. The shop also puts together curated chocolate gift packages that can be shipped directly to clients. They can add personalized notes and include your branded materials if you provide them. Worth keeping in mind if you’re looking for a locally sourced alternative to the usual corporate holiday gifts.

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Added value: I live near The Chocolate Dispensary and stop in fairly often when I need a chocolate fix. They also have an in-store scavenger hunt where kids earn a free piece of chocolate for completing it. It’s unsurprisingly effective at keeping them entertained and getting their parents to buy more chocolate.

Ever been hanging with a client and conversation just runs dry? Whether it’s recent and topical, or general and evergreen, the Oasis is about giving you one idea for helping in that moment.

Here are a few stories that caught my eye this week.

The LAX People Mover is actually moving! After years of delays, there’s video of trains finally making their way along the tracks at LAX. They’re still testing without passengers, but as someone who’s spent a meaningful percentage of my life navigating that infernal airport, I’ll take whatever progress I can get.

Airbnb is cracking down on checkout chores. Hosts will no longer be able to require guests to strip beds, wash dishes, or haul trash offsite. The new rules apply to bookings made on or after November 20. I’ve always found it a little ridiculous to pay a $150 cleaning fee and then get handed a list of chores before checking out. Apparently Airbnb agrees.

Is there anything more LA than an apocalyptic rain forecast? Last week I was preparing for four days of catastrophic rain. But in what feels like most rain forecasts in LA, as the potential deluge gets closer, it gets downgraded to a light sprinkle at 3 AM in the middle of the night.

Wi Spa just debuted punch cards for regulars. Since my boy-who-cried-wolf rain take above is guaranteed to come back to bite me in the ass when El Niño really hits, this could be the new go-to when the rain is actually coming down and I need somewhere to warm up inside.

Charles Barkley’s short-term memory is shot. During Inside the NBA’s annual “Who He Play For?” segment, Sir Charles couldn’t name the teams for five NBA players. So the crew gave him the answers and immediately quizzed him again. And then a third time. His ability to forget information he was told 30 seconds earlier sent Shaq and company into little boys’ locker room hysterics.