The current world is a strange place. Filled with inflation, doubt, and turmoil, people everywhere are experiencing a level of anxiety that is becoming a cause for concern. With few outlets or opportunities to celebrate life, many are choosing not to venture out, which increases anxiety by adding self-isolation to the problem.
For Paula Goins, this represented an opportunity to do something to feed people’s souls and spirits. The journalist, cultural curator, and experiential event producer decided to create a night where people could recapture what it meant to feel alive. She wanted to create a room filled with laughter, live music, and meaningful conversation that reminded everyone what it meant to feel seen again.
Goins created the Love Life Nights Experience. It consists of an event designed to reconnect with people through shared meals, live artistry, and purpose-driven giving.
“When I couldn’t find it,” she said, “I decided to create it.” What started as an intimate gathering called Love Life at Cozy’s in Los Angeles has evolved into a full-fledged movement, one that blends luxury with authenticity, warmth with purpose.
The former Wedding Style Magazine writer has more than 20 years of expertise in storytelling and creative production. Her writing experience, along with her refined eye for elegance and detail, has allowed her to breathe life into Love Life Nights into a reality.
The first event kicked off in Columbus, Ohio, with amazing results and a wonderful evening. Goins and her team received amazing support from those who attended. Emmy Award-winning comedian and Saturday Night Live Icon, Kenan Thompson, joined the crowd in Columbus. Born in Columbus, Thompson didn’t take the stage as a celebrity; he became part of the family.
Thompson and Goins are longtime friends, and his presence underscored the authenticity of the evening.
“These are the times when we need to know our neighbors,” Thompson said in a conversation with Twyla Garrett, serial entrepreneur, real estate developer, and founder of The Impact League. “That’s what this is about, connecting again.”
A Curated Experience
Love Life Columbus unfolded like a symphony — every note intentional, every guest hand-selected. The luxury evening featured a multi-course gourmet meal crafted by local chef Emmanuel Tyson (Chef Manny), served family-style at tables of six to eight. The communal seating encouraged strangers to dine as though they’d known each other for years — entrepreneurs sharing bites with educators, nonprofit leaders laughing alongside attorneys and artists. The result? A room where friendship felt effortless.
Entertainment for the evening was just as remarkable. The live band, Fewxion, led by Love Life Columbus music director Hawc Griffin, filled the room with timeless grooves and heartfelt energy. The set featured a surprise appearance by Keith Eaddy, a Los Angeles–based music director and renowned saxophonist who has shared stages with some of the biggest names in R&B and jazz. His performance — a collaboration with Fewxion — brought the crowd to its feet.
Among the distinguished guests were former NBA player Greg Oden and his wife Sabrina, as well as business leaders and entrepreneurs Twyla Garrett and Kevin Calhoun — reflecting the diversity of industries and passions that Love Life Nights attract.
Purpose Meets Heart
While Love Life Nights offers a luxury experience, its heart beats for a cause. The youth-led Blankies 4 My Buddies Foundation serves as the official nonprofit partner, with partial proceeds from each city’s celebration donated to provide comfort and healing to children facing hard times.
Founded by CJ Matthews after the loss of his unborn sister, the foundation began as his personal healing journey — and has since grown into a global youth movement of kindness. Together with his younger brother Kollin, CJ inspires kids everywhere to make a difference with their own hands.
Earlier this fall, Love Life and Blankies 4 My Buddies visited the Ronald McDonald House of Central Ohio, delivering blankets for babies in the NICU, crocheted hats for Children’s Cancer Awareness Month, and copies of CJ’s award-winning book. Then There Was One, written to help children cope with grief.
The Journey Continues
With the success of Columbus, Love Life Nights is expanding nationally — with upcoming stops in New York City, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami, and the DMV area. Each city’s ambassador will select a cause close to their heart, ensuring every celebration leaves a lasting impact.
On November 29, Love Life returns to Columbus for one final evening before the tour hits the road. Guests can look forward to a new menu designed by Chef Darryl, whose Southern-inspired cuisine will be paired with Zesty Compass Wines, and an electrifying performance by viral R&B sensation L. Young, whose powerhouse vocals have captivated millions online. Local musicians will also share the stage, continuing Love Life’s tradition of blending artistry, purpose, and connection.
The next Love Life Columbus event will take place on November 29, and tickets are now available at LoveLifeNights.com.
More Than a Night Out
Love Life Nights isn’t just an event — it’s an atmosphere. A movement. A reminder that true luxury lies in human connection. “When people come together to eat, talk, and just be, something shifts,” Paula Goins reflected. “That’s the kind of love we want to multiply — city by city.”
As the lights dim and glasses clink in Columbus once more, one thing is certain: Love Life Nights has struck a chord. It’s an experience that feels as good as it looks — where every table tells a story, every song lifts the soul, and every connection lingers long after the night ends.
