Nava Benefits Team Dinner Picnic for 25 Near Tower 12

Nava's organizer had booked picnics with us for birthdays before. In February 2023 she came back with a corporate version: an early dinner on the beach for about 25 colleagues flying into Santa Monica. Many of them were coming from colder places, so a February evening by the ocean sounded warm to them.

The group was staying at The Huntley Hotel, north of the pier, so we moved the setup up the coast to Lifeguard Tower 12, directly in front of Perry's Cafe off Pacific Coast Highway. That kept the walk from the hotel short. The picnic ran from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., around sunset.

Dinner came from Mendocino Farms. The team ordered it for delivery to the beach, and our crew met the driver and set the food out on two shaded buffet tables before guests arrived. We suggested guests bring a sweatshirt or blanket for when the sun went down.