Daniella DeFrance Is Creating Space for Connection With GATHER

Through GATHER, Daniella DeFrance is thoughtfully blending music, food, and community into intimate, story-driven gatherings across San Diego. Rooted in her background producing music events and years in the restaurant industry, GATHER is intentionally curated around feeling and season — bringing people together around live sound, shared tables, and meaningful conversation while spotlighting local creatives. What emerges isn’t just an event, but a welcoming space where guests arrive as strangers and leave with genuine connection, signaling the start of a community that’s only just beginning to grow.

Daniella, can you start by sharing what inspired you to create GATHER and what originally sparked the idea for this intimate event series in San Diego?
For the past few years, I’ve been producing music events through CORE Creatives while also working in the restaurant industry for nearly a decade. My world has really revolved around two things I deeply love: music and food.

A few months ago, I had the idea to bring those passions together into one experience. San Diego has such vibrant, creative communities, and I wanted to create something that tapped into that – a space where people could gather around live music, seasonal food, curated drinks, and meaningful conversation.

I also wanted to highlight some of the unique spaces we have here in San Diego, while collaborating with local businesses and creatives to give them exposure and bring more visibility.

GATHER brings together seasonal menus, drinks, live music, and community — how do you approach curating each event to feel intentional and intimate rather than transactional?
Each event begins with a central question: What do I want this gathering to highlight? Sometimes it’s inspired by wellness, a specific holiday, a season, or simply a feeling I want people to walk away with. But every GATHER event starts with a clear concept.

From there, I thoughtfully build around it — choosing a venue that complements the mood, curating a menu that reflects the season and theme, selecting music that enhances the atmosphere, and layering in creative details that make the experience feel immersive.

I’m always thinking about how each element — food, sound, space, design — works together to tell one cohesive story. That authenticity in the planning is what keeps the events feeling intentional and intimate rather than transactional.

I also love sending guests home with small, on-brand gifts — thoughtful touches that feel personal and memorable, almost like a little piece of the evening they can carry with them.

You’ve already hosted four successful events — what feedback or moments from past gatherings have stood out to you the most?
Each event has been completely different in theme and energy, yet they all leave behind the same lingering feeling — intimacy and genuine connection.

What has stood out to me most from the very beginning is how many people, especially women, come on their own. There’s something incredibly powerful about choosing to show up solo — to do something nourishing for yourself and be open to meeting new people. I’ve watched guests arrive alone and leave with new friends and plans to see each other again. That transformation is one of the most rewarding parts of hosting.

These dinners aren’t just about food or music — they create space for people to feel welcomed, included, and connected. And personally, I’ve been able to meet and build relationships with so many incredible people through each event. It’s been such a beautiful and affirming experience.

Supporting local businesses is a core part of GATHER — why was that important for you to build into the foundation of this project?
First and foremost, as a small business owner myself, I understand how important it is for us to support one another and create opportunities to grow together. Community over competition has always felt natural to me.

Events are such a powerful way for small businesses to gain visibility and connect with new audiences. So the partnerships I build are truly mutually beneficial — local brands bring unique, thoughtful elements to the experience, and in return they’re introduced to an engaged, community-minded group of guests who genuinely value what they create.

As I continue to branch out and collaborate with more local businesses, it not only strengthens GATHER but also deepens the overall experience. Each new partnership expands my network, introduces fresh creativity, and makes every event feel more layered, intentional, and rooted in San Diego’s local culture.

Looking ahead to upcoming events like the Valentine’s gathering and Jazz Brunch, what excites you most about the future of GATHER and where you hope it continues to grow?
I’m so excited for everything we have coming up. We have some beautiful concepts planned for spring and summer, and being able to pour my full creativity and energy into each event has been incredibly rewarding.

I’m also really excited about the growth of GATHER as a brand. The feedback we’ve received — especially around the branding, the atmosphere, and the intentionality behind each idea — has been so affirming. It feels like we’re building something people genuinely connect with, and that gives me so much momentum to keep expanding.

Long term, I’d love to evolve GATHER into a membership-based community where guests can access monthly gatherings and feel even more rooted in what we’re creating. There’s also a vision to expand into thoughtfully designed kitchenware and event merchandise — pieces that feel intentional, beautiful, and aligned with the experience of our dinners.

Overall, there’s so much to look forward to. It feels like we’re just getting started!