Yup. That lineup is a beaut! I just about died with excitement yesterday when the Coachella peeps released the lineup for this years awesomeness that is Coachella - or what I like to call, "The Happiest Long Weekend of Music Everrrrr!" It seriously is too fun for your own good and I definitely got Coachella depression after last years festival because I missed it so much. BUT, this year is going to be epic with headliners The Black Keys, Radiohead, and Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. There's also going to be a lot of bands I get to see that I've been obsessed with since forever like The Shins, Miike Snow, Martin Solveig, The Hives, Santigold, AWOLNATION, M83, and many more! There's over 140 artists this year. Yeaaaaah!
This year we are camping again simply because it's the best way to experience Coachella to the fullest. I'll challenge anyone who thinks otherwise too! Yes, you get grungy. Yes, you rough it for 4 days but thats what kind of makes it fun. If you camp, you'll wake up early to sound checks going on, maybe do some yoga, drink mimosas, swing by the roller rink or play on the swings, hit up the farmers market, play corn hole, drink mimosas, make brekky, lay out, and drink more mimosas. Then (the best part of it all) the campers usually get to Coachella park around 11am when the gates open, listen to all the early shows (there's like 6 different stages ps and a new band or artist play every 45 minutes), and stay until around 4 before heading back to home base to shower, eat, refresh, drink more mimosas, and get ready for the evening shows (which tend to be more intense because that's when the more well known artists and bands play). You don't want to miss the night performances I tell you! They are so fun!
One pro about camping versus staying in a hotel or house is that it's convenient. If you camp, you get to see shows from when Coachella park opens its gates (11am) to when it closes (1am) and you can come and go as you please throughout the day because your campsite is usually a 5 minute walk from every stage inside Coachella park. If you choose to not camp on Coachella grounds and instead stay in a surrounding hotel or house, the likelihood that you'll make it to the early shows is slim because it takes a couple hours to get onto Coachella grounds due to all the security and car checks. Basically, non campers miss half the day and that no bueno for you.
But, it's bueno for the campers because that means it's less crowded in side!
If you haven't purchased a ticket yet, you are in luck! On Friday at 10am sharp, go to Coachella's website and purchase your pass! Don't wait. They could sell out again fast like they did last year! Good luck and hopefully see you in April :)
Check out this video from Coachella 2011 that my friend Alex compiled. Can't wait to go back!
This past weekend I drove out to Palm Springs to celebrate my good friend Allison Harden's birthday. We didn't really do much besides lay the by pool and eat which I had absolutely no objection to. I'm a full believer that sometimes not doing anything is the best thing to do for yourself. During the day we laid by the pool, drank gray goose with grapefruit juice cocktails (fit for a birthday girl!), got in the pool to cool ourselves off because it was a whopping 98 degrees, and reminisced about what's been going on in our lives.
Saturday night we had dinner at her parents family friends house just a short drive from the house. We played Corn Hole and Allison and I kicked ass (shocker), drank yummy cabernet sauvignon, and ate an amazing dinner. Allison's parents were so kind as to prepare vegan friendly options for me as well. They are the best! After dinner and cake, we drove back to the house and watched Brides Maids which was hilarious and darn right icky at times (i.e., food poisoning scene for those of us who have seen it).
On our way back to the real world, I persisted that we stop at the Dinosaur Museum so I could get a picture with the T-Rex. I don't know why I'm so infatuated with these guys, but I got my picture and am therefore a happy girl.