Goin' Out In Style

Final Stop: Palm Springs

On the final day of our sunshine sweep, we packed up our tent and cocktail hut and hit the road for Palm Springs. Upon a recommendation from the one and only Matt Graves, we dropped in for brunch at The Parker Hotel Palm Springs. Not only did we feel like celebrities hanging out in this super stylie locale, but it turned out that we were among them. It's true! Jay Z and Beyonce showed up while we were on our tour of the grounds. Had I spotted her before she placed her order, I would have tipped off Miss "Be" to get the Mango Lobster Salad. Yum.

After our first real meal in days, we took off for our spa appointments in Desert Hot Springs. Best. Idea. Ever--by the way. It turns out that a deep tissue massage and a few hours in the outdoor mineral hot springs is the winning recipe for xtreme festival recovery. Plus, we got to use their shower, which meant no more need for germ-defending flip flops.

And we almost passed ourselves off as buttoned up spa-goers...until our exhaustion kicked in. At that point, Jen accidentally dropped her panties next to the front desk where some lady in gold boots picked them up for her. Meanwhile, I was busy ripping off my festival bracelets with my teeth. It was time to go home.

Red Rover, Red Rover, Let the Canadians Come Over!

Fourth Stop: Coachella Music Festival

Post-desert expedition, we hosed off a bit before heading to the festival. I even put on a pair of wedge heels (flash forward: reeeally bad idea). What happened next involves a few logistical fails that no one really wants to remember, including me: crazy gridlock, stand-still entry lines and utter cell phone melt down—all while basking in the hot SoCal sun.

Transcendence

Successfully transcending the chaos, we eventually made it to our first set of shows*. And thanks to Jen, we would still be able to find one another despite modern technology failure, for we had Friend Locating Devices (FLDs). Note to self for next year: sitting on a pretty blanket listening to incredible bands from around the globe with the sun shining above and the Coachella mountains in the backdrop is well worth all the logistical negotiations necessary to make this moment happen. Amen. (below pic from LA Times)


Sleep Away Camp—For Hipsters

Reflecting on our next 3 days at the festival, I’ve come to think of the experience as something akin to Hipster Sleep Away Camp. Not only did Coachella participants all sport camp uniforms (consisting of stylie festival-wear and the requisite assortment of plastic ID bracelets), but we all found ourselves in that childhood zone of unadulterated freedom.

It’s true. For 3 days, everyone’s schedule is pretty much dictated by nothing other than fun-filled extracurricular activities (i.e. music appreciation, lunchtime, social hour). Days were spent palling around with various friends (old and new) whom you saw in all possible states—party mode, play time, rest time. Just like at camp! I swear if people had broken into a game of Red Rover, it would not have surprised me in the least.

What really solidified the camp analogy for me was the relationship that Jen and I forged with a group of Canadian boys who had traveled to Coachella as part of a 14-man bachelor party (or a “stag party” as they call it up North). On the first night of the festival, we introduced a few of them to the FLD concept as the Vampire Weekend show was rapping up. This undoubtedly high-brow conversation (ummm?) led to teaming up with some additional members of their crew for the Jay Z/Beyonce show, which, in turn, led to additional palling around. (check out the below LA Times pic to see what if feels like to be there at night.)

Never Have I Ever

The more we saw of these boys over the next few days, the more intense became my nostalgia. Vivid memories from long summers spent at sleep away camp and visiting the former Miss Donahue at her New England summer home flooded my mind. Those fabulously teen-angstie times were without a doubt defined by getting to know boys from other parts of the country and continually reconnecting with them in what felt like a magical haze. There was something about those experiences that seemed fateful, and they clearly made a lasting impression.

Since those teenage summers, I’ve had all sorts of life experiences, yet I can name only a handful of situations where I’ve felt so close to those memories. Yet here was that feeling again. Maybe it was because Jen and I were ostensibly “sneaking out” of our camp site to stay up til dawn with our neighbors from the North. Or perhaps it had something to do with a throwback to the days of setting up a meeting place and a secret communication code (the FDL). Or, it could have been related to the fact that we were really taken with these guys. Pretty much all 14 of them. Yeah, maybe that was it.

And how could we not be? Not only were they notably polite, cute (see below!), accomplished and clever, but their group consisted of an Olympic bobsledder, a semi-professional Rugby player, a for realz economist and a body builder who also happened to be a gymnast and son of a Canadian folk artist**. We just couldn’t get over how darling they were, shepherding us through the crowds; tending to us at their bachelor pad (“Would you like me to make you a smoothie? Set you up on the lawn chair? Direct you to the washroom?”); and asking us all about our lives in SF.

Pen Pals 2.0

When it came time to part ways, it felt like that last night at camp when you trade addresses and heartfelt farewells around the campfire. Although I may not send hand-written letters on unicorn stationary like I once did, I’ll certainly keep up with these boys on the Interweb. After all, the union did feel sort of fateful.

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*Friday: She & Him, Passion Pit, Grizzly Bear, LCD Soundsystem, Vampire Weekend and the one and only Jay Z; Saturday: XX, HOt Chip, MGMT, Muse, Flying Lotus, Tiesto, 2ManyDJs; Sunday: Mayer Hawthorne, Matt & Kim, Spoon, Phoenix, Orbital, Thom Yorke, Gorillaz

**He even sang us one of his dad's songs one morning at sunrise...about a pirate who takes a bubble bath. Adorable. Beyond. Words.

Camping...with a Bit of Flare

Third Stop: Camp Site

It took us a little under 2 hours to get from Costa Mesa to La Quinta, a perfect stretch of highway for listening to some of the Coachella bands we wanted to check out. Jen took this opportunity to introduce me to (read: insist that I experience the splendor of) Mayor Hawthorne, her new favorite artist/crush (see above pic). Extolling the glory of Absinthe, his song “Green-Eyed Love” has been a top choice on her ipod for a little while now. Approved.

Upon arrival at our destination city, we hit up the Trader Joe’s for our camping food and, of course, a stunning assortment of cocktail ingredients, not least of which was a bag of dried chili-dusted mangos. I guess if you’re the kind of person who travels with a lemon press (e.g. Miss Jen), you’re also the kind of person whose buys dried chili-dusted mangos to add a little flare to your camping cocktails. Why the hell not? After all, I was In It to Win It this year, wasn't I?

Gourmet food and beverage in tow, we pulled in at our campsite and found that our fellow campers would be within our general age range, contrary to the photos of retirees from the Eisenhower Generation featured on the campground Web site. An hour later, our tent was pitched, our cocktail hut was erected, and a few lucky campers were invited to join us in the first batch of top-shelf margaritas. We even let them sit in my new camping chairs. Let the games begin.

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Full disclosure: I was the one who both owns and brought a collapsible cocktail hut to Coachella. I guess all that glamping last summer really made an impression. So be it!

Where The Streets Have No Name

Second Stop: Joshua Tree

The next morning we were up and at ‘em* with the sun, and zipped over to Joshua Tree National Park. Not only did we arrive in the nick of time for the height of the wild flower season, but we also spotted a desert jackrabbit as we pulled into the park, darting into the brush. Win!

The desert was gorgeous this time of year, with views clear to the Salton Sea and Mexico. Colorful rock formations (see above pic), cholla cacti, and of course the famous Yucca brevifolia, better known by its common name (for you bourgeoisie commoners), The Joshua Tree (pic top of page). All of it was really, really pretty…in a succulent sorta way.

*I feel compelled to admit…again…that I used to think that phrase was “up and Adam” before my mom and sister pointed out yet again the horror show that is my spelling.

Underground in The OC

In case any of you were wondering how the 5-day Sunshine Sweep worked out, from desert to dance-offs to deep tissue massages, I’d say we were victorious.

First Stop: The OC

While Jen was busy bouncing around from dive bar to bakery in LA, I made a beeline for The OC where I had dinner with Heb & Co at their new home—complete with an authentic SoCal swimming pool. The next morning it dawned on me that I had a Coachella gift from Jen in my bag—a blinkie light yo-yo type toy for use as Friend Locating Device (FLD) in the dark.* Thinking that little Mewsie might like the light-up colors, I pulled down the shades in his room, broke out the toy and turned it on. He was instantly mesmerized.

Heb then had the genius idea to get out Mewsie’s Japanese music game and let him pick different electronic songs to accompany the light show. Before you could say “underground nerd alert”, we had created a full-on raver scene—at 9:00am—in a room with a changing table. Too bad Mewsie doesn’t use a pacifier as that would have completed the picture, especially with his fierce dance moves.

Before Auntie Laur had a chance to break out the ring pops, Jen arrived in our rental car and we were off to the desert.

*The gift giving explanation when a little something like this: “Lauren, put this in your festival bag and swing it around when you’re trying to find me. There’s no way I’ll miss it. It is henceforth our homing device. Keep it close at hand and I shall do the same. For AT&T cannot be relied upon.”

Desert and Daquiris: A Plan

I've been starting to feel like all I do is plan things. Every day, my inbox sees all sorts of action re: flight research, rental car coordination and requests for me to bring along my set of fun new camping chairs (thanks Brother EJ). It reminds me of that stage of life before you leave for college, when everything is just a series of plans and the actual departure seems so far away--and slightly unreal. You know, like when you have to pick your meal plan before you even see the university cafeteria? True story: my University had an on-campus bar where you could use your meal card. What campus official approved that arrangement? Really. Bad. Idea.

Anyway, all the planning is finally starting to transform into actual adventures. First up: my maiden voyage to Coachella! The Sunshine Sweep begins tomorrow when my friend Jen and I fly down to LA where we'll be visiting our respective friends for the night (Heb!). Then it's off to our curious little campsite near Joshua Tree coupled with 3 days of xtreme music festivaling. Our final stop will be a day of recoup in Palm Springs workin' it all out here.

My vision for the trip pretty much consists of us in a various assortment of sundresses and bikinis, drinking Jen's organic cocktail delicacies while shakin' it (err, I mean while looking standoffish and uberhip) to Hot Chip. Oh, and this vision includes Joshua Tree and Coachella Valley wildflowers in the backdrop, just so you know. Speaking of Jen, I was reviewing our packing list last night, and right between "tent" and "IV bags" she had written "lemon press." Who flies with a lemon press, let alone IV bags? God, I love that girl.