[Best of the Box] All The Kitties Go Crazy for the KitNipBox

June 15, 2016June 15, 2016Leave a comment

As it turns out, securing my little IPSY Subscription Box with makeup goodies and samples fun enough to make any makeup maven ‘Oooh’ and ‘Ahhh’ was just the tip of the iceberg and it seems I’ve created a monthly box monster of sorts. After two months of drooling over my IPSY goodies, I added a Birchbox Beauty subscription to the mix and just so I didn’t feel like a completely spoiled brat, I decided that it might be time to branch out; and with all these fantastic monthly boxes out there, I couldn’t just keep my subscription secret to myself – so, I figured I’d give the kitties a run for their money.

I spent some time debating between MeowBox and KitNipBox but after reading the reviews for multicat households, I knew KitNip would be a winner. One of my favorite things about the box is there are always ample toys for the cats (and when you have four kitties, this is incredibly important) – plus the treats have been on point for their first two boxes; it’s so refreshing that treats all of the cats like actually exist!

Until KitNip, I was convinced that Stella only likes the generic store bought treats, Daisy preferred fish flakes, Loki only loved high end cat food and Marley, well…Marley likes it all, but they all love the treats in the subscription box like a full size portion Waggers’ My Little Lion ‘Totally Tuna’ Cat Treats that disappeared almost immediately. Not to mention, Last time Danny and I rearranged our living room furniture – we found over a dozen toys tucked away in the crevasses of the couch and having a hearty pile of them helps. My personal favorites are the ‘Keep Calm and Purr On’ pillow and the plush catnip stuffed Elephant stuffed toy.

I’m a sucker for giving back to the community, and in my opinion one of the best parts of purchasing a KitNipBox is that the team lend their charity, proceeds and products to over 100 different organizations like shelters and rescues across the country including the Paw Project and San Francisco SPCA to the Stray Animal Adoption Program and Kit Tea SF, San Francisco’s premiere cat cafe.

For More about KitNipBox
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Just Take My Money + Sign Me Up

Do you have a subscription box perfect for pets or one that you’ve simply been itching to get your paws on?

Let me know in the comments below!

[Self Discovery] Marinate In Your Mindfulness

June 14, 2016June 14, 2016Leave a comment

As I’ve reveled in recent experiences, both on a personal level and a global level, I’ve recognized the need in myself to be mindful – to be aware of the present moment, less anxious about the past and unfazed by future worries. When you truly wrap your head around the ephemeral nature of life, you’ll realize how many moments you’ve wasted by mentally occupying other temporal space. Though daydreaming is nice every once in a while, the perpetual wish to be in another place, have another job, or be surrounded by different people constantly disengages the mind from your current reality, taking you out of the actual moment at hand.

As defined by both yogis and psychologists – the state of mindfulness involves an active focus on the present with purposeful attention to the moment at hand. Living in the space of mindfulness means our mind is open to being in the now, while feelings and thoughts are processed impartially as nonjudgmental experiences. By engaging in mindful behavior, we’re actively raising our personal vibration and the vibration of the global, collective consciousness.

Mindfulness is a simple recognition that there is something greater than us that dwells within each and every conscious being. There’s a light that we all carry inside our hearts, a light that pours into others and collectively illuminates the world – or a light that can be extinguished by others if misused or misplaced. To me, the light that is in each and every one of us is our Spirit Molecule, our God Particle. God isn’t something beside is, outside of us or separate from us – God is within all of us, God is the spark of consciousness that acknowledges the world in all of it’s forms, God is the catalyst for us to live with respect, love and honor – for not only ourselves, but the world that we inhabit and the greater, global consciousness that we all play a role in.

To recognize and acknowledge this light within others, that’s what yoga practitioners refer to as namaste; for anyone who’s frequented the festival circuit or rave scene, it’s been passionately referred to as PLUR and for those simply meandering the world, you might just think of them as vibes; however you refer to them, they’re a collective call to the common good and a reminder that we’re all part of something greater than us.

In small ways, we can practice mindfulness every day. When your creative and mental juices are flowing, there’s no choice but to be fully immersed within the present moment: you’re drawn to the now. Whether it’s a visual art like painting, pottery or graphic design, dance, flow arts, singing, practicing yoga, creating music, or delving into a hobby like crocheting, gardening, photography, writing, baking or cooking – you’re building upon what has been created while evolving the craft carefully; sometimes with expert timing but always with an artistic vision and passionate drive. Life itself isn’t very different.

Activate With Exercise

Whether you fancy a hearty run, a solid workout or a flow yoga class – by engaging your mind and body in synchronicity, you’re actively engaging in mindful behavior. C.S. Lewis famously said “You do not have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.” Whatever your personal thoughts are on the issue of mind-body duality, you can’t deny that in this lifetime we’re only allotted one physical body. Our parents, gym teachers, athletic coaches and doctors have implored that our body is a temple and we should treat it as such. But as we reach adulthood, more often than not that advice falls by the wayside while schedules climb into the far reaching corners of our calendar: we tell ourselves we can’t find the time, but the reality is we just don’t want to. Somewhere, in our misaligned, personalized version of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs – whether it’s because of the stress of a demanding job, an overbearing social schedule, or potentially even anxiety or depression – our physical health has ceased to be a priority. The good news is that now is the perfect time to change our attitude about how active our lifestyles are.

Exercise like strength training in the gym or running can eliminate any sort of stress or anxiety through the release of endorphins; hormones the body naturally releases as opioid activators that work simultaneously to enhance mood and reduce anxiety. While engaging in weekly yoga and meditation practices have been proven to improve creative thinking and concentration while decreasing stress by calming the center of the nervous system.

Get Up and Give Back

Love is boundless energy, and one of the only emotions that we can physically, mentally and emotionally both give and receive. When we’re peace with our own love and able to love ourselves with every fiber of our beings, we’ll be in a prime position to both receive and give love to the world around us. Once you become aware of what you can give back to the world, it’s wonderful to realize that there are multiple ways to physically, emotionally and mentally give back to your immediate community – including neighborhood groups, community service and volunteer organizations. By actively opening your heart for altruistic activities and engaging yourself by assisting those who are less fortunate, you become an important cog in the wheel of life and an integral reason the loving world keeps turning and turning.

Websites like Volunteer Match and Create the Good will link volunteers up with a menagerie of local organizations that are constantly seeking volunteers; if you already have a hunch how you want to help, a simple search for more prominent, national programs for the American Red Cross, the Boys and Girls Club of America and the American SPCA will turn up cause specific opportunities at a local level.

Expand Your Mind

When I was younger, I could charge through a book in a under a week – sometimes even a day if I really fell down the literary rabbit hole. Over the last three years as this blog has blossomed, I’ve found that the more I entertain the writing process – the less and less I’ve been reading. So lately, I’ve taken it upon myself to really carve out some time in my day to sit and enjoy some good reads. Yes, books transport you to another location, whether antiquated or fantastical – but when you read, you’re fully immersing yourself in a moment, a moment that you can share with other book lovers and curated by the author. Instead of rushing to the last page like the finish line of a sprint, consider yourself in for a long walk in the park – remember, the goal is to enhance mindfulness – not just your page count.

Not only are these books incredible on an individual level – it so happens that they all tie into each other very nicely. Truth be told, I would recommend any book by any of these authors – but these five are my first picks.

Tinch Nhat Hanh – You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment
Benjamin Hoff- The Tao of Pooh
Alan Watts – The Book on the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are
Eckhart Tolle – The Power of Now
Carl Honore – In Praise of Slowness

Whether you’re reading, meditating or getting yourself into a lovely yoga groove, I’ve put together a playlist of my favorite music to philosophize, relax and marinate in my mindfulness to, including the likes of Emancipator, Bonobo, Major Lazer’s Robot Heart Sunrise Set, Random Rab, Aeroplane, The Human Experience and more. As a pro-tip: anything labeled a ‘sunrise set’ is bound to be extra vibey, so strap in and let loose- as you set off on a blissful, audio adventure.

Through daily attention to yoga, meditation, literature, music and community service, I’ve rediscovered myself on my pursuit of mindfulness while finding ways to expand my mind, body and soul and better give back to the world around me.This is how I choose to spread my light – how do you choose to honor and spread yours? What are your favorite ways to practice mindfulness and inhabit the present moment? Let me know in the comments below. To close, I’d like to leave you with some quotes from my favorite reads on mindfulness:

“Cultivate solidity. You are somebody; you are something. You are a positive factor for your family, for society, for the world. You have to recover yourself, to be yourself. You have to become solid again. You can practice solidity in everyday life. Every step, every breath you take should help you become more solid. When you have solidity, freedom is there too.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh, You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment

“The great benefit of slowing down is reclaiming the time and tranquility to make meaningful connections–with people, with culture, with work, with nature, with our own bodies and minds”
― Carl Honoré, In Praise of Slowness: Challenging the Cult of Speed

“Peace can be made only by those who are peaceful, and love can be shown only by those who love. No work of love will flourish out of guilt, fear, or hollowness of heart, just as no valid plans for the future can be made by those who have no capacity for living now.”
― Alan W. Watts, The Book on the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are

“Do you really want to be happy? You can begin by being appreciative of who you are and what you’ve got.”
― Benjamin Hoff, The Tao of Pooh

“For every individual is a unique manifestation of the Whole, as every branch is a particular outreaching of the tree. To manifest individuality, every branch must have a sensitive connection with the tree, just as our independently moving and differentiated fingers must have a sensitive connection with the whole body. The point, which can hardly be repeated too often, is that differentiation is not separation.”
― Alan W. Watts, The Book on the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are

“Time isn’t precious at all, because it is an illusion. What you perceive as precious is not time but the one point that is out of time: the Now. That is precious indeed. The more you are focused on time—past and future—the more you miss the Now, the most precious thing there is.”
― Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

Namaste.

[Traveling Tales] A Whimsically Introspective Walk Through Dr Seuss’ Sculpture Garden

June 7, 2016June 8, 2016Leave a comment

“Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!”
― Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

By in large, I live life anticipating adventures around every corner while my eyes overflow with wanderlust….except for lately; I’m typically a happy go-lucky, bouncy lady – but over the past week, there’s been a somber strain in my step and heavy hesitation in my heart. An emotional being by nature, I’ll more often let them take the reigns of my soul as I watch the ego dissolve. From the loud moments of synchronicity to softer, gentler nods to our impending mortality, life is full of consistent reminders to attack each day with passionate vigor. The other week while I was away at a music festival my aunt passed away from cancer and it’s been a hard, jagged pill to swallow. I’m sad…but, it’s more than that (not to mention – I’ve discovered that sadness is typically rather selfish); truth is, I’ve been marinating in introspective inquisition of my purpose and being. I feel resolved and analytical, pensively and perpetually lost within a moment and found within myself because regardless of the places we go in life – we all end up the same. ‘Be noble for you are made of stars; be humble for you are made of earth.’ Whether we climb mountains, swim oceans, extend the field of scientific discoveries, land on the moon or simply sit on our asses doing absolutely nothing – we end up back in the ground. Whether we live passionately or deviously, timidly or boldly, courageously or lazily, we disintegrate back into the nothingness from which we came.

With the right sort of perspective, the bittersweet, impromptu trip to the East Coast for my aunt’s memorial turned into a lovely family reunion with a touch of local lore and history. A lot of the local residences were built pre-1900, and many had signs with their build year – some of them dated back to 1860…we even saw a house used in the Underground Railroad. On our last day, we took one little liberty to visit a park I’d always dreamed of visiting: the Dr Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden in historic Springfield; it’s only fitting that the man I attribute so many colorful, wonderful memories of my childhood to was helping me on my path through adulthood.

Life is jovial, enjoyable, lovable and ephemeral, while the beauty and anxiety we experience is nothing more than a mental construct, obscured by our personal vision. The only static, the only constant, is that there is something greater than us, there has to be something greater than us, because we only exist for a figment of time – yet this world, it’s forever. Death can be called many things, but one thing it’s not is discriminatory. The only guarantee for anything that is brought into existence, is that it will eventually disintegrate back into the same obscurity it came from. I’m going to die, you’re going to die, and your great-grandchildren are going to die – so don’t prevent yourself from living while you still have time.

We all sacrifice bits and pieces of ourselves for something else’s good, we place parts of our personalities on the back burner because we’re afraid that some people can’t handle it, we remain silent when inside we’re passionately screaming because we’re nervous of the reaction we’ll get; we tiptoe around our personalities, deferring our wants and needs just to make other people comfortable. In a million ways, it feels like we die a thousand deaths before our actual death – so stop running fast just to stay in place. Change the rules, change the game, change your perspective. Our time here is limited, how will you spend yours?

[Oh, Snap] Eagle Rockin’ and Eagle Walkin’ V10

May 23, 2016Leave a comment

Spring has most certainly sprung in Los Angeles and though the weather can seem a bit finicky at times, the neighborhood mornings have been beyond lovely and have given me ample inspiration to restart my “workout routine”; whatever that means. But, between a three months of unlimited membership at One Down Dog, the local yoga studio to Eagle Rock, and the LA Fitness in Pasadena – something has to give….eventually…maybe. Until then, I’ll enjoy my morning frolics outside, breathing in the fresh(ish) air of the city and filling my soul with the hearty buzz of the city. The flowers are blooming, the sun’s up early – not to mention, I’m up with the sun. I smell some big things brewing for the rest of the year and I’m excited for what’s to come.

Is that a painting? Nope! We found a mirror on our morning jaunt and it made for some fun photos of the town.

These last few pics aren’t necessarily of Eagle Rock, but they’re a few of my favorites that I’ve taken lately and they go to show just how beautiful it really is right now in each and every corner of the city.

Santa Monica

[Traveling Tales] Keeping it Coastal in Central Oregon

May 19, 2016May 24, 2016Leave a comment

“Some old-fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat.”
Laura Ingalls Wilder

Until a few years ago, I firmly believed that down to my core I was a city kitty; from a purposeful hustle and bustle like you’ve never seen before to vibrant, neon color schemes boldly emblazoned against the darkness of the night and the palpable buzz of a technologically savvy, creative beehive. I grew up in California’s South Bay Area and quite frankly one of the few reasons I’m proud to be from the Silicon Valley is that people actually know the area I’m from instead of “40 minutes south of San Francisco”, “a little East of San Jose” and “a lovely drive from Santa Cruz”.
Being close to San Francisco and San Jose meant that whenever I could immerse myself in their go-go-go nature, I would – but there’s something to be said for what Santa Cruz had to offer: a slower pace of life, a calmer approach to the present moment with a less populated view and a stunning landscape where the trees meet the sea.

When we live in a fast past environment, we’re forced to adapt to a fast paced way of doing, being and living. Like the Red Queen in Alice in Wonderland, we feel like we’re running just to stay in place. Suffice it to say that in Los Angeles – a quick wit, high levels of intelligence, deep passions and lack of sleep are four cornerstones of the lives of basically everyone I consider a close friend. Like a caterpillar in perpetual chrysalis, as age and experience boldly dance together inside, I’ve gladly shed the skin of my past while transitioning into a phase of my life that’s falls on the side of a country mouse than a city kitty.

This past weekend, Danny and I took a lovely deviation from our typically atypical LA life and jaunted up the West Coast for some wedding planning and much needed family time. For both of our first times, we blasted off out of the lovely Long Beach Airport and headed up to Central Oregon. Originally, we’d planned on flying in Friday afternoon and leaving Sunday evening – but by extending our stay from Thursday night through Monday afternoon, we saved a few hundred dollars and got some extra family time; now that’s what I call a win-win! After settling in for a cozy Thursday night, we woke up Friday morning fresh faced and adventure hungry; with a quick breakfast in our bellies and a glance at the stunning weather on tap for the day, we’d packed a bag and we were off off and away, ready to spend a day with the scenic Central Oregon Coast.

Our first stop of the journey was in Newport, Oregon to chow down on some delicious eats at Local Ocean Seafood, with a lovely view to the harbor. For as much as I consider myself a Bouncy Kitty of sorts – I’ll be the first to admit that I tend to eat a lot more raw fish, the likes of sushi, sashimi, tuna tartare and seared salmon make me salivate; but when it comes to the cooked variety, I tend to shy away. Enter Danny. He has a no holds, or foods, barred approach to chowing down and it’s expanded my culinary cravings tenfold. LOS had the most delicious oyster shooters and seared albacore kabobs – and I know precisely what I’m ordering next time we go back!

After a quick jaunt down the pier for a friendly conversation with some local seals, we were off off and away down the Central Oregon coast to Yachats, a small, sleepy town where I spent several memorable summer vacations with my dad’s side of the family. But first, we plotted a few stunning beach stops on the way, first – to Ona Beach!

I had a million and a half flashbacks to fond childhood memories, tidepool hopping with my father, scavenging for sea glass, seashells and seashell things with my step-mom and breathing in the salty air while dancing in the sunshowers bouncing off the Pacific. These memories and feelings fill my soul like a warm bowl of soup on a frigid day, or a hearty hug after a long night.

Apparently, we couldn’t get enough of the beach because after leaving Ona Beach, we stopped again at Seal Beach to take in the awe inspiring view – and then, it was finally off for Yachats, a town so small that you have to remind people in Oregon where it is. Translated from the Siletz language, ‘Yachats‘ literally means the ‘dark water at the foot of the mountain’ – one look off the cliffs down into the Pacific, and you’ll be sure to agree. A quaint community about halfway between California and Washington, Yachats sits right on the water and feels like it walked right out of 1950’s America. Back in the day after my grandparents settled in Corvallis Oregon, they snagged an adorable Summer home from a fantastic Rhododendron expert who scattered the flowers across our property. The end result is a beautiful landscape boarded by the bubbling Bob Creek that sprouts to life and blooms only four weeks of the year, and we were lucky enough to be around to witness it.

The last leg of the trip was definitely my favorite, if not for proof that my apple doesn’t fall far from the family tree. Back in August in 1987, hundreds of thousands of eager souls around the globe flocked to sacred, spiritual locations to participate in the ‘Harmonic Convergence‘ – the first internationally synchronous meditation event in recorded history. Of course – my dad and his group of friends went; they chose an area called Cape Perpetua, and Danny and I were lucky enough to stop by for a sunny, afternoon visit – a rare, sunny afternoon at that, especially for anyone that knows the Oregon Coast! Cape Perpetua is a slice of Oregon heaven with hundreds of tall trees sitting over bluffs that give a panoramic view of the entire Oregon Coastline. Pay it just one visit and you’ll see in a heartbeat why it’s so special.

What I learned on my trip is that if you’re a fan of the California Coast, you’ll be head over heals for Oregon’s. Start planning your journey now and check out these helpful sites on the state’s natural wonders.

Travel Oregon | Yachats | You Might Like Oregon | Oregon National Parks

[LA Life] An Immersive + Artistic Dining Experience This Summer at Monkey Town

May 9, 2016May 9, 2016Leave a comment

Source: Monkey Town Website

This June marks my eighth year in Los Angeles, in eight years I’ve been here – I’ve become ‘more or less‘ well rounded – or so I’d like to believe. Sure, I’ve finally visited another continent, and I’ve developed some new hobbies and honed in on a few skill sets; I’ve volunteered with animal shelters and around my neighborhood – but when it comes to entertainment, I can’t say that much has changed. I still rock half the music I listened to back then, because have you listened to Boys Noize, Tiesto, Spor, Bassnectar, NERO or Ferry Corsten pre-2010; it’s utterly fantastic, right?! Needless to say – I landed in Los Angeles as I was falling in love with a music scene and eight years later, I’m up to my neck in it – listening with my robot ears as I take bits of bytes, eating, breathing and even sleeping music.

Working in the entertainment industry for the last five years, I’ve always had my ear to the ground, itching to learn about fringe events, off the grid happenings and underground souls. For years, I’ve told my friends that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting a different result, so here I am – ready to step out of my personally prescribed insanity and into something completely new. Thank goodness for serendipitous moments. This morning, a post floated through my feed about a pop up experience in Downtown LA called Monkey Town, and I had to stop and take a gander. A one of a kind intimate affair featuring immersive art, live entertainment and dining experience – Monkey Town is just what the doctor ordered, and it couldn’t come soon enough.

Photo: MonkeyTown NYC from Daniel Lober/Favoreat

Curated by Montgomery Knott in tandem with Lex Brown, Robert Crouch, Michael Smoller and Ricky Jonsson Jr and Kristen Brinshot og Ghosting.tv, Monkey Town has become a standing symbol of New York’s arts scene, spending a solid decade stimulating senses in the Big Apple before parting ways for Denver, Barcelona, and finally Austin earlier this year. This Summer, the reverie is stopping by The Reef in Downtown Los Angles for the seventh, and final, edition of Monkey Town. From June 1st to October 1st, revelers will dine and dream with a two hour multi channel video program featuring over a dozen artists, live entertainment that changes weekly, a four or five star meal from a internationally renowned chef – from inside a massive 27 foot, white cube with the images projected on every side. Oh yes, I said dinner and a show, with a delicious meal prepared by none other than Nick Montgomery, head chef at LA’s Osso with stints at New York’s Momufuku and Chicago’s Blackbird.

Monkey Town LA — Summer 2016
By Montgomery Knott on Vimeo.

I’m not one to sleep on an awesome experience, and I’d rather be one of those people that gets to experience it while it’s novel instead of waiting to read the reviews and scrounging for tickets last minute (cough*The Broad*cough*) – so, Danny and I are going to a showing on Sunday, 6/5 at 6:30; it promises to be an excellent evening, I dare you to put on your big kid pants and come play. Even better, for those that go in the first few weeks of June – you can save $20 a ticket, which at 45-65 a seat depending on the day is an absolute steal! Simply use the code EARLY20 to save, the offer is valid until Thursday, 5/12 at Midnight. If you’re in the mood for something new and on the prowl for something novel, jump the gun and by some tickets for the first two weeks; I mean, come on – have I ever steered you wrong? Not to pull your chain, but – Monkey Town is actually closing after this run – that’s right, Monkey Town will be no more. So don’t be a Monkey’s Uncle, do it right – and come be part of one of the best things to happen to the creative sphere.

Purchase Tickets Here

For more on Monkey Town and their three month pop up dining experience in Los Angeles, head to their website and socials.

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

[The Audiofiles] Coachella 2k16: Where The Creme of the Crop Rises to the Top

May 6, 2016May 6, 20161 Comment

Once upon a time, in a not so far away land, children reveled in laughter while trying to navigate the world and exchanged dreams like candy on Halloween. Our internal and collective happiness was less a choice and more a way of life where trials and tribulations disappeared into the infinite abyss of “the real world.” Time ceased to exist, while each day was approached with a childlike sense of wonder and amazement in search of what we could create and how we could collaborate. Social media meant knocking on your friends door and asking if they could come to play, writing on a wall was passing notes in class and instead of finding the right filter or caption to capture the memory, we were fully present – we had no option not to be; we marinated in the moment and savored every second. 13063054_10103029581136974_1047385810506156910_o

Months, years, sometimes even decades would come and go but those little hopes that manifested into full on daydreams stayed as much a part of us as our arms, legs, head and toes. You could cover those dreams up – shove them into a corner of your brain and refuse to recognize them…you could dismiss them, refer to them as a lofty venture from a lifetime ago or the flippant figments of your youth. But that would be missing the point of life. No matter how big or small – those dreams of our youth are the backbone of our ethos, they’re the heartbeat that drives us and the underlying reason we care so deeply about what we contribute to this world and how we leave our mark.

Call your dreams by whatever name you want – but call them; call a spade a spade and a dream a dream. Call your dreams loudly and proudly in the name of manifesting your own magic in this dance we call life. Call them out loud because to not acknowledge your dreams is to cut your life short while you’re still living it. In a million different ways with a thousand different faces, from the artists and headliners, stage managers and photographers, videographers and lighting designers, writers, press and even festival attendants – Coachella is full of the evolution of the children who refused to let go of their dreams.

Boasting a vibrant history, the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is the perfect place for both musicians and music lovers to see and be scene. Now in it’s 17th year, the festival stands proudly as a kaleidoscope of internationally acclaimed auditory and artistic talent for the tried and true audiophiles to the average music maven, on down to anyone with a single iota of instrumental inclination and a thirst for auditory adventures. In beautiful juxtaposition of musical memories in the making at Coachella, the entirety of Indio fosters a deep cultural history that reaches back somewhere between an epoch and an eon.

Coachella Sunset DL Photo

For at least the last 5,000 years, the Agua Caliente band of Cahuilla Indians has carved their community into the rolling desert landscape surrounding Palm Springs. At first glance a barren area, the Agua Caliente capitalized on the mystical and sacred hot springs, known in their native tongue as ‘Se-Khi‘ – translating into ‘Hot Water’, the original name for ‘Palm Springs.’ Sprinkled throughout the desert, the clean water from the hot springs paved the way for a dynamic life in an otherwise desolate location and provided the Agua Caliente with a connection to the spiritual world that was infused into the land.

A self professed math and science nerd, I admittedly was terrible with history, but even I know what happened next: the birth of a nation and the decimation of a culture; an unfortunate domestic history that we’re too quick to dismiss, about a community either blatantly appropriated or completely ignored (personally, I’m not sure which is worse – but I digress – and will save that diatribe for another time.) After spending four days immersed in Indio, it’s still beautifully apparent that the ethos of the Agua Caliente culture and community live on deep inside the land, offering a passionate pulse and gentle pull towards greatness that resides in each step and every breath. Fast forward to our present moment and a parallel, blossoming energy thrives in that same desert – shared by our collective consciousness and reinvigorated by the flame of each new encounter.

Amanda DL Photo

Back in 2011, this kitten right here purchased her first ticket to a multi-day music festival, not fully understanding the implications of her chosen life path; last year, work became play, and I returned to the Empire Polo Fields under the guise of new PR job with The Confluence and this year, I was blessed with the opportunity to dive in from the media angle – making for an unforgettable weekend with some of my favorite people. My fourth appearance at Coachella, this year marked my first time at Weekend 2 and I’ll tell you what – I’ll take it: less packed and more room, fewer A-list celebrities and paparazzi style press – unless you’re aweirdos that’s into that kinda thing – and an overall feeling of relaxation; a stark dichotomy with the go-go-fucking-go nature of Weekend 1. Juice Girl

From world class snackables, discussion worthy fashion choices and the musical soundtrack of this very moment, Coachella has manifested into much more than a hub of artistic talent – Coachella is a time capsule of pop culture, drawing on our modern amusements while capturing our creative spirit. Not a festival for the faint of heart, or heat, each weekend of Coachella crowed with temperatures reaching well into 90s and above – which, for people like me, paved the way for super breathable fashion choices and a whole lot of hydration (the key to a long and successful weekend). For any foodies, or all around fat kids at heart, the culinary choices at the festival were tantamount to the musical lineup – with mouth watering pressed juices, scrumptious corn dogs and the obligatory Coachella watermelon.

The West Coast’s Music mecca, the festival really does offer something for everyone in your squad. Originally a five stage, one day festival – Coachella has evolved to house well over 200 different artists. Not that any of us needed additional proof that EDM has evolved from a counter culture hub to a pop culture phenomenon, but instead of strictly dominating the Sahara Tent – dance music was dispersed onto every single stage: from addition of the Yuma Stage, the ever refreshing Heineken Dome, the Silent Disco back in the campgrounds, the Dispacio – a newfangled disco den and dual lineups for the different weekends at the Do LaB stage.

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Depending on how acutely or loosely you define your genres, or more accurately: how much of a douche you want to be about them, it’s arguable that anywhere from 35% to 40% of acts the lineup have their roots in dance music, especially when most of the new stages only play dance music (I’m looking at you, Yuma). Whether you’re a technophile that refuses to acknowledge there are other colors besides black and feelings besides ‘robot’, a push-button EDM enthusiast who’s only mission for the weekend is to rage face while the bass drops, a live music lover looking to be moved by emotive vocals or flat out want to go where the weird turn pro – there’s a place for you…unless you’re a trance head, but hey – can’t win them all. Yuma DL Photo

The Yuma Tent had thankfully been slightly reimagined since last year. But, when I say ‘slightly reimagined’ I mean that it’s still a mindfuck of a dimly lit disco den that I perpetually wish was a roller rink (wink wink, nudge nudge), the beds in the back were a great touch – and probably a wonderful refuge during the dust storms or the hot afternoons, but I was not a fan of the disco disorientation (disco-orientation?) of the building. I only managed to make it to a few sets and admittedly left not long after walking in, every time.

Tucked away in a corner of the festival is my favorite portion, a festival within a festival at the Do LaB stage. For those in the know, the Do LaB hosts their own festivals – Lightning in a Bottle and Woogie Weekend – and it’s always beyond me having to choose between great artists. I love hanging out at the stage during Coachella because it’s almost Desert Hearts meets LiB vibe, one love that’s felt in the heart of the dance floor one stage so you never have competing underground talent, one love – and a whole lot of booty shaking, feel good bass music that fills your soul, one molecule at a time. I consider the stage my personal safety net; like Linus and his blanket – the Do LaB stage can’t be described any other way except ‘home‘. It’s a conscious community dripping with delicious drops of water and a menagerie of music fit for it’s own festival – which is about to transpire at the end of the month.

Get Wet DL Photo

After first finding our festival bearings on Friday afternoon, it was off to the races – and by races, I mean the water misters and friendly faces at the Do LaB stage. One of the best things about being at Coachella, regardless of the stage, is that you’re going to stumble across talent that’s either brand new, or brand new to you – and you could very well be discovering your new favorite artists; that’s exactly what happened when Melvv and Ekali sandwiched an epic, live set from Autograf – both artists went from 0 to 100 in my radar, real quick. Autograf DL Photo 2 Not to dismiss Autograf by any means, as they were actually one of my personal highlights of the weekend – dance music with live instruments and stunning live vocals? Yes, please! We planned on heading out right after their set, but then Ekali took the decks….and decided to hang out for a few songs, and then dance at the back of the stage for another few more before we were actually as cold as we thought we were and went to change for the evening.

After accidentally stumbling into Jayceeoh’s set in the Heineken House instead of Doctor P, we bee-lined over to the Sahara Tent we could fuck around and order more money with G-Eazy. I only recently got into him as an artist after one of my girlfriends, who’s basically coachella2016Day2-76 self professed in love with him, kept posting his tracks – and I’ll be the first to tell you: that’s a live show worth catching. Plus, it was refreshing getting a dose of Hip Hop on the Sahara Tent. Heading over to the Outdoor Theater for Jack Ü, I kept wishing that we were seeing Diplo x Skrillex throw down in the Sahara. Maybe I’d had enough dance music for the day, but I couldn’t get into all of their bleeps and bloops and left slightly unimpressed by two artists I thoroughly enjoy. Bouncing back to the Do LaB Stage, we got our sexy groove on as Sweater Beats wooed the crowd. I’ve seen him a handful of times before, and this was by far my favorite performance – plus, everyone loves bubbles. Hippie Sabotage shut down the Do LaB stage with a high octane performance, and a whole lot of swearing. Last but certainly not least, we culminated our Friday night with the captivating acrobatics and eccentric theatrics of the electro-cirque performance troupe, Lucent Dossier Experience headlining the Sahara Tent. A group I’ve watched grow over the time I’ve lived in Los Angeles, it was breathtaking to see them headline the Sahara Tent – and they gave one hell of a performance to boot.

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All of Saturday morning, I had it planned out – get to the festival in time for Gary Clark Jr, get to the festival in time for GCJ…I’d even talked to my mom about it that morning. But even the best laid plans at festivals seem to go awry as we walked in right as he was getting into his last song. But to her token, her taste in The Arcs, HEALTH and GCJ got me a whole lot of street cred while I was waiting in line to get inside for Day 2 (thanks, Lola!). After dancing our way past the Merch booth and food stands, we wound up front and center for Sacha Robotti’s epic Dirtybird Birthday set on the Do LaB stage. Craving more live music, we took a turn back to the Coachella stage for Run the Jewels and I spent about 30 minutes trying to enjoy the set. They brought out Travis Barker and DJ Shadow, which was pretty awesome, but it just….didn’t do it for me. So, we wandered and meandered, in the search of nothing novel, just something…else. AlunaGeorge’s put on a moving show in the Sahara, and the Hotel Garuda pulled Hotel Garuda DL Photo out all the stops to throw one hell of a party. If Ice Cube wasn’t performing after, we would’ve stuck around for Cut Snake – but why deny what you feel inside? For the record, worth it: Cube reunited NWA for the first time in 27 years, that’s almost my entire lifetime! As we were on our way out to catch some of Rufus dul Sol, an act that hands down everyone I ran into said I had to see, our friend Sheldon heard the unmistakable rasp of Kendrick Lamar’s voice and we literally all sprinted back to the main stage, screaming ‘ We gon’ be alright’ – because you know, we are gonna be alright. Finally, we made it to Rufus dul Sol, and I’ll hand it to all those people – that was some phenomenal live music; I definitely cried some sappy love tears during Inner Bloom, frantically texting my fiance so I could steal a moment and a kiss. We missed Zedd’s performance, but he waved to us in the Rose Garden the next day – so, that was cool. Instead, we shook our tail feathers to the bone tingling sounds of the two special guests at the Do LaB for the evening – Claptone and MK!

Claptone DL Photo

If the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy warns you to always have a towel, the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Festival will warn you to always have your bandanna handy – you never know when a rogue dust storm will hit. Which it did, several times. As I mini-tribaled my way by Rancid’s set on Sunday, the wind would pick up every so often and by the time I reached the press tent, I overheard what I can only assume was on-site production staff or Goldenvoice softly cackled about potential 70 MPH winds that could send tents flying and shut down the festival.

But no one seemed to know, notice or care – because the Sunday Funday game was strong, and the show most definitely went on. I finally made it through a full set in the sweaty Sahara tent for Tokimonsta – Kraddy DL Photo and was it ever worth it. According to MIC, this year Coachella has booked 44 female lead or co-lead bands, accounting for nearly a quarter of the lineup, a festival first – and stark improvement from 16% of the bill last year, and the historically dismal disparities in gender. However that’s on the main lineup, and doesn’t account for the lack of female artists on Dance Music stages like in the Heinekin Dome, the Do LaB stage or even the Sahara Tent – where Tokimonsta was one of the few female performers alongside Nina Las Vegas, Dena Amy, AlunaGeorge and the Lucent Dossier Experience. FYI, Festivals – this girl thinks it’s dope to see a dope chick do dope things.

After a jaunt by the food kiosks for just one more corndog, we were on our way back home to finish out the night with the Do LaB. Just As KRCW’s Jason Bently finished sweetly spinning the crowd into harmonic delirium, the Stanton Warriors and Kraddy brought the bass as they left their souls on the stage that night. Each artist brought the funky fresh dance moves, Prince tributes, and overall Sunday vibes to an all around high. I hadn’t seen Stanton Warriors since they played with Krafty Kuts back in 2009, and hearing their delicious breakbeats at peak volume was music to my ears. A former, and co-founding member, of The Glitch Mob – Kraddy threw one hell of a party, fully equipped with fan and fire dancers.There was only one way to top that closing lineup, and that was with an epic Surprise set from Diplo, Jillionare and Walshy Fire as Major Lazer took over the Do LaB for one hell of a closing party – and a completely different vibe than they had on the main stage. Sorry Calvin Harris, but this was my kinda party.

Major Lazer 3 DL Photo

Even if it’s for just one second, we’re all itching to throw our real world cares away to revel and rejoice in what it means to be free from responsibility, work and familial obligation, cutting electronic tethers and ties and forging real connection – we’re left with a wanderlust mentality that only asks ‘Where to next, ol’ friend?’ There’s nothing quite like a high frequency, family reunion with upper echelon personalities – and that’s precisely what you’ll get, if you choose to seek it. When you’ve fully engrossed yourself within a festival like Coachella, when you come to a top tier event and are surrounded left and right by people that have passionately pursued their dreams to take the stage – you would literally have to go out of your way to not be bit by their bug of inspiration, to not take a drink of that success juice.

Growing in kind with the supply and demand of dance music, and the music industry in general, the landscape of Coachella is continually changing, from individual hours spent on the Polo Fields themselves to stage count and overall capacity. Over the last decade, AEG has evolved Coachella from a multi day festival to a multi weekend festival – and with the new advent of the Panorama Festival, a sister music and arts festival in New York this Summer, the Coachella brand has become bi-coastal and even more pop culture relevant, if that was possible; yes, it’s true – even your mom has heard of Coachella.

Furies DL Photo

For all the good, there are definitely still some changes that could be made. With the influx of EDM artists to other stages, I was pleased to see the Sahara Tent do things a bit differently on Friday night; from the breath of fresh lyrical air bestowed by Bay Area native G Eazy, who brought out Lil Wayne, and duo Rae Sremmurd (Drummers Ear backwards, for those not in the know). And no one in their right mind could deny the collaborative genius of Ice Cube’s gangsta party on the main stage – bringing out MC Ren, DJ Yella and Dr. Dre for the first reunion of NWA in 27 years, The Game, and Kendrick Lamar just to put the cherry on top of that sundae. 13119116_10103029597119944_6148693470379806684_n Add in A$AP Rocky and Run the Jewels with cameos from Travis Barker and DJ Shadow – and it’s a fantastic subset of Hip Hop culture – with subset being the operative term. For the vast amounts of overall music at the festival, Rap and Hip Hop account for an incredibly small sliver of the talent; if women could get equal representation on the lineup, that would be wonderful – though it would also imply equal representation in the music industry – which unfortunately doesn’t exist. Stagecoach is the following weekend I wouldn’t mind a few more Country Music acts on the bill as well – hey, I’m equal opportunity.

Then, there’s my 2 part PSA for the DJs: I wouldn’t go to a Drake concert and expect him to drop a verse like Kanye, or the Red Hot Chili Peppers – so why do we enjoy seeing DJs play someone else’s tracks? I want to hear your music and experience your creative prowess, not discover that you have a great face for radio. Also, no more cop sirens in songs – sincerely, me.

Ngene Mwaura @ Do LaB Stage

The live art at the Do LaB stage is such a wonderful idea, and I would love to see any of the other 7 stages follow suit; though, I think about all you could do in the Yuma is light painting and long exposures. As for the art installations – eh. The giant lamps were back, or maybe they never left – and did you see those big fucking chairs – or, BFCs -? Right, because you couldn’t miss them. Last year’s giant butterfly was astounding, and the corporate hippos were as hilarious as they were conversation starting…but all those BFCs did was actually piss me off. Just bring back the caterpillar next year and everyone will be happy, promise.

With as packed as the event already is, the impending threat of a 25% population increase makes my non-collegiate, claustrophobic bones shake – because some sets were difficult to navigate through, or even around. Does that mean that they’ll open up more of the festival grounds? Only time will tell.

Stay tuned for even more from Goldenvoice and AEG host to Desert Trip, or Geriatric Coachella, with Bob Dylan, The Who and The Rolling Stones back at the Empire Polo Club this Fall; tickets for Desert Trip go on sale Monday, 5/9 at 10 AM. Then, in 2017, AEG and Live Nation will finally threaten Los Angeles with a good time in 2017 with the impending Arroyo Seco Music and Arts Festival at Pasadena’s famed Rose Bowl.

For more on the latest and greatest on Coachella, including their impending sale of tickets for next year’s festival – head over to their website or socials:

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Keep up with former The DJ List photographer Daniel Leist in his new venture at Getty Images, for more on Daniel head to his socials.

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