Our Insiders’ Guide to Enjoying LA if You’re Skipping Coachella (We Feel You!)
Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
We’ve all been there: Your friends are going to Coachella and you’re hanging back for (insert very good reason(s) here). An easy way to skip right over the FOMO—hey, we’re only human—is by skipping the lines and crowds at a few of our favorite LA pastimes. Chiefly: Reading, brunching, and beaching.
Here are three ways we plan to enjoy quintessential LA activities during this welcome downtime, since (if you hadn’t guessed) we’ll be skipping the famed indie music festival this year. Next year, though, all bets are off!
Los Angeles literary institution The Festival of Books has been a city institution, now in its 28th year. Taking place this year between April 22-23 at the University of Southern California, attendees can enjoy author-hosted panels, celebrity speakers, screenings, giveaways, and tons of other programming on a broad variety of diverse topics (with more than 250 exhibitors). There’s even a dedicated kids’ and YA stage for younger book-lovers—all ages welcome! Explore what’s new and exciting in the literary world, and see who picks up a coveted Book Prize across a range of genres at USC’s Bovard Auditorium.
Best of all, unlike a certain music festival, admission to this eight-stage book fest across the USC campus is 100% free. Friend of the Festival packages (advance ticket packages), which include reservations for indoor conversations, weekend parking and festival merchandise, among other exclusives, are available for purchase now, with Individual conversation tickets available April 16. Schedule, location, ticket, and transportation information can be found on the festival website with updates and highlights available on the Facebook page,Twitter and Instagram feeds (#bookfest).
Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
Enjoy brunch—without the wait!
Since a certain percentage of avid brunch-goers are out of town, now’s the perfect time to skip the wait at two hot spots and savor those crave-worthy flavors all morning (or afternoon) long.
Soulmate
Order a sharable spread of fire-kissed Spanish Mediterranean food at this West Hollywood spot with a gorgeous terrace, never-ending drinks option, and stacked and loaded brunch menu. From light, produce-forward salads and fruity dishes to mid-morning mainstays like avocado toast, frittatas, Benedicts, sliders, and hashes, you simply can’t go wrong at Soulmate.
Stop into Gracias Madre’s West Hollywood or Newport Beach locations and discover the buzz for yourself! The brunch menu is packed with enticing sweet and savory Mexican brunch dishes—everything from classic huevos rancheros and chilaquiles and fiesta-worthy spins on burgers, quesadillas, tacos, and flautas to Mexican crepes, pancakes, and French toast—all 100% vegan.
Gracias Madre’s Chilaquiles
Enjoy easy access and parking at the beach
Celebrate a little breathing room at the beach, and bring along a special picnic you’ll remember long after Coachella-goers are back in town. We recommend curating a basket of sandwiches, salads, wine and provisions from Hotcakes Bakes and Evil Twin (the perfect place to pick up a selection of charcuterie and small bites to go). Insider tip: all bottles at Evil Twin are natural wines, with many imported from France (where they take picnicking very seriously—respec
Looking to take your al fresco feast in another direction? We’ve got your back. A boss pre-beach move is pre-ordering fresh sushi boxes from Sushi Roku Manhattan Beach, lovingly filled with cut rolls, hand rolls, poke, edamame, salads and more. Can’t get enough from the sea? We see you! Grab succulent lobster sandwiches next door from BOA Manhattan Beach. It’s a truly wonderful thing to behold (and then devour) next to the ocean.
Keeping it low-key? Make it even easier by stopping by your local Everytable on the way (40 locations currently open). If you’re heading out early in the day, Everytable’s Grab & Go morning options feature fan favorites like breakfast burritos, granola parfaits, egg muffins, and bakery-fresh pastries. Lunch options span the hits, from salads, wraps, and sandwiches, to sides, juices, snacks, and everything else you need to fuel your perfect beach day, with dishes ranging from a budget-friendly $4.95 to $9.95.
Sushi Roku Luxury Seafood Boxes