Coachella 2012: The Skyy Coconut Escape pool party keeps it cool
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
How I came to be the official Coachella pool party beat reporter is still somewhat of a mystery to me. Perhaps because I love pools. And vodka. But for whatever reason, for six years running now I have faithfully represented the L.A. Times at various hedonistic enterprises in the desert involving water, beach balls and copious amounts of alcohol.
The second weekend of Coachella -- although much, much hotter (think of crawling into your oven wearing a sleeping bag and you’ll get the idea) -- boasted fewer pool parties. The cruel irony! However, Skyy vodka and Spin magazine represented with one of the weekend’s largest offerings at the lush Renaissance Esmeralda Indian Wells Resort & Spa.
The Esmeralda, as it is lovingly referred to by its guests (many of whom are artists playing at Coachella), is a fantastic location for a pool party. It has waterfalls and an honest-to-god sand beach. Skyy poured stiff drinks, infused with (you guessed it) all kinds of coconut water. The vodka company knows that getting your electrolytes while simultaneously depleting them is essential to a quality afternoon.
As are complimentary tacos -- carnitas, chicken and al pastor -- and passed trays of teriyaki beef. ‘Is this foie gras?’ asked one girl in a little white thong, pronouncing ‘foie’ wrong, and apparently unaware that the dish in question is rarely served on skewers at a vodka-sponsored pool party.
There was also a gifting lounge by Havaianas, which was handing out flip flops. People waited in long lines in the pounding sun for these rubber offerings and lethargically walked away, back to the pool to dodge flying beach balls and nod their heads in time to really loud music.
The heat kept the general mood down with a few notable exceptions: steroid-enhanced men on the prowl, and a few giddy girls intent on pulling their bikinis into their bottoms, rather than out. A strange impulse that signaled that the heat had become too much for just about anyone.
RELATED:
TIMELINE: Coachella through the years
MOBILE USERS: All you need to survive Coachella
--Jessica Gelt
