Wings in the Desert and Wall Street in Freefall?

From Jamie’s Desk:

To the shock of most people over 25, I look forward to Coachella every year. Sure, I have long pretended that I was only in attendance to chaperone my daughter – but if you know me, you know that is a straight-up lie. I go because I love it.

I realize most of you are scratching your heads. Yes, it is hot, yes, there are 100,000 people, and yes, it is massive (I hit over 70,000 steps last year for the whole weekend). Sure, most of the artists are ones I don't listen to, have never heard of, or barely know going into the festival, but every year I come out having experienced a newfound love for a musician that adds so much joy to my life. Last year it was Laufey, I’m excited to see who it will be this year. Those discoveries are worth every step I walked, every drop of sweat I endured, and every crowd I was in the thick of.

Contrary to popular belief, Coachella (for the most part) is just a gathering of people who love music. Of course, there are people there for the photos and online clout, but it's truly just a celebration of unbelievable talent. I have seen so many amazing performances during my years attending – the first in 2008 when my friend and Jamie’s List member Mark Ronson performed. Oh, and some guy named Prince, too. Since then, I have loved seeing everyone from Kendrick Lamar to Billie Eilish to Jay-Z. Sadly, I missed Beyoncé (Kelly got to see her – does that count?). Regardless, I have seen some iconic performances in the desert.

Aside from the buzzy headliners, what's so special about Coachella is the range of performances you get to see, and last year was the best example of that. Sure, Gaga was amazing and Travis Scott has energy like no other, but what I will never forget was BigXthaPlug, Laufey, LA Philharmonic with Dudamel, and the one that shocked me the most – Zedd – which I never would have imagined. But the joy on people's faces Sunday night, after two full days of non-stop music – being tired, hot, worn out – and still jumping, dancing, and singing along with this DJ. This year, I’m especially excited to see my friend (and Jamie’s List member) Wale back at the festival. I also can’t wait for Clipse, Giveon, and of course, Justin Bieber.

I get it, this type of event isn't for everyone. A festival takes a certain mindset to conquer (and I'm not counting those of you who fly in for one show, get some sort of ultra-VIP treatment to golf cart you to the stage, and then leave). No, I'm talking about the people who put in the work. The ones who arrive in the high heat each day and don't leave until the night's headliner finishes. Like Nick Saban, who said he used to start preparing for the next national championship after the final whistle of the one he just won, when our taillights head out of Coachella Sunday night (for arguably one of the most miserable drives of the year), I will start thinking of next Coachella. I think of who I hope will headline next (Olivia Dean), or return to the stage (Lola Young), or make their debut. I also start thinking about all the other festivals coming up that I want to attend. Do yourself a favor – even if it isn't Coachella, add a music festival to your list of musts every year. There are so many great ones both in California and around the world.

P.S. – I can't forget one of my other highlights from the festival: when my buddy KYLE gave me a shoutout from the stage. For any artists who read this and are going, please feel free to give me a shoutout – that was fun.

Discussed in this issue: Indio Eats, Kara Swisher’s new CNN show, and my conversation with Andrew Ross Sorkin.

Have a restaurant rec, cultural gem, can’t-miss event, or a hot sauce that changed your life? Send it my way: [email protected]

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Shlap Muan — Last year, this was my favorite bite of the fest, and I’ve been looking forward to getting some of these amazing wings again. Sadly, their Pasadena location closed, but you can find them in Long Beach. It’s worth the drive down to the OC, but having it in the desert is a win for me. Make sure to grab extra napkins.

Bang Bang Noodles — Hand-pulled noodles, can you name anything better to carbo-load with in the midst of dancing your heart out? These are flavorful, the portions are hearty, and the noodle itself is perfectly made. 10/10! 

Delmy’s — Pupusas are one of those things I don’t have a lot, so when I do, they better be goooood. Delmy’s are filled to the brim and topped with pickled cabbage, spicy salsa, and a refreshing crema. They’re filling, but make a good snack if you share them with your friends. 

Love Hour — Sometimes, you just need something hearty, greasy, and delicious – and Love Hour makes amazing smashburgers to fill that need. The crispy patty, melty cheese, finely diced onions, pickles, and fluffy bun make this a can’t-miss.

Sumo Dog — I really enjoyed their titular Sumo Dog, which had wasabi relish, pickled peppers, spicy mayo, and Furikake flakes, to name a few toppings. Obviously they’re known for their hot dogs, but the chicken katsu was a lovely surprise. They have multiple locations: Indio, Anaheim, and Napa — you should check them out.

Birrieria San Marcos — I was pleasantly surprised by this place. Get the dorado tacos, and once you leave the desert and start craving more, be sure to check their Instagram to see if their food truck is in your area.

Le Burger by Camphor— Another burger spot that doesn’t miss – whether in the desert or at their DTLA restaurant. The patty here is thicker, but cooked perfectly. If you need something hearty to refuel after a day of dancing and sweating, this is the place for you.

Here are some other places I want to try. If you’ve had them, let me know what you think:

This week, my guest on Lunch With Jamie is perhaps one of the busiest men in New York (possibly the world). Andrew Ross Sorkin is a best-selling author, co-host of CNBC’s Squawk Box, founder of NYT’s Dealbook newsletter and summit–all while being a husband and father. We spoke about his Diet Coke addiction — which as a former DC addict, I understand.

We obviously had to start with Trump’s abhorrent tweet from Tuesday morning, stating that a whole civilization would die. Andrew has a reputation for largely staying out of politics, but kindly shared his thoughts. We also had to talk about the topic that’s been on everyone’s mind: AI. There’s always been a sector that props up the economy, and right now tech is carrying it on their back. I had him pull out his crystal ball and predict when the next stock market crash would be – which was understandably hard to do, especially with the chaos of war making everything less certain. 

We then dove into his latest book, 1929: The Inside Story of the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History. He shared the story of his favorite character, Evangeline Adams, an astrologer who used to have clients like JP Morgan coming to her for financial advice. Andrew shared that although he didn’t write this book to point out the similarities, it was hard to ignore the parallels between then and now. 

This was a great conversation that went into the topic of our economy and what’s propping it up, as well as the increasing problem of wealth inequality and what the tipping point will be. Andrew also shared the surprising food that kept him afloat while writing his books, and who his dream interview subject is. 

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

You can listen to the full conversation on Youtube, or check out our new podcast page.

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