We Don’t Need Coachella, We ARE Coachella

Personal Archives: Scorpio, Molly, and Yapdos at Afternoon Umbrella

This weekend felt like a love letter to the kind of joy you cannot buy a ticket for. My friend Molly drove all the way from Ventura county to spend the weekend with me and Chuy. No big plans, just vibes. But also me and my bestie Chuy can never have a chill night in San Diego. We wanted Molly to experience a typical SD weekend with us.

Personal Archive: A picture of Afternoon Umbrella venue

First, we hit Afternoon Umbrella, my ultimate favorite afters in San Diego where the music always feels like it is pulsing through the ground, through your shoes, straight into your chest. But right when that was over, I took my seahorses to my favorite hiking spot in La Jolla, favorite brunch spot Breakfast Republic and passed by to see sea otters (!!), all before a little nap reset and watching the coachella livestream from the couch like the cozy ravers we are.

​​The point is: we do not need to be in the desert to feel magic. Sometimes it is just good friends, spontaneous plans, and finding the party in your own backyard. But that joy feels even more sacred when you have known what it is like to have your spirit dimmed.

My mentor and academic mother, Anita Tijerina Revilla, has taught me so much about what it means to protect and restore our spirits. Building on Patricia Williams, Revilla defines spirit murder as “the spiritual and psychological impact of oppression that sabotages our dreams, hopes, and desire to live.” (Revilla, 2022). I have felt that. In classrooms, in organizing spaces, in moments where I never had a say. However, while I deeply value Revilla’s framework, I find myself drawn to the language of spirit wounds. Because unlike murder, a wound implies that healing is still possible. It acknowledges the pain but also leaves room for restoration, for care, for coming back to life.

This weekend felt like that, like tending to a spirit wound, with laughter, music, ocean air, and chosen family. It was not just a hangout. It was medicine.

Molly pulled up to my place around 10:40pm after driving all the way from Ventura County. She got ready quickly, and by 11:20pm Chuy showed up and we were out rushing to get to the venue before midnight for free entry. As soon as we stepped in, Molly lit up. She spotted a disco ball and a butterfly right away, two of her signs from the universe and I knew I made the right call taking her here instead of somewhere like Pacific Beach.

I brought her to Afternoon Umbrella because it was the first afters I went to San Diego without my bestie Juan and the first time with Chuy after I moved. It holds a special place in my heart. The disco ball, the butterfly, and the art installations gave the whole night this soft, magical welcome like it was meant to be.

And honestly? It felt like our own little Coachella. The DJ opened with “Moonlight” by Beltran which my all-time favorite track. Juan and I even have matching tattoos for it since we are both Sagittarius moons. I was screaming, “omgggg Juan needs to be here!!” while recording it. Funny enough, he was at Coachella at Chris Lorenzo’s set and texted me the next day saying Chris Lorenzo played “Tootsie Pop” (by my favorite DJ [and bestie] Marco Strous) and was yelling my name while recording the song for me. That kind of connection? Insane.

Personal Archive: “tatted at Lickndip” October 2024

After “Moonlight,” the DJ dropped “Miss Cappuccino” by Mr. Bagman (aka ChaseWest) and then Ragie Ban’s “Toxic,” all my faves. I was like, okay, universe, I hear you. I am supposed to be here.

Later, my friend Yapdos came through and introduced me to her homegirl. She tossed her fuzzy bucket hat on me, and Molly goes, “you look exactly like Carlita, let me take a picture!” (another DJ I adore). Molly and I wandered over to the front left after dancing front right for a while and met a guy that wore the same hat as the DJ, Green Velvet. His energy was immaculate. We got to talking about past events and he just vibed.

Personal Archive: “We got Carlita in SD” (peep the discoball in the back)

The whole night we kept saying, “we got Mr. Bagman, Beltran, Ragie, Carlita, and Green Velvet in SD” Like a personal lineup curated just for us.

Eventually, they switched it up and played some dubstep and drum & bass which is not really my thing so Molly, Yapdos, and I sat and caught up for a bit. I told them we were going hiking right after and they were all in. It is always been on my life bucket list to hit a hike or the beach right after a bender, and I knew Molly and Chuy were the exact people who would say yes without hesitation.

We get back to my place, quickly change, and head out for our little adventure. On the way to the hike, we pass through my campus, and I show Molly and Chuy some of the spots my school is known for such as our library, museum, skate shop, and a bunch of other gems. Once we make it to the start of the trail, they are already smiling, taking in the ocean view, but I tell them, “just wait, we still have a good 5–10 minute walk to get to thee spot.”

Personal Archive: “Thee Spot”

When we finally arrive, they fall in love with the view. The cliffs, the surfers in the water, the cloudiness just right. I lead them to my favorite lookout, a spot I have never taken anyone else to, and we end up sitting there, talking about life for over an hour.

Eventually, I notice the tide rising, and something in my gut tells me we need to leave. I listen. As we were walking back, a big wave crashed hard, almost sweeping us. Molly lags behind for a moment, drawn to a rock she says has been calling her. She finally finds it and says, “this is the one.” We keep walking back and pass by a little rock altar covered in hand-painted stones. Molly stops and goes, “THIS is why the rock was calling me.”

We head to the restroom on campus first, then Molly spots a rock altar and mentioned that “this was the reason I picked up the rock.” So after the restroom, we go to Target (yes, the one on my campus), and pick up some Sharpies. While we were there, I helped Chuy pick out a cute outfit for brunch. Then we head back, write our names on the rock, and place it on the altar. A quiet offering. A mark of that moment.

Personal Archive: “Rock Altar”

After that, we head home, get ready, and go to brunch at Breakfast Republic in Pacific Beach. Food hits. We come back, take a nap, and end the day watching the Coachella livestream from my living room. Chuy heads home and later brings us homemade aguachiles.

Personal Archives: “50 first dates” (little insider)

And just like that, the day was complete. No ticket, no stage, no crowd. Just love, laughter, music, movement, nature, a sign from the universe, and a chosen family.

This day was spirit restoration.

Sometimes healing does not look like a breakthrough in therapy or a grand revelation, it looks like dancing until sunrise, chasing ocean views with people who feel like home, writing your name on a rock, and leaving it somewhere sacred.

At one point, Molly looked around at all of us, sweaty, laughing, full of love, and said, “we don’t need Coachella, we are Coachella.” and she was right, it was not just the music, it was the energy. OUR energy.