LA Times Festival of Books: Just Too Damned Hot

The LA Times Festival of Books offered something for everyone this weekend. The many panels, author interviews and signing booths were exciting for bookish nerds like us. If you weren't into the bookish side of the book festival, however, there was plenty to whet your appetite. Literally.

The food court was full of smoked meats and organic treats and live music could be enjoyed from many open plazas on the UCLA campus. There was even a chocolate booth among the bookish fare. Storytellers told stories from various stages, cooks did some cooking, buddhists did some leading, crafters did some crafting and dogs did their thing too - walked around stylishly or plopped right down on the grass because it was just too damn hot for much else.

It was so hot, we even found a vacated costume, resting alone on the steps. It wasn't long before a gaggle of kids came to investigate and tried their hand at getting inside. They, too, eventually realized: it was too hot to be en costume in 100 degree weather. It seems book fest goers figured this out too - with record Saturday turnouts dwindling on uber-hot Sunday. So we wrap up this year's festival wondering the same thing we always wonder: any chance it will be cooler next year?