Sunday at the L.A. Times Festival of Books

The weather was nice, the crowds were big but manageable, and I managed to get the Blogger Kid and Blogger Toddler 2.0 excited about buying some books. For us, this year's Los Angeles Times Festival of Books was a success.

The parking gods were once again smiling on us, as I managed to somehow score some sweet street parking on Jefferson, right beside the USC campus. And I gotta say, for the second year in a row, the USC location worked out well. The festival was easier to walk through than I remember at UCLA, and it felt like the booths, stages and events were closer together. The food options were also plentiful, including the food court at USC's student union.

As usual, one of my favorite stops is Angel City Press, where it's almost become a yearly tradition to run into LA Observed's Kevin Roderick and our pal Eric Lynxwiler. Also on hand was Charles Phoenix -- and I finally picked up Charles' wonderfully illustrated Southern Californialand: Mid-Century Culture in Kodachrome (and had him sign it, of course).

We also spent a great deal of time at the kids' stage, where we spotted Julie Andrews and also took in several readings and performances. And yes, the duo I love to hate to love, Choo Choo Soul, were back. The only thing more surreal than seeing Choo Choo Soul's Genevieve introducing Julie Andrews? Hearing Julie Andrews reference Genevieve later in her reading.

More shots from Sunday at the Festival of Books:


Betty White vs. Florence Henderson. How to choose?


Choo Choo Soul: For kids who find the Fresh Beat Band not edgy enough.


One of the 30 "Play Me, I'm Yours" pianos located around Los Angeles; this one outside the USC student union.


USC's a capella group performs.


McSweeney's booth.

The L.A. Times Book Festival Settles into Its New USC Home

The L.A. Times Book Festival's move to USC was a welcome one at Franklin Avenue thanks to the closer proximity to home. And although it took a few moments to get used to the new set up and layout (vs. the old, familiar presentation at UCLA), we approve.

First off, it wasn't hard to find street parking on Sunday morning (we easily found a spot on Jefferson), saving us $10. From there, things got a bit hairy, as there were no signs that far away explaining where to go. So based on pure instinct, I headed for the heart of campus. And sure enough, signs started appearing. Soon I was on my way to the kids' area (sponsored, as usual, by Target).



The goal: To see popular children's book author Mo Willems (above) read from one of two of his tomes. Like many a Gen X parent, we've pushed Willems' fantastically fun books on our kids -- including the Pigeon, Elephant & Piggie and Knuffle Bunny series. Thankfully, they dig 'em... and thankfully, Willems was completely entertaining on stage.

The "Elephant & Piggie" books are Easy Readers, he explained, which is why one book in the series is called "My Friend is Sad" and not "My Companion Has Manic-Depressive Disorder." Willems also revealed that the next Elephant & Piggie book, "Should ! Share My Ice Cream?" ("Because I rip from today's headlines," he quipped) will be out this summer.



Before Willems, we got to the kids' stage in time for... yep, Disney Junior's Choo-Choo Soul. Those insanely catchy yet annoying "Choo Choo Soul" music videos used to run constantly on Playhouse Disney; I haven't seen them as of yet on the rebranded Disney Junior -- but yet I find myself now rooting for Genevieve and D.C., who try so hard and yet haven't quite gotten their break.

At one point, an out-of-breath Genevive started spelling words out to the kiddies. "Are you feeling O-L-D?" she asked after finishing one number under the hot sun. Try doing that for five years while wearing P-O-L-Y-E-S-T-E-R, she added. Poor Genevieve. Apparently Choo-Choo Soul needs a R-E-S-T.



Among the other sights on Sunday:


Franklin Avenue pal Eric Lynxwiler was at the Angel City Press booth, signing copies of "Wilshire Boulevard: Grand Concourse of Los Angeles" and "Knott's Preserved" while wearing this snazzy, vintage Wilshire Blvd. bowling shirt.


Free ice cream. Sure, you win again, Target.


C-SPAN IN THE MOTHAEFFING HOUSE!


The cooking stage.


Booths.


Poetry stage.