14 Big Surprises From the First Day of the First-Ever Panorama Festival in New York City

Panorama, a New York City music, art and technology festival by Goldenvoice, the people who bring you Coachella, kicked off its first year on Friday, July 22. Other than incredible artists, we really had no idea what to expect from the Randall's Island–based fest, especially with both Coachella and NYC's Governors Ball looming in recent memory. But we definitely didn't expect any of this.

1. Getting in was an odyssey and/or a colossal drag. Walking across the bridge from 125th Street in Harlem to Randall's Island gets you basically right to the east side entrance to Panorama...unless some festival employees tell you to more than double your journey and walk along highways, under sketchy overpasses and maybe even into Mordor to get to the west side entrance. At noon. Full sun, all the heat. More awfully, though, some evidently found themselves waiting as long as two or three hours just to get in.

2. Once inside, though, Panorama is thoughtfully laid out, fascinatingly decorated and thoroughly functional. The art and technology stuff looks worth the time, too. Stay tuned.

3. Standalone note: the bathrooms are so nice! There are Porta-Potties, but there are probably an equal amount of Hollywood-looking bathroom trailers with air-conditioning, privacy and little touches that'd make them at least Holiday Inn–worthy.