Monday, March 16, 2009

SXSW Baby! Social Agenda, Monday, March 16

So, you survived the Ides of March and are probably absorbing many, many Ideas of March. Got room in your noggin for more? Good, because there’s bound to be plenty of great conversation (and liquid refreshment, natch) at this small sampling of today’s post-panel evening events.

• Austin on Rails Happy Hour: Ruby, don’t take your love to town. Take it to Buffalo Billiards from 6 until 9 pm to lift a glass and have a munch with Rails developers in the upstairs Rec Room. Interactive badge or RSVP required.
• Plutopia EFF Party: This is a big one. Five bands on three stages and more than 80 artists. Headliners include The Heather Gold Show, Bruce Sterling and Ian McLagan & The Bump Band. Free to SXSW badgeholders, $10 for all others at the door.
• Nuclear Taco Night: Yep, there’ll be a hot time in Brush Square Park tonight. Now in its seventh year, this event is a testament to taste bud stamina. Plus cool treats from The Ice Cream Man and music by Hilary York.
• 20x2 v 9.0: What’s It Gonna Take?: Twenty speakers from diverse walks of life, each given two minutes to answer one question, through spoken word, music, media and, just possibly, interpretive dance. Free to Interactive badgeholders, small cover for others.
• The Great British Booze-up: Come hoist a few with the geeks from Ol’ Blighty at Shakespeare’s Pub. DJ Clagnut spins the tunes.
• Interactive/Film Fusion: “Where Interactive and Film unite.” Well, we’ll see. Enjoy a hosted bar and nibbly bits, plus the world premiere of Sparhusen at Red Eyed Fly from 8–10 pm.
• DandyID/Brightkite Party: Geolocation and online identity management kick out the props to party into the AM at the PureVolume House. RSVP required.
• Mashable/Blurb Bash: Meet the Mashable crew for comp drinks and tuneage from DJ Marko at Six Lounge. Free to SXSW badge holders, but RSVP encouraged.
• 32-Bit: The sequel to the popular 8-Bit and 16-Bit parties of the past two years. Massive fun at a secret location to be revealed by Twitter only. Follow @32bit to get the deets.
• South by Northwest: Those crazy folks from the upper left-hand corner of the country—Acquia, Blue Flavor, Rackspace and Raincity Studios—take over the Iron Cactus from 10:30 until closing time. This is the fourth year of delicious madness. We love this party. RSVP strongly encouraged.

You need more? Oh, there’s more. There’s so much more. Check out listings on Upcoming, Showlist Austin, sched.org or the official SXSW site.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

SXSW: It has a flavr…

(From “The Laugh-Out-Loud Cats” by Ape Lad.)

SXSW Podcast: Kaboom, Sounds Like Teen Spirit and Nacional

Today’s Guest
Annie LynsenKaboom.
Jamie Johnson, Sounds Like Teen Spirit
Music from Nacional

Download the MP3 File - Show Notes at The Podcast Network - RSS Feed

And the Bloggie goes to…

The nominations were made, the votes have been counted and the winners determined. And tomorrow, the Ninth Annual Weblog Awards, more commonly known as the Bloggies, will be handed out in a gala ceremony—hosted by Bloggies founder and impressario Nikolai Nolan, with presenters from the star-studded world of blogging—on the SXSW Interactive Day Stage at 12:30 pm. Check out all the nominees. You may just discover something new to feed your feed reader.

(If you can’t attend, you can follow the ceremony in the #Bloggies channel on irc.freenode.net. Old-school, old style!)

SXSW Baby! Social Agenda, Sunday, March 15

Believe it or not, all so far has been prologue. The SXSW party scene kicks into high gear tonight. Here’s a taste of what’s in store:

• All Hat, No Cattle: OK, this is actually a mid-day one, but hey, who doesn’t like shopping? Browse the wonderful eclectic shops along South Congress after brunch at Guero’s with a couple hundred of your closest friends and kin. We’re in!
• Cupcake Social 2.0: Yep, cupcakes again. And everything’s tastier when you call it two-point-oh! Sponsored by Cupcakes Take the Cake.
• Austin Werewolf: There’s a killer on the loose, and it might be you. Murder and mayhem at the Karma Lounge, free fun for all—all who manage to survive, that is.
• Jonathan Coulton, Paul and Storm: Now that we’ve gotten that karaoke out of our system, come hear what a truly talented “geek troubador” sounds like. $20 tickets, at Antone’s.
• The Avalonstar Bowling Extravaganza: In its fourth big year, this Interactive favorite continues to innovate. This year? Open bowling! Cheer on your favorite team or just come to bowl a few frames yourself. What’s sexier than geeks in rented shoes? Nothin’, that’s what.
• Fray Café 9: Web celebs and civilians alike gather on the patio at the comfy Red Eyed Fly for an evening of personal storytelling. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll probably want to sign up for the open mic. We personally can’t wait to hear what rock star librarian Jessamyn West, one of several special guests, is gonna tell.
• Bacon-Flavored Interactive After Party: You had us at “bacon”. Performances by Bacon Shoe and a raffle benefiting the Children’s Music Fund. And bacon? Please?
• Google Reader Party: Oh yeah, baby, hot RSS and Atom action! The big G always puts on a great party, and they promise special treats for early arrivals. Interactive badge or invite required.

And of course, don’t forget the 12th Annual SXSW Web Awards ceremony, hosted by the utterly awesome Baratunde Thurston, at the Hilton at 7 pm (preceded by a pre-party at 6 pm).

More? Of course there’s more. Check out listings on Upcoming, Showlist Austin, sched.org or the official SXSW site.

She’s an all-American girl

Time interviews SXSW Music showcasing artist Margaret Cho. Yes, that Margaret Cho. (See her here.)

Saturday, March 14, 2009

More bars in places other than downtown Austin for AT&T users

Smartphones may be beginning to outpace laptops as the communications tool of choice for SXSW Interactive attendees, but AT&T customers —including the teeming masses toting iPhones — are finding cell coverage to be severely lacking at the Austin Convention Center and environs.

Ouch! Oh, snap!

Tell us a story at Fray Cafe 9

One of our very favorite events returns to SXSW tomorrow night, as Fray Café 9 takes over the patio at Red Eyed Fly, 715 Red River, from 8 pm until midnight. Stop by for personal storytelling at its finest, with featured guests and an open mic with only three restrictions: It’s gotta be true, it’s gotta be personal and it’s gotta be under five minutes. This year’s host is national treasure Kevin Smokler.

(Photo of Kevin Smokler, declaiming the magic of Purim at Fray Café 5, courtesy of Dan Budiac and the Creative Commons.)

Social animal: Aardvark launches SXSW preview

SXSW Interactive seems to have a peculiarly zoological bent this year. First it was gorillas and hippos and now a company called Aardvark has launched a “social search” tool by the same name and, although it’s currently undergoing an invite-only beta test, they’ve made preview available to SXSW attendees to try. Aardvark’s Max Ventilla explains:

Aardvark is an awesome way to find the best parties/panels/events at SxSW — or to find great places in Austin (best barbecue, etc.).  You just ask any question via IM or Email, and get a live answer from one of your friends or their friends.

There’s nothing to download or install — Aardvark lives on the buddylist of your existing IM program, or your email contact list. 

Aardvark applies advanced technology to identify the right person in your extended network to answer a particular question; and then lets you reach out without bothering people, spamming friends, or imposing on someone who isn’t interested.

It’s like we’ve always said…know your ABC!

We’ve included this advice in the SXSW Baby! packing guides and tips for years (we got it from Michael at Cruftbox), and now five guys with too much time on their hands (we kid, we kid) have built a web shrine to the mantra of power management at SXSW: Always Be Charging.

You’re here, you’re queer…

...so come get a beer. GLBT SXSW (can we buy a vowel?) attendees have a couple of meetups planned this week. The first, tonight at 11 pm at Oil Can Harry’s (211 W. 4th) is a rather spontaneous affair, sort of a homo flashmob. Get together with friends old and new over a few drinks and maybe a dance or two.

On Tuesday, March 17, comedian Heather Gold is invited folks to stop by for a casual QXQW Happy Hour from 5–7 pm. (RSVP required here.)

Want to keep up with the queerfolk all week? Follow the #sxswhomo hashtag on Twitter.

Almost like being there

Twitmatic is sharing a live stream of SXSW-related videos being posted about on Twitter. Film trailers, videos made by attendees, bizarre drunken verité—what’s not to like?

SXSW Baby! Social Agenda, Saturday, March 14

What’s that? The first full day of the conference has barely begun and you’re already looking toward the night? Well, we say good on ya! Here are just a handful of this evening’s events you might want to hit after the panels wind down:

• Bike Hugger Mobile Social BBQ: They call it the “intersection of bikes, technology, and culture.” We call it an opportunty to score some ‘cue and rock out with the Sycon DJs. Awesome.
• The Bigg Digg Shindigg: Would you just look at all those extra G’s? Now that’s the sign of a good party, friend. Live music, DJs and confidence tricks from Scam School host Brian Brushwood. No badge required.
• SXSW Interactive Opening Party: Hosted by Frog Design, this is a big one. Promising uniquely Austin entertainment and, if past is prologue, some killer lines for beer. Get there early. Interactive, Platinum and Gold SXSW badge holders only.
• OK! Happy Cog’aoke: Zeldman sings! Well, maybe. Even if you haven’t Idol ambitions, you’ll probably get off on this friendly karaoke competition at the Scoot Inn, brought to you by Happy Cog.

Naturally, there’s a lot else going on. Hey, it’s Saturday night in the live music capital of the universe! For more events, check out listings on Upcoming, Showlist Austin, sched.org or the official SXSW site.

Friday, March 13, 2009

SXSW Podcast: Previewing Film

Janet Pierson is on the end of the line in our final preview of South by Southwest. Taking over from Matt Dentler at SXSW Film, Janet is no stranger to film-making (having been involved with many films, including Clerks and Roger & Me to name two), and her enthusiasm for the challenge of the Film Festival is clear for all to hear.

Feel free to leave comments on the main blog, or email me on email me on ewanspence@gmail.com.

Today’s Guest
Janet Pierson, SXSW Film.

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