http://www.sxswbaby.com/index.php en kathryn@kathrynyu.com Copyright 2010 2010-03-13T04:48:44-06:00 http://www.sxswbaby.com/index.php/site/sxsw_tips_stretch_before_bed/ http://www.sxswbaby.com/index.php/site/sxsw_tips_stretch_before_bed/#When:04:48:44Z Each night, after a long day of socializing and eating and drinking and walking around, before I get to bed, I try to stretch and massage my legs and feet. It can definitely make a difference since I’m doing so much standing during the day. So rub those tired feet or give them a good soak in the tub. Put your feet up. Stretch your hamstrings and calves. (I also drink a big glass of water and take some vitamins.) Try to keep good posture during the marathon sessions of panels and parties. If you’re lugging a big laptop around all day, it can definitely take a toll on your back, especially if you’re not used to it.  Get some rest and see you guys, tomorrow! Sweet dreams, SXSW Baby readers. SXSW Baby! 2010-03-13T04:48:44-06:00 http://www.sxswbaby.com/index.php/site/sxsw_tips_dont_forget_to_smile_be_patient_and_have_a_backup_plan/ http://www.sxswbaby.com/index.php/site/sxsw_tips_dont_forget_to_smile_be_patient_and_have_a_backup_plan/#When:12:13:09Z Three more things I try always to bring to Austin. Humor, patience, and a smile. Please don’t forget these at home. Be friendly! Relax! Oh, and one more thing? It’s not a race. We’re here to learn and have fun! Expect long lines. SXSW has grown up and become an enormous conference that takes over downtown Austin for nearly two weeks. That’s a lot of people who all want to get into the same bars, clubs, restaurants, and more. Expected attendance for Film is about 7,000 people, with 11,000 expected attendees for Music, and about 12,000 attendees for Interactive! Show up early to parties and panels. If you’re nervous about an event, it doesn’t hurt to show up earlier rather than later. RSVPs for parties often don’t guarantee entry, so the early birds will be inside, while you’re waiting in line outside. Same for the popular panels and talks. Get to the room 10-15 minutes early to ensure you get a seat, or, for some popular speakers, that you get in at all. This can be especially true for keynote speeches. And know that even if you didn’t get into that one panel, party, screening, show, or club, there’s plenty of fun elsewhere during SXSW. Have a backup plan. Or just ask around for whatever else might be going on, text message a friend, ping Twitter, or talk to the people who also didn’t get in. Plenty of new friendships have been forged in line for an event or in the hallways of the Convention Center. Interactive, Film, Music, Events & Parties 2010-03-12T12:13:09-06:00 http://www.sxswbaby.com/index.php/site/looking_for_a_music_wristband_500_more_on_sale_saturday/ http://www.sxswbaby.com/index.php/site/looking_for_a_music_wristband_500_more_on_sale_saturday/#When:01:30:27Z 500 music wristbands will go on sale at Waterloo Records on Saturday, March 13. The cost is $165, limit one per customer, and they have to be placed on your wrist at time of sale. If you miss this sale, don’t worry, starting on Wed 3/17, several of the music venues participating in the Music Festival will also have them for sale. More information about wristbands. Music 2010-03-12T01:30:27-06:00 http://www.sxswbaby.com/index.php/site/sxsw_tips_add_these_crucial_numbers_to_your_address_book/ http://www.sxswbaby.com/index.php/site/sxsw_tips_add_these_crucial_numbers_to_your_address_book/#When:01:04:47Z Just in case, I recommend adding the following numbers to your mobile phone’s address book. The SXSW Headquarters line is (512) 467-7979. I’d also enter in the phone number to your hotel’s front desk. Don’t forget to add in entries for airline customer support if you’re flying in: Alaska Airlines: 1-800-252-7522 American Airlines: 1-800-433-7300 Continental Airlines: 1-800-523-3273 Delta Air Lines: 1-800-221-1212 Frontier Airlines: 1-800-432-1359 JetBlue Airways: 1-800-JETBLUE (538-2583) Southwest Airlines: 1-800-435-9792 United Airlines: 1-800-241-6522 US Airways: 1-800-428-4322 I would also add a few Austin taxi companies into your phone: Yellow Cab: (512) 452-9999 Austin Cab: (512) 478-2222 Lone Star Cab: (512) 836-4900 In Austin, I’ve had bad luck trying to hail a cab from the street, so calling ahead is always, always recommended. And in the rare instance that you want to call 411, use Google’s free 411 service, at (800) 466-4411. Accomodations & Amenities, Austin Life 2010-03-12T01:04:47-06:00 http://www.sxswbaby.com/index.php/site/posters_t_shirts_and_vinyl_shopping_during_sxsw_music/ http://www.sxswbaby.com/index.php/site/posters_t_shirts_and_vinyl_shopping_during_sxsw_music/#When:21:16:01Z If you find yourselves with some free time during the Music Festival, take note of these pop-up shops happening: Flatstock 24: one of the best poster conventions in the country, with tons of beautiful, silk-screened, limited edition artwork featuring your favorite artists Austin Convention Center, Level 1, Exhibit Hall 1 Thu. 3/18, 1pm-6pm Fri 3/19 and Sat 3/20, 10am-6pm American Apparel Factory Flea Market: clothing and other items from American Apparel at a deep discount (up to 85% off). Mexican-American Cultural Center 600 River Street (at 6th) Thu 3/18, Fri 3/19, and Sat 3/20, 12pm-10pm Austin Record Convention Early Shopper admission ($20), Thu 3/18 9am-6pm Regular, free admission, Fri 3/19, and Sat 3/20, 10am-6pm Music 2010-03-11T21:16:01-06:00 http://www.sxswbaby.com/index.php/site/sxsw_tips_psa_have_plenty_of_cash_on_hand_tip_the_waitstaff/ http://www.sxswbaby.com/index.php/site/sxsw_tips_psa_have_plenty_of_cash_on_hand_tip_the_waitstaff/#When:19:48:07Z So you’re a visitor in Austin during SXSW. You’re staying in a hotel, you’re eating, you’re drinking, you’re parking or taking cabs. That convention center latte isn’t going to be cheap either. And neither is paying those nasty ATM surcharges! Although credit cards may be more convenient, having some cash on hand during SXSW will make splitting the bill with a group of friends much easier, as well as paying for food at a food cart or small items like a bottle of water at the coffee shop. I recommend having lots of small bills on hand. And don’t forget to tip the waitstaff! Especially if it’s an open bar! After all, Austinites have to put up with tens of thousands of tourists in their town for 11 days straight. They have a lovely city, we’re just visiting....tens of thousands of us, that is!  2010-03-11T19:48:07-06:00 http://www.sxswbaby.com/index.php/site/sxsw_tips_bring_an_umbrella/ http://www.sxswbaby.com/index.php/site/sxsw_tips_bring_an_umbrella/#When:19:07:35Z Bring an umbrella or rain poncho, in case of sudden thunderstorms. Yes, it does happen! And it’s not pretty, especially if you’re at an outdoor show and it starts hailing on the band playing! Be prepared for bad weather one moment, and beautifully sunny skies the next. That’s just the way Austin is. 2010-03-11T19:07:35-06:00 http://www.sxswbaby.com/index.php/site/food_bloggers_guide_to_austin/ http://www.sxswbaby.com/index.php/site/food_bloggers_guide_to_austin/#When:19:00:34Z The Food Bloggers Guide to Austin is a compendium of lists of Austin’s best in food and drink by Austin food bloggers. Check out what people in the local food scene have to say about Asian, BBQ, burgers, cocktails, pizza, and more. (Note: many of the destinations listed may require a car, but as a 6th time visitor to Austin, I can say that it’s definitely worth the detour.) Food, Pure and Simple Asian Food in Austin – Foodie is the New Forty BBQ – Man Up Texas BBQ Breakfast Tacos – Taco Journalism Gluten-Free – ATX Gluten-Free Pizza – Austin Epicurean Tacos – Citizen Taco Vegan – Lazy Smurf’s Guide to Life Unique Austin Experiences 24 Hour Eats – Tasty Touring Boiled Down List of Awesome – Boots in the Oven (and they KNOW awesome) Breakfast Joints, Austin Style – The Cosmic Cowgirl Dining Out Sustainably – Austin Farm to Table The Newest Food Trailers – Tasty Touring Local Favorites – The Rebeccamendations Street Food – Austin Food Carts Upscale Dining – Foodie is the New Forty Beer, Wine, and Cocktails Drinks Around Town – Fabulous Drinks Austin Happy Hours – Misohungry Makes it with Moonshine Where to Whet Your Whistle – Misohungry Makes it with Moonshine Wine Wednesdays – Fabulous Drinks Austin Great work, guys! Food & Drink 2010-03-11T19:00:34-06:00 http://www.sxswbaby.com/index.php/site/still_looking_for_crash_space_downtown/ http://www.sxswbaby.com/index.php/site/still_looking_for_crash_space_downtown/#When:17:51:16Z Checkout the Ride/Room share board, where two SXSWbaby users, Harris and Vas, are looking for roommates! Accomodations & Amenities 2010-03-11T17:51:16-06:00 http://www.sxswbaby.com/index.php/site/check_in_to_win_prizes_support_charities_and_find_friends/ http://www.sxswbaby.com/index.php/site/check_in_to_win_prizes_support_charities_and_find_friends/#When:17:37:53Z As you might have heard, both Gowalla and Foursquare have updated their mobile phone applications just in time for SXSW Interactive. Foursquare has also added 16 new badges specific to the Interactive conference and festival and are giving away free Foursquare tattoos. In addition, they’ve also added four new badges specific to the Music conference and festival as well as a contest to win free tickets to SPIN’s showcase at Stubb’s. But more importantly, you can check in for charity with Foursquare. Starting at 9am CT tomorrow, Friday, March 12, every time you check-in on Foursquare in Austin or use the hashtag #sxswHaiti on Twitter, Microsoft and PayPal will donate 25 cents toward Save the Children up, to $15,000! Find out more on the Foursquare SXSW page. Not to be out-done, Gowalla has also added Gowalla items that lucky folks can find scattered about town when they check in using Gowalla, some redeemable for prizes like Lomography analog cameras, Palm Pixi and Pre smartphones, Adobe CS4, and Eye-Fi cards! Gowalla is also supporting the Livestrong Foundation during SXSW. If you find a yellow Livestrong bracelet and add it to your collection, Gowalla will donate $1. Find out more on the Gowalla SXSW page. And even if you’re not into checking in on services like Foursquare and Gowalla, you can use the handy sitby.us service to locate your friends in crowded panel rooms during the Interactive conference. It’s a mobile-friendly web site that allows you to check in to a room, mark your approximate location, and add a note that your friends can see. It uses Twitter to figure out who your contacts are and allows for easy posting of location to Twitter.  Interactive, Music 2010-03-11T17:37:53-06:00