SXSW Virgin

I'm sure that it must be hard to believe but I am a SXSW Virgin. Here are my main questions for now:
- How do I keep track of all of the parties?
- Do you need invites?
- Where should I eat?
- What are good cafes to chillout in?
- Do I need to rent a car?

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Permalink Reply by ryan zepaltas on February 11, 2008 at 7:29pm: sign up for google alerts for SXSW and get daily info on all the parties. some need rsvp, but many I have just showed up to and got in...minimal wait. It doesn't hurt to rsvp though. the worst thing that can happen is that you don't show up.

Eating....well prepare for the worst. We plan on eating healthy breakfasts and taking vitamins. the food on 6th is not the best. plan on lots of sausages, pizza and other free crap. i just eat beer mostly.

there are chill spots all over, but i don't really chill out during SXSW so I can't help you there.

I would not rent a car if you are staying nearby. the la quinta i stayed at actually had a shuttle last year. parking was not as bad as I thought it would be, but it still was sort of a pain. I am thinking of assembling a shitty bike to ride to the fest from out hotel which is about 2 miles away.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Maxine on February 11, 2008 at 8:34pm: Las Manitas on 211 Congress is great for breakfast. The Marakesh Cafe on 906 Congress is good for lunch.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kathryn Yu on February 14, 2008 at 4:57pm: http://www.sxswbaby.com/index.php/site/more/sxsw_music_festival_faq...

I recommend printing out the Austin Showlist printable pages and then using a highlighter. That way, if you get shut out of a party, you know where to find the next one.

Where to eat:
http://tinyurl.com/3dlz3y; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kathryn Yu on February 29, 2008 at 1:00pm: Updated where to eat:

http://www.sxswbaby.com/index.php/site/more/where_to_eat_during_sxs...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Phil Waters on February 21, 2008 at 4:30pm: I, too, am a virgin this year and really appreciate all the entries here. It's only Feb. 21 but my head is about to explode and my heart is pounding like DJ Bonebrake is living in my chest. I cannot wait!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by michael on February 21, 2008 at 5:17pm: last year I think I hit that whole foods nearly every day, by foot, to get some healthy foods and drink some water to and fro. got my exercise and vitamins all in one shot. it's a nice walk, not too far from downtown (that whole foods is amazing I tell you - it's going to lift off from the planet when things get too dicey, and it'll just be yoga classes and vitamin waters forever...).

the spreadsheet is a good idea, but I always have way more stuff on there than I can do, and there's always the added factor running into people that you can hang with. the spontaneous stuff is usually the most fun. just have to go with the flow b/c you're always missing something cool...

I have all the nighttime shows crammed into my google calendar (from the sxsw site where you can add them automatically) which is synced to my phone - that's convenient.

LAS MANITAS is the bomb. go there (though I thought last year they were going to be moving so check the location).

the matinee films can be incredible too, and a nice way to take some time off your feet - last year I saw the scott walker documentary 30th century man - dope.

fun fun fun; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Maxine on February 22, 2008 at 8:07am: Las Manitas won't be changing locations until later on this year. It's safe for SXSW.

But yeah, you really want to be out and about all week long because there's such a ridiculous amount of cool stuff going at all times of the day.

Whole Foods is a great idea. But if you can't make the walk there's a ton of little shops down Congress plus convenience stores around the downtown area.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by music mother on February 22, 2008 at 12:16am: You only need one party. Go to The Hot Freaks www.thehotfreaks.com; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Forrest on February 24, 2008 at 4:59pm: Picking bands to see: one way to idenitify new bands you want to see is by 1) downloading the 760-some mp3s of showcasing artists, and 2) importing those tracks into iTunes and then rating them

Scheduling: bands often play both official showcases in the evening as well as day parties, which you can find on Austin Showlist (mentioned above). If you plan well, you can see a whole lot more of the bands you want to see.
Also, if you're using a wristband instead of a badge, hopping venues can get diffucult as they fill up after 10:00/11:00 ... so plan ahead.

Keeping your hearing: the Etymotic ear plugs are 1,000x better than the foam ones (which just muffle the highs); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by kami on February 28, 2008 at 3:02pm: don't rent a car! you will NEVER find parking.

get a bike or hop on the bus!!

eating: yes, taco shacks downtown (torchy's is my fave!)

as for keeping track.. a lot of show websites have features where you can create your own itinerary and then print it out, or do it old school style like me and write them down in a tiny planner which i carry in my back pocket.

where are you from, byt he way!?!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by EWKrause on February 26, 2009 at 11:55pm: Coming for Interactive. I have a fairly heavy laptop. Can't imagine not bringing it but, if I'm carrying it around all day, is that really a workable plan? What are my alternatives? Can I survive on Blackberry? If so, what apps do I need?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by EWKrause on February 26, 2009 at 11:58pm: Two questions, to be submitted separately. First is, I'm NOT downtown, and can't do much about it now. Where do I park? And how much will it cost? I'm driving in from Houston, not renting a car. Staying @ Courtyard Marriott Central (I-35 & 290?) Doesn't fit my idea of central, but there you have it.; ▶ Reply to This