day 2 ~ veteran ; )

funny how you can be at a long term event or festival for just a day and a half and feel like you already have it all figured out and have a routine.

first thing to figure out:

relax, don't fret. You are in the right place at the right time. Remember your Zen words of before.

Oh, and if the rest of your group are walking slow and thinking slower, let them go at their own pace and you can find your own way. they will be fine without you.

where to go for a great musical line-up if all else fails or you don't want to think too hard:

the British Embassy (at Latitude 30) for all things British ~ well truthfully just the music and the musicians are British ~ the Brits know how to treat their music and their music fans right. The club is cool, the right amount of dark, and comfortable. The sound system is tight, the bands were too. Free open full bar, free tasty healthy (not British) food, free CDs of mixed singles from the bands that played. They are definitely doing something right and it's a no-brainer to hang out here when it's hot, crowded and just too confusing outside. I had planned to come and see Sons & Daughters but stayed for the whole Scottish Showcase and even caught the tail end of The Answer (from Belfast) which were rocking hard when I arrived. I made a new friend to hang out with and my daughter even managed to get admitted although they were then being more tight at the door (needed to be on the guest list or have a badge neither of which either of us had)

where to go to chill when you're hot, tired and your feet need a rest:

Java Jive at the corner of the Hilton across from the convention center. They made a decent cappuccino, they have some nice treats and some pretty tasty "homemade" vanilla ice cream, but most of all they have outdoor seating in the shade that catches the nice breeze blowing down Red River Road. Sit upwind from the smokers facing the convention center so that the breeze blows all your heat and troubles away. Not to mention this is part of the Hilton so there are nice bathrooms right inside and the ATM doesn't fleece you as bad as the others around the festival.

where to go to get decent cheap healthy food at happy hour:

4:30 - 6:30 at Moonshine, they have delicious starters of all kinds for half price. You can make a meal of one or two because the portions are large. there are also drink specials of course, but my daughter and I were focusing on the good eats-baked brie with homemade apple chutney, roasted garlic bulbs with toast points and goat cheese, etc. I hear the Sunday brunch is delicious and a great value, too.

Today was a perfect SxSW day and these bands were the reason why:

Sons and Daughters (and really all the Scottish showcase - Our Lunar Activities, Gyrojet, Dykeenies, Make Model, Frightened Rabbit)

Sodopp from the Japan Nite
and even more so - Avengers in Sci-Fi!! (I bought the CD) also from Japan Nite
My Brightest Diamond

Carola (band mom and musician) and I both agree that Avengers in Sci-Fi deserve to be famous and making lots of money. Although having just listened to their CD which is good they are much better live. really awesome live.

I guess I'm liking the foreign band showcases the best. They're trying harder ; )

also got to see Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds costume shop (really amazing endless labyrinth of costumes and accessories. I'll add pics later even though I wasn't permitted to take any. ; )

you've got to love a place with huge racks of all orange boots