I just realized that it’s *5* weeks until South By Southwest (SXSW) begins. I’ve got my hotel room, and almost have my flights picked out. They’ve just posted the panels by day and it looks like there are going to be a lot of great sessions to attend. Also of note is the book reading schedule - Wiley* has quite a few authors participating in this, including:
Andy Beal (Radically Transparent)
Susannah Gardner (Blogging for Dummies, 2nd Edition)
Joelle Reeder & Katherine Scoleri (The IT Girl’s Guide to Blogging with Moxie)
Lisa Sabin-Wilson (WordPress for Dummies)
Daniel Terdiman (Entrepreneur’s Guide to Second Life)
Gina Trapani (Lifehacker: Upgrade Your Life)
I’ve never attended before, so I’m not sure what to expect. I’ve only been to Austin once, and it was a last minute trip scheduled because an editor in the group who was supposed to be going to a conference quit two weeks before the start of the conference, and guess who had to show up to man the booth. All I remember of Austin was:
1. Allergies- I have never been so clogged up nasally speaking in my life. I remember going back and forth from the hotel to the convention center clutching huge boxes of tissues because the pocket packs only gave me 10 minutes worth of snot control.
2. Damn good food - BBQ, Mexican, Southwestern, you name it. I bet we could even find blueberry soup somewhere, Lisa…
3. Bats - you’ve probably seen the travel shows about the bats in Austin that live under the bridge and fly out at dusk. Well, I missed them. Went to some overlook and everything, and missed them. I won’t this time, and I plan on watching them with a batini. In between SXSW sessions, OF COURSE.
So if you’re going to SXSW, and want to attend a meet up or are having one yourself, please let me know. I’ll bring the batinis…
*my apologies if you are a Wiley author I left off the list. You might have a book from another division that didn’t immediately ring a bell with me. Leave me a comment and I will be happy to rectify my mistake.
January 30, 2008 at 3:55 pm
I can’t wait to meet you in person - I’ll bring the Kleenex!
January 30, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Looking forward to it. The meeting, not the sneezing!
January 30, 2008 at 5:42 pm
mmmmmmm…blueberry soup. I’m google searching blueberry soup in austin just as soon as I’m done writing this comment!
SXSW is great geeky fun - everyone is so nice.. the atmosphere is so open - - and more importantly, CASUAL!
Amy had told me to email you about getting books sent down to the SXSW bookstore for the reading/signing… and I lost your email.. *dufus*
January 30, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Of course, it doesn’t help that people refer to Austin as “a blueberry floating in tomato soup, a reference to the city’s traditionally liberal politics within the conservative state”
Kind of complicates the whole search for blueberry soup in Austin thing.
January 30, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Everything you remember is spot on, I used to live there and can’t wait to get back for some fantastic food. SXSW is a great time, I’m sure you’ll love it!
January 30, 2008 at 8:56 pm
1) You probably won’t find blueberry soup unless you hit an organic cafe — but the blackberry cobbler should be found on many menus there.
2) Hit the airport store or the hotel store to grab some Dayquil or other allergy meds of your choice as soon as you land- take them religiously like the package says for 4-6 hours in btw doses and you should handle it quite nicely — the problem actually stems from the difference in humidity in Texas. It’s ALWAYS humid all over Texas except for the extreme dry West Texas badlands. I know cause I am a 6th gen. native.
3) The bats are overrated and the dung is atrocius if you are anywhere smellin distance!
4) You are damn right about the food! And the SW size & style drinks of the harder influence — Whoa! An ice cold beer with BBQ or topshelf ‘Rita’ with Tex-Mex food — Aye Carumba! Es vaca muy bueno! Translation: Life is Good! Enjoy your visit & try to get a little work done while you play.
January 30, 2008 at 9:04 pm
5 Weeks?
I better get cracking on some planning!
saul!
January 31, 2008 at 2:54 am
ellen, looking forwarding to meeting you there. now that i know what a batini is, i’ll gladly buy you one!
January 31, 2008 at 8:51 am
Looking forward to seeing you again!
January 31, 2008 at 9:32 am
See you there!
And yes, what Lisa said about the books for the bookstore… lol
February 5, 2008 at 11:18 am
Hi Ellen,
Sorry about finding this post a bit late, but it was great to come upon your blog as I was doing a search and getting ready for SXSW. Unfortunately, I’m not a Wiley author - but I went to the event last year and it was definitely an amazing time. The toughest thing for me, actually, was keeping track of all the parties and evening time events. The day was manageable. So, my advice is to actively use real time tools like Twitter to keep track of folks you know will be there and where they are headed - and stay flexible. That’s what I’m going to try and do as well. Look forward to seeing you there!
March 3, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Hey this is Jamie at Viva Radio whats up?
You’re invited out! - to Viva Radio’s SXSW events. Please throw this info (below) up on your site, and write it up after you come down and have all the fun. No doubt we’re all gonna have a great time!
Many thanks, Jamie
Viva Radio
Grand Concert Evangelique
Friday, March 14 & Saturday, March 15th
SXSW 2008
RSVP to: sxsw@viva-radio.com
Where?
American Apparel
1325 S. Congress Ave.
Austin, TX
Friday, March 14th 2008
1 - 6 PM
1:30 PM - The Teeth (Philadelphia, PA)
2:30 PM - Douglas Armour (Los Angeles, CA) (Performing Solo)
3:30 PM - The Apes (Washington DC)
4:30 PM - Sunburned Hand of the Man (Boston, MA)
Saturday, March 15th 2008
1 - 6 PM
1:30 PM - Blues Control (Queens, NY)
2:30 PM - Greg Ashley (Oakland, CA) (Performing Solo)
3:30 PM - Mika Miko (Los Angeles, CA)
4:30 PM - Special, Surprise Guest
DJs:
Gaslamp Killer (Los Angeles, CA)
Ripley (Wooden Shjips) (San Francisco, CA)
Max Wowch (Brooklyn, NY)
Markus With A K (Austin, TX)
+ Special Viva Radio contributors
MCs:
Tedward (Voice of Viva Radio)
Sheri Barclay (The Barclay Hour)
Complimentary Beverages? Yes
Again, be smart, RSVP to: sxsw@viva-radio.com
Viva Radio spreads the online radio gospel to the heavy, heathen masses assembled in Austin, TX for SXSW 2008. Friday and Saturday afternoon, Viva hosts a pair of shows at the American Apparel at 1325 South Congress, former home to Factory People (a location synonymous with holy times at SXSW).
The two day line up brings to the battle line a grip of artists featured extensively on Viva’s far reaching, far flung, and far out programming, alongside contributor (+ station friend) DJs and MCs / on air personalities, Tedward & Sheri Barclay. All performances, behind-the-scenes interviews, and assorted congregating will be recorded (A/V) and broadcast at a later date and time on the highly anticipated 2.0 version of Viva Radio.
In case you haven’t happened upon us already, Viva Radio is a Brooklyn based online radio station. Our programming is drawn from a select roster of contributors known for their passion and intense music knowledge. Obscure and popular music mix in an eclectic range of shows all available 24/7 at http://www.viva-radio.com. Viva Radio is also the official audio network heard in over 160+ American Apparel stores worldwide.
Get healed.
http://www.viva-radio.com