SXSW Interactive Parties & Events
Thursday, March 11, 2010 16:09Written by: Laurie Lyons and Sara Kennedy
This is just a sampling of the great parties and events that you can find at SXSWi this year, most of which are free (and don’t require a badge), super fun, and have free goodies. And don’t forget to check back for the insane list of music parties!
LOUNGES/ONGOING
ScreenBurn at SXSW Arcade
Free
March 12 2-6pm, March 13 12-6pm, March 14 12-6pm
first floor of Austin Convention Center
Have fun and learn about the latest video game industry announcements, see product demos, and check out game tournaments.
No RSVP
Pure Volume House
Free
Starts Friday, March 12 – ends Sunday, March 21
504 Trinity
Music, drinks, free tacos
RSVP: www.purevolume.com/thehouse
SATURDAY MARCH 13
Foodspotting Street Food Fest & Scavenger Hunt
Free
11am-3pm
A celebration of the launch of the Foodspotting iPhone app, many of Austin’s best food trucks and carts will all be set aup in Brush Square Park, just outside of the convention center. This will also serve as a kick-off to their ongoing Scavenger Hunt, where you can win a Beamer (iPhone case with a built-in flashlight).
RSVP: foodspotting.com/sxswstreetfood
Fashism SXSW Party at Dress Shop
Free
1:00 – 4:00pm
Dress Shop — 315 Congress Ave
Cocktails, music from DJ Sam&tha, try on clothes and upload pics to Fashism.
No RSVP
SXSBW Happy Hour
Free
4 – 7pm
Pure Volume House — 504 Trinity
Small Business Web event with free food, drinks, hugs, and other fun activities.
RSVP at http://thesmallbusinessweb.com/sxsbw/
Mozilla SXSW Happy Hour
Free
6pm-8pm
Cedar Door — 201 Brazos St
Happy hour drinks, appetizers, and discussion about what’s going on in the world of Mozilla. Party is limited to first 250 guests who arrive.
RSVP here http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=310283178032
Lamebook Really Late Launch Party
$2
6pm-3am
Shangri-La — 1016 E 6th St
If you haven’t checked out lamebook.com yet, then you probably still manage to have a few productive hours at work. This hilarious site calls Austin home, and is doing their launch party better-late-than-never style. Free BBQ and beer while it lasts. Music by Royal Forest (formerly known as Loxsly), Arts the Beatdoctor, Corto Maltese, Beta Player, Tow the Line (feat. members of Visitors & Recover), Hot Britches!, Hoodie Allen, RiCHARD.GEAR, Blake Brandon, Big J, eLstar, Busby, and Beverly Hills Polo Club.
RSVP: lamebook.com/party
Diggnation LIVE at the Big Digg Shindigg
Free
7pm-Midnight
Stubbs BBQ — 801 Red River
Music from The Walkmen
More info: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=311714389768
buzzd, NearVerse and Xtreme Labs Present: The Boxer Rebellion
Free
8:30pm-2am
The Phoenix
409B Colorado
A celebration of two new apps, buzzd and LoKast by NearVerse. Open Bar. Music from The Boxer Rebellion.
RSVP (required!): http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=333463362392
AMODA Digital Showcase + Laptop Battle
Free w/ SXSWi badge, $8 general, $ AMODA members
9pm-2am
Club DeVille — 900 Red River
Austin Museum of Digital Art presents a night of insane art and fun music created by amazing local, regional, and international artists. Laptop battles, live video, and interactive installations are just a few of the amazing things you’ll see there.
RSVP: None needed, but you can find more info at amoda.org
Aquarium Drunkard Presents
Free
Doors at 8pm-get there early
Red Eyed Fly — 715 Red River
Aquarium Drunkard, Champion Scion, and Knuckle Rumbler bring you a little music with your Interactive. See The Strange Boys, Harlem, and Blair, but get there early for your place in line.
RSVP at knucklerumbler.com
SUNDAY, MARCH 14 (also known as the day of bacon)
Adobe SXSW Brunch
Free
10am-11am
Adobe Day Stage at Austin Convention Center — 500 E Cesar Chavez
Promised: bacon, coffee, and geekery. Sweet.
RSVP: http://adobesxswbrunch.eventbrite.com/, also follow them on Twitter to find out how to win prizes during SXSW: @adobesxsw
The Bacon Takedown
$10
4-7pm
Emo’s — 603 Red River
Bacon cooking competition (still a few spots left if you want to compete). Attendees get to taste all of the crazy bacon concoctions and then judge based on innovation, craftsmanship, and yumminess.
Get tix: http://chili-takedown.com
Mashable’s MashBash
Free
10pm-2am
Buffalo Billiard’s 201 6th St
Join the web’s best site for up-to-date news and features about social media, plus hopefully meet their smokin’ hot founder Pete Cashmore. This party is going to be ginormous.
RSVP at http://sxswi.eventbrite.com -you can link from there to the Facebook invite and other related pages
MONDAY, MARCH 15
Skip Intro Party hosted by Foursquare, Brizzly, Katalyst
8pm
Cedar Street Courtyard — 208 W 4th St
Not quite sure what’s happening, but great sponsors, and I can finally be somewhere with others who understand my 4Square addiction! For more info, follow them on Twitter: @skipintroparty
Gowalla Presents: The Tiki Room
9-11pm
The Belmont — 305 W 6th
Another great Austin innovation to support, IF you can get in! Gowalla is hosting an evening with Livestrong and Sweetleaf, featuring legendary Producer/DJ Diplo. This one will be tricky to get into, even with a badge, so get there early. From the event invite: ”While the Tiki Room will be open to all SXSW Interactive, Gold and Platinum badge holders, we’re expecting a packed house. We’ll be giving priority access to those who find and present a Tiki Room VIP Pass item with Gowalla. They’ll be scattered around Austin during SXSW. Be sure to check in at your favorite SXSW panels, events and parties to find yours.” Gowalla has apps for iPhone, Android, Blackberry, and Palm.
Sustainable Media Happy Hour
Free
6pm
The Ginger Man — 301 Lavaca
Join people who care about the environment and how media and technology can make an impact on critical issues. Beer and goodies while they last. Be sure to check out our friends Herbalogic.
RSVP at http://www.triplepundit.com/sxsw
TechKaraoke
Free
8:30pm-2am
Six Lounge — 117 W 4th
A night of crazy karaoke with lots of Interactive folks. They’ve reserved all levels of Six Lounge, with live band karaoke in the lounge, traditional karaoke in the Tap Room, and mellow music on the upstairs patio. After you register at Eventbrite, you can head to their website to sign up for your song at techkaraoke.com.
RSVP at techkaraoke.eventbrite.com
