SXSW 2007 - meetup?

February 18, 2007 11:16 AM

SXSW Interactive -- do the cool kids do that anymore? I'll be arriving a day early, the evening of the 8th, and leaving the last day of Interactive. Any MeFites want to do a meetup in Austin?
posted by SpecialK to MetaFilter Gatherings at 11:16 AM (39 comments total)

I'm down for it!

Someplace not quite downtown to escape crowds would probably work best.
posted by fnord at 11:34 AM on February 18, 2007

I'll be around Saturday night to Tuesday afternoon (10th-13th I think).
posted by mathowie (staff) at 11:35 AM on February 18, 2007

I would be in (although I punked out on the last one).
posted by mattbucher at 12:21 PM on February 18, 2007

do the cool kids do that anymore?

No. The cool kids don't do anything. Inactivity is the new cool activity.
posted by jonmc at 12:25 PM on February 18, 2007

It apparently stopped being a cool kid retreat the year before I went, in 2003.
posted by Dave Faris at 2:35 PM on February 18, 2007

A dinner meetup sounds good to me, anywhere in walking distance of the convention center.
posted by cali at 3:25 PM on February 18, 2007

Cali, if it gets scheduled elsewhere in the city (which might be a good idea, like 50% of the places downtown are booked for private parties the entire time, so it'd be hard to pick a place to meet up), I'll have my car with me at the Hilton Garden Inn, 3 blocks over from the convention center. Anyone's welcome to take SpecialK's Taxi to wherever we get together.

Those in Austin -- any ideas? I don't know Austin well at all. Somewhere secret and cool near downtown, or elsewhere in the city that's just plain ten kinds of awesome?
posted by SpecialK at 5:22 PM on February 18, 2007

I finally get to go this year, guaranteeing that all previous SXSWi's were ubercool and this one will be teh suck.

I'm coming in early (evening of the 8th) and have a rental car, so whatever.
posted by dw at 10:03 PM on February 18, 2007

For dinner, a little outside of downtown, could I suggest the Maudie's on S. Lamar or Shady Grove? Any other ideas? Is Vivo too far (on the other side of I-35)? Maybe sunday afternoon or evening, March 11?
posted by mattbucher at 7:57 AM on February 19, 2007

It's the meetups that make it still cool. That way we can be a clique.

I think the best way to pull off a downtown meetup is a meal somewhere that has a party room that isn't booked yet, which may mean it's months too late, I don't know. The where is probably going to be dictated by the when, though.

I've been to a Friday night thing at the Gingerman the last couple of years, which has a nice sized beer garden in back - a Sunday afternoon gathering might be workable there, especially if the weather puts on a good show. It's not a bad walk from the convention center vicinity, but it's just far enough that one wouldn't look too dumb taking a cab if walking wasn't desirable.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:51 AM on February 19, 2007

Y'all can put me down as a definite maybe. Not sure what my plans are for that weekend, but if I'm in town, I'll come out to a meet-up.
posted by donajo at 11:25 AM on February 19, 2007

I agree that Sunday evening (post-panels, so 5:30 pm ish) is probably best for a meetup.

We could meet at Opal Devine's Freehouse, which is on sixth street (bonus: easy to find) closer to the end of the bars and hotels. Bonus: the closer watering holes will be full ...
posted by SpecialK at 12:21 PM on February 19, 2007

Sunday will probably work for me, though it might interact with another meetup I'm trying to get scheduled.

Again, I have a car graciously provided by the state of Washington. Any Seattleites going can come see your TAX DOLLARS AT WORK!
posted by dw at 2:58 PM on February 19, 2007

Aah. State Employment is great, ain't it?

DW, do you work for the state or a educational institution? If the latter, do you know about the higher education web gathering?
posted by SpecialK at 4:27 PM on February 19, 2007

Oh, and a friend and I are putting together http://2007.sxswiki.com/Main_Page .. not quite ready for launch yet, but we're working on it.
posted by SpecialK at 4:28 PM on February 19, 2007

I work for a school within a large state university that may or may not be located in the Seattle city limits.

And you're talking about the Friday night gathering, right? I'll be there.
posted by dw at 6:02 PM on February 19, 2007

dw: Yes, yes you will. So will I. I work for a large academic institution that may or may ... ah, fuck it, IS located in College Station, TX.

(I mean, not like there's anything around us but cows anyway. And I do count the residents of the surrounding towns in that population.)
posted by SpecialK at 10:21 PM on February 19, 2007

SpecialK, thanks for the offer of a ride if necessary. Can I also request when plans are somewhat firm that it be posted to Upcoming.org?
posted by cali at 11:08 PM on February 19, 2007

Cali, sure, no problem. I think we're firm on date, but someone needs to step up and second one of the places... :)
posted by SpecialK at 9:35 AM on February 20, 2007

Maybe we could just make it Opal Divine's. They have food if you are so inclined and if the weather cooperates (should be 80 today) you can sit outside.
posted by mattbucher at 10:41 AM on February 20, 2007

I'll second yours, since it's a bit farther away and so probably will be a smidge less crowded. The food looks a little bit better as well.

So, Opal Divine's Freehouse, 5:30ish Sunday March 11th?
posted by Lyn Never at 10:43 AM on February 20, 2007

It looks like it's what, 11 blocks away? That's walkable, but again, I can offer my car.

I haven't been to Austin in nearly 20 years. It's going to be a shock to see how huge that place is now.
posted by dw at 11:21 AM on February 20, 2007

Upcoming event created. Probably it doesn't count unless it's also Dodgeballed, Twittered, Google calendared, 2.0'd, GTDed, and added to the front page of your obscure startup that just got bought for 12 million dollars, but it's a start.
posted by Lyn Never at 12:07 PM on February 20, 2007

Ah, it turns out panels run until 6:00 Sunday, not 5:00 as I had assumed. Would it throw anyone off terribly if it was 6:30ish instead?
posted by Lyn Never at 2:11 PM on February 20, 2007

Nope, that works just fine. I thought it was 5:00 too.
posted by SpecialK at 2:14 PM on February 20, 2007

I'll head over there after my panel.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 10:51 PM on March 6, 2007

I will try to make it.
posted by mckenney at 10:31 AM on March 7, 2007

FYI I think I am matrimonially obligated to pimp my husband's karaoke gathering Friday night at one of the other Opal Divine's. It's a great icebreaker if you've just gotten into town and don't know what to do with yourself.
posted by Lyn Never at 1:32 PM on March 7, 2007

I'll be there fo sho! My very first meet-up and #1 will be there; wow!
posted by rleamon at 5:40 PM on March 8, 2007

We're also having a meet-up in Houston on Monday the 12th if anyone wants to make the drive down. Although I promise my feelings won't be hurt if you don't.
posted by Brittanie at 8:29 AM on March 10, 2007

Brittanie -

Won't be able to for me, but let me know when the next Houston gathering is as I'm just up in Cowledge Station.
posted by SpecialK at 1:50 PM on March 10, 2007

I'm at Clementine Coffee on Manor all Saturday night, geeking out trying to learn Lisp, if anyone gets bored :) It's nice and quiet here.

My car is out of commission, but hopefully I can make it to Opal's tomorrow.
posted by spiderwire at 5:26 PM on March 10, 2007

Oh, and Vivo is right across the street, as well as the Red House bar, if that tickles anyone's fancy.
posted by spiderwire at 5:28 PM on March 10, 2007

I'm at Opal's, sitting in the bar for now. Look for the guy with the powerbook. There is wifi here.
posted by SpecialK at 4:14 PM on March 11, 2007

We're now in a big group on the front porch.
posted by SpecialK at 4:41 PM on March 11, 2007

I'm stuck at Clementine again :( no car. <3 from across town.
posted by spiderwire at 5:58 PM on March 11, 2007

Yay, that was fun. Thanks everyone for coming!
posted by mathowie (staff) at 8:58 PM on March 11, 2007

It was very cool to meet everybody - let's do it again next year!
posted by Lyn Never at 1:47 PM on March 12, 2007

That was very cool. SpecialK, are your few photos up? I completely forgot to bring my camera or do "shoutouts."
posted by mattbucher at 8:07 AM on March 14, 2007