SXSW is a game of strategy, a test of endurance. But, as always, we’re here to help you make the most of your trip to Austin. Here are our top ten picks (by day) for SXSW Interactive 2013. If you want even more recommendations, check out our SXSW site, where curators like Dennis Crowley, Jessica Lawrence of NYTM, Thrillist’s Ben Lerer, and more are posting their suggestions. Or, join us at the Flavorpill Sanctuary for a daily KIND breakfast, boot camps and yoga classes provided by Crunch Gyms, spin classes from CYC Fitness, and a juice bar, plus afternoon dance parties presented by Microsoft. For an even more interactive experience at the fest, check out our friends at Kismet, a social discovery app that helps uncover hidden connections for people in the same location. All of Flavorpill’s events will be listed on the app during SXSW.
THURSDAY MARCH 7TH SXSW Baby! Pub Crawl If you’re in Austin on SXSW-eve and have already unpacked your drinking pants/cowboy boots, join the staff of SXSW Baby! — which is not actually affiliated with any children, don’t worry. Once you’ve picked up your badge (or before, whatever!), head over to Rainey Street and get in on the craft beer-palooza, swap SXSW stories, and get psyched for a week of awesome interactions.
FRIDAY MARCH 8TH
The SpareFoot Party The SpareFoot Party is an unofficial Interactive party and live hip-hop/DJ showcase hosted by SpareFoot, the online marketplace for self-storage. The company is an Austin start-up success story, and tonight hosts sounds ranging from throwback hip-hop to electronic to dancehall/reggae and beyond. Catch K.Flay, Jayceeoh, DJ Expo, and more.
Internet Week NY and StartOut Happy Hour Internet Week NY hosts a night of drinks and fun at Conduit Corner’s Carnival. Score artisanal fare from LA’s famed Wicked Kitchen food truck, and dunk your boss (if you’re lucky!) at the Charity Dunking Booth.
SATURDAY MARCH 9TH
@NIGHT hosted by Made in NY: Austin (at #FEED powered by Twitter) feat. Vito & Druzzi (The Rapture DJs) & More Made in NY hosts tonight’s @NIGHT throwdown, so you know the talent will be up to par (sorry, couldn’t resist some NYC braggadocio). Vito & Druzzi (aka The Rapture DJs) and Moon Boots transform the AMOA Arthouse into the hippest nightclub this side of Williamsburg — Funktion One soundsystem included. Gear up for the dance floor with free Corzo Tequila cocktails. RSVP and SXSW badge holders only, first come, first served.
Splashthat House Party feat. Viceroy Splashthat brings the house party to Austin from NYC, with Viceroy on the decks and a bunch of great partners, including Thrillist, Wired, and Small Girls PR. Dos Equis and Patron are also in the house, so expect the fiesta.
ff Massive This year at SXSW, ff Venture Capital is hosting a full day of off-campus networking and meetups, followed by the most MASSIVE party SXSW has seen. The meetups will feature 20+ ff Venture Capital portfolio companies, including Social Fortress, Phone.com, Livefyre, infochimps, Adcade, Distil.it, Content.ly, Bottlenose, Gamesalad, VolunteerSpot, Indiegogo, Voxy, HowAboutWe, and more in sessions covering topics including education, advertising, big data, hardware, communities, content/publishing, enterprise, and security. And then… PARTY.
SUNDAY MARCH 10TH
PointRoll Presents Cut&Paste Design Throwdown @SXSWi Cut&Paste hits SXSW for the first time in a live design battle, presented by PointRoll and featuring artists Sara Blake and Justin Maller vs. Superdeux and DEMO. Witness as the two teams match design wits while world-famous DJ and Green Label Sound artist RAC performs live on stage. Tablets OUT!
MONDAY MARCH 11TH
Beats & Bytes feat. Reggie Watts and Neon Indian (DJ Set) Comedian. Musician. One-man experimental theater troupe. And the man with the best afro around. Yes, it’s Reggie Watts, our favorite 21st-century polymath — there are few artists more multi-talented and consistently intriguing than Watts, which is why we’re super excited to have him perform at the Flavorpill Sanctuary, along with a DJ set from the always wonderful Neon Indian. Get laughs, snacks, cocktails, fresh juice, and tunes, all powered by Windows 8 and General Assembly.
The Barbarian Group and Vimeo present #NoWayBack The Barbarian Group and Vimeo are partnering up to bring you the most epic throwdown of SXSW Interactive: No Way Back. On Monday 3/11, they’ll be connecting two of Austin’s finest venues, The Mohawk and Club DeVille, giving you seamless access to three stages featuring no less than 15 illustrious band performances, over-the-top DJ sets, and mind-melting visuals provided by some of the world’s leading interactive artists. Click here to win a pair of tickets to the party, featuring the likes of Poolside, Divine Fits, Surfer Blood, and more.
TUESDAY MARCH 12TH
Beats & Bytes feat. Dirty Projectors (DJ Set) Dirty Projectors are one of the more original bands of the last decade. Their music is an ongoing experiment in sound and arrangement, and their palette is wide. Drawing from just about every musical movement and style of the past 200 years, the Projectors have created an eclectic sound unlike any other, mostly under the direction of frontman David Longstreth. Today they hit the decks for Beats & Bytes, powered by Windows 8 and General Assembly. Besides awesome tunes, you also score free snacks, fresh juice, and cocktails!