Maximum Fun Forum

Thanks to the kind folks at Philips, we're taking a trip to SXSW!

Editor/producer Nick White, videographer/editor Ben Harrison, intern Julia Smith and I are headed out to Austin on Sunday, and coming back Wednesday.

Any hot tips?

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The bums will always lose.

First off, congratulations!

Second off, nope. It was SXSW or MaxFunCon for the not-Rockits this year, and here we sit.

BUT! The best hot dogs in the world can be found on the main drag late at night. They're served out of a cart called Best Wurst, and they are breathtakingly good.

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Greg from Omaha :: "How lovely...subtle...classy." - Kurt Anderson :: "What a fucktard." - Jesse Thorn
I Twart on Twitter - I run The New Timey Podcast Network
:: You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook. ::

You bet.

Migas for breakfast at Juan In A Million. If you're lucky, Juan will be there. He was voted Best Handshake In Austin or some such nonsense, but he's totally genuine and completely awesome. If I had to pick only one thing to do during SXSW, it'd be breakfast there.

BBQ: I'm partial to Salt Lick, but it's half an hour outside Austin. In a pinch, I'll hit Iron Works, which is close to the Convention Center.

The Yard Dog Gallery on South Congress is worth a visit; great folk art by the likes of Jon Langford. Heck, there's a lot to do on South Congress. Home Slice Pizza is across the street from Yard Dog, and it's pretty good pizza. The Continental Club is down the street, and I'm sure there'll be someone great playing while you're there.

My music festival, Twangfest (http://twangfest.com), hosts two day parties during music week on Thursday and Saturday, so I'll be in town for that. I should get in on Tuesday sometime during the day. I'd be thrilled to hook up if you have time.

What are you going to be doing? Interviewing? Do you know where you're staying?

Chuy's (Barton Springs Rd.) and Trudy's (West 30th St.) are the Tex-Mex institutions of Austin. I'd also recommend Polvo's on South 1st Street. Hoover's on Manor Rd. serves the best southern cooking (comfort food) in town, far superior to the more famous Threadgill's. If you want a hardcore BBQ experience, drive out to Lockhart, TX to Kreuz Market. It's graduate level barbecue. I'll second the Salt Lick recommendation if you're more of a beginner. Don't bother with any barbecue inside the city limits.

These Twitter feeds might be worth following while you're here: @Do512, @sxsw, @360sxsw, @SPINsxsw. Lot's of great free shows every night during SxSW, though you will be here before the music portion of the festival officially starts. Try to make it to the Mohawk on Red River, one of the best live music venues in the country.

Kreuz Market recommendation seconded. It was the crown jewel of my BBQ triple play a couple years ago. I was meeting people at Salt Lick for lunch, but plans were changed without my knowledge, so I drove to Lockhart to visit Kreuz, drove back to Salt Lick to find one person from our group who'd also missed the message, so we had lunch there. Finally, that night, we met up with the rest of the group at Artz Rib House.

I didn't think it was possible, but it was too much BBQ. Kreuz was definitely the winner.

Probably enough food recommendations, sorry for derailing. Does anyone have insight on people Jesse should interview?

_________________
Greg from Omaha :: "How lovely...subtle...classy." - Kurt Anderson :: "What a fucktard." - Jesse Thorn
I Twart on Twitter - I run The New Timey Podcast Network
:: You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook. ::

I doubt Jesse will have much time for any sightseeing or trips outside of town, I would imagine it would be a busy few days.

Other than the suggestions I sent on twitter, the only other advice I would give is to avoid 6th street, it's the drunken college party street and it's busy even when there isn't a big event going on.

There are great restaurants and clubs all over Austin, if you have free time you won't have to wander far.

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http://thisthingisbroken.com

We're staying at the Mansion at Judges' Hill (not a lot of hotel choices when you book six days before you leave for SXSW), and I'm sure we'll be working our butts off.

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The bums will always lose.

We're staying at the Mansion at Judges' Hill, which I think is just west of campus, and north of the convention center and capital.

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The bums will always lose.

If you're looking for interesting musicians to interview, Rachel Flotard of Visqueen would be at the top of my list. Interactive folks I've enjoyed over the years: Gina Trapani and Adam Pash from Lifehacker, Kent Nichols from Ask A Ninja, Ze Frank...

Film folks presenting: Will Forte & Kristen Wiig are there doing a MacGruber panel, and Jeffrey Tambor, but I don't know if a year is too soon to repeat.

I'll stop there.

I'm on record as not liking music guests, but cellist Zoe Keating was very good on RadioLab. I normally don't like cello by itself, but i like her music quite a bit...especially Tetrishead.

Sharon Jones seems like she'd give a good interview, but i don't know that i've read one.

Here's an AV Club interview with Britt Daniel of-Spoon. I like a couple of their songs, but i'm not a fan. He'd be more interesting/articulate than most musicians.

There are a whole bunch of comedians there, but you're already familiar with them.

Forte and Wiig would be amazing. I'd love to hear that show.

_________________
Greg from Omaha :: "How lovely...subtle...classy." - Kurt Anderson :: "What a fucktard." - Jesse Thorn
I Twart on Twitter - I run The New Timey Podcast Network
:: You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook. ::

I wont be in Austin till the day y'all are gone so no maxfunstalking for me.

some fun retail stores

good but hipstery antiques
uncommon objects
http://www.uncommonobjects.com/

luthers Ive never been but they .. have wolverine 1000 mile boots
https://thelutherstore.myshopify.com/collections/shoes

both on congress .. if going that direction eat at magnolia cafe .. get gingerbread pancakes and be extreemly happy.

... also get a car .. it will be a pain to park during SXSW .. but you are in Texas and things are sometimes farther apart than you think. or not .. there are taxis especially if you dont go far from downtown .. I'm a fat Dallasite so cars are rented everywhere i go but NYC

also domy books .. for a good collection of art comics and art books
http://www.domystore.com/austin/

We're here! there will be blog updates on the Philips Cinema facebook page every day, and we'll actually have some videos we're doing for them up by like Wednesday. got some great guests booked.

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The bums will always lose.

I hate that guy.

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