SXSW: SECOND THOUGHTS

Image from laurenoutloud.com

Poor SXSW attendees. The weather gods are trying to rain on their parade. Seriously. Remember how I told you it got up into the 80s, even hit 90 one day, back in February? Remember all my whining about our incessant state of drought? Well, hordes of people from all over the country have descended upon Austin this week, expecting that kind of weather. That is not what they are getting. Yesterday we drove over there for a movie, and it almost did us in. Rained all day long, high in the low 40's, and a bone chilling wind that went right through you. We're expecting more of the same today, and though it should begin warming up a bit tomorrow, the rain is going to stick around for a while.

Now that my hubby is no longer just a weekender here, he has decided it's time for him to experience more of the local culture, and SXSW is a very big part of that. To purchase a wristband that gives you access to all the main events is outrageously expensive, but there are other ways to participate. All over town, during the entire two weeks of the event, people and businesses are hosting what they call "side parties." My hubby went to austin360.com and found a huge listing of these side parties, many of which are free and require neither invitation nor reservation. He printed out the information for several that sounded interesting to him, the first of which was to be Take A Shot & A Walk With Trover. "Join a 45-minute walking tour of East Austin's secret gardens, food trailers and street art. Free booze and cheap eats!" Sounded uber fun at the time, but in the freezing wind and rain? We took a pass. As for the rest? Well, that remains to be seen.