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Surviving TechReady 11 in Seattle, 2010: A few helpful hints

Going to TechReady next week in Seattle?  It seems from what I read on Twitter that we will have a number of people visiting the fair Emerald City for next week’s geek festivities.

silence - tweeter

To aid in your visit to the fair city by the Sound, I’ve posted here a few hints along the lines of my notes from Surviving CES in Las Vegas and Surviving MGX. Using that post as a template, here are a couple of resources for you – I will add to the page later as I have time.

First off, a public service announcement.

I have to agree with LyalinDotCom: remember to watch what you say online when you talk about #tr11. What I said about tweeting (remember to be thoughtful) still stands:

OK, flame off. Now to the tips.

Flight and Hotel: If you don’t already have either of these, good luck.  Checking Bing travel or your favourite travel site may help you find a flight in and out or a place to stay. Hotel options are usually less expensive in downtown Seattle than they are in Bellevue (across Lake Washington and closer to main campus); you can always ping a friend to camp out on the hide-a-bed couch in their hotel room.

Weather? Oh, yes. But pack light and perhaps a light jacket.  Keep in mind that it is warm in the Puget Sound area this time of year (high 70s to low 80s), and the weather will be in the low 60s at night. You’ll see plenty of shorts and t-shirts I’m sure. Summer is a wonderful time here. Check the weather report for Seattle here.

Dress in comfortable clothes and wear great, comfortable shoes.  And don’t bring the stylish shoes, go for comfort as you will be standing and walking.  A lot.  My pick: your favourite sneakers (perhaps a cool new pair of Vans), anything from Ecco, Rockport or New Balance. And see also a few travel recommendations from Colin Cowie on packing.

BTW, nix the umbrella: unless it’s winter and it’s coming down in buckets, this is a sure-fire way to telegraph that you’re a tourist. And with our summer weather, you really won’t need one.

Also, bring a shoulder bag (a messenger bag works well) for hauling around all the schwag you’ll likely pick up and for toting your phone, mini notebook, digital camera, and other essentials: a bottle of water or juice, snack bars and fruit… oh, sorry, I mean Red Bull and Jolt, family sized Hershey’s and a package of gummies.

Plan ahead on paces to see: Before you arrive, check out the http://www.visitseattle.org/ site where you’ll find plenty of information on what to do and see around town (a nice touch is the interactive visitors’ guide), There’s also a good list of the "10 Things You MUST See & Do in Seattle…" including a trip up to The Space Needle, Pike Place Market for all sorts of goodies to eat and local souvenirs, the Seattle Aquarium (ok, that’s our kid’s favourite), and the freaky Underground Tour.

Close to the Space Needle and the Pacific Science Center is the Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame. Where else are you going to find more on Jimi Hendrix, Captain Kirk’s chair from the Enterprise (TOS) and the original teddy bear from Steven Spielberg’s A.I.? Only in Seattle. Excellent restaurants are in close range, like the delightful Zeke’s Pizza.

Getting from the airport to anywhere: Remember, if you need to get a taxi cab at the airport, look to the departures area where people are exiting the taxi.  (Just a suggestion, not an endorsement.)  You’ll receive a number of suggested modes of transportation, but always good to pair up (or three or four) with folks going to the same hotel and split the $25-30 taxi fare into town.

There are plenty of rental car agencies, airport shuttles (more info here), private transportation and more: be sure to check out the SETAC airport ground transportation page, with more info on public transit options here.

One great option is Sound Transit’s new Link Light Rail from Downtown to the Airport: with Link it’s a breeze to take this new light rail service between SeaTac/Airport Station and Westlake Centre in Downtown Seattle. The Link light rail service runs from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Monday through Saturday and 6 a.m to midnight on Sundays. Trains arrive and depart every 7 1/2 to 15 minutes, depending on the time of day.

Getting around town: the local Sound Transit system is an easy way to connect around downtown and the surrounding area.  Taxis are readily available from most major hotels, and likely there are a number of places to see within a short walking distance from your downtown hotel. 

Maryse ONeill suggested that I add a link to Seattle Metro bus website. Here’s a link to the Downtown Seattle Neighborhood Bus Routes There is also an iPhone app that tells you when the next bus us coming.

If you arrive into SETAC with other folks on the same flight, consider renting a limo or get together an impromptu set of people going to roughly the same hotel into downtown: that way you’ll pay one limo fee, which runs about $35-40 plus tip.  Do NOT pick up just any limo at the airport: as Forrest Gump said, "You never know what you’re going to get."

Last, unless you plan on traveling outside of downtown, don’t rent a car (take a cab) unless you enjoy paying daily hotel parking rates akin to what you would pay for a flat in SoHo.

Sleepless? There’s free Wireless in Seattle: Oh, you bet there is. First off, you’ll get free wireless at the Seattle Public Library. So check out your hotel, the TechReady site and check out this link on openwifispots.com for a list of over 200 free wireless hotspots in and around Seattle.

Say hello your new best friend: the hotel concierge.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it here, too: the concierge is your connection when you don’t have connections in town.  When you arrive at the hotel with a concierge on staff, introduce yourself and hand them a business card.  That one move may come in hand later more than you know.  See ‘dinner’ and ‘getting to the airport’ for starters.  If your hotel doesn’t have a concierge, ask the doorman or front desk manager.

As Cowie notes, "ask your concierge to make some reservations for you now at top restaurants so you don’t find that you can’t get in when you arrive there in peak season. Tip the concierge the moment you arrive…"  See, you can learn helpful travel hints from a man that you thought only had great party design sense. 😉

Eating out: You’ll no doubt have some free time one or two nights, and Seattle is a wonderful place. You’ll find plenty of good suggestions via Urban Spoon’s Seattle listings (see their 100 Best Seattle restaurants list), with favourites like the I Love New York Deli, Uli’s Famous Sausage (for hot dogs near Pike Place Market), Bayou on First, Cafe Nordstrom (seriously, the food is very good)…

One of my new, personal favourites for a quick lunch: MOD Super Fast Pizza. These pies are awesome and wicked fast.

Best breakfasts: See these suggestions on urbanspoon for breakfast and brunch if you don’t have a complimentary breakfast in your hotel, and if you’re game, check out my favourites La Crêperie Voilà, Dahlia Bakery and the BOKA Kitchen + Bar. Maryse ONeill recommends CJs on 1st and Cedar for a hearty, well priced breakfast, and the Bottleneck Lounge on Madison & John for a bar off the beaten track

Lunch and Dinner: Around town: Check out the MSN MSN City Guide for Seattle here, as well as their restaurant guide and list of cheap Seattle eats. Here are a few additional favourite web spots for ratings and information:

http://www.seattlemet.com/eat-and-drink/find-a-restaurant/

Yelp for Seattle, WA 

Zagat’s local Seattle LIstings

OpenTable customer reviews which may be booked for free via OpenTable.com.

For a nice evening out, check out Purple Cafe & Wine Bar, Shuckers at the Fairmont Olympic, Tulio Ristorante for good Italian, the incomparable Tom Douglas’ Palace Kitchen, the always good Capital Grille and our favourite Thai fusion at Wild Ginger (ooh, it’s good).

A note on booking tables… Consider booking your table through your hotel concierge as noted above: if you haven’t called them in advance, ask for their help in booking a table (tip, please) and get their business card with their phone number after you check in… and give them a tip if they offer a direct dial number.  A good concierge may be able to score a reservation to a hard-to-book place: I have found that your best bet is a well-connected hotel concierge if a direct call to the restaurant doesn’t pan out.  Also, look to your credit card company (many offer a concierge service) or try your hand (or mouse) booking a table at OpenTable.com. Many of the restaurants still show availability on OpenTable as of today, so book early.

Stuff to see: Always a good reference for the best restaurants, clubs and activities in Seattle, check out Seattle Magazine’s site and Seattlemet.com, along with the 10best.com lists for Seattle.  I’m guessing that with everything going on and around TechReady nearly 24 hours a day you’ll be seeing the convention centre and (maybe) your hotel room for a few hours of shut eye. I’ll add more and any suggestions.

Here’s a link to Seattle Magazine’s Weekly Must List for July 22 – 28: http://www.seattlemag.com/0p184b18be356/weekly-must-list-july-22-july-28-2010/. On Sunday you still have time to catch the Bellevue Arts Fair on the Eastside, as well as The Capitol Hill Block Party near downtown.

Getting to the airport.  Finding a cab on the last day of TechReady or any large event in the city is like finding a fishmonger that doesn’t throw fish.  Arrange a car in advance through your concierge for more than one traveler.  Or that concierge you tipped earlier just may have arranged a shuttle for a small group that has an opening.

Have fun.

You can also follow Ann – aka SeattleMaven – on Twitter to get more insight on the info appearing on the VisitSeattle.org site. Follow her for Seattle expertise, tips & hints!

Thanks also to Stephen Rose for the link to the guide to Bellevue, adding here for MVP 10 attendees: http://www.Bellevue.com for more on restaurants, events, happy hour, nightlife and more on the Eastside.

Tags: Microsoft, Seattle, Bellevue, TechReady, travel tips.

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Surviving MGX Atlanta 2010: A few helpful hints

 

If you’re heading to the US for MGX (Microsoft Global eXchange – the Microsoft Sales & Services annual event), I’ve posted here a few hints along the lines of my notes from Surviving CES in Las Vegas, updated from my 2009 entry.  I will add to the page later as I have time.

In response to several requests, I’ve re-posted the original post referenced above here, along with the latest updates. Have something to add? LMK.

But first… please watch what you tweet and share in the social mediashpere about MGX or any Microsoft event. I posted this about tweeting: remember to be thoughtful. (rev 072210)

No, on to the info.

Flight and Hotel: Given the event is invitation only, if you don’t already have either of these, good luck.  You’ll have a better chance of seeing a mid-day temperature under 85 degrees than finding either at this late date.  

Overall, stick to the plan: MGX is a well-run, professional event.  Remember to use the shuttle busses, go to the planned events and have fun.

Pack light.  Keep in mind that it is hot in Atlanta this time of year (high 80s, and lends to the given the nickname, Hotlanta), and the weather will be in the high 60s/ low 70s at night, and humid as all get out (up into the 30s at mid-day, and about 18-20 degrees for my friends outside the States).  Check the weather report for Atlanta here.  Standard dress includes light khaki pants or shorts and comfortable shirts: think Hawaii. 

Bring sunglasses, a hat that doesn’t brand you a tourist, and wear great, comfortable shoes.  And don’t bring the stylish shoes, go for comfort as you will be standing and walking.  A lot.  My pick: anything from Ecco, Rockport or New Balance. And see also a few travel recommendations from Colin Cowie on packing.    

Getting from the airport to anywhere: Remember, if you need to get a taxi cab at the airport, look to the departures area where people are exiting the taxi.  (Just a suggestion, not an endorsement.)  You’ll receive a number of suggested modes of transportation, but always good to pair up (or three or four) with folks going to the same hotel and split the $30 taxi fare into town.

Getting around town: Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (or MARTA) is one of the easiest and inexpensive ways around Atlanta and the surrounding area.  Taxis are readily available from most major hotels, and likely there are a number of places to see within a short walking distance from your downtown hotel. 

Note: want a quick ride from the airport to downtown? Ride the MARTA from the airport to Peachtree. Very fast.

When in Buckhead, ride the Buc: The Buc Shuttle is a free shuttle bus service that connects MARTA’s Lenox and Buckhead stations to popular places in Buckhead, including hotels, restaurants, Phipps Plaza and Lenox Square. Important to note when visiting some of the clubs and restaurants noted below.)  According to the Buc info site, “the shuttle runs every 8-15 minutes between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Monday through Friday on a five-mile loop.” So, for heading home from a late evening, take a cab to MARTA or back to the hotel.

If you arrive into town with other folks on the same flight, consider renting a limo or get together an impromptu set of people going to roughly the same hotel: that way you’ll pay one limo fee.  Last, unless you plan on traveling out of town, don’t rent a car (take a cab) unless you enjoy paying daily hotel parking rates akin to what you would pay for a flat in SoHo.

Say hello your new best friend: the hotel concierge.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it here, too: the concierge is your connection when you don’t have connections in town.  When you arrive at the hotel with a concierge on staff, introduce yourself and hand them a business card.  That one move may come in hand later more than you know.  See ‘dinner’ and ‘getting to the airport’ for starters.  As Cowie notes, “ask your concierge to make some reservations for you now at top restaurants so you don’t find that you can’t get in when you arrive there in peak season. Tip the concierge the moment you arrive…”  See, you can learn helpful travel hints from a man that you thought only had great party design sense. 😉

Eating out: You’ll no doubt have some free time one or two nights, and Atlanta is a wonderful place. Check out the info in Atlanta Magazine’s review of best new restaurants from last fall (registration may be required for the article, but it’s free). In the mean time, here are a few of my favourites in the area:

Best breakfasts: See these suggestions on sneakysunday.com and if you’re game, check out my favourites…

Alon’s, a great local bakery and breakfast joint, with brunch offered at their Dunwoody location on Saturday and Sundays. 1394 North Highland Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30306. Tel: (404) 872-6000

Java Jive, for the authentic Atlanta Southern breakfast, with homemade biscuits and traditional “big, American breakfasts” with eggs and bacon. It’s a very busy place but worth the trouble.  790 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308, Tel: (404) 876-6161

There’s also the Highland Bakery where you can sit down at the counter and have a civilized breakfast or take it with you. Excellent fare, opening at 7AM weekdays, 8AM on the weekend. 655 Highland Avenue, #10, Atlanta, GA 30312, Tel: (404) 586-0772.

Lunch and Dinner: Around town: Check out the local MSN City Guide for Atlanta here, as well as their restaurant guide.  Also, my favourite web spot for ratings and information is Zagat’s, with links to a few of my favourites. You can also get good customer reviews from OpenTable book many of these restaurants for free via OpenTable.com:

Bacchanalia – The food at Bacchanalia is still among the best in Atlanta. You can order a la carte or from a sampler menu (prix fixe), featuring local fare and excellent wine.  It’s expensive, so don’t pad the expense account… eat at the bar and get the same food as in the main restaurant.  1198 Howell Mill Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318, (404) 365-0410

Aria – this is one of my favourite restaurants in Atlanta.  (http://www.aria-atl.com/) and on many top restaurant lists, serving a great fare ranging from local fish (a sample menu included Mountain Trout with crab smashed potatoes, haricots vert and pecan brown butter. menus are updated nightly), chicken, duck, and meats. Visit Aria’s Blog to find out what’s happening at this great foodie location.

Bone’s Restaurant – When in Buckhead, one of the best place for steaks is Bone’s, a nice local alternative to Ruth’s Chris’ or Morton’s, with starters of excellent starters, steak and seafood. The restaurant has excellent service and a very good wine list.

Bar-B-Que:  (Added 072010)  You can not go to Atlanta and miss the chance to have some of the best bar-b-que in the South (save the best BBQ in Texas and the likes of The Joint in New Orleans, thank you very much).  I thought that this year, BBQ deserved a place all it’s own. And just in time for MGX, Atlanta Magazine offers their picks for top bar-b-que. If you’re local you may find a copy of the magazine in your hotel, or from your friendly concierge.  (You can find all sorts of great recommendations on the writer Bill Addison’s blog, Covered Dish.) But if you can’t wait, here are my top picks for BBQ:

Fat Matt’s Rib Shack – Maybe 10-15 minutes from downtown Hotlanta (1811 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30324), Fat Matt’s is known for their ribs and excellent side dishes. One of my personal favourites, given how often we’d travel to the Peachtree city for events and business meetings. Although this shack isn’t at Gayot.com’s top of the list, it makes sneakysunday.com’s list (which I find is a great resource!) and worth the trip. Closest to the Lindberg Marta Station on Piedmont Rd. Tel: (404) 607-1622

Daddy D’z BBQ Joint – Do not let the appearance keep you out of Daddy D’z (264 Memorial Drive, Atlanta, GA 30312). This is one of the most authentic joints around, and their great food and atmosphere is the best of Atlanta. Great ribs, pulled pork, sides and cold drinks. Affordable, you’ll eat like a king on a Microsoft per diem. Close to the downtown hotels and open daily 11AM to 10:30PM, Friday and Saturday ’til 12 midnite. Sunday: Noon to 9:30PM. Nice touch: they deliver, but go in person especially if they have live music (call ahead)! Tel: (404) 222-0206

Harold’s BBQ – Another perfect example of what Southern BBQ in Atlanta (171 McDonough Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30315), Harold’s has excellent pulled pork, beef ribs, grilled chicken and sides (especially Harold’s corn bread). Close to town, an excellent meal. (404) 627-9268

Fogo de ChaoIvan Gomez suggested Fogo de Chao in Buckhead (3101 Piedmont Rd., Atlanta, GA 30305) as “a great place for steak in Atlanta… Brazilian BBQ style: Fogo de Chao… best beef u can possibly get…” This small chain has a number of restaurants throughout the south – amazing that I’ve never found this place! Bing notes that this restaurant is near one of my faves, Aria (see above). Tel: (404) 266.9988

In addition, there are a few tried and true spots in Atlanta, including these two high-end chains:

Capital Grille – Atlanta.  Technically, it’s in Buckhead, which has plenty of late-night fare and entertainment, and a classic steak house in the vein of The Palm, with plenty of lobster and seafood.  A very nice wine list, excellent service and a full menu in the bar if you are there for a simpler evening or can’t get a table. Tel: (404) 262-1162

Oceanaire Seafood Room.  Although the Seattle location closed (sniff), Oceanaire is still a great choice for fresh seafood from all over the world.  1100 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309 – Tel: (404) 475-2277.

Craftbar. Again, if you’re making your way out to Buckhead for events, then check out Tom Colicchio’s (famed Top Chef judge and restauranteur) not only has a local fine-dining restaurant Craft (akin to the NYC experience) but also a more accessible Craftbar. (More info and reviews here at Yelp and OpenTable). 3376 Peachtree Road, Tel: 404-995-7580 (added 072009)

A note on booking tables… Consider booking your table through your hotel concierge as noted above: if you haven’t called them in advance, ask for their help in booking a table (tip, please) and get their business card with their phone number after you check in… and give them a tip if they offer a direct dial number.  A good concierge may be able to score a reservation to a hard-to-book place: I have found that your best bet is a well-connected hotel concierge if a direct call to the restaurant doesn’t pan out.  Also, look to your credit card company (many offer a concierge service) or try your hand (or mouse) booking a table at OpenTable.com. Many of the restaurants still show availability on OpenTable.com as of today, so book early.

Stuff to see: Always a good reference for the best restaurants, clubs and activities in Atlanta, see 10best.com, and visit MSN Travel Guide to Atlanta

Thanks to Jeff for his suggestions on other cool sites in and around town (for any free time between events you may have…):

I’d also recommend that folks who have a few minutes to spare might enjoy the Georgia Aquarium and/or World Of Coca-Cola. If you have enough time, you can take a walk around Centennial Olympic Park (bonus points if you can find the nail imprints on the metal statue from the Olympic Park Bomb). News junkies may enjoy the CNN Tour.

Getting to the airport.  Finding a cab on the last day of MGX or any large event in the Peachtree capital is like finding a street in the City without a ‘peach’ in the title.  Arrange a car in advance through your concierge for more than one traveler.  Or that concierge you tipped earlier just may have arranged a shuttle for a small group that has an opening.

Ask your friends and followers on Twitter.  Follow the discussion about MGX on Twitter here via the #MGX hashtag: http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23mgx

Have fun.

 

Tags: Microsoft, Atlanta, MGX, travel tips.

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Going to Mix10 in Las Vegas? Check out my hints on surviving tradeshows and finding restaurants in Las Vegas

Going to Mix10 in Las Vegas, from March 15 – 17? Check out my helpful hints on surviving tradeshows and finding restaurants in Las Vegas

As you may already know, Microsoft’s Mix10 Conference begins this week in Las Vegas.

Yes, today is when we Spring Forward An Hour in the US and Canada (thank you Daylight Saving Time) so if you’re traveling today, make sure you’ve adjusted you watch accordingly (we made the change for you automagically on your Windows powered PCs and devices). I know of a few brave souls at SXSW Interactive in Austin this weekend who’ll be heading shortly to Mix and I wish them well on any flight connections.

So with a tip of the hat to my friends heading or already in Las Vegas, I offer my few tips for those heading off to Vegas this week for the event, recycling the bits in the blog post “Surviving CES in Las Vegas: A few helpful hints“. 

Also, see the latest post for SXSW suggestions, Surviving SXSW in Austin: A few helpful hints.

Just substitute “Mix10” where you see CES. (documenting reuse of my legacy code 😉

Articles from around the Web & Social media. I’ll post articles queued up to read from Mix10 on the web. More news on Mix can be found via this search on Bing.

 

Tags: articles, what I read, Las Vegas, travel, Mix10, SXSW.

 

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12 Apps & Services for Surviving Conference Season for iPhones… and Windows Phones

Microsoft Office Clip Art Just in time for SXSW and Mix10, courtesy of Amybeth Hale at Mashable is her list of 12 iPhone Apps for Surviving Conference Season



“As conference season is upon us (including SXSW, of course), I began thinking about all the things one might need to survive and stay connected with a busy schedule of travel and networking. Personally, I’m headed to San Diego to attend both SourceCon and the ERE Spring Expo.


“Then I remembered that I’m the proud owner of an iPhone, and that almost everything I’ll need to make it through is easily accessible and at the tip of my fingers. Here are some of the apps which I believe will help you navigate, stay connected, and meet new friends when you attend a conference.”


As I use several mobile devices, including Windows Mobile models with touchscreen (HTC Fuze), without (the Samsung JACK) and an iPhone, I thought that a list of apps and services for Windows Phone would be helpful to others considering how to travel effectively with their mobile device.


Let me know if you have any suggested additions or changes.











































Apple iPhone Windows phone
Priceline Hotel Negotiator  Via www.priceline.mobi
Free Wifi Finder  Pocket Wifi Radar
RobotVision na
Foursquare WinMoSquare
Gowalla Via Gowalla.com
TwitPic Uploader ceTwit and Quakk 


Ustream Live Broadcaster

Livecast (touchscreen)


Livecast (no touchscreen)

More @ livecast.com/mobile/
Facebook Facebook
Brizzly ceTwit, Quakk, TinyTwitter, PocketTwit
Glympse Glympse
WordPress Pocket Sharp 
beamME pro Contxts.com 

Added 031210, worth checking out: This from windowsphone: Cellspin: easy to use app for publishing video, photos, text & audio to social nets. only $2.99! http://bit.ly/bKRCTi (via @clintonfitch)


 


Tags: articles, what I read, blogs, SXSW, Microsoft, travel tips.


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Surviving SXSW in Austin: A few helpful hints

Added 031210:


@Microsoft: Tag #sxswHaiti on Twitter, @PayPal & @Microsoft will donate $0.25 to @SavetheChildren: http://bit.ly/918YAk Pls RT!


imageLooking for something to do? Check out the list of nearly 700 SXSW side parties http://bit.ly/aO6zkS from 360sxswi!


SXSW food parties (scroll down for today’s lineup) http://bit.ly/b4oH32 from 360sxswi. Thinking about lunch? A roundup of guides to food near SXSW: http://bit.ly/94kEOR  
 

Once again, I was asked not once, not twice but a half dozen times in the last day for a couple of restaurant recommendations in Austin as SXSW is just around the virtual corner. And another person asked today if I planned to reprise a past, popular post, “Surviving CES in Las Vegas: A few helpful hints” for SXSW, given I have family in and around the Great State of Texas.


This weekend will be another busy one for us at home, otherwise I would have found a way to travel to Austin with several of my friends to attend South by Southwest Conference in Austin, Texas, at the Austin Convention Center. So with a tip of the hat to my old friends and foodies, I offer a few tips for those heading off to Austin this week for the event, with a few recycled bits.


Toby, I expect you to do more than an obligatory Tweet. 😉  (You can catch him in the panel “Customer Support in a 140 Character World” on Monday, March 15 at 5:00 pm in Hilton A/B.)


For those of you who don’t know, a good summary is offered from The Statesman last year (the local paper):



“South by Southwest is a music lover’s heaven. But wait — it’s also a film lover’s dream. And, yes, it’s a techie’s delight. What started as a small Austin music festival 22 years ago is now a full-blown music, film and interactive jamboree known worldwide.


Welcome, SXSW. You’re grown up and spectacular but still very much a genuine Austin experience.


Starting Friday, Austin’s downtown will swell with people and events as SXSW kicks off. Bring on traffic and people congestion. Austin is ready and thrilled to host this year’s 10-day happening that is expected to draw 100,000 attendees. This is just the kind of festive event the city needs to shake off the blues of a slumping economy. The Austin Convention and Visitor’s Bureau estimates that the SXSW jamboree will generate about $103 million for the Austin-area economy.”


The SXSW conference also offers a music fest offering musical acts from around the world. Although I’ve never been to one in the 24 years it’s been going on (outside of NAMM, CES, NAB and a host of others, I was a New Music conference attendee), I always resolved that I would when I made it back to the music business I left so long ago. Now more than ever at is a destination for media, technology, music and art. (I went to my fair share of New Music conferences in New York, which offered dozens and dozens of bands, but that was pre-Internet, and when I had a Compuserve address that ran up a hefty monthly bill that eclipsed even the most precocious teen texter today.)


Next year. To paraphrase Spinal Tap, I’ll go in ’11.


BTW, I’m reminded that next time you’ll change your clocks for daylight saving time is March 14 2010, as we will Spring Forward in much of the States and Canada on Sunday at 2:00am. Be aware! (added 031010 – thanks to renegade500 for the reminder!)


My hat is off to the many folks making their way down to Texas, just south of Big D to Austin for a little SXSW this year. So, once again, after the family drifts off to sleep this weekend, I’ll catch up on the goings-on over the filmmaking, music and technology.


Here’s a collection of what you can find yourself via Twitter’s search engine for SXSW tweets. I’ll leave it to you to find your own favourites (and LMK if you have good links to attendee coverage).


Microsoft is going to be at SXSW in a big way. Check it out here http://dfoc.us/cv2k6F. For Microsoft news and happenings at SXSW, be sure to follow msftsxsw on Twitter and watch #msftsxsw: also search out #sxsw and #SXSWi for general coverage on Twitter.


As kathyblackwell notes: Overwhelmed? For Interactive, follow @360sxswi. For Film: @360sxswmovies. For Music: @360sxsw.


The SXSW site offers their recommendations for first time visitors here, but there is so much more to think about. Plus, you want it on a single page. So here are a few tips for those heading off to Austin this weekend for the event. I’ll post links to more tips as I get them as updates to this post.



Getting to and around SXSW


Flight and Hotel: If you don’t already have either of these, good luck.  You’ll have a better chance of finding a real Davy Crocket cap at the Alamo than finding either at this late date.  Stay home and read the daily SXSW blogs.


But if you must go, try booking online, going stand-by, or fly and drive from another major city (Dallas/Fort Worth is one option).  As for hotels, call a well-connected travel agent or try to find a room in town… otherwise, find a friend with an extra bed or snag the pull-out couch.


If you do have a flight, the Austin Airport has a site with lots of detailed information here. You can still register on site as of today (so says http://sxsw.com/attend).


SXSW FAQ and Information:  Want to know more about Austin, where to pick up your badge or get your copy of the SXSW Registrant’s Directory?Be sure to check out the official SXSW FAQ Page.


First-timers Guide to the SXSW Experience: SXSW can be overwhelming to first-timers. Here are a few pointers to guide you, courtesy of SXSW.


SXSW 101 features SXSW information for both newcomers and veterans, SXSW 101 answers frequently asked questions and highlights ways to make the most of the event.


Transportation: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/austinairport/transportation.htm


Getting from the airport to anywhere: Remember, if you need to get a taxi cab at Austin airport, look to the departures area where people are exiting the taxi if there’s a big line.  (Just a suggestion, not an endorsement.)  If you arrive into Austin with other folks on the same flight, consider renting a limo or get together an impromptu set of people going to roughly the same hotel on the strip: that way you’ll pay one limo fee.


Want to know what a taxi ride will cost? Check out the Austin Taxi Fare Finder or Yellow cab’s trip estimator. YMMV.


Getting around at SXSW.  It’s said that the service will be greatly improved this year for SXSW, with hotel shuttle service (during Music dates) for 35 hotels outside downtown, available day and nearly all night (8:30am to 3:00am), running ~30 minutes. This from the SXSW hotel shuttle page



SXSW and R&R Limousine & Bus are offering SXSW attendees a pay-to-ride shuttle service to most SXSW hotels outside downtown to help attendees get to the Convention Center for the conference and trade show activities during the day and back to their hotel after conference hours, film screenings, late parties, and late night showcases during the music festival.


If you’re staying at a hotel outside downtown we recommend you buy the unlimited shuttle pass online at the R&R website for just $40 per person for 5 days (March 12-16 for Interactive/Film or March 16-20 for Music) or $60 per person for all of SXSW 2010.


Capital Metro opens the new rail line, Capital MetroRail, after SXSW this year (March 22, 2010), but there are still plenty of options for getting around town. (http://www.capmetro.org/) Courtesy of the Austin transit system site, here are a few helpful links to schedules and maps, including…



What to do at SXSW


Setting up your schedule: New Scheduling Feature at my.sxsw.com, with my.sxsw.com/events. You can build your own personalized calendar of events for SXSW, including conference sessions, parties and more.qrcodesmall.jpg


“Badges?… We don’t need no… stinkin’ badges!” But you want to know about QR Codes:  The Quick Response Code (aka QR Code) is a bar code you’ll find on every badge that can be read by mobile phones equipped with the right read software, so install one now. The QR code links to more info (such as online information) on my.SXSW.


Use link.me/sxsw a reader selector to automatically get the right reader for your camera equipped smartphone.



Parties and Events at SXSW: Here’s a link to the Official SXSW parties page.

Opportunities to Connect with the Microsoft Team: As Dominic notes on the page above, Microsoft has quite the contingent at SXSW and shares what we have planned and how you can connect with the various Microsoft teams onsite. Also, be sure to check out the Microsoft News Center for daily updates during the event. Here’s an excerpt:

Microsoft Booth: Be sure to stop by the Microsoft booth to check out the latest from Windows Azure, Bing, Internet Explorer and WebsiteSpark.  


We are in the Expo Hall Booth # 904, 906, 1005, 1007.


Microsoft Sponsored Parties, Lounges and Contests:


Be sure to join our folks in Austin for the official Microsoft SXSW party at SpeakEasy for drinks and to check out technologies from Windows 7, Windows Phone, Silverlight and Surface, among others. Monday, March 15 from 8:00 pm ’til midnight. More details are available here on eventbrite.com.


Stop by the Silverlight Interactive Lounge located in the 4th floor corridor of the Austin Convention Center, outside of the panel rooms to experience the digital living room showcase. Friday, March 12 – Tuesday, March 16; Hours: Friday (10 am – 7pm); Saturday (9:00 am – 6:00 pm); Sunday & Monday (9:30 am – 6:00 pm) and Tuesday (10:00 am – 4:00 pm). 


Check out the Windows Phone Bloggers Lounge, located at 19A, to experience the Windows Mobile device bar and grab some snacks during the conference. Friday, March 12 – Tuesday, March 16; Hours: 9:30am – 6:00 pm daily


Strike up a conversation with the Microsoft Tag street team to obtain your personal Tag, which will allow friends and other attendees to scan your Tag using their smart phone. The attendee with the most scans at 6:00 pm on Monday, March 15 will win $5,000!


What to wear


Pack light but warm.  Keep in mind that it is cool in Austin this time of year by Texas standards: the weather will be near freezing at night – that’s what they call weather in the 40’s and 50’s, or about 10-12 degrees for my friends from outside the States – and the high 60’s to low 70’s during the day. You can get the latest weather forecast via MSN Weather.


See also a few travel recommendations from Colin Cowie on packing.


Here’s a link to Austin’s latest weather information. For after the day’s event, you’ll need bring a jacket that you can wear as you brave the winds from the north (WFAA in Dallas always talked about the cold winds coming down from Canada).  But wear a stylish shirt underneath just in case for the late-night antics around town… or better, bring a nice shirt allowing for a quick change prior to dinner and doesn’t require a trip back to the hotel.  And when you get pictures (and you will) be sure to post them as appropriate on the SXSW Flickr feeds.


Wear great, comfortable shoes.  And don’t bring the stylish shoes, go for comfort as you will be standing and walking.  I’ve learned from many years of travel and duty in Vegas, Atlanta, New York and LA that smart folks are the ones roaming about in walking shoes or sneakers.  My pick: anything from Ecco, Rockport or New Balance, which all have nice shoes in black to go with your winter wool trousers or jeans.



Say hello your new best friend: the hotel concierge.  Introduce yourself and hand them a business card: most don’t seem to have grasped the idea of the “bump” yet for exchanging v-cards.  That one move may come in hand later more than you know.  See ‘dinner’ and ‘getting to the airport’ for starters.  If you plan on doing a lot of schmoozing at SXSW, call and see if your hotel has one (or some young upstart at the front desk) and introduce yourself now to let them know you will be staying at the hotel.  As Cowie notes, “ask your concierge to make some reservations for you now at top restaurants so you don’t find that you can’t get in when you arrive there in peak season. Tip the concierge the moment you arrive…”  See, you can learn helpful travel hints from a man that you thought only had great party design sense. 😉


A note on booking tables… Consider booking your table for dinner through your hotel concierge as noted above: if you haven’t called them in advance, ask for their help in booking a table (tip, please) and get their business card with their phone number after you check in… and give them a tip if they offer a direct dial number.  A good concierge may be able to score a reservation to a hard-to-book place: I have found that your best bet is a well-connected hotel concierge if a direct call to the restaurant doesn’t pan out. 


Also, look to your credit card company (many offer a concierge service) or try your hand (or mouse) booking a table at OpenTable.com (also via their smartphone apps), and getting recommendations from Urban Spoon. Many of the restaurants still show availability on OpenTable as of today, so book early.


Gear at SXSW: Be sure to check out SXSW’s official Gear Alley Expo


Power at SXSW: Heading down to SXSW this year? As I noted, you might consider taking a travel power pack for when you get caught in the airport or in a session where you can’t find a power outlet when your devices are running on low. And as @omarg notes in his pro tip from http://www.sxswbaby.com/, remember ABC: Always Be Charging http://bit.ly/aqR93O.


imageI have to recommend the Energizer XP8000 Rechargeable Power Pack. (And no, I’m just an energizer customer, not shilling for Energizer. But in the interest of full disclosure, Microsoft and Energizer have been close, as with Microsoft managing some of the company’s IT operations as noted here.)


On a recent trip, the compact unit – about the size of a deck of cards provided many extra hours of use of our phones, PDAs and small electronics as well as one netbooks. It has several power outputs and comes with a bundle of extra connector tips for popular mobile phones and mini netbook PCs.


I was able to lave several power bricks behind at home on our last trip and travel much lighter (important when you’re also arranging a vacation’s worth of family electronics). I used the USB charger/sync cables for our mobile phones and game units in place of the wall warts that we have for them, and left the power supply for our HP netbook. image


I found the Energizer XP8000 available at Amazon if you can’t find it locally: on sale, you can find this available for in the $70 range.


For smaller uses, there’s also a mini Energizer XP4001 that runs about half as much on sale (many if the office supply stores carry it – I found it locally on sale for under $40). 


Food at SXSW is not a problem. Perhaps you’ll get an invite to one of the many events (like the SXSW food blogger bash last year). As noted on the SXSW web site, they partnered with Foodspotting to invite folks to contribute to their Foodspotting crowd-source guide “What to Eat at South by Southwest.”



Whether you want to get involved in the Street Food Scavenger Hunt, or want to track down a party bus headed to the famed Salt Lick BBQ, or would rather live off of Free Food and Free Drinks all week, Foodspotting’s dish-centric dining guides will help you spend less time thinking about good food and more time nomming and noshing! You will also be able to access these guides and discover foods around you using Foodspotting’s newly-launhed iPhone app. Meet the people behind this app (and help satisfy your hunger) by attending the Street Food Celebration in Brush Square Park on Saturday, March 13.


As Austin360.com reports… (I love this web site!)



“You can’t throw a stick during the 10 days of the South by Southwest Music, Film and Interactive conferences and festivals without hitting a party that’s offering free food. But an interesting phenomenon has been happening in the past few years: parties where food is the headliner, not just a trick to get people in the door. Here’s a short list, and links to RSVP and more events are online at www.austin360.com/relishaustin.”


And see their post SXSW to-do: Go to panels, see shows, drink cheap American beer.


Also, Layne Lynch of The Daily Texan Online has a list of SXSW 2010 festival offers…



When South by Southwest commences in the live music capital of the world, human normalcy takes a backseat. Life becomes all about entertainment for one week while festival attendees adopt a more nocturnal state. 


Those who are most in-tune with the music festival manage to find any and every way to survive on all the festival provides — and it provides all that is needed for its visitors.


Anybody looking for ways to stay hydrated and nourished during the festival should know that free food and drinks will be provided at several events throughout the week.


Many of these events will serve the basic Tex-Mex and pizza, but anything free is worth trying. Keep in mind that many of these events require RSVPs and have an attendance limit, so RSVP early.


Below are just some of the many events taking place that provide free food and free drinks. Check various Web sites and blogs for updates on any free food and drinks offered throughout the festival.


Last (but not least!) the Austin Town Hall offers their own SXSW food guide (via guest contributor Bonnie Walton) along with a handy map and a list of list of various shows during SXSW



If there’s one thing I love more than good music, it’s good food. I know, I know, grab the torches and pitchforks. But, in keeping with the independent spirit of the festival, I though it fitting that we recommend to noobs and visitors our best independently owned eateries that, as the locals say, keep Austin weird.


The Raw Foods Witch also offers her eat healthy selections for SXSW.


See below on booking restaurants early (call before you fly) and be sure to bring your favourite portable snack foods (such as trail mix, snack bars) just in case.


Getting to the airport.  Finding a cab on the last day of SXSW is like looking for your 25-character product ID code from your Windows 7 Party Pack. Trust me on this one.  Arrange a car in advance through your concierge for more than one traveler.  Or that concierge you tipped earlier just may have arranged a shuttle for a small group that has an opening. 


If you don’t have a ride… I have found that when leaving events directly for the airport, go to the head of the line and ask if anyone else is destined for a date with the TSA security screeners… and if there’s room, offer to pay for their ride. Best if you have carry-on luggage and not the 12-spaces high demo rack destined for cargo check in.  (Please note that I have used this tactic once or twice and found it to be tremendously helpful, but do not endorse the practice… particularly when the line is long and tempers are high. In these cases, be discreet 😉  This strategy also works in hotel lines, just don’t do it within earshot of a taxi driver. (You saw “Taxi Driver,” right?)


Photos and video from SXSW.  Be sure to tag your photos on flickr with sxsw2010: Brian Gorbett, an architect in our developer & platform evangelism group, has set up a photo stream on his personal web site for you to check out at http://bit.ly/dc9My1.



Articles from around the Web & Social media. I’ll post articles queued up to read from SXSW on the web. More news on SXSW can be found at Bing Search News.


@geekygirldawn offers her 10 Tips For Enjoying SXSW


SXSW 2010: The Complete Social Media Guide from @mashable 


From @natanyap: The http://austinfoodlovers.com/sxswguide now features bkfst tacos by @tacojournalism & a “list of awesome” by @BootsInTheOven


Where do you grab a bite when rushing from Alamo to Paramount? Check out slackerwood‘s SXSW guide @ http://bit.ly/ahkzJK 


Twitter.com Briefly Enables Location Feature via Softpedia


Robert Rodriguez Brings Predators ‘First Look’ to SXSW via Wired News


CNETNews reports that Tech finds its place at SXSWi (roundup) http://bit.ly/9iYLWj


imageThe return of the Pepsico Zeitgeist, powered by data from Twitter, Flickr, SXSW, and foursquare. I also heard that Pepsi will have “pods” around SXSW to allow attendees to easily and comfortably broadcast to their fans while staying close to the action. 


FTW! SXSWi B.S. Bingo Cards, Now Available!  I need these for everyday office use. (here’s the direct link to the PDF)


broylesa has a list of SXSW parties where the food is the headliner: http://bit.ly/cV6iLv


omarg gives you a list of good people to follow on Twitter during SXSW: http://bit.ly/anYQlx


You could win 5k with @MicrosoftTag at SXSW – Get your unique tag on the 4th floor at the @silverlight booth on the 4th floor! Most scans wins!


From petersmeg Attend #SXSW virtually by using @Journerdism‘s guide from 2009 http://bit.ly/aUYi60 (via @mckennaewen)


From Starbucks Hey #sxsw, need coffee now? #StabucksVIA is now at #SXSW! Stop by the SXSW Blogger Lounge or the Rackspace booth. http://yfrog.com/1gfdsxj


12 iPhone Apps for Surviving Conference Season, courtesy of Amybeth Hale at Mashable. I liked the post but thought that something was missing, so I offer…


12 Apps & Services for Surviving Conference Season for iPhones… and Windows Phones:










































Apple iPhone Windows Phone
Priceline Hotel Negotiator  Via www.priceline.mobi
Free Wifi Finder  Pocket Wifi Radar
RobotVision na
Foursquare WinMoSquare
Gowalla Via Gowalla.com
TwitPic Uploader ceTwit and Quakk 


Ustream Live Broadcaster

Livecast (touchscreen)


Livecast (no touchscreen)

More @ livecast.com/mobile/
Facebook Facebook
Brizzly ceTwit, Quakk, TinyTwitter, PocketTwit
Glympse Glympse
WordPress Pocket Sharp 
beamME pro Contxts.com 


Additional Austin link for visitors


  • Austin Convention Center

  • Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau

  • City of Austin

    Tags: articles, what I read, blogs, SXSW, Microsoft, travel tips.



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