Austin

My immune system didn’t do me many favors in 2019. I was sick on five or six separate occasions in the first half of the year, including an obnoxious bout of bronchitis that lasted the entire month of February. Luckily that didn’t stop me from having an adventurous and fulfilling year, and for the first time in my four years at ProPublica, I used every single one of my vacation days.

Projects

My first three… See more →

Waiting for the bats.

Nothing says “Important work is being done here” like Cooper Black.

@chambermonster is good at making friends.

Getting started in Austin by seeing a Richard Linklater movie at the Alamo Drafthouse seems appropriate.

Just Like Being There

Scout Shannon

One of the smartest things Just Like Being There does is to go out of its way not to ignore the “gig” part of “gig posters”. The film is thick with music in both the background and foreground, and the handful of live performances it features do a good job of capturing that certain kind of magic that only a great rock show can provide. Capturing that magic is… See more →

The Puddin’ at Gordough’s. instagr.am/p/IHlUHRBM1F/

This is not why I come to Texas in March.

Scheming at AUS. Best SXSW I've had in years. Old friends, new friends, valuable perspective, not a moment wasted. Thankful.

Killing time in the Hampton lounge until I head to the airport at 2:00. Company is welcome. #SXSW

Looking for lunch companions in the vicinity of the Hampton. Hit me up. #SXSW

Anyone at the Hampton want to share a cab to the airport around 11:00?

Heading to the Paramount to see Sin Nombre.

In line at the Paramount with @jasonsantamaria, waiting to see Objectified.

Heading over to the convention center for some meandering before @jasonsantamaria's Not the Same Old Story panel.

Limited edition letterpress #Cogaoke poster presale in the Hampton lounge at 5:00. Proceeds could help feed any children I may have.

When you have as many reasons to look forward to arriving in Austin as I did today, you keep a constant eye on the speedometer, and that eye is ceaselessly disappointed. It was by no means a slow drive, but reduced-speed bridges across Louisiana’s wetlands and traffic congestion around metropolitan areas like Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, and Houston made for some uneven speeds, despite the fact that I spent nearly 500 miles on one road… See more →

Hanging in Austin with @goodwitch, @cookiecrook, and @feather.

Ending a typically bittersweet final night in Austin.

My fourth year at Austin’s juggernaut of an interactive conference was more of a mixed bag than years past, as both I and SXSW adapted to its growing pains.

This year’s conference was, I believe, about three times the size of my first (in 2005). Daytime sessions expanded to remote areas of Austin’s sprawling convention center, and overcrowded lunch and evening activities tested even Texas’s deft corralling hand. Those who knew the territory well enough… See more →

At Ginger Man with a few good people.

Crashing a ma.gnolia lunch thing at Spaghetti Warehouse.

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Whoever “they” are, they say you never forget your first time. And in 2005, my first SXSW was definitely unforgettable. They also say twice is nice, and as such, my second SXSW was all sugar and spice. As we all know, though, the third time is the charm, and this year’s SXSW charmed the hell out of me.

The people, panels, presentations, and parties were more plentiful than ever, but I still managed to absorb… See more →

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Although most people are completely unaware that it encompasses anything other than music, South by Southwest is one of the world’s largest interactive conferences. 2006 was the biggest SXSW Interactive ever, or so assumes this second-timer, for whom the scope of “ever” begins in 2005. There were more panels, more parties, and most importantly, more people, many of whom were old friends, and many of whom are now new friends.

Things were looking a bit… See more →