I can’t believe this is my 8th SXSW! It’s hard to pick a favorite year. That would be like picking a favorite child. Or rugelach filling. Nutella. But SXSW 2017 was magical!
Have you been to SXSW before? If you aren’t familiar, it’s a 10 day music, film and interactive festival/conference/craziness that takes over Austin every year. You either accept it and dive head first, or GTFO as fast as you can. Me? I’m always game for the adventure. You can read about my shenanigans at SXSW 2013, SXSW 2014, SXSW 2015 and SXSW 2016 too! Do it, I’ll wait. This year started with my friends at the Infatuation and my other friends at Don Julio. Yes, those are champagne glasses filled with tequila! Oy.
Plus cocktails. On a school night! Don’t worry, we had bites from Olamaie to balance things out. As I get old(er), I usually opt to stay in and watch Bravo instead of rage on 6th Street, yet somehow SXSW brings out the FOMO in me and I’ll gladly go out from breakfast taco to night cap for 10 days in a row. No problem at all.
Some pro shots by J.N. Silva with my girl and fellow MOT Juliet. 
Paparazzi life is tough. After dinner we teleported to the NYT Mag party and ran into all my favorite ladies!
Rachel, Tania, Karen, Jill and Shannon! By ran into I mean we planned to meet there.
And then went to see Ja Rule. He played all my favorite songs. Where would I be without my babyyyyy. Typical SXSW day.
The next day we needed bloody Mary’s stat and headed to Spredfast lounge for some nourishment and a quick stop to make it rain with Nicole.
Peached Tortilla was there making these epic Instagram-worthy milkshakes!!
Omgomgomgomg.
It’s hard to describe SXSW if you haven’t experienced it first-hand. Every bar, restaurant and street corner is transformed into a branded experience of some sort. 
It takes over the city. Next up we headed to a fashion show for Neiman Marcus. Fasssshion.
Followed by an epic concert with bands like Midland (rour), Band of Heathens and Heartless Bastards! So good!
Since SXSW is the perfect blend of education and hedonism, it only makes sense that this year party Jewish holiday Purim fell in the middle of it!
Yassss queen!
Sorry, one more photo of my epic Jewnicorn face paint! I never wanted to wash my face again.
Purim party was followed by the feedfeed party with Rayna and Michelle! P.S. I’m the new Jewish food editor over on the feedfeed!
Brunch the next day at La Condesa with Betches put on by Austin Food Magazine! (Pic below by Hayden Walker.)
Spoiler alert: They weren’t betchy at all!
Nothing to see in this parking lot.
Or here. 
Jane had a little too much fun spraying me with liquid nitrogen!
And then, a panel! Padma was there and she was glorious. 
And Tom came to support!! The panel was all about how technology can help make meals more communal. Right up my alley! Cooking is more than just eating, because you can just go buy food, right? It’s an experience, a release, a connection. Padma spoke about the importance of passing down recipes and techniques in families and it spoke to me!!
I had one more day of SXSW in me (and one day before I left for Europe!!) So I couldn’t miss Schlotzsky’s brisket launch! Meatttyyyy. Photo below by Jane.
And I stopped my Rachael Ray’s Feedback House- her 10th year and my 8th! Even though I would miss her legendary party at Stubb’s, I couldn’t let a SXSW pass without a little RaeRay!
5 Comments
But did you say hi to Tom?!!!
Nooo I was a chicken.
May I ask what street that picture was of in the article please? I haven’t been back to Austin for a while and was curious!!
If you mean the overhead shot, it’s 6th street! On the dirty side.
[…] yes way more than I say no. Plus, I can always visit Austin! And you know I’ll be back for SXSW. But once I got in my head that I was going to make a change (for once in my life), there was no […]