Austin360 blogs > Digital Savant > Archives > 2010 > March > 13 > Entry
Parties: Day One at SXSW Interactive
Tanner Moehle and Ingrid Camacho
I’m no Michael Barnes (who is also covering SXSW parties at a whole other level than what I can do on five hours sleep), but here’s a few thoughts on last night’s events.
Fogo de Chao was the scene for two big parties running concurrently — Girls in Tech, which filled up the lower level with a large concentration of Austinites, and Porter Novelli’s annual meat-and-drinks fest on the rooftop (which continues for the rest of Interactive). It was a mix of local techies (Lynn Bender, Michelle Greer), film folks (producer Lupe Valdez), PR people and others. At the Girls in Tech party, I caught up with William Hurley, who sill be introducing his new company Chaotic Moon, Saturday night, as well as Olga Garcia, Meg Strout, Kate Buck and many other friends.
Then it was off to the Microsoft Windows Phone Series 7 / TechSet party at Speakeasy which was packed, but not nearly as badly as some of last year’s larger parties. Inside, feather boas and 80s-style white shades were given out and the band played audience-friendly pop and funk, while upstairs in the VIP section, two go-go dancers in what a friend called “Bordello chic” red lace, danced on platforms. It wasn’t what you’d expect from Microsoft (this certainly wouldn’t have flown in the Windows 95 era), but the real action was on the giant, plush couches near the open-air area. Nice cool breeze, Austin skyline, good times. By 11, the place was starting to empty out for non-SXSW patrons.
I ended my night at Frank with a hot dog while others partied on at the Tweet House, Emo’s, Molotov and other party spots. I was saving my energy for the big parties tonight (Frog Design), Sunday (Statesman Social Media Awards, Mashable) and Monday (TechKaraoke!).
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