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Austin360 blogs > Out & About > Archives > 2009 > March > 22 > Entry

O&A SXSW 41: South Congress Avenue 2

By Michael Barnes | Sunday, March 22, 2009, 10:37 AM

For Part 1, see post below …

The post-hippie tent markets unfurls better than average jewelry and apparel, which explained their steady foot traffic. The trade mart behind Home Slice Pizza buzzed with particular activity this year, complementing the ferocious march of Airstream eateries.

DJ Aasha Adore, Ayana, Maurice (Baltimore)

(It could be counted as whimsy, or a sign of the recession, that Austin’s highest-end restaurant, Hudson’s on the Bend, has joined the parade.)

Florencia Vicanco, Pamela Soto (Chile)

A new cafe (Snack Bar) semi-opened, at least in the parking lot of the former El Sol y La Luna, while fresh fashion could be found in retail slots empty just days before the festival. Standbys, like Farm to Market Grocery and Big Top Candy Shop, remained packed with tourists, while youthful impressarios sold lemonade and ices from the sidewalks.

Huey Hopkins (Louisiana), Jen Robinson (Austin)

I used to think that the SoCo SXSW activity as fueled by idle companions of musicians, but I spotted plenty of rockers, even early mornings at Jo’s Hot Coffee, or rifling through the skinny-wear at Blackmail, Creatures or Service.

Susan Kruse, Emma Whaley

I met artists from Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom. But I also chatted with surburbanites who brought along their young families and spring breakers who opted for people watching and retail therapy over the traditional beach and mountain attractions.

Jennifer Perez, Andrea Perez (San Angelo)

I don’t know if economists attempt to quantify the impact of the 10-day festival beyond the downtown clubs, restaurants and hotels, but from the look of it, SXSW is every First Thursday and Christmas rolled into one for the temporary Enterprise Expressway.