Austin360 blogs > Out & About > Archives > 2010 > March > 17
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
SXSW 24: A List: Best Blogger
I swear I didn’t vote in this category. And I didn’t encourage any of my readers to do so. Still, I’m tickled to be included in the company of the obsessive writers in the Best Blogger category.
Our own little Out & About made it into a race with 22 percent of the tally.
Here’s an odd statistic: The next four bloggers tied exactly at just over 8 percent — In the Pink, Ain’t It Cool, Austin Tidbits and Grits for Breakfast.
MeanRachel.com, who does me the honor of commenting on my tweets periodically, linked to 6 percent. Pink Dome, Community Matters and Austinist’s Allen Y. Chen rounded out the list with 3 percent or less.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Media, SXSW, Your A-List
SXSW 23: A List: Best Place to Catch a Sunset
I have sneaking suspicion that preferences in this category will change over the years, as more people move upward into those downtown towers.
Mount Bonnell, a scenic magnet for centuries, came in second with 18 percent. Iguana Grill managed a respectable 11 percent, while Hula Hut relaxed with 10 percent.
Lake Travis, the whole of it, merited 8 percent. The UT Tower, Zilker Park, Downtown skyscrapers, Loop 360 scenic overlook and Pennybacker Bridge all ended with less than three percent. I think the last two locations are the same.
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SXSW 22: A List: Best Latin Singer or Group
Del Castillo, the flamenco-guitar and family-based act, and Grupo Fantasma, the big-band blasters, both received exactly 25 percent of the vote in the A List poll for Best Latin Singer or Group.
Alejandro Escovedo, who continues to mature as an artist as life throws him more material, received 19 percent. David Garza, also evolving after decades in the local eye, won 13 percent.
Brownout led the rest of the pack with 8 percent. The Brew, Frenetica, Los Bad Apples, Maneja Beto and Patricia Vonne settled for 6 percent of less.
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SXSW 21: A List: Best Locally Produced Beer/Wine/Liquor
OK, so why am I organizing this week’s A List winners under the rubric of “SXSW” as well? Because everything is SXSW this week. And visitors to Our Town want to know these local preferences as well.
Real Ale Brewing and Live Oak Brewing came in second and third with 17 percent and 12 percent of the tally.
Dripping Springs Vodka and Paula’s Texas Orange tied at 8 percent.
Taking 5 percent or less were Independence Brewing, Uncle Billy’s, Draught House, Alamosa wines and Caprock wines. Too bad we can’t count the dozens of wineries in the Hill Country in this poll.
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SXSW 20: Ray Benson Birthday Party + Closings
Next year, I’ll loiter longer at this event: Ray Benson’s Birthday Party is a feel-good fiesta. Staged on Tuesday, the ligature night of SXSW, the event at La Zona Rosa, now in its 10th year, generated generous crowds to support the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians. It’s an ideal union of food, fun and top music in the Texas tradition.
Anika Kunik and Josh Watkins
Start with that music: Besides Benson and Asleep at the Wheel, audiences covered the dance floor to Texas Tornados, Raul Malo, J.D. Souther, Kat Edmonson, Tim Curry, Gary Nicholson, Carolyn Wonderland, Shelly King, Dale Watson, Band of Heathens and Radney Foster. (Thanks to music writer John T. Davis for the full list.)
Emily Brandt and Nick Albino
Meanwhile, over in the food bay, some of Austin’s top restaurants were dishing out the delicacies, including Frito pie from Ranch 616, short ribs from Carillon and mini-tacos from Garrido’s. Among the more amazing sights: super-chefs David Garrido, David Bull and Josh Watkins all in one place.
David Bull and David Garrido
In ran into so many people, including Shimmer and Bliss’s My-Cherie Haley, San Antonio friends of Ranch 616’s Kevin Williamson (who helps organize the food area), author/actress Anika Kunik (we spoke of Bud Shrake’s “Blessed McGill” and “The Borderland”), former Statesman know-it-all Jane Grieg, agent/promoter Clif Loftin, marketer Dave Shaw, magazine entrepreneur and writer Deborah Lynne-Hamilton.
Josh Coffee and Casey Ellis
I left too early to drop by an informal film festival at the Belmont (a chaotic event featuring Anthony Pedone’s woozy “The Why”), then I steered through the thick crowds on Sixth Street, veering left onto Red River Street, where the throngs did not dissipate. I was headed to the SXSW Interactive/Film Closing Party at Mohawk.
I knew better. Two blocks away I could see the sidewalk-thick line. I considered just hanging out with the standers, but headed home instead. One lesson from this year of vastly expanded Film and Interactive sections: If you are going to invite the entire SXSW badge list, book a place, like the MACC, that can hold them.
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