Austin360 blogs > Out & About > Archives > 2010 > April > 15 > Entry
Slowing down socially by speeding up
My plan was to slow down. Savor the socializing. Polish the prose.
Amy and Tim Riley
And it was going quite well for a few months. Even attending more than 40 SXSW parties didn’t crush my spirit. Pacing was the key.
Yesterday I pushed a bit. Yet every event rewarded in its way.
I started with lunch at Snack Bar with Tribeza publisher George Elliman. Crab salad for me, chicken salad for him. Our conversation steered away from the recent unpleasantness at the lifestyle magazine. We just learned more about each other and our publications.
Emily Brown and Suzanne King
Then I strolled down to the newsroom to polish another Lady Bird’s Legacy story. The rate of donations so far has been very slow compared to last year, when American-Statesman megastars Janet Wilson and Retta Kelley ran the show. After years of steering Season for Caring, they were well-seasoned for this kind of hybrid campaign, in which 100 percent of $100,000 has gone to wildflower seeds in honor of the late Lady Bird Johnson.
One article draft accomplished, I sprinted over to Malverde to pick up media materials for the Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival. Event goddess Elaine Garza updated me on this long weekend party — and on some not-to-be-disclosed SXSW dirt. I dallied with other media types, sure that I would see them at later events this week. I also learned from board members that ticket sales are up, even if the number participating wineries is precipitously down.
Alreen Sanchez and Chris Day
That gave me just enough time to swing by the Hill Country Conservancy meet and greet at Stubb’s. Everyone there was gearing up with their Lone Star tall boys to watch the Old 97s, who headlined the benefit, aided by Ben Kweller. I should have planned more carefully to stay at this event, but at least I learned that there’s such a thing as bicycle valet service in Austin! (Pictured team from Bicycle Sport Shop.)
I raced back to Congress Avenue to pick up a cab for my next show, “City of Angels” at St. Edward’s University. None available in sight! Caught one just in time at East Cesar Chavez Street, making it time for the overture.
Daniel Curtin, Andrea Rado and Chris Carter
I love this period detective musical; it’s smart, witty and fun. I hadn’t realized how difficult, however, it was to sing Cy Coleman’s seriously jazzy score. Still, Michael McKelvey’s mix of pros and students held it together.
My walk home — almost completely downhill at this point — in the cool of the evening confirmed that, even on a crazy busy afternoon and evening, the entirity could be appreciated as part of the essential Austin experience.
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