One could feel the magnetic pull in each direction crossing through downtown, first northeast, then southwest on Thursday. People on the margins of the grid shimmered with energy. They strode toward events with a bounce in their steps. Their stage make-up and rocker outfits looked fresh. They gabbled tirelessly.

Cathy Wallace, Brandi Hale, Debbie Barrera and Catherine Daniels

Returning from East Austin, I noticed more hobbled fans taking pedicabs. (Did we import some for the weekend? Seems like they swarmed every street.) By the time I hit the blockaded Sixth Street west of Interstate 35, the masses resembled the disintegrating remains of a summer street fair. Exhausted folks lined the curbs. Faces faded pink-gray. Incompletely consumed street food joined the other detritus.

Lines into official SXSW venues crinkled, crackled with complaints. Meanwhile, other clubs simply blasted out their usual sounds. I even saw some completely new clubs: Just for SX?

Syztem 7 from Seattle

On Congress, visitors and locals spilled off the wide sidewalks. Still, the weather blessed this Thursday with a sort of glorious glow. Boulevardiers staked out their regular spots at sidewalk cafes and just watched the world go by …

Brianna Bardhi, Ella Pala and Jen Shoemaker

The prime destination: Levi’s Fader Fort, a combination of retail outlet, secret fort and mini-Austin City Limits Music Festival, timed each year to South by Southwest.

“It’s warm and real,” said Austin’s Brianna Bardhi of the enclosure around an industrial structure. “Like a clubhouse.”

Although originally conceived partly as an artist’s retreat, the Fader Fort now attracts pods of locals looking for non-SXSW action — and tall Budweisers, consumed in abundance among the smokestacks and corrugated relics of East Austin.

Allen Reed and Carrie Back

Across East Fifth Street, the Texas RockFest occupied almost an entire vacant block. Music seekers circled it to visit open-air stages up and down East Sixth Street.

Although many pilgrims crossed under the freeway at Sixth, others swerved along the bikeway at East Fourth Street, the thoroughfare for pedicabs, who ranged from the Mean-Eyed Cat near MoPac to the Brixton east of the Texas RockFest.

When a MetroRail train barreled down toward the Austin Convention Center at Red River Street, pedicabs and pedestrians scattered, but not very quickly.

Nobody took the huge metal missile seriously. This is a disaster waiting to happen.

Well I was introduced to two that took my reason away at the Ghost Room, an astonishingly sensitive room for various genres of thickly layered music. First was Monarchs, a band Austin shares with Birmingham, Ala. The players run the gamut from rootsy to indie, but it’s frontwoman Celeste’s supple voice that elicits the most awe from an appreciative throng.

I thought, OK, so far three good acts my first night of SXSW (see House of Song Showcase post). How long will my luck hold out? That’s when Charanga Cakewalk squeezed all their instruments onto the small corner stage. Lordy. All manner of Latin dance music ensued.

I danced with friends. I danced with strangers. I danced until the Cakewalk ended their too-short showcase set.

Well, I wanted to end the night on a high point, so I started to leave, then Reyes told me about the other celebrated local talent that night — Zeale, Danny Malone, the Black, Carrie Rodriguez — and I mentally noted their names. If they are anywhere as accomplished as Monarchs and Charanga Cakewalk, then I will ferret out their club dates.

So one more band, then on to the next showcase. This was an exceedingly charming Danish act called Leaving a Small Town. Their simple melodies proved contagious, especially one written with Austin’s Matt the Electrician. OK, so pop music is the universal language.

I’ve run across the House of Songs on occasion, but I must pay more attention.

[I’d credit the Leaving a Small Town photo, but my Danish is rusty.]

And SXSW Music had only just begun. Five more days to go.

Anyway, after the Mayor’s Welcome, I toddled across the street with colleague Marcus Harper for appetizers at III Forks. Ideal respite. Key ingredient: The room was dark and seemed to grow darker, unlike the shiny, happy brightness outside. The happy-hour prices on the thick, juicy onion rings and blue-cheese steak chips also helped.

By the time we emerged, dusk had fallen and I was ready for music. My advice to you during SXSW: Find respite.

Erin and Michael Portman

Just different styles, that’s all. The party — and the exchanges of vital SXSW information — still continued after Leffingwell slipped back into his no-nonsense office off the City Hall extension called the Mayor’s Balcony. Another SXSW Music, another ideal day for the Welcome — bright, dry, slightly breezy. Who could ask for anything more?

Jason Callahan, Melissa Rivers and Nathan Felix

New insights. I got ‘em. I spent the most time with Erin and Michael Portman of Birds Barber Shops. They confirmed an impression I’d heard all over town: Friends were skipping SXSW Music for SXSW Interactive or Film in increasing numbers. Not that anyone would undercut the blunt power of Music, which generated the whole East Austin colony over near the Birds outlet on East East Sixth Street.

It’s just that, perhaps the Mayor’s Welcome should come a week earlier.

Erin Johnson and Caitlin Kuhn

I encountered something unexpected for Austin: The closest we come to Irish toughs. Here were a couple dozen guys, bulked up, wearing the green like a dare, horseplaying early in the afternoon, but looking entirely capable of scuffling as the hours and the beers passed. (I’ve carefully considered this report and I don’t think I’m stereotyping my own people. I was relieved to see a uniformed officer or two on alert in case of hormonal over exuberance.)

Imriel, Carrie and Elliot Ahr

Of course, the vast majority in the crowd proved gentle, laughing, hoisting children up for others to see, carefully sipping their libations. I left fairly early — after checking in with benevolent Saba owner Joe Reynolds — then looped back later during my SXSW evening. The mood was ecstatic.

Frank Murray, Kay Gourley and Dara Murray

Pronounced “flah,” fleadh is Gaelic for festival. Murray lined up some of his Irish acts — Broken Records, the Lost Brothers, Julie Feeney, Villagers, the Minutes, the Mighty Stef and the Coronas for the St. Paddy’s party at the Fourth Street Fort (former Levi’s Fader Fort and, normally, American YouthWorks). Hey, maybe the intersection of SXSW and the “wearing of the green” would produce shamrocks and rainbows. (BTW: I learned the Irish don’t wear green on March 17. Americans do.)

Triona Kelly and Niamh Kelly

In the middle of the afternoon, the first fleadh in Austin felt awfully mellow. The Irish stood in the mild sun, the Texans in the deep shade, each seeking a different precious commodity.

Folks lined up for the Guinness, for sure. (That’s I bet I’ll always take.) But where were the masses? The carousing?

Later that night, the bands and the local banshees loosened up. A quick walk-by revealed a euphoric revelry my Celtic ancestors would have cheered.

On Monday morning, Ashton Kutcher wrote to his 4.6 million Twitter followers that he was “Headed to South by Southwest.” Later, he “checked in” at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on the social networking service Foursquare and tweeted that he was attending a panel at SXSW. Fest-goers reported sightings on Twitter and posted pictures with the actor, who’s increasingly known for his social media savvy. …

Christopher Mintz-Plasse, aka “McLovin” from Superbad, hung out at Star Bar. He was apparently nice but wouldn’t let anyone take pictures. Woody Harrelson was spotted at Barton Springs. Adrien Brody, who appeared at a news conference for the Robert Rodriguez-produced “Predator,” was spied shopping at Whole Foods. …

Rumors are going crazy, but our fave is Snoop Dogg performing with Gorillaz at the former Seaholm Power Plant. The band is the subject of a SXSW listening party. …

Edward Norton, John C. Reilly and Jonah Hill sat together for a long meal at La Condessa; Chloe Sevigny and Patrick Wilson joined a group at that innovative restaurant, then headed upstairs for drinks at Malverde.

Oscar winner Sissy Spacek attended Ray Benson’s birthday party and Fleadh St. Patrick’s Day Party. A.J. Buckley (“CSI: NY”) and Samantha Mathis (“Pump Up the Volume”) were out shopping the boutiques. Actor Robert Duvall dined at III Forks, while Neko Case tarried at the Carillon, UT’s hideaway gem of a restaurant.

Sean Lennon, Ashton Kutcher, Bill Murray and Adrien Brody were later seen all over town.

Walking the streets of Austin during SXSW, I’m a ship sailing through familiar yet unfamiliar seas. Or I’m flotsam surging with the tide, seeking a beachhead, a momentary haven from the pleasurable swells of sensation.

I’ve begun the SXSW portion of the past 8 days in the same way — sluicing down South Congress Avenue toward the river and the world. Shops, eateries, craft booths, trailers, pet matchmakers, buskers, lounging regulars and tourists, sing, siren-like, for this Odysseus to tarry.

Once downtown, past the cleansing bridge, the sidewalks, many still broken and bent, hoist tens of thousands on their broad shoulders. This is the Austin of my dreams, my visions. A city whose center is a vortex of creative energy without cessation.

What can we do to encourage that? More density in the right places. More affordability in the right doses. More diversity of all kinds. More amenities year-round. I won’t set down the virtual pen until we have them.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I had seriously considered hitting three more SXSW parties — Gowalla at the Belmont, Plutopia at MACC and Good Capitalist at Youthworks — but they were primarily outdoors. I’m sure the guests found a way to cope. They always do.

But I needed the time off anyway. So far: 24 parties, 26 miles on foot, 3 miles by cab, more than 200 people engaged in conversation. I revel in all this socializing, believe me, but this 55-year-old body just can’t order everything on the menu.

(True story: Last yesterday, I learned from Kip that I’m 55. I thought I was 56. Math was not my best subject. Which may be why I’m so obsessed with numbers.)

I still have 5 parties — Ray Benson Birthday Party, Belmont Film Festival, British Embassy at Latitude 30, Media Temple Closing Party at Mohawk and the Parish Party — on my event list for tonight.

After that, 5 more full days to go during SXSW. Don’t worry. I’ve followed all the rules. Rest. Hydrate. Eat. Moderate. Exercise. And I’m still having fun.

David Kittredge and Ginger Roddick

Right away, I ran into Ginger Roddick, former publicist for brother-in-law Andy Roddick. She’s now living in Norman, Okla., where her husband, John Roddick, is head of men’s tennis at the University of Oklahoma. She confirmed that Andy’s bride, Brooklyn Decker, is very grounded and just the right gal for the tennis ace’s future.

Taylor Choi and Lyle Jackson

Any number of journalists, promoters, publicists, administrators, activists, networkers and creatives continued to mingle in the blank-ish spot between SXSW Interactive and Film and the subsequent SXSW Music. Rumors raced through the synod. All agreed that the festival’s younger siblings were showing Music how it’s done this year.

Matt Dy and David Gil

Peter Tsai and Kristina Vallejo

Which reminds me of the focus groups we conducted in 1994 for the launch of the XL weekly entertainment magazine. The No. 1 entertainment choice for Austinites? Going out to eat. Hasn’t changed since then.

Vivian Chang and David Park

The Food Bloggers Bash at Cedar Door, timed to SXSW Interactive, saluted the networkers and thinkers in the field. (Merrily, there was more food in the back room than during the Texas Social Media Awards the night before.) Even though I rarely post here on food, my husband Kip and I are avid cooks and devout fans of Austin’s restaurant community.

So these, to some extent, are my people. Loved hanging out with them and Statesman foodie cicerone Addie Broyles.

Susan Linn Ferris and Jake Gonzales

But this gathering belong to the Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival, which was welcoming guests to SXSW Film. The Steers & Queers Party assumed a jaunty Western flavor, without overplaying the theme. At the instigation of director Skot Tulk, filmmakers addressed the assembled, who could barely squeeze into the two-part upstairs space.

Maya Perez, Alissa Ziemianski, Rachel Hartsfield

I spent a bit of time with AGLIFF program director Jake Gonzales and Susan Linn Ferris, administrative director at California’s Outfest. I caught up some with Spec’s guru Carter Wilsford and his housemate Ian Carrico. Other creatives, like Maya Perez, exchanged words with me, but for the most part, it was about the SXSW movies.

Heading to Jo’s on Second to post more on SXSW, drinking in the crowds and the good spirits on the street, I made a left turn into Kappie Bliss’s Beyond Tradition. I’ve always liked Kappie. She’s fashionable without being outrageous. She supports local artists and designers. She’s kind and — let’s just say it — closer to my age than the dominant style-makers in Austin.

I had my eye on some of My-Cherie Haley’s marvelously crinkly, light, highly hued scarves. They fit men or women. But could I pull them off? With confidence? I purchased one of the least peacocky ones ($50 for the long, very dark blue sample shown here). Two SXSW parties later, I begged inherently poised Christine Perrault Moline to style it for me in a couple of loops around my neck. There it rested for the remainder of the evening. Maybe for the remaining SXSW night parties.

Nicole Whiteside, Lindsey Taylor and Stanley Roy Williamson of Tiny Stolen Moments

But once he spent some of those gaming dollars to train for a Russian space mission, Garriott’s public star, so to speak, has risen ever farther. Son of an astronaut himself, Garriott and his space flight was the subject of a documentary, “Man on a Mission,” which premiered at SXSW.

Steve Brudniak, Catarina Sigerfoos and Kevin Kettler

His After-Party staked out the Marq and Prague, two floors of the four-level bar complex at West Fifth Street and Congress Avenue. It was a pretty frisky affair with paid dancers on tiny trampolines and a space chair (don’t know what else to call it). I spent time with several prominent creative types, including sculptor Steve Brudniak (Garriott owns some of his pieces) and Austinist co-founder and sly conversationalist Ben Brown.

Matt Curtin and Chris Valentine

Indeed, besides the distractions of conversation-killing music and hipster posing, the 700 or so sideparties during SXSW Music are partly about getting trashed. (“Rebel, rebel, your face is a mess.) In contrast, over the past six days of the SXSW Interactive and Film portions, I’ve noticed maybe one or two folks had overdone, and then only pleasantly enhanced.

Roland Swenson and David Fox

This Cocktail Tech also did not attract those annoying sidewalk queues, meaning the venue was properly sized to the event. Just walk right in — and start conversing. Many of the folks I encountered here, I had already met at the convention center or attendant events. So no big revelations. (Other than how mellow Swenson could be mid-fest, and that Chris Valentine had turned from dance to tech — ran into him with SocialSmack co-founder and CEO Matt Curtin).

Gosh, I wish there were more events like this during the rest of the year.

Amy Grace Tharp, Doug Ulman, Lauren Willis and Katherine McLane

Rob dreamed up the Texas Social Media Awards. In keeping with the Statesman’s trailblazing efforts, it was, last year, the first of its kind in the state. In the second year, 25 winners from around Texas were recognized, and Gowalla Inc.’s Josh Williams won the overall honor. (His company is already among the buzziest at SXSW.)

Alan and Tricia Graham

As someone who has helped produce an awards ceremony for 20 years, I was impressed, first by the attendance of the winners, gathered from as far away as El Paso. Also, the ease with which the event slipped into the Cedar Door. Those most interested in the awards mingled on the patio, others ducked inside for some (spare) eats.

Ixchel Granada del Rayo and Monica Williams

I talked with some personal heroes, such as “Austin City Limits” producer Terry Lickona, Livestrong’s Doug Ulman and Mobile Loaves and Fishes’ Alan Graham. Others, such as Katherine McLane, (pregnant) Ixchel Granada del Rayo and Monica Williams were darling enough to spend considerable time with me.

Before I arrived at the Austin Convention Center on Sunday morning, my only real clue was that I was engaging guests one-on-one, which is far superior to speeches or panels at such conferences. None of my colleagues — mostly bloggers — knew what to expect either. (One, Austin Kleon, “a writer who draws,” contributed the image for a hand-on workshop (today) that graces this page.)

No matter. We dug into the speed-dating-style conversations with the kind of missionary zeal that SXSW inspires. Each mentee (momentary protegee?) presented a different problem. One wanted to promote his indie movie. Another was developing a Web site to connect film industry types around particular projects, so, in essence a template waits for movie production in advance. Variations on those themes.

The aspirants came in all conditions. Some were already pretty adept at manipulating social media; others needed basic introduction. One piece of wisdom I repeated: The need for actual human contact. No matter whether we are talking about marketing, PR, journalism, social media or advanced technology, starting with trust between two people, looking into each other’s eyes, that’s what generates the waves of information emanating from social media.

Align goals. Attune personalities.

Brandy Nowlin and Dave Shaw

Marketer Dave Shaw and I talked about everything under the stars, joined by Brandy Nowlin, who is working on a state beautification program. Also talked trash with event planner Danielle Thomas, joined by the ever creative Adam Garnier. We predicted party photographer Annie Ray would be famous — really famous — one day.

Danielle Thomas and Adam Garnier

The annual party is perfectly matched to the modernist-unto-futurist center’s architecture. And the ever-evolving skyline plays its inspirational part. And, oh yes, for all those who claim Austin is completely priced out for the creative class, almost everyone I talked to from California and other innovation centers cited our town’s affordability among its highest values. Just saying.

[Note: Live blogging is nearly impossible during SXSW. Live tweeting works. So for the latest, scan down this page to the black box with current tweets, or follow me @outandabout. The posts here will always summarize an earlier experience.]