Share Your SXSW Film Venue Advice
This week, I've been working on updating the annual Slackerwood Guide to SXSW Film Festival Venues for 2009. It's a fun project -- trying to figure out where the best free wireless might be near Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar (nothing nearer than Flipnotics), where to eat non-fast-food near the Paramount (the Driskill 1880 cafe has a good soup and salad), and so forth. The guide has been surprisingly popular in the past couple of years so I want to make it as helpful as possible.
This year, I'm asking for help ahead of time, so I don't miss anything. Check out the 2008 venue guide. What's missing? What's changed? Please post your advice in the comments section.
I already know about two big changes SXSW has made this year -- one happy, one somewhat sad. The happy news: SXSW will provide a shuttle service during the first part of the film festival (the conference dates) that badgeholders can use to get from ACC and the Paramount to Alamo South. So I don't feel as compelled to do my yearly "Please don't try to walk from ACC to Alamo South!" plea. (Every year, someone finds me and tells me that I was right.) SXSW will be using three screens at Alamo South this year, so it'll be hard to avoid the venue, not that you'd want to.
The kind-of-sad news: Dobie Theater is no longer a SXSW venue. This makes sense, because it's not downtown and it's a smaller theater. And I can't say I'll miss it too much, because I'm short and it's difficult to find a seat where I can see the screen properly in the Egyptian theater (shown above) without twisting my neck. On the other hand, parking was available and I do love the theater decor. Dobie and the Arbor used to be the theaters where you'd find a lot of Austinites during SXSW, and had a better chance of getting a seat if you had a film pass instead of a badge. Instead, I wonder if the locals will prefer Alamo South, which has free parking and is far away from the SXSW Music crowds.
Won't Miss the Dobie
I won't miss the Dobie as a venue any more than the Arbor. The Arbor only because it's so far away. Being tall, the Dobie has seat rows built for short legged people, and I can't get comfortable in them. If something is playing the Dobie, even free screenings and the festival stuff, I only go if it's something I really can't miss.
I ADORE the Alamo South as a venue. While it's not as central, there's more room, and being south austin gal, it's a short trip. And Alamo South is even better after the music portion starts.
Agreed indeed
I'm totally with the unsinkable Jenn Brown on this one. Boo, Dobie! Yay, Alamo!
Wireless near the Ritz
Couple suggestions for free wireless near the Ritz: the closest, most comfortable place is probably back at the the Convention Center--it's only like 2 blocks away!
Two more that I've read about but can't vouch for: the Driskill Hotel is only a couple blocks away, and apparently has free wireless in the bar/lounge. You may even be able to pick it up in the lobby, where there are some comfy leather chairs. Come to think of it, I've seen people computing there during AFF.
The other option (though definitely not a coffee shop) is Casino El Camino, where you can blog while eating the best burger in the city. The back patio is reasonably quiet for a bar, but it IS a bar, so there will definitely be some level of distraction, and bikers may steal your computer.