SxSW Interactive 2009 Parties and Lounges

SxSW Interactive provides literally hundreds of panel discussions and presentations around both the creative and technical aspects of new media and social networking. The event is designed for content creators, entrepreneurs, social networking experts, online development experts of all sorts, and miscellaneous computer nerds. Ostensibly, it's a business trip and networking exercise for most of those people, but in actuality, it's a chance to party like a Guitar Hero rock star.

5 days, 57 Parties and Lounges

So let's see. SxSW Interactive is a 5-day event, so the right number of parties and lounges for an event of that duration would be... Well, according to the official SxSW Interactive website, there are no fewer than 57 sponsored parties and lounges for attendees.

We knew social network folks were always up for a get together, but who knew all the other geeks were that much into partying?

Dorkbot: "An Exquisite Geek Talent Show"

There are all sorts of different parties and lounges being held. You can find everything from the SxSW Interactive Opening Happy Hour hosted by Razorfish (complete with its own Facebook page here) to the Social Media for Social Good party being held at Stubb's Bar-B-Que.

My personal favorite, though, is the SxSW Interactive party known as Dorkbot. Dorkbot must be seen to be believed. The event bills itself as a "science fair with free beer" or an "exquisite geek talent show." Because this one is sponsored in part by the International Game Developers of Austin, I wouldn't be surprised to see some Halo-style weaponry being checked at the door. Zombies allowed by invitation only, but others are welcome to attend.

For those who would rather stick to business, there are after-hours parties designed for productive endeavors such as the Mozilla Design Challenge. The goal of this event is, in their own words, to "help make the web suck less."

Stay Connected at SxSW Interactive

Of course, when you put that many geeks and social network addicts together for that long, there are bound to be those who start to suffer from Internet withdrawal. With an eye toward preventing riots, the PepsiCo Podcast Playground will allow attendees to broadcast their own podcast to stay in communication with all their virtual friends.

Pepsi's four podcast stations will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the duration of the event. Not to be outdone, Sierra Mist will be offering free wifi just three blocks down from Pepsi, but I'm sure that with a home-made soda-can wifi antenna you can podcast and update your Facebook status at the same time from the Pepsi site.

The Onion Presents a Party for The Decider

For those who just want a good old fashioned party, The Great British Booze-up at Shakespeare's Pub or The Decider Party hosted by The Onion and the Barbarian Group at The Mohawk will do the trick nicely. Both are being held on Monday evening, March 16.

Source: SxSW Parties and Lounges, sxsw.com/interactive/parties_and_lounges, retrieved 3/6/09.