Charla’s SXSW Picks
By Charla on Mar 11 Filed In Austin, Texas, Events, SXSW, Sweet-Spot, Uncategorized Add a Comment
Today marks the start of the SXSW Interactive conference and being a total nerd, I must admit, I’m stoked to attend for the second year in a row. I’ve only planned 3 out of 5 days so far (took about 3 hours), but I’m really excited by the content this year. For instance, how could anyone pass this up?
A Conversation with Paul Rubens
Don’t remember who that is? Maybe this photo from way back will jog your memory bank from childhood.
That’s just one example of hundreds upon hundreds to choose from. I don’t know if you’ve looked at the schedule, but it can all be a bit overwhelming. And, that’s not even taking into account all the after conference hours parties, UNOFFICIAL happenings, film or music.
I have a feeling that the best interactive party is going to be See the World with Gowalla. The party is taking place Monday (March 14) at 9:00 sharp at the Belmont. If you hit this party last year, you know already that it was a happening time. This year will be even better with Matt & Kim and Flosstradamus keeping the party people on their toes.
Here’s the skinny on how to get a wristband into the show: During SXSW Gowalla will be giving away around 600-700 “Priority” wristbands randomly to those checking in around town on Gowalla at SXSW. Those with wristbands will be let into the party first. Then Gowalla will fill the remaining space with SXSW badge holders, first come, first serve. So, be sure to start checking in around town on Gowalla. Besides, that’s how you’ll find the Sweet Spots!
Stay tuned for more updates and sweet happenings throughout the week! You can follow me @SweetLeafCharla @SweetLeafTea and @SweetLeafDanny for the play by play.
Where are you headed during SXSW? We want to meet up!
South by Sweet Spot!
By Danny on Mar 9 Filed In Austin, Texas, SXSW, Sweet Contests, Sweet-Spot 1 Comment
By now, you’ve probably heard that this little event called SXSW is taking over Austin in a matter of days. BUT, have you heard about South by Sweet Spot? It’s only the locations of the BEST shindigs and happenings taking place around town March 11-20th.
During this special week of March, we’ve teamed up with Gowalla Inc. to bring you some fun and great prizes!
So, how do you get in on the action?
We’ve picked a handful of “Sweet Spots” around town that Gowalla users can check in at to win some exclusive pins and tasty prizes. These “Sweet Spots” range from local Austin businesses and super fun events happening during SXSW (all just happen to showcase our delicious teas) to our magical roaming Sweet Leaf Tea Van.
Wherever you see Sweet Leaf teas, there’s a good chance it’s a Sweet Spot so check in on Gowalla because you may unlock a limited edition SXSW pin or even better, one of our sweet prizes. The first time you check in at a participating location on, or after, March 11th you’ll see a screen that lets you know you’ve checked into a Sweet Spot. Also, be on the look out for the Sweet Leaf Tea Van because it’s the sweetest of Sweet Spots and we’ll have it loaded up with tea, good times, and limited edition swag. Look for the van and then check in at this pin! (Yeah, it’s a mobile Gowalla spot. No big deal.)
Be sure to follow the @SweetLeafTea ‘m and our blog for updates of where the Sweet Leaf Sweet Spot VAN will be next!
Gowalla users are eligible to win:
- One of 150 Limited Edition South by Sweet Spot T-shirts (Redeemable at the Gowalla Airstream between 9:30am to 8:30pm) Click here for their location!)
- A SWEET care package from Texas loaded with Sweet Leaf TEA, T-shirt, and Stubb’s BBQ Sauce and Marinade!
Check into 3 Sweet Spots and you’ll be entered to win:
- Sweet Leaf Tea Backyard BBQ Party for you and 20 of your friends
On top of that Gowalla is tossing out 2,000 virtual cans for pick-up across town!
Check out all the Sweet Spots below! The more you check-in the better your chances are of winning!
Sweet Spot locations/times/dates/rsvp info is as follows:
- Sweet Leaf Tea @ Sweet Leaf Tea HQ – 3601 S. Congress Ave. - 3/11-20/2011 – All Day
- Auditorium Shores @ Auditorium Shores – 950 W. Riverside Dr - 3/11-20/2011 – All Day – INFO
- Wholefoods @ Wholefoods HQ’s – 525 N. Lamar Blvd - 3/11-20/2011 – All Day
- PureVolume House @ Coppertank Event Center – 504 Trinity St - 3/11-20/2011 – All Day — RSVP
- Good Capitalist Party @ Union Park – 612 West 6th St - 3/12/2011 – 6:00PM to 9:00PM — RSVP
- Austinist Presents: Gonna Get Down VI @ the Mohawk – 912 Red River St - 3/16/2011 – 11:00am – 5:30pm – INFO
- EventBrite at Empire Auto @ Empire Automotive – 604 East 7th St - 3/16/2011 – 1:00PM – 6:00pm — RSVP
- Music by the Slice @ Home Slice Pizza - 1415 S. Congress Ave – All Day – INFO
- Rumbler Lounge @ Peckerheads – 402 E. 6th St - 3/16-20/2011 – 12:00pm – 8:00pm — RSVP
- Sweet Leaf Tea Van @ ROAMING - Where ever their’s fun!
Tell your friends, win some prizes, see some great bands, and have a good ol’ time. You’ll find us at the Sweet Leaf Sweet Spots!
Danny’s SXSW Picks
By Danny on Mar 8 Filed In SXSW Add a Comment
That magical week in March is right around the corner, and I am stoked. Sweet Leaf is part of a ton of great parties with lots of good music flowing in. (More deets on Sweet Leaf’s Parties to come very quickly!) With that being said, I have some SX picks that I’d like to throw out there for y’all!
Don’t Miss!
DON'T MISS
The Austinist: Gonna Get Down VI at the Mohawk on Wednesday from 12 – 6pm. This is a day party that has been part of my SX experience for the past 3 years. They ALWAYS have bands that turn into my favorites after watching them, plus the sound at the Mohawk is incredible. Some of my favorite artists I’ve seen/learned about in the past include Toro y Moi, Kevin Devine, Washed Out, and Yukon Blonde!
This year is no different with the Windish Agency jumping on board! Be sure to catch the Givers (2:15) and Cloud Control (2:00pm). You won’t be disappointed.
Good Cause + Good Times!
Yumm!
Music by the Slice, presented by Home Slice Pizza, is an amazing 3 day series (3/17-19/2011) that takes place at, where else, HOME SLICE. Great pizza, music, and people. Their SX party is one I always try to attend. They have A+ bands and THIS YEAR all the profits from the events go DIRECTLY to Urban Roots, a sustainable farming program for young Austinites. Be sure to purchase some delicious pizza and a tasty Sweet Leaf Tea to help out a great organization!
Make sure to catch Telekinesis! at 4:40pm on Saturday the 19th. They are a fantastic band with great sounds that I have been a fan for a couple of years. Check them out playing MXTS in 2009!
Hip HOPPPP!
Our friends over at Knuckle Rumbler always throw some fly gigs, with the FRESHEST beats in town. Stop in on Friday the 18th and check out Das Racist, they’ll make you bounce.
Have some bands or parties you think are better? Hit us back in the comments section.
How to do SXSW Right!
By Danny on Mar 1 Filed In SXSW Add a Comment
Hello fellow SXSWers,
If you’re like me SXSW is one of the best weeks of the year. Learning about new and innovative advances in technology, networking with everyone and their mom from cities and countries across the globe, listening to great bands, listening to not so great bands, listening to bands you have never heard before but will soon be a new favorite, checking out that premiere film at the Ritz downtown, and drinking tasty cocktails THEN, getting up and doing it all over again for another 7 days. Lots of people experience the thrill of being in Austin for a week, three days, 5 days, or whatever! SXSW is a fantastic time, but it takes preparation. That’s why I’m here, to inform or reintroduce some life saving tactics to make your SXSW the best it can be.
Don’t Crazy Pants Drink EVERY free Boozy Drink on Day 1.
Yeah, SX is known for all the free booze that you can guzzle down at every free party, but for the love of all that is holy and sacred, don’t go all in on day one and wake up in a random motel off 35 at 3pm the next day with a strange allergic reaction to sunlight and what feels like a tiny gorilla beating the inside of your abdomen like a bongo drum. You’ll miss a day of festivities and feel slighted.
Do enjoy tasty comped beverages throughout the day, but remember to stay hydrated. That’s where the Sweet Leaf Tea comes in, stay tuned for our sponsored events, it’ll come later this week.
Bring a rain jacket, a peacoat, and jorts.
Austin isn’t like that city you came from where the weather is fairly constant and you know what to expect. I guarantee during SX we will hit 90˚ and dip to the 30˚’s the next with rain, sleet, and wind. Come prepared for the elements. Pack clothes for hot, cold, and moderate weather.
Don’t OVER Plan.
I know that you have 4 bands you want to see at 3 different venues with 3 minutes between each set. Newsflash: YOU’RE NOT GONNA MAKE IT. It doesn’t matter if you have a jet pack, the streets of Austin are filled with hipsters and they will make it impossible for you to get anywhere in a timely manner. Plus, once you get to your spot, there will be a line 50 hipsters long to get in.
A good rule of thumb is to give yourself 1 hour between SXSW events to get to where you want to be. This will allow time for you to walk there, wait in line, get some AWESOME Austin cuisine from a trailer, and not stress. Which leads into my next point.
See Bands You Don’t Know.
Favorite new band from SXSW 2011
It’s what SXSW is all about! Don’t only see bands that you have crushes on, check out the up and comers that will be playing the festivals of next year. Sure go check out the Strokes at Auditorium shores (It’s FREE and I’ll be there), but also see the opening acts at a smaller party, like the Austinist SXSW event. They were picked to play for a reason, and you’ll probably like them. This might mean staying at one event and missing the next to see what this band has to offer!
What to Bring:
Advil – Obviously.
Reusable Water Bottle – Saves you cash on purchasing water and you can get tap water ANYWHERE.
Chapstick – Sun burnt lips hurt.
Granola bars – Hunger healer (take with water and Advil if necessary).
I recommend Kind bars, they rock!
Cash Money– because 1 in 3 people will lose their credit card or leave a tab open at one of the twenty bars they went to the day before.
Back pack/fanny pack/pack of some sort – You gotta carry you stuff.
Printed schedule – because your phone will die halfway through the day and you won’t know where to go.
Phone charger – because your phone will die halfway through the day and you won’t know where to go. I suggest buying one of these.
Sunglasses – The sun is a little harder to coop with during SXSW.
Sunscreen - That Texas sun is HOTTT!
Earplugs – Whattt??
Business Cards! - Networking MUST!
We have lots to announce, stay tuned for Sweet Spots during SXSW2011! Follow @SweetLeafTea, @SweetLeafCharla and Me @SweetLeafDanny for upcoming news!
Congratulations to Midnight Riot!
By Marketing Intern on Feb 25 Filed In Austin, Texas, Live Music, Uncategorized Add a Comment
Well music fans,
The My Band Rocks Fox Battle of the Bands has come to a close! Wednesday night, Dead Swagger battled it out with Midnight Riot for the win, and boy was it a good show. Dead Swagger took the stage first, and blew the crowd away with their old-school tone and super swanky style. Next up was Midnight Riot, who performed like rock gods and melted faces with some serious rockin’. Check out the video!
After some deliberation, the judges made a call, and announced the winner on Fox at 9. I imagine it was a pretty tough decision to make, cause both bands really performed well and were really in their element at the Gibson Showroom. But when it came down to it, Midnight Riot took the win.
Midnight Riot hangin' out at Gibson
We were happy to support Austin’s young musicians! We look forward to rocking out with you guys at SXSW!
« go back — keep looking »
