This post is a recap of things that I loved, hated, and WTFed?! about SXSW.
First, I hated that I missed the Food Blogging Panel because I wanted to see my blog buddies Rachel, Cathy, Zach, Addie and Kalyn rock SXSW. I booked my flight before knowing what time the panel was scheduled, so I was at the airport while the panel was going on.
I loved that Saul from Freshbooks set up a lunch so I could meet the founders of Outright, Shoeboxed and Batch Blue.
I loved that I ate cupcakes in the morning with Rachel in the lobby of the Hilton.
I loved laughing with Rachel, Twanna and Zach. [We could have our own reality show]
I loved that I got a HARO sticker from Peter Shankman. I WTFed that a girl from Phoenix came up to me just because I wearing the sticker at The Onion party.
I WTFed that the VIP section of the Onion party only had Miller Lite for Free. I loved that a guy asked, “Didn’t I meet you at Likemind in Brooklyn?”
I hated that I got called a racial slur on the street by a homeless man. It dampened my mood for partying, but I loved that I didn’t wake up with a hangover on my last day.
I loved that I got a free ice cream sandwich from the Ice Cream Man.
I loved that I met Austin food bloggers like the TipsyTexan and Addie Broyles. I loved the goodie bag from Whole Foods food bloggers event. I hated that I couldn’t bring the lovely lotion from the goodie bag on the plane.
I loved doing a panel about Finance 2.0, and people coming up to me afterward to ask me questions.
I loved meeting Anya Kamenetz.
I hated that I missed some panels that my friends were on.
I loved that I ran into friends that I didn’t know were going to be at SXSW.
I hated the word “privilege” being thrown around at panel discussions.
I loved using Tweetdeck and Twickie while twittering the panel discussions.
I loved that I rocked three parties Sunday night.
I loved eating cupcakes at the Cupcake Social.
I loved meeting Babette from BakeSpace after knowing each other for years online.
I WTFed the Austin Convention Center. That place is a weird maze.
I loved that I met the guys from Lost Zombies.
I WTFed that a drunk cougar tried to pick a fight with me at the hotel bar.
I WTFed that bars put on the ugly lights at 8PM when the sponsored open bar ends.
I hated the ATM Fees which were $3 and up.
I loved that iPhone and Mac users were fascinated by my Peek and HP Mini.
I hated that it was hard to get something to eat at lunchtime.
I loved that I didn’t have a breakfast taco.
I loved that I want to come back next year. I am already thinking of SXSW panels to pitch in June.