Aral Balkan

After a ten hour flight to Dallas (where we found all outgoing flights cancelled due to inclement weather), followed by a three hour taxi ride to Austin, I arrived last night in Austin, Texas to attend SXSW Interactive and promptly went to sleep.

I just looked through the SXSW online schedule a few moments ago and now feel totally overwhelmed. There's just too much on and it does make me worry about the quality of the sessions. As Andy would be quick to point out, however, SWSW is apparently about the evening sessions (read: parties), more than the daytime ones.

If you're in Austin, do come by and say hello. Are there any other Flashers attending?

Also, if you have panel suggestions that you feel I should absolutely attend, do let me know.

I'm staying at the Radisson (if you're there and want to meet up, I'm going to head down to breakfast at 7am). I'll be checking email (aral@aralbalkan.com) and you can always @aral me on Twitter (I check those and I don't have to be following you to see them) or, if I am following you, I get Twitter direct messages on my cell phone.

Looks like it's going to be a fun few days in Austin!

Comments

• Hi Aral. Why didn't I check your blog BEFORE last Friday?! I was also advised to eat at Ironworks (really good!) and I wish I had known you were there at SXSW. I too came away feeling somewhat dissatisfied about several sessions but I applaud the diversity and sheer quantity of topics and speakers. It was fun, no doubt. And what a bizarre interview with Mark Zuckerberg! I hope to catch you at the next Flash conference! Kevin (from breakfast before John Maeda's FlashForward keynote)

  by Kevin on 2008-03-11 04:27:33

• Nice Info Thanks

  by شات on 2008-06-16 05:55:44

• Welcome to Austin, I'm not doing SXSW this year. I do have some BBQ recommendations, downtown check out Ironworks BBQ . My personal favorite is the Salt Lick in Dripping Springs , it's well worth the short drive out of Austin. Don't be confused with the yuppy version of the Salt Lick on Loop 360 if someone offers to take you there you can just slap them right then and there. You'll want the original and not some high brow version where you have to wear a tie to eat BBQ.

  by Mike Weiland on 2008-03-07 19:48:19

• By looking at everyones Twitters, it seems everyone travelling to Austin had problems. I wish I was there, but I will be in spirit and just have to wait until October now for the big one! Glad you're safe though Aral! Have a great time! ;-)

  by Johnny on 2008-03-07 18:16:43

• Thanks, Johnny, Mike! I'll see if I can get away (or convince enough people to go with me) to take up your suggestion, Mike :)

  by Aral on 2008-03-07 21:24:38