SXSW Interactive Festival: Where to Get Away from the Geek

6th Street

Much of Austin’s allure can be attributed to the University of Texas; UT students are the pulse of the town. Everywhere you look you’ll find beautiful and vibrant people hoisting drinks and celebrating their youth. This theme is most prevalent on 6th Street, where cheap drinks, lax dress codes and an occasional scuffle are all the norm. With more than 50,000 students to pull from, you can expect to come across a few assholes.

Now, if you’re anything like me, the only enjoyable part of being surrounded by undergrads barely old enough to order a drink is the women that accompany them. Usually along for the free drinks and nothing more, these co-eds can get you caught-up. Before buying one a drink you should consider these factors:

• She may not really be 21

• Her boyfriend could be watching and has been a 4 year starter at linebacker for the Longhorns.

• It could be a set-up

• Malaia is one of 6th Street’s newest bars. It features a retractable roof on the third floor dance floor which opens the club to the sky above. Though most of its traffic is generated on the weekends, Malaia offers excellent drink specials M-W that should be ideal for SXSWers.

• Ace’s Lounge is a swanky burlesque bar which features an excellent happy-hour. Brendan is the owner and you can follow him on Twitter for updates on specials. Friday the 13th brisket tacos sound good to me.

• Pure Ultra Lounge has a Dallas feel to it. Drinks are a bit expensive for 6th street (this means no broke college kids), but this is one of Austin’s hottest bars. If you’ll be in town on Sunday, be sure to stop by for 25 cent drinks.

Warehouse District

You’ll be able to find me in the Warehouse District. The bars in this sector of downtown Austin are frequented by young professionals. Live music replaces the loudly played club hits you’ll experience on 6th Street and you can expect to pay a bit more for your drinks as well. Not having to deal with riffraff and puke-filled corners makes this a wise investment. Here are some bars worth checking out:

• Qua, though sometimes flamed in reviews for their use of sharks in the aquarium dance floor, is one of my favorite Austin visits. You can be assured of sharing your company with well-dressed adults intent on celebrating to the fullest. Qua’s door guys are some of the most polite in town. Beware if you are a man though. Age limit is 25 for us. 21 for women. Sounds like a gold-diggers paradise, but trust me guys, this is an ideal locale for cougar hunting too.

• 219 West is one of Austin’s finest establishments. It is a multi-venue bar that features a Southern-style Mint Julep Lounge with rattan furniture, an upstairs Scotch Room adorned with leather chairs and a late-night downstairs lounge. 219 West makes some of the best specialty drinks in town and is home to an award winning wine list. Additionally, their appetizers, like creamy jalapeno-crab dip and cayenne french fries, are definitely worth mentioning.

• The Four Seasons Lobby Lounge is one of the few places in Austin where you are likely to run into a celebrity. If you managed to get yourself a room here for the conference, be sure to have your camera on standby; especially once the music artists show up in town.

Outdoor Activities

If you manage to get an extended day-time break, I decided to include some outdoor attractions which will keep you close to your hotel but still manage to give you a taste of the Texas Hill Country. Spring in Texas is rarely cool, so be sure to bring along some sunscreen.

Other Guides:

Texas’ Hottest Burlesque Troupe

Austin’s Best Singles Scene

Fun with Texas City Names

Austin’s Best Irish Pub

Austin’s Best Free Attraction