It’s the moooost wonderful time of the yeeeear! AHHHHH! I can’t believe SXSW 2023 is only 2 days away!
I wanted to share a few of the activations and events I am really excited about this year!
Let’s get straight to it!
Coca-Cola Move
Following a year of unexpected, limited-edition drops and experiences, Coca-Cola® Creations is back with the launch of its boldest and edgiest flavor yet: Coca-Cola® Move, an exciting collaboration with boundary-breaking, Grammy award-winning artist Rosalía. Join us as we bring the transformative power of music to life pairing unique experiences with custom cocktails.
Museum of Graffiti – The Art of Hip Hop
The Museum of Graffiti is announcing special performances and the full programming schedule for the Grand Opening celebration of its Austin pop up exhibit, “The Art of Hip Hop” that will run March 10 – 28 at 809 E 6th St., Austin, TX. The exhibition celebrates the 50 year anniversary of hip hop by presenting the works of the photographers, album cover artists, logo designers, and graffiti artists who are responsible for the visual identity of the genre. The exhibition will be packed with “wow” moments like an entire wall built out of vintage boomboxes in partnership with iHeart Radio, and so much more.
To celebrate the grand opening, the Museum is packing opening weekend (March 10 – 12) with three incredible days of complimentary cocktails, live graffiti art demonstrations, a Champion apparel customization lab, merchandise drops, panel discussions and more inside the Mi Campo Artists Lounge. Additionally, the team is proud to present nighttime performances by a range of hip hop artists from those who laid the foundation to budding talent taking the artform to new heights.
The Lodge: a Paramount+ Experience
Welcome to The Lodge: A Paramount+ Experience! From the Mountain to Rainey St, this tour will take you on a journey through the unique world of Paramount+. Sip on a medley of themed cocktails at Yellowstone’s 1923 speakeasy bar, see and and take a picture with the Vince Lombardi Trophy and explore fun areas inspired by new shows like Rabbit Hole, Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, Star Trek: Picard and many others.
Y’all Are Welcome to Prime, TX
Prime Video is putting down roots with the newly incorporated Prime, TX, at Hotel San Jose in Austin’s hotspot South Congress neighborhood.
Just like Prime Video transports you to different worlds with its hit shows, Prime, TX is a portal to the Lone Star State of your dreams. Enjoy craftier cocktails at The Boys XXXclusive Bar, southern hospitality from the Academy of Country Music Awards, and harmonic vibes inside Daisy Jones & the Six’s recording studio, all set to some boot scootin’ boogie vibes from DJs Disko Cowboy, CRG, Kimmy K and more.
Come grow with the flow in Harlem, unleash your inner strength with The Power, and find your otherworldly side with Carnival Row. After you get a made-to-fade semi-permanent tattoo repping your favorite show, swing by Prime Denim Co. for a customized screen printing experience. Finally, don’t forget to indulge at The Summer I Turned Pretty pie stand & cruise next door to Austin Motel for snacks & lotto prizes at our Swarm Mini Mart popup (3/10-3/11).
Camp Yellowjackets
Brave the wilderness with Showtime and dig up all of your favorite camp memories – rituals, fireside chats, survival skills, and team building. There is nothing quite like bonding with friends in the great outdoors, especially when there is good music… and don’t worry, BBQ & drinks are not scarce here. Check Camp Yellowjackets out for yourself. You’ll never want to leave.
Roku City featuring the Best Buy Home Theater Experience
Smart television and streaming service Roku is recreating the iconic purple-hued city depicted in its screensaver for South by Southwest (SXSW), and this includes a whole restaurant. The Roku City Diner at the Roku City SXSW pop-up will be found on the rooftop of the Riley Building at 315 Lavaca Street in downtown Austin from Saturday, March 11 to Sunday, March 12.
The American restaurant will offer a diner menu with references to movies and television shows with lots of purple-colored ingredients. There’s the Just a Big Salad (referring to Seinfeld), a garden salad with purple vegetables and optional chicken or tofu; the French Fry Forest (an Inside Out reference) is made with purple potatoes; and the I’ll Have What She’s Having (obviously a When Harry Met Sally reference) is an apple pie.
Then there will be a cart with coffee from Austin roastery Creature Coffee and cupcakes from the Cupcake Guys’s Austin-based location of Southwest bakery chain Gigi’s Cupcakes. The food menu was developed by Roku and is being prepared by an Austin catering company Crave.
Roku City Diner’s weekend hours will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Reservations were available on OpenTable, but it’s been booked out. There’s a waitlist available via email at rokucitydiner@roku.com
Welcome to HBO Max’s Coffeehouse
HBO Max will be on the scene in Austin with the Coffeehouse, “a premier and inclusive destination for SXSW attendees to access exclusive content from across the HBO and HBO Max portfolio,” according to the service.
The two-day activation is powered by two HBO multicultural marketing initiatives intended to “elevate and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ and Latinx communities” – Human by Orientation and Pa’lante!
“Coffeehouse will serve as a safe space for all-day programming, finding community and freely inhabiting Queer and Latinx identities,” HBO Max said in a release.
The HBO Max Coffeehouse will be open to the public Saturday, March 11 from 10 am to 7 pm and on Sunday, March 12 from 1 pm to 4 pm. Must be 21 or over.
The best SXSW tip I have is: Have fun! You won’t make it to everything you want to but you can try!
Just listen,
