A Gay Girl’s Help Guide to Austin, Texas for SXSW

A Gay Girl’s Help Guide to Austin, Texas for SXSW

The best place to consume, shop, stay and play.

Every 12 months, artists, filmmakers, creatives, techies plus the individuals who love them flock to Austin, Texas for SXSW. It) overlaps a week of Interactive (read: Internet and app-based panels, events and parties) with its film and comedy offerings (screenings, shows, even more parties) and its line-up of respected musicians and buzzed-about new acts, with every record label, lifestyle company, podcast and YouTube channel clamoring to cover who’s next if you’ve never been to the famous festival (happening March 10-19 this year), South By (as locals and regulars call.

In a town recognized for the love of real time bands and BBQ, Austin-philes also hail this musical mecca for its wonderful weirdness, which undoubtedly talks to its queerness. Notwithstanding Austin’s regular LGBTQ events and choices through the 12 months, SXSW is just one of the most readily useful times to go to, as throughout the event, the town not just bustles with interesting individuals seeking to satisfy brand new faces, but hands over Southern hospitality with its everyday haunts.

We asked some Austin locals to offer us the lowdown on where you should consume, remain, store and play whilst in city for SXSW, or other time you should result in the day at the town that is queerest in Texas.

Remain

First thing’s first: You’ve gotta know Liz Lambert. The out hotelier has a few businesses that are different in and away from Austin, but she’s a fixture associated with town, and her resort hotels would be the coolest places to keep or stay in for a glass or two within the Lone celebrity state.

“She’s basically Austin’s most well-known and lesbian that is badass, ” said Austin dweller and author Krista Doyle. “She’s known for renovating resort San Jose on Southern Congress. Their yard courtyard patio is where you may take in the most readily useful michelada in city. ”

Hotel San Jose and Lambert’s other Austin spot Resort Saint Cecilia are colorful, cool and contemporary: sleek and elegant having a touch that is tasteful of ‘n roll. You’ll desire to simply just take bits of the experience house with you, and you’re in luck—both places offer very carefully chosen items that are local the mini-bar and apothecary within their gift store. (Bonus: Dogs welcome! )

Resort San Jose via formal web site

Eat

Liz can be the master of Jo’s Coffee which not merely serves Stumptown Coffee and breakfast that is banging, but its original location close to resort San Jose can be your website of numerous an Austin photo op and “a cool, sweet element of Austin’s LGBTQ history. ”

“The famous ‘I adore you a great deal’ Austin mural is regarding the part of the cafe, ” Doyle offered. “The tale being that the musician that is local Amy Cook spray painted it in the wall surface after her and Liz, her gf, got into a battle. ”

Jo’s Coffee via Twitter

A free party that anybody can go to, featuring “live music, regional vendors and happy times. During SXSW, Jo’s parking area hosts Southern by San Jose”

Whenever you’re looking meal, hitched few LeAnn Mueller and Alison Clem‘s Los Angeles Barbeque is really a yes thing. “The beef rib and chipotle slaw are to literally die for, ” said filmmaker Lisa Donato.

Los angeles Barbecue via Facebook

She additionally advises The Urban Cowboy, a meals vehicle owned by out trans man Chris Trapani providing just exactly what Donato called “the hangover food that is best in town—greasy tacos, alcohol mac and cheese, praline bacon sticks and avocado fritters. ”

Vegans, Austin is much more friendly than you might think. Plezzure Island organizer Ashley Marshall implies Bouldin Creek Cafe, that provides a menu that is mostly vegan she stated is “definitely family. ”

Enjoy

4th Street is Austin’s unofficial gayborhood, lined with LGBTQ nightclubs and pubs like city basic Oil Can Harry’s. This club is actually for several identities and hosts several of SXSW’s happenings that are queer. Across the street, Rain delivers a setting that is similar with a lot more dancing. (whenever getting cocktails, search for Frot Vodka, an area LGBT-owned brand. )

The ladies are going to be en masse at Cheer Up Charlie’s, Austin’s lesbian-owned venue that lends its phase to performers and storytellers nightly. During SXSW, they’ll host Empress: employer Babes ATX & GirlFriend Showcase among other cool can’t-misses.

Cheer Up Charlie’s via Facebook

BT2 Austin (or Bout That Time) is just a spot that is good games, if you’re into that kind of thing. Enjoy pinball, pool, darts or volleyball as of this gay fave.

For anyone who is thinking about some more chill literary vibes in the day, Austin hosts Booklady, a feminist bookstore owned by away lesbian Susan Post which provides artwork, tees, posters as well as other products you or somebody you realize may want as a souvenir. In North Austin, collective-owned Monkeywrench Books is also filled with queer-friendly collectibles. “They focus on content linked to politics, oppression and privilege, ” Donato said.

Bookwoman via Facebook

In the event that you don’t mind a small drive outside of city limitations, Whirlaway Farm and Garden is a recommended stop. Out owner Francesca Hernandez ended up being motivated to shop for the plot that is three-acre begin her very own farm while being employed as an Austin city planner, and today it is house up to a greenhouse, fully-functioning farm plus the yurt for which she dwells. She additionally dedicates the area to hosting workshops and community tasks, and sells goat’s milk hand ointments and soaps, along with providing a CSA Harvest Share.

Whirlaway Farms via Facebook

SXSW Certain

Among the main destinations at this year’s SXSW Interactive is Lesbutante & The Boss + Lesbians Who Tech certified SXSW Soiree 2017, March 10 during the Highland Lounge. Managed by a queer girl, this newish homosexual nightclub has “three floors, a killer right straight back patio, and all sorts of the lights and fog a club kid could want, ” and also the occasion will be arranged by Austin energy couple celebration promoters (and founders of Plezzure Island) Michelle Solorzano Daly and Kelly western. There’s also an LGBT in Tech Meetup camsloveaholics.com/female/group-sex/, a Lesbians Who Tech (and Friends) Meetup, LGBTQIA+ Gaymers & Geeks hook up, a panel on LGBT storytelling as a result Gets Better, The Business Case for LGBT Equality, LGBT Community Driving Digital wellness Innovations, Selling Out: Anti-Oppressive Queer Style advertising and making use of Tech to finish LGBT Youth Homelessness.

This year’s film fest offerings are stellar using the premiere of Fawzia Mirza‘s lesbian-themed, multi-cultural wrestling love story “Signature Move, ” “Easy Living, ” featuring out actress Jen Richards, and “The Light of this Moon” featuring bisexual “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” star Stephanie Beatriz. Bonus: These ladies will all attend the Austin lgbt Global movie Festival’s annual filmmaker brunch on March 11. Some film panels and meet-ups to not be missed: Queer Voices off and on Screen and Virtual Life’s a Drag: Queering VR.

Via “Signature Move”

If you’re trying to find some musicians that are local groove to throughout the week of concert events, out singer Gina Chavez will perform her salsa-pop at Maggie Mae’s on March 14 and soul rocker Emily Wolfe takes the phase at Trinity Hall at Old class on March 19. Non-locals but queer performers to consider consist of Loamlands, Krudas Cubensi, Johanna Warren, The Spook class, Aye Nako, Marika Hackman, Jay Som, together with Shondes.

See SXSW for seats, events and updated occasion information.

Leave a Comment