Austin Way Magazine - GreenGale Publishing - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/461140
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GARY MILLER (BUTTON); DAVID BRENDAN HALL (FLETCHER); WITOLD SKRYPCZAK/GETTY IMAGES (MUSEUM); NICOLE MLAKAR (PICNIC); COURTESY OF NIKE (YOGA) KATHY BLACKWELL Stay up to date with all that's going on in Austin at austinway.com. Follow me on Twitter @kathyblackwell and Instagram @mkblackwell. // spring 2015 // ON MY R ADAR To balance out the marathon of SXSW and the non- stop arts and social season, spring is all about taking care of your body, heart, and soul (oh, and stomach). 1. I love the variety of options at Wanderlust Yoga, from Candlelight Vinyasa to classes accompanied by live music. Wanderlust Yoga, 206 E. Fourth St., 512-502-5183; austin.wanderlustyoga.com 2. More than a decade ago, my husband, Steve, and I were married at the historic French Legation Museum (the oldest house in Austin). April, my anni- versary month, is a great time to enjoy these beautiful grounds, just east of I-35. 802 San Marcos St., 512-472-8180; frenchlegationmuseum.org 3. I can't wait to see what surprises the third iteration of the Pop-Up Picnic benefi ting the Waller Creek Conservancy has in store. Pop-Up Picnic, April 18, Palm Park, 711 E. Third St.; wallercreek.org NOTHING HAS PARALLELED AUSTIN'S GROWTH like the breath- less expansion and maturation of South by Southwest since its beginnings 28 years ago. As an editor and writer, I've covered this three-part fest for more than a decade and have seen firsthand not only how it's evolved, but how it continues to respond to and handle that growth in innovative ways each year. Austin is doing the same. Nowhere has SXSW's growth been more obvious than with Interactive. It still attracts leaders in technology and innovation, but visionaries in fields from enter- tainment and sports to food, fashion, and health have extended its reach into more mainstream areas. How have the fest and its leader since the beginning, Hugh Forrest, responded to this evolution? He has created sub-tracks and given some of these areas their own mini spin-off conferences, making it easier for attendees to navigate the hundreds of options available on any given day. Writer Tom Foster, who has attended many SXSW Interactive conferences and was intrigued by how this massive and powerful event comes together, talked to Forrest about what to expect this year (page 82). I'm sure we'll feel the effects of this conference all year long. I'll be out there again, of course. One of my favorite parts of SXSW is meeting people from around the world (usually as we're standing in a line, which I've gotten very good at over the years). I'm always fascinated by the many reasons people have for attending Austin's version of March Madness. Sometimes they'll go into their professional spiel and talk about their film projects, start-ups, or music dreams. But, more often than not, they'll end up admitting they just wanted an excuse to come here. It never fails to make me feel proud to call Austin home. 1 2 3 FROM LEFT: With Formula One driver and former World Grand Prix champion Jenson Button at our cover party; with Freddy Fletcher of Arlyn Studios and ACL Live at our party celebrating "The List" at Hotel Ella. 18 AUSTINWAY.COM LETTER from the Editor-in-Chief