Unfortunately, I have bad news for the many friends I was hoping to see at this year’s South by Southwest Interactive Festival in Austin: I won’t be attending this year. Not that my three-year attendance streak was much to brag about, but I was really looking forward to showing up there for a fourth year. In spite of my criticisms about last year’s show, I still had a great time, learned a lot and left Austin wanting to come back.
However, I have pretty good reasons for why I had to cancel. First, I’m heading to San Francisco in mid-March for a business trip. At the end of my trip, I’m going to take my eleven year old nephew with me for a trip to Paris to see my dad. It’ll be his first trip abroad, which is exciting for him and exciting for me, too. We’ll be there for a week at the end of March, so if you have any recommendations on how to entertain a pre-teen in the City of Lights (or its environs), please let me know.
Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda
Back to South by Southwest for a minute. Not only am I disappointed that I can’t make it there to see all of the terrific people that I only ever see once a year, but I’m disappointed that I won’t be able to give the presentation I had planned to.
It was called “Design Control in a Digital World: Getting It and Losing It,” and it was going to be part two of the talk I gave last October in Denver at the AIGA National Design Conference. The idea was to revisit the same themes, but rather than talking about how print designers need to embrace the dynamics of digital media, I had planned to talk about what digital designers can salvage from the traditions of print media taht we’ve almost unconsciously left behind. I’d share it with you here and now, but I, er, haven’t written yet. But it was gonna be great.
Have fun, though, all of those who are heading to Austin.
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Sorry not to see you there this year, and to miss your talk. But jealous of your alternative plans. If you’re in San Francisco before the 7th, I’ll buy you a drink.
Aww, man. I was hoping to catch up with ya on all sorts of things.
I’ll have to come out to NY sooner than later.
We’ll miss you this year but hope that you will have a wonderful experience with your family. What an awesome opportunity for your nephew and I for you, too.
LOL. its true..
Attended your Traditional Design and New Technology panel in 2006…really enjoyed it. I didn’t attend in 07, but am speaking this year and was hoping to see your name on the list of speakers. Sorry to hear you won’t be there.
Although – sounds like you have some killer family plans to travel abroad… I think I would have made the same decison..that’s a no brainer 🙂 Have fun
(been reading your blog for awhile now, decided to de-lurk 🙂
Oh man that’s a bummer! I really enjoyed your Grids are Good presentation with Mark Boulton in 2007. I would most likely pass up SxSW if I had to choose it over a trip to Paris as well. Have a great time!
A day-trip to Disneyland Paris is the obvious answer for an 11-year old. It’s only about 45 minutes out of town on the RER.
If you get the weather then a day trip to Versailles is well worth it. If you want to skip the palace you can go straight down to the gardens where you can rent rowing boats or bicycles to explore the further reaches of the park. Bring a picnic or buy one there.
Finally, there’s a permanent fun fair in the Bois de Boulogne which is quite good provided you have the weather.
Aww man. It’s like when Michael Jordan couldn’t play in the Finals game. Have fun in Paris!
I love this place, just 45 mins from Paris.
Khoi
Shirley, Lulu and I are personally offended that you would serve the interests of your own family over your own friends in Texas who can’t even remember your own birthday.
Shame on you!
P.S. We’ll be in NY in the summer. We’d love to see you then, please!
I’d be glad to help the guy who keeps helping me week after week.
So, for Paris and a child, don’t hesitate to check urbamania.com.
Just fill “enfants” in the “Quoi” box, your dates, and you’ll have some cool results.
I hope it will be helpful.
Les catacombs!
I think an eleven year old may like the Pompidou centre, not just its collection of cool stuff, but the building too. Plus the whole area around there is lively and fun.
Too bad. Have a great time in Paris.
I got to meet you last year and was the one who asked the panel question about foot odor. 🙂
Here’s to SXSW 2009!
Khoi,
you should take your nephew to “la citж des sciences”.
Oh, no! Yours was one of the presentations I was most looking forward to; it’s a topic that badly needs discussion. Ah, well, it’ll have its day soon enough. Enjoy your trip!