Austinites keep Austin weird year-round, but you have to appreciate the special breed of folk that comes to town for SXSW.
South by is an internationally renowned festival that brings together the best in music and film, so all sorts of "creatives" breach the city limits in hopes of enjoying a great Texas beer and a live performance of their favorite Icelandic vampire-death-metal jug band.
Now you may not know this, but you don't need to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on SXSW badges and secret decoder rings to see the best shows and enjoy yourself this week. Instead, find a bar with a sponsored party that's giving away drinks to the public, find a comfortable spot, and let the people watching begin.
At this point, it's common knowledge that a new subspecies of human has emerged: homo sapien hipsterus. This mammal is easily recognized by its unusual dress, bodily ornamentation, and air of superiority; often making for entertaining people watching. Fortunately for South by goers, the festival ups the ante and brings in individuals that look like they fell straight out of the internet. We're talking beings with indiscernible gender, outrageous fashion, and the ability to impart to their watchers the same feeling you get after seeing a unicorn. Had Al Gore known that the information superhighway would loose these sorts of creatures on the world, he probably would never have invented it.
So, thank you, visitors. Thank you for joining Austin during its little celebration of popular art and giving its citizens the week off from being weird.
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